Dan's black SLR had faded a lot. For a quick fix I applied several coats of acrylic leather paint and a matte varnish. The white Prologo was no longer very white. Now recovered it in white kangaroo leather with a classic fine perforation pattern for Dan's Merckx.
Suggestions of Iron Man's mask in gold, red and light blue perforations on this Selle Italia SLR Boost Superflow saddle.
Berk's Lupina Short saddle in whiskey colour kangaroo leather, marching bar tape perforated with Baum Cycles' light gold Champagne colour.
Orange to pink gradient concentric paw print pattern for Becky's Power saddle in black kangaroo leather.
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.
