What do You Make Your Wife/SO Who is Not a Knife Person? Christmas is Coming...

C

ColdDeadHand

Joined
Nov 5, 2014
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Mod: did I put this in the wrong place? I want to ask the sheath makers/leather workers...

So Christmas is coming real soon, I have leather on the way, I'm pretty crafty, we'll see how it works out.

This is an expensive hobby, so what do you guys make your ladies (especially the ones who DON'T carry knives) to smooth things over?

A coin purse was suggested, and while that's a good start I don't know anyone who actually uses a coin purse anymore.

ANY IDEAS, PHOTOS OR PATTERN SKETCHES would be super helpful!
 
Suggestions are great but there's a lot of technical skill in everything I've learned to make. Sadly I only have the time to learn and design things that I think I can sell. Because of this my wife has not received anything I've made. She edc's plenty but it all goes in her purse.

Now I make wrist bracelets and cuffs with funky dye jobs, stamping and exotic skin overlays. I prefer a Sam Browne stud but my children wanted snaps. One daughter got a series of skulls stamped and the other liked my "dragon skin" look. I wear a shark skin cuff 24/7 (bar showers, of course). The best part is that none of their friends believe that I made them. :)

I guess I'm lucky, my wife really doesn't like unnecessary stuff in general, but me and the kids do! :D

Looking forward to others thoughts!

Edit- forgot to mention. I've been wanting to make a pair of grip covers for my father in laws Harley but they would need to be very intricate (so would need to be made from veg tanned), very wear resistant (he rides a lot) perfectly fit, very resistant to color rub off, very weather resistant etc... They'd probably also need to be designed and fit with the bike at my disposal. Kind of a tall order for me right now but if I get around to it I'll post pics for sure.
 
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I wouldn't call that lucky buddy. Unecessary stuff costs lots more than necessary stuff!
 
Horsewright said:
I wouldn't call that lucky buddy. Unecessary stuff costs lots more than necessary stuff!
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Haha... Yeah and she also makes for the hardest person in the world to shop for. Seriously. Doesn't care much for flowers, handbags, perfume, jewelry... What's a man to do? She's accused me of buying her gifts that I secretly wanted, and it's probably true. I grabbed her a santoku at that Hammer In show and I'm the only one that's used it. She does use the xhp santoku that I had commissioned for her though. Maybe she just doesn't want to deal with high carbon steel. Women.
 
Maybe try cobbling.. never met a woman that didn't love shoes.. and lots of them! :D

I make knives, but like Omega, I've not made one for my wife yet. I have made her a lightweight kydex sheath for her Sig P938, but that wasn't really a gift.

I try to stick to purchases I know she wants, that usually keeps her happy, and allows me to continue with all my hobbies unfettered. Win/Win!

Edit: Is she always on her phone? If so, you could do a cool phone case? Keyring maybe? Not sure how elaborate you want to go.
 
Hmm don't carry coin purses. Yeah many do. My wife does and so does the 18 yr old daughter and most of her girlfriends. I was thinking of the coin purse because that would be something that would fit into where you're at with the leatherworking skills. Basically take Hawk's slip sheath extend the back piece a bit to make a flap and add a snap. Voila coin purse. Or Hawk's idea of a phone case is great too. Skill set would be similar, designing is a little tougher on those though.
 
Think long and hard before you make her anything .
I shudder to think what my wife would ask and expect me to make her .
I don't get enough time to make the sheaths I want to make .
I don't know how long you have been married , but after 24 years I'll give out this advice " if you give them an inch they will take a mile ". :)
I could just imagine her coming home and telling me all her friends really love the bag I'd made and she's told them I'll make them all one .
My leatherwork is and will continue to be big hairy chested Manly stuff .

Ken

PS - its amazing how brave I get when I know she will never read this .
 
Hawk45 said:
Maybe try cobbling.. never met a woman that didn't love shoes.. and lots of them! :D

I make knives, but like Omega, I've not made one for my wife yet. I have made her a lightweight kydex sheath for her Sig P938, but that wasn't really a gift.

