Pen cases

[MY63]

Thanks to everyone for their good wishes my hands have improved over the last ten days I am going back to hospital tomorrow so I hope to have the splint off then which will be good.

If anyone is interested the black and yellow case will be finished by the weekend and will be advertised in the classifieds then.
The case is a one off and there are no plans to make another in that style.

Thanks again

Michael

[Terie_Benjamin]

What would you charge for the one you're making now?

[MY63]

What would you charge for the one you're making now?

That is a very good question and the honest answer is I have no idea I am still not 100% sure that it is going to work I will let you know when I decide if you wish.

Here are the two outside pieces I have had to remake one of them as it was a little too small.

DSC_0237[1] by my0771, on Flickr

I have just marked out the holes for the handles and the outer cover.

This is the inside of the outer cover if that makes sense

DSC_0240[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The inner part of the cover will not go all of the way down as the lowest part has to fold over to join to the base so it needs to be quite thin. I will also be thinning all of the edges where the sides join together as there will be four pieces of leather.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Terie_Benjamin]

Please let me know. It looks amazing

[MY63]

In my last update I showed a trial fit of the inside of the outer cover at that point I realised that I was not happy with the edges of the cream leather met the pink leather. To improve this I have added some pink leather piping.

DSC_0245[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The outer cover is made from four pieces of leather two inside and two outside they are joined together at the zip in the first instance I will glue them together eventually.

Here are all of the components together for the first time the zip is sewn in place as well as the handles.

DSC_0255[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The phone pocket in detail

DSC_0256[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Terie_Benjamin]

I'm in love.

[MY63]

Thanks Terie_Benjamin I like it too although I am still unhappy with the handles. The joint on the inside in particular I think I will add some pink leather to the inside to cover the join.
I could glue the pink to the inside with the handles still attached to the bag however that would be easy and create another join where the handle meets the bag.
The more challenging way is to remove the handles add the pink to the full length and then sew the handles back on.

[MY63]

When I said there was something wrong with the handles this is what I was talking about when I folded the leather over to form the handle there were a couple of small areas where the two edges did not meet.

DSC_0253[1] by my0771, on Flickr

In order to fix this I decided to cut the handles off and add some thin pink leather to the underside of the handles. I cut the strips and used a bone folder to pre crease the fold lines.

DSC_0258[1] by my0771, on Flickr

After many hours of folding and gluing the first handle is now re attached and I am happy with it.

DSC_0260[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Hawk]

When you have a problem, in this case the handles, your fix adds more class and finishes off your project to a higher level of workmanship. The way you approach an idea and bring it to completion is surely a sign of a true craftsman.
I hope your doctor was happy with the progress on your hand.

[fountainpagan]

Looking very good, Michael.

Very feminin.

glad that your hands are better

[MY63]

I could not leave the handles unfinished so I guess I am back to where I started this morning both handles sewn in place

DSC_0264[1] by my0771, on Flickr

[MY63]

Thanks Hawk the physio was pleased with my progress it looks like I have dodged further surgery on the good hand.
I agree it looks better with the additional pink I only wish I had thought before I had attached the handles first time as it was much easier to sew them in place then.
Clearly I still have a lot to learn.

@Fountainpagan thanks it was my intention to try to create something a lady would like to carry but remain functional as a pen case. There is room for other small items in there too.

[MY63]

If anyone is interested the black and yellow case is now for sale in the classifieds section it is priced at $200 U S.

Thanks

Michael

[MY63]

Once I was happy with the handles the next step was to fit the base to the bag to help with this and to cover the joins on the sides I made two small covers and sewed them in place. These covers acted as guides to the fitting of the base I used them to draw a line around the inside of the bag. I used this to mark out the stitching holes.

This picture shows the half way point.

DSC_0268[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Stitching finished and excess trimmed off.

DSC_0271[1] by my0771, on Flickr

The turning point literally. The inner piece of the outer cover does not go right to the bottom because the outer cover needs to fold over on itself so the thinner the better.

DSC_0273[1] by my0771, on Flickr

If anyone ever tries anything like this please remember to open the zip before you finish sewing the base in place. DOH !! it took almost an hour to open the zip from the inside without access.

When I did get inside I pulled the base through the hole this was made easier by the fact that I had used thinner grey board and it was able to bend to get through the smaller hole,

DSC_0276[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Now the bag was the right way around I glued and fitted the pen carrier in place.

DSC_0278[1] by my0771, on Flickr

DSC_0282[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Just a couple of edges to finish and it is done.

Thanks for looking

Michael

[MY63]

This afternoon I spent a few hours cleaning some of my favourite pens I call them my "D" pens three Delta's and a Danitrio.

DSC_0291[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Do you think they look comfortable.

[Crazyorange]

Beautiful. Happy pens.

[MY63]

I thought I would give you an update on my recent projects it should not surprise anyone to hear that the black and yellow case is staying with me although a couple of people expressed an interest but I decided it is a great place to keep my "D" pens.
The cream and pink pen hand bag will be flying off to its new home in the USA soon. I wanted to make that bag because most of the cases on the market are very masculine there is nothing wrong with that but I thought it would make a nice change. I may make another once I have some feedback. I may make another in a different design.

I am currently finishing off my own Gladstone bag and think my next project may be a briefcase restoration.

Thanks

Michael

[davegt]

Michael, that is great to hear. You always have a surprise for us as your work progresses, the sign of a true artist in my opinion.

I love the black and yellow case and yet I was wondering how many people take the time to take a pen with them and actually write with a fountain pen while traveling or merely going to work. I think there are quite a few, and a case with a notebook interests me a lot, with maybe some a few changes. Such as the notebook on the right side, pen on the left (for me, the ability to secure my/your Ox-blood kydex pen case), black with red stitching, business card pockets, etc. in other words, a nice compact travel case for journaling while in across trip or at the office.

Just thinking... Yes, I know, I need professional help! )

I seem to have a need to color-coordinate and match my cameras and accessories like cases and leather; fountain pens and accessories; and my preferred mode of transportation, a motorcycle...coincidentally, black and red are the colors of each.

I haven't mentioned this to my therapist yet!:-))

[davegt]

Apologies, not only have I not figured out how to post a photo on this forum, I have yet to edit the usual typos. I hope to learn both soon.

[MY63]

Hi Dave I am not going to start correcting anyone's spelling or grammar for that matter as mine is pretty poor, I would advise you to take care when speaking to your therapist as that is how I started .

The black and yellow case was like the bag purely a prototype part of my first experiments with zips. Being honest I added the notebook as an afterthought and it might well have been better to put it on the right side.
One of the drawbacks of the zippered case is it does not lie flat which was my original plan.

Sometime ago I made this model which I think is more along the lines you are talking about the wooden dowel represents the pocket or straps which would hold your existing case

IMG_6677_1 by my0771, on Flickr

Matching the colour might be a challenge as your case will have darkened by now but I am sure it can be overcome.