I pulled one apart and then whipped up a prototype leather version over the last couple of weeks. The main outer pieces are measured as close as possible to the one I dissected (I have another bag from another maker that has some visible differences in the size/shape of some of the pieces). But, due to the thickness and general behavior of the leather, it didn't end up looking exactly the same (most notably that there didn't end up being enough "slack" on the side pieces to do that folded down/angled thing, the sides are just flat-out rectangular).
I used brown fabric for the inside divider and brass hardware. I'm going to try a second prototype, cutting the leather a little different and trying it with tan fabric & nickel hardware, just to see which looks best.
I also decided that since the material isn't screen accurate, I'm not going to worry about adding the disc & the drainage vents, because ultimately they're not entirely necessary. I also didn't include the center divider or that small pocket thing on the inside, or the small outer pocket on the other side from the disc.
Here's a couple of quick snapshots (forgive the bad mirror pic!)
After the second prototype I'm going to make as many as I can with the leather I got (probably a dozen or so, but not exactly sure) to sell on my site, but that's probably gonna take a couple of months. They're hand-stitched with a heavy braided, waxed cord which unfortunately takes a good long while (but the result is pretty dang durable, I'd say).
)
W>
), have been the first time I've ever made more than one of an item to sell. So, since I'm kind of new to this sort of sales, along with the not-completely-set cost/production time, I'm not really comfortable doing preorders.
)