I try to stick to purchases I know she wants, that usually keeps her happy, and allows me to continue with all my hobbies unfettered. Win/Win!

Edit: Is she always on her phone? If so, you could do a cool phone case? Keyring maybe? Not sure how elaborate you want to go.
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Nope, don't like shoes. I've bought her a ton of Pumas (uh... Yeah, my favorite) but she only wears her Doc Martins.
Horsewright said:
Hmm don't carry coin purses. Yeah many do. My wife does and so does the 18 yr old daughter and most of her girlfriends. I was thinking of the coin purse because that would be something that would fit into where you're at with the leatherworking skills. Basically take Hawk's slip sheath extend the back piece a bit to make a flap and add a snap. Voila coin purse. Or Hawk's idea of a phone case is great too. Skill set would be similar, designing is a little tougher on those though.
Click to expand...
I made a coin purse years ago and it's sat in the dresser drawer the entire time. Actually I take that back. I made a little one with a snap that is attached to the key chain for the car. It holds precisely 4 quarters and has come in handy many times. Usually in a drive through, which loosely translates to In n Out. If you're reading this and you don't know the place I truly feel sorry for you. :D
harronek said:
Think long and hard before you make her anything .
I shudder to think what my wife would ask and expect me to make her .
I don't get enough time to make the sheaths I want to make .
I don't know how long you have been married , but after 24 years I'll give out this advice " if you give them an inch they will take a mile ". :)
I could just imagine her coming home and telling me all her friends really love the bag I'd made and she's told them I'll make them all one .
My leatherwork is and will continue to be big hairy chested Manly stuff .

Ken

PS - its amazing how brave I get when I know she will never read this .
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Your post really made me chuckle. I know what you mean, but just in case, my wife is a saint. :D

Also, even though I've made only one knife somehow that qualifies me to make knives for her friends. That's okay though. It was the justification for the big piece of o1 that I bought that she doesn't know about. Seems I'll be making wrist bands for all the kids at my kids school as well. Hrumph.
 
stargawker said:
How about a leather flower? :)

Does she carry a laptop or tablet? Perhaps a tablet/laptop or smart phone case? Or a hair band? A custom watch strap?
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We both have 6" phones. We have covers for them. I thought about making a leather cover for hers but they leave very little real estate around the edges due to the ridiculous screen size. Honestly, I feel like it's a little above my pay grade. Anyone have any ideas on how to go about it.
 
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So made these leggins (Charmitas) for her. Also the martingale with the conchos (across the horses chest). That is much older, that was before we werre married and I was trying to impress a hot chick. Cuaght her and the price of the gifts goes up I think. A friend of mine made the silver Las Cruces bit she's putting on the horse. He also made the silver on the headstall. She and he sat down for a couple of hours and designed that bit and its his most popular one now. Fortunatly was able to do some trading cause that one goes for $3295 these days. Think I gave him cash to cover materials and we traded out his labor. You'll like this one Paul. The headstall (made of horsehide) was made using an original set of The Visalia Saddle Co dies that another friend of mine bought at auction. After reading this thread I guess I'm pretty lucky cause there is always something cool I can make or buy her.

WVZzWsy.jpg


These "woolies" were an aniversary present back in Sept. They are angora goat. Traded three knives with a buddy and he made em for her. I've made hundreds of pairs of leggings but never a pair of woolies. Besides how was I gonna sneak in a couple of angora goat hides and build these on the sly?
 
Horsewright said:
oyixDzb.jpg


So made these leggins (Charmitas) for her. Also the martingale with the conchos (across the horses chest). That is much older, that was before we werre married and I was trying to impress a hot chick. Cuaght her and the price of the gifts goes up I think. A friend of mine made the silver Las Cruces bit she's putting on the horse. He also made the silver on the headstall. She and he sat down for a couple of hours and designed that bit and its his most popular one now. Fortunatly was able to do some trading cause that one goes for $3295 these days. Think I gave him cash to cover materials and we traded out his labor. You'll like this one Paul. The headstall (made of horsehide) was made using an original set of The Visalia Saddle Co dies that another friend of mine bought at auction. After reading this thread I guess I'm pretty lucky cause there is always something cool I can make or buy her.

