How To Make A Handmade Wallet Using EXOTIC LEATHER - Leather Craft Tutorial

In this leather craft video I experiment with some beautiful glazed ostrich-leg leather. I use the ostrich skin in combination with natural vegetable tanned leather to create a sleek minimalist style money clip wallet. The exterior pockets of the wallet each feature a raised ostrich skin inlay that is surrounded by black leather, secured with matching black stitching. The interior leather of the wallet has a smooth black dyed surface which is a great canvas for adding any custom tooling or stamped designs. During the video I try to show and explain my wallet creation process step-by-step. Also, for those who may be interested in trying to make the wallet for themselves, I have provided (within the video) the dimensions for each of the templates I use while making the project. Additionally, you can find the full list of the tools and materials I use down below 👇. I hope you find this wallet project video interesting and that you are inspired to make one for yourself.

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LEATHER:
-Ostrich Leg Leather, 2-3oz
-Natural Vegetable Tanned, 3-4oz

MACHINES:
-1Ton Arbor Press
-Craftool Pro Burnishing Machine (Sander)
-Air Brush

MARKING & MEASURING
-Cardboard Templates
-Trailer Ball Hitch (Weight)
-Pen
-Cork-backed Metal Rulers
-Scratch Awl
-Copper Cube (Weight)
-TechTools T-square
-Craftool Wing Dividers

CUTTING:
-Kobalt Box Cutter
-X-ACTO Knife
-Owden Edge Beveler #1
-Weaver Master Tools Edge Beveler #1
-Barry King #5 French Edger
-Rotary Cutter
-Craftool Thread Cutter
-Quarter-round Punch (5/8” dia)

HAMMERS:
-Barry King Tapered Maul
-C.S. Osborne & Co. Leather Hammer
-5oz Tack Hammer

OTHER TOOLS:
-Glass Slicker
-Brass Stamp Letter Set
-Wooden Slicker
-2-1/4” Wide Roller
-Craftool Detail Rougher
-Bone Folder

STITCHING:
-KS Blade Punch 4mm Diamond Pricking Irons
-3” Needles
-0.6mm Black Ritza Tiger Thread
-Wooden Stitching Pony (Homemade)
-Lighter

GLUING:
-EcoWeld Contact Adhesive
-Cotton Swabs
-Business Card
-20mm Flat Plastic Applicator
-Squeeze Bottle

FINISHING:
-Foam Brush
-Water
-Fiebing’s Pro Dye, Black
-Flat Cotton Applicator
-Fiebing’s Antique Finish, Black
-Fiebing’s Mink Oil Liquid
-RTC Sheridan Resist & Finish
-Tokonole
-Needle Bottle
-Wool Dauber
- Cotton Pads
-Paper Towels
-1000 Grit Sand Paper

HARDWARE:
-Nickel Spring Money Clip Bar

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
License code: VRCQZEEJ4DKKIK3O

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
License code: TQNQOLHUDIR8K0SZ

0:00 Intro
0:32 Template-A, Ostrich Outer Main Panel
0:47 Template-B, Veg-Tan Inner Main Panel
1:15 Template-C, Outer Card Pocket Layer
1:19 Template-D, Inner Card Pocket Layer
1:59 Template-E, Ostrich Inlay Panel
2:21 Template-F, Inlay Backing Piece
2:26 All Wallet Parts
2:46 Dying/Finishing
3:46 Main Wallet Panel Assembly
4:45 Card Pocket Assembly
6:59 Template-G, Card Pocket Trimming
7:04 Final Card Pocket Dimensions
7:52 Stitching The Card Pockets
8:45 Attaching The Card Pockets
9:55 Stitching The Wallet Together
10:35 Creating The Hardware Pocket
11:28 Installing The Money Clip
11:47 The Finished Wallet

[JunkMailBoxStuff]

Really nice work and a beautiful end product.
Just a few critiques that might help you, save money & let you have more material for more projects:
⅔ of the premium portion of the ostrich leg scales are hidden below the pockets.
On both ends of the wallet where the card pockets are located, before assembly, cut off the ostrich leg scales portion about 20 mm below the top edge of where the pocket will be.
Then skive down the edge of leg scale portion that is under the pocket so there is no step-down, & glue to the backing.
Now you have enough leg scale portion for 2 extra inlays or at least 1 full outside wrap on another similar wallet.

Make the wallet just slightly wider to avoid the metal of the bill/money spring bar from poking out of the side and be hidden.

Include a loop *inside* the wallet so you do not sew through both complete sides of the wallet to accommodate a bill/money bar. When you sew through all layers where there will be flexing (regular opening & closing), you perforate & weaken the item and it will weaken & fail sooner over time.
Again, overall, very nice looking work.

[mikeford]

I have an Ostrich leg that I want to use as an inlay in a wallet shell!! Timing is everything!!

[darrensmall]

The color combination and craftsmanship are phenomenal. Thanks for sharing and for your time!

[sarabartel]

Phenomenal work as always, I love seeing your skills grow with each video.

[millerleathergoods]

I have an ostrich leg I a purple/red/brown color like yours. I might just have to make one! THANK You for the dimensions they are going to help a lot. God Bless.

[kellystorm]

Oh my goodness, Thank you so much for sharing this creation, I'm blown away by this exotic gorgeous treasure. I WAS Looking for ideas to repair my son's wallet and I found your channel and just wanted to tell you how extraordinary you are. Lots of love my beautiful friend. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[johnkennedyswenja]

I find your videos excellent and very well filmed and love you sharing your skills. I don't understand why I'm so happy, maybe it was the color combo.

[whatever]

My man, you're really doing the most on this project! I'm a beginner, I've done a wallet before, but all that stitching on this money clip was just crazy to see. Respect, not sure I have the same patience for all that stitching and burnishing. Sure does look great though!

[PhillyReally]

I've never looked at anything like this before. I was scrolling and watched the entire video. I felt compelled to say really great job. Your work is impressive. And your video/presentation style. I also really like that you included a clock in the background during your time lapses. I've never seen anyone do this in their process while showing a how to... It's simple, but provides context to the viewer. And your product looks really nice. Great work! 🏆

[martinstults]

Where do you get your inspiration. You creat the most beautiful and rarest leather work I have ever seen. Excellent!

[alangoode]

applying tokonole with a needle bottle is brilliant.... I use way too much tokonole using my fingertip

[sambell]

Very impressive!!! The finished wallet is absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing.

[charlesmoeller]

So f**k'n beautiful! And thank you for giving us newbees inspiration.

[kuldeepsharma]

Please make a human skin wallet I would love to watch

[denniskusek]

Wow found my new wallet, amazing work beautiful craftsmanship

[susantipsyhealy]

Thank you for this video. I was wanting to know how that is done!

[pkoppula]

Watching leather crafts here is always so soothing. New user and subscribed! 👏🏽👍🏽

[Goggabee]

Nice work, love how you've used the leather. The real term used for that skin is actually ostrich shin. It's also less expensive than the actual ostrich leather you would get from the body itself. :)

[outfitr]

Beautiful. May I ask why you apply paste antique to plain black dyed leather?

[vitavita]

Mashallah pour un excellent travail génial génial merci