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subramaniyam
June 7th, 2013, 09:26 AM
Hi all,

So mom has this leather (faux) handbag thats ripped inside; she's ready to throw it in the bin. I noticed that the outer was in good condition, so I rescue it from the bin. Out comes the epoxy, scissors, thread and needle, and a zipper.

Once I tore apart the bag into separate panels, I noticed that the inner was lined with some velvety soft material. What good luck!!!! I was able to make a nice leather pen pouch with a zipper that holds around 10 pens easily. Everything stitched together; works like a charm

But I needed something for an EDC- something not too bulky or obvious. So I made two cases- one for three pens and one for five. Seams were epoxied together (my hands were sore from stitching the pouch, so I opted for the easy way out). Velcro was also epoxied on the tabs to securely hold the pens. Left overnight to dry, I got two EDC cases for practically free!!!

And here are the pics on my Flickr pool. Click on the link to view the entire set.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47104577@N03/sets/72157633989023644/with/8978968014/

Regards,
Subramaniyam

Tracy Lee
June 7th, 2013, 01:15 PM
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing, what a great project. :)

cwent2
June 7th, 2013, 01:24 PM
+1 Good job thanks for sharing - sometimes thinking out of the box is a good thing!

Sailor Kenshin
June 7th, 2013, 02:24 PM
Very cool!

subramaniyam
June 7th, 2013, 08:12 PM
Thank you Tracy, Cwent, and Sailor. I still had a bit of leather left so I made a strap for my grandfather's vintage West End watch. Yes sometimes it is quite invigorating to think outside the box. :-)

Regards,
Subramaniyam

Tony Rex
June 7th, 2013, 08:37 PM
Good stuff. Make sure they are long enough for a Safari :)

Tony

subramaniyam
June 7th, 2013, 09:40 PM
Thank you, Tony. Yes, I will. I guess the package has arrived in India.

Thanks and regards,
Sub

earthdawn
June 7th, 2013, 11:45 PM
Well played !!!

Very nicely done

Thanks for sharing

cedargirl
June 8th, 2013, 12:10 AM
Great! It's wonderful to reuse; and what a fab outcome.

Nomdeplume
June 8th, 2013, 12:12 AM
Neat job of "up-cycling"!!

subramaniyam
June 8th, 2013, 12:19 AM
Thank you all!!! I have bought a set of leather hole punches, but I am unable to find the punch which is used to make holes for stitching leather. That would make my job a whole lot easier, plus it is cleaner than using epoxy. I've asked the local bag maker if he can give me some scrap rexine. Lets see... :-)

Regards,
Subramaniyam

Heliotrope
June 8th, 2013, 05:50 AM
:cheer2:Great idea!

subramaniyam
June 8th, 2013, 06:04 AM
Thanks Heliotrope!!!

Regards,
Sub

Cake
June 8th, 2013, 07:14 AM
Wow, they came out fantastically. Nice work!

subramaniyam
June 8th, 2013, 08:23 AM
Thanks, Cake!!

Regards,
Sub

Sailor Kenshin
June 8th, 2013, 09:38 AM
Thank you all!!! I have bought a set of leather hole punches, but I am unable to find the punch which is used to make holes for stitching leather. That would make my job a whole lot easier, plus it is cleaner than using epoxy. I've asked the local bag maker if he can give me some scrap rexine. Lets see... :-)

Regards,
Subramaniyam

I was going to suggest that! Makes leather-sewing much easier. If you can't find the punch, do you have an awl or ice pick?

subramaniyam
June 8th, 2013, 08:26 PM
No, Sailor. I do not have either. Is there a technical name for that punching tool?

Regards,
Sub

Sailor Kenshin
June 9th, 2013, 08:38 AM
If there is, I don't know it.

I actually had one myself and now can't locate it. Perhaps it ran away with yours to a desert island.

subramaniyam
June 9th, 2013, 08:45 AM
I'll be using rexine now...so I dont think i will need the punch. :-)

subramaniyam
June 9th, 2013, 09:00 AM
It is called a 'stitching hole punch' or a stitching punch.

subramaniyam
June 9th, 2013, 10:31 PM
Upcycled mobile phone case. Got it from a friend. The material is soft foam. All I had to do was stitch across.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47104577@N03/9002717707/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47104577@N03/9003897304/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47104577@N03/9002719121/in/photostream/

Regards,
Sub

ethernautrix
June 10th, 2013, 04:58 AM
Very, very cool, S. You are very creative and resourceful!

OakIris
June 10th, 2013, 05:58 AM
Very nicely done indeed, subramaniyam. Repurposing things is always fun - that "Hey, I know exactly what I could use that for...." moment.

Have you been able to find yourself an awl? It is certainly something you could order on line if you are unable to find it locally, depending upon whether or not the shipping charges make it worth your while. By the way, there are stitching awls, used for putting the holes in the leather and other heavy materials, and there is another tool called a sewing awl which has the reels of thread attached or located internally - you punch the hole and sew at the same time. I haven't tried one of those yet; I imagine it takes some practice but looks as if it would make the sewing process easier.

This:

3363

As opposed to this:

3364

(Above are images from the Web, not my photos.)

Holly

subramaniyam
June 10th, 2013, 09:30 AM
Thank you Ethernautrix!!! I still havent forgotten to send you my sketches; it's just that I've been busy job-hunting.. I've finally found a job and will send it by the end of this month.

Thank you, Holly. I think I can make an awl easily with a large needle and a piece of scrap wood. I'll try epoxying it to the wood; since there is not too much pressure involved, I guess it should hold. The sewing awl is quite tough to use. I saw the cobbler use it today. Damn that thing is sharp!!

Regards,
Sub

Sailor Kenshin
June 10th, 2013, 10:40 AM
Do you have a Dremel or even a hand drill? You coukd ,countersink' the needle, even use the drill for making holes in leather. I have a Dremel somewhere and some leather scraps. They will probably meet some day.

subramaniyam
June 10th, 2013, 10:45 AM
Thats a good idea. Will try the countersink part.

Regards,
Sub

ethernautrix
June 10th, 2013, 11:22 PM
No pressure, Subramaniyam. Congratulations on your new job. I hope it leaves you plenty of time for drawing. :-)

subramaniyam
September 21st, 2013, 09:40 AM
Have been slammed with work so couldnt do much. Made this EDC out of torn jeans, a zipper, and a T-shirt. carries enough for a week of sketching..:-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/47104577@N03/9856173955/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/47104577@N03/9856248903/in/photostream/

Regards,
Sub

Sailor Kenshin
September 21st, 2013, 10:15 AM
Now that's pretty cool.

subramaniyam
October 14th, 2013, 07:28 PM
My first pen roll!!! Completely quilted construction. Pens are snoodled up! Also my first attempt at repairing and using a sewing machne. also has a small pocket for carts or accessories like a small notepad. ;-)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/10281786904_45cf5c71ac_o.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/10281893096_5bcb4b5760_o.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/10281916405_60a74573ba_o.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5489/10282013433_1733621d34_o.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/10281895606_c374c04206_o.jpg