WVZzWsy.jpg


These "woolies" were an aniversary present back in Sept. They are angora goat. Traded three knives with a buddy and he made em for her. I've made hundreds of pairs of leggings but never a pair of woolies. Besides how was I gonna sneak in a couple of angora goat hides and build these on the sly?
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Dude, you just made me feel like a total ass! My 20th anniversary just passed (we were kids when we got married) and I totally pooched it in terms of leather. Good thing I had a great excuse. Managed to hobble to a fancy dinner and B&B, but that was painful enough for two 20ths.

Beautiful work as always and a great story to go with it. Written with the utmost respect, your wife is pretty and always looks happy. Good for you guys. :)

Las Crucis refer to NM? Also, is the Visalia company you mentioned the Visalia right by me?
 
No there is a Las Cruces here in Cali too and the guy that first designed that cheekpiece (these are often called Mission bits so there is a Santa Barbara, Santa Paula , Las Cruces etc., Most of the place names that are associated with Mission bits don't have a misssion, quien sabe?), lived there, its up by Gilroy. Yeah google Visalia Saddle Co (mostly it was in SF but there in Visalia too, it was originally the Walker Saddle Co) they were like some of the original Californio saddle makers. Didn't know you were in the heart of vaquero country did ya? But here in Ca Spanish its pronounced like its a b. Bahquero=cowboy from vaca= cow but here in Ca it was baca. Thanks buddy she is and we are.
 
Here's a close up of that bit. Crazy he even engraved the inside of the cheekpieces. Parts that can't be seen are engraved how cool is that?

http://www.tapsbitandspurshop.com/newsite/images/cutom bits/gallery/Nicole Bit 07 014.jpg

All handwork. Ya gotta admire the crafstmanship even when its outside your own craft.

ColdDeadHand entire nuther thought. Have her join you. I kinda did that. Got her a lot of her own tools and even though she's only been doing it a few months she's getting to be very accomplished. Some of her tools are better than mine so I borrow em. But there you go. Get her some tools for Christmas. You know the ones you need. No, seriously.

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Here's one of my wife's purses. Now she's only been doing this since the end of Mar. I don't touch any of her purses, she does em all herself. She's selling em about as fast as she can make em. Get your wife to join you on this skin of a dead cow adventure.
 
Dave, what kind of interior does she use? I've seen nice wallet interiors, but haven't looked at handbag stuff. Obviously some of it is veg tanned, but is the rest chrome, or is it all veg?
 
Buddy, she makes up a pocket system that she suspends in side. The whole purse itself is not lined. The bodies of the larger purses are made from Cheyenne a chrome tanned 4/5 oz chap leather from Hide House. On her smaller purses she uses lighter stuff. The whole original idea was to use my scraps from years of legging making. I had tubs and tubs filled with that. Then the buddy of mine that made her woolies, he sent her two wardrobe boxes full of his scraps, (he's basically a full time legging maker). Now she's at the point she just bought two sides of Cheyenne. My sig line has a link to the website, Facebook and Instagram if anyone would like to see more pics of our work.
 
Oh, WOW! Dave, thanks for the link. I think you just put a couple bucks in your pocket and saved me from having to think of a Christmas gift.
The jewelry looks great on there too.

Right now I'm waiting on my economy shoulder so I can make a couple sheaths for the RAT-3 I customized for my Dad
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AND my sister is a sculptor, so I'm trying to make her a Mjolnir out of an Estwing bricklayer's hammer, AND make a leather belt holder for it.
Here's what I got so far, handle is stained and clear-coated, the head is shaped and I'm stripping it as I write:
temporary-22.jpg


I have a veritable BUTT LOAD of etching and filing to do on this thing if it's ever going to be worthy of the name Mjolnir, so I think either a purse or some earrings from your site would be perfect to take some pressure off.

Take care.
 
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