What a lovely day we had visiting my parents in the Upper Yarra / Yarra Ranges area. Under the watchful gaze of the local native birdlife, I worked outside on the deck sharpening their kitchen knives and fitting some leather accoutrements to Dad's long bamboo walking stick. A long wrist strap, a pair of adjustable velcro straps to fasten his little torch/flashlight and some lashing around the bottom end to prevent any further splitting.
Two sets of Berk synthetic leather bar tape which I customised with colour fade and multi-colour perforated designs for Franco's Kirkoretti (frame by Dave Kirk and paint by the late Dario Pegoretti)
I needed to use a keyhole buttonhole machine to finish off my denim chore coat. It was a great excuse to drive down to Dromana and visit Lee at Everwear Denim. The alternative was to stitch the buttonholes by hand. I'm super impressed with Lee's work and his collection of machines and other vintage tailoring tools. Here's a few photos snapped by Feride while I was concentrating on getting the buttonholes the right size and in the right spot.
There have been fewer bicycle saddles coming through the workshop over past few months. Things don't feel right unless I'm busy making stuff. Here are a few of the projects I've been working on.
I made myself a denim jacket in the style of a chore coat with four patch pockets on the front, a back yoke, two way collar and a curved front edge at the hem. Cut to be quite boxy with a generous sleeve to accomodate a bulky jumper underneath.
I made a couple of leather 'musette' bags which Feride and I are sharing. They are very simple with woven webbing for the shoulder strap which has D rings for adjustable length. The bags are fully hand stitched.
At the beginning of September I enrolled in a five day intensive boot making workshop with Lou at Shoe School. Starting with pattern making, upper construction, lasting and applying soles I managed to complete a pair of white leather desert boots for Feride.
Selle Italia SLR Boost saddle recovered with Alcantara synthetic suede in a rich golden hue. To match Bastion Cycles' gold Cerakote on one of their unique ArchAngel bicycles.
For Scott in memory of Steph. Blue butterflies were one of her favourite things.
Mathew's Arione in black roo leather with grid perforations highlighted in random painterly dark silver and blue.
For Ray's Pegoretti I have covered his Brooks C13 saddle in kangaroo whiskey whip leather, fully perforated with silver underlay and a subtle yellow asterisk picking up on some of the frame paint detailing. The matching bar tape has a random painterly underlay in the same two colours.
For Petrus' Firefly I covered his Alpitude Gardena saddle in hand dyed navy blue leather with illuminated royal blue fireflies and some small silver perforations.
Baum's logo split down the middle suggested in the negative space of the perforations. Selle San Marco Aspide Superleggera saddle with a full leather cover over the normally exposed carbon fibre sections. Perforations in a custom version of racing green for Baum cycles.
Steve's Prologo Nago R4 PAS recovered in black kangaroo leather with perforated seat patches in titanium silver grey matched to the Prologo logo.
For Kimon's new titanium Tommasini Bici. The SLR Superflow Boost saddle has silver perforated concentric circles which sometimes looks like a pattern and sometimes looks like a random arrangement. Coordinating bar tape with the hex petal flower perforated pattern.
SLR Superflow Boost saddle with coordinating bar tape and a compact saddle bag. Perforations in a custom blue colour for Baum Cycles in a geometric pattern of circles and triangles that could be interpreted as suns or stars.
A couple of bar tapes I made recently for two Baum bicycles. Both in matte black textured cow leather with perforated detail in Chris King Turquoise and Baum Cycles' Burnt Orange.
Fizik Vento Argo saddle in black with sunset fade from warm yellow through to violet. Plus two sets of matching bar tape for Black Magic Paint in Portland, Oregon.
All in saddle tan colour kangaroo whip leather. The main piece is a full length top tube frame bag made to fit neatly into the angles and lugs of Bob's new Bastion. The set also includes a Björn Sedlo saddle with 3mm padding, a 2 piece saddle bag and some Bastion style bar tape. Accent colour in the perforations references Land Rover Keswick Green.
