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Leather Guitar Straps, so many questions...

GUITAR STRAPS!  I definitely want to make leather guitar straps too. I've made them yes, as custom orders, but I think I'd like to have them on my website as a thing for folks to click on and order. I need opinions though:  What do people like in a guitar strap?  Which is the best style?   Soft leather, or stiff?  I'm thinking wide, but maybe people like them narrow.  Should I make them specific lengths or adjustable? * * * *If you'd like to leave a comment, please head over to the Comment page*

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Beautiful Blemishes

DID YOU KNOW? If you find blemishes or see marks on your leather, that's good!  It's just proof that it's real leather. There are finishing processes that correct leather and reduce the appearance of scars etc, but don't be swayed against an item because of marks. Those scars are just characteristics of the natural material! Sometimes I even highlight a blemish and use it as a focal point on a bag or notebook cover.       Hooray to beautiful blemishes! 

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Tooled Leather

Soooo many things I want to make! I definitely want to get more tooling incorporated into my leatherwork. I've always felt like the amount of time it takes to tool, carve & stamp leather way exceeds the dinero I'd get for the job. But you know what? Its not all about the dinero, right? Sometimes you just gotta do things and not concern yourself with the other parts that may be attached to that thing. One of my old posts on fb  reappeared the other day and it reminded me how much I like the process. Here it is: It was a small piece, maybe 5" x 5" and pretty darn simple. But I like it! I've done pieces where I allowed...

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“THE SHOEMAKERS CHILDREN GO BAREFOOT.”

“THE SHOEMAKERS CHILDREN GO BAREFOOT.” Its ridiculous how long I've been using this leather organizer. It holds my order book, my receipt book, my pattern sketches, etc, and I've used it every day for mannnnnny years - and it shows. I should be ashamed of myself. Thats it, though. I'm making myself a new one!!  Please stand by... That was Monday. Today is Wednesday and. . .  I did it! Wow, a gift for self.  I had no idea what I was missing. My new book just FEELS so good!  (The design on the front matches my biz card)    HOORAY!

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Old Pics / New Pics

One of my New Years LEATHERLUTIONS is to reorganize the biz and “tighten” things up a bit. A lot of that is pointing to the online presence of Awl Made Here. I've been busy learning what needs more of and what needs less of and all the gory stuff in between. One thing I've had fun with though, is finding old pics!  That right there was 17 years worth of fun packed into 8 pics, folks. My little storefront next to Skinny Legs Bar & Grill on St John <3. I love the horse pic. That kind of thing was so typical for Coral Bay back then. Woman rides up on horse and asks for saddle repair. . . Or, 15 people...

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