Build, Sweat, Beard

07/10/2025

Long overdue update!

It's been a while, a long while, without my posting anything.
I've been hanging out at home with a broken hand for the last few months.
So that has kept me from working on things.

Got in a good Market day at Sealion a few weeks ago, with the trip to the island that is always interesting and fun.

Got a 3D printer, so I'm working on things I can add to my catalog.

Planning projects, both medieval and not, for when I can get back to working on things.

Couple quick pics: the pile of pouches ready for Sealion, and the current state of the shelf unit loaded with filament and leather items waiting to be worked on (belts, straps, game boards, and baldrics).

Thank you all for sticking around!
Please feel free to message me for any updates or inquiries.

Until next time!
All the things!

09/15/2024

Hello and good morning!
Thought I'd share a picture of another side of leather being swiftly reduced to items!
There are even four new projects, which I hope to have ready for St. Crispin's event in October:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1555870418664848/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22group%22%7D]%7D

Plenty of work between now and then, and likely another side or two will get all chopped up by then as well.

:)

See you next time!

08/18/2024

Morning after an event, taking stock of how things went and what needs to get done before the next one.
Always things to do and ways to improve!

This time I actually remembered to get some photos of the setup before the event!

Looking at them makes me realize that I need to work on the verticality of my display some more...lots of items that could be displayed differently to make it so that people don't have to lean right over to see things.
Stuff to ponder, stuff to do!

Requests and suggestions to work out.

All the little highs and lows of day after stuff...like the fact that it's now decided to rain and I haven't unloaded the truck yet.
LOL!

:)

08/11/2024

More than a month and things are going well...
Working on stock, pouches and belts mostly as I seem to be the belt and pouch guy.
Also started on some new medieval kit for myself, so that's a pleasant distraction from typical leatherwork as I design and plan.

While on our annual medieval camping event I was reminded that the place, and leatherwork, is kinda magical! (pic 1)

With less than two weeks between getting home from there, we have a local event that I'll be merchanting at!
So I'm trying to pack in the work to get things extra pretty.

I'm dyeing to make a good impression (pic 2)

Not a lot else going on, still looking forward to Sealion in the spring and hoping to be able to get some good stock built up and make it onto the island for a great event!

Thank you all for still being here!
Feel free to message if you have any questions or commission inquiries.

:)

07/02/2024

Okay bit of a photo dump, since the update didn't have any I thought I'd post up a few shots of what the tables and benches have going on on them at the moment.

New items and new colours, and a couple finished projects.

A lot of stuff on it's way to the tables at our upcoming events!

Thank you for all your support and continued interest!

:)

07/01/2024

It's been a month, almost, and I thought I'd better get some kind of update going...

The leatherwork continues.
I won't say the bug has bit me, but I'm fitting in work here and there (3:30am sound fun?) when I can and getting some projects either out the door or progressed on.
Feels good to be doing something other than my day job for a bit.
:)

Leatherwork is the only thing BSB is still doing, the rest of contracting, etc., has been put to bed.
I consider it a conflict of interest with my day job to do work that directly competes with the work I do there.
However that works for other people, this is how I do things.

Our next SCA event where we will be merchanting/vending is Bartholemew's Fair (I will provide a link since I probably butchered the spelling) on August 17th right nearby in Chilliwack BC!

So I'm working on stock: belts and pouches.
Seems I'm the belts and pouches guy, so I'm going to embrace it and have all the stock I can on hand!
Other stuff too, of course, and the outstanding projects I have on the list to get out to people before the turn of the next century...
Thank you for your patience!

Lots of stuff in the works...been a few trips to Tandy over the last month!
Rebuilding my own leather items as well: belts, baldrics, pouches, scabbards, etc...

:)

Stay safe and keep hydrated, out there.
Happy Canada Day to you's canucks!

Thank you all for the continued support!
Love and appreciation to all!

:)

https://www.facebook.com/events/3321217774839401

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06/02/2024

Another event in the books...
And...
It's Sunday!
Good time for an update!

:)

A couple weeks of putting in the extra time and getting projects dealt with paid off with a great time at Sealion War at Albion Fairgrounds.
Friday blessed us with good weather for set up and getting camp all cozy.
Then the skies opened up and the rest of the weekend was pretty damp.
Luckily the merchants were all inside under cover and dry.

I won't say I've got the bug to run out and do a bunch more events...but I did take on a couple more commissions and a research project.
Moreover the event helped to make me realise that my work is good enough and people appreciate the quality and the effort.
My stuff is pretty plain, mostly, but I like to think it'll last.

Speaking of which, my lady noticed that the stitching on my belt pouch is coming undone a bit.
Which got me to wondering just when I made it and how old the pouch is...
We figured it out to about 12-13 years old.
Not bad.
Those were the early pouches, and the newer ones have had reinforced stitching (right about where my old one is wearing) as a standard for years now.

Anyway, great event, grand time seeing people again and loading up the tables with goods.
No idea what our next 'event' will be but I have plenty of work to keep me busy.
Now that I've done a big push and survived I'm comfortable with spending time on projects again.
We'll see how the summer does!

Thanks to all!
Have a great week!
Here's a picture of the setup at the end of the event.
(some day I'll get a picture when I first get setup)

:)

05/20/2024

It hasn't quite been a year but it definitely has been too long since I posted anything.
That being said, there's been nothing to post really.
Very little has gotten done since last fall.
I'm not happy about it, but priorities had to be set and this 'hobby' doesn't pay the bills.
So the day job took over and left me with very little energy or motivation or time to work on things.

But spring being what it is, and me finally getting to a point where I can put an hour here and there into something other than rest and recovery, I've started working on things again.

I've put my name in as a vendor for the upcoming SeaLion War in a couple weeks and have taken stock of what I have and what I can realistically get done between now and then.

Hoping to have a decent amount of stuff for people to peruse.
If nothing else this will be a great event for catching up with folks and breaking out garb and camping gear!

For those great patient souls that are on the list of projects: thank you, you have not been forgotten, your items are in the works.

For everyone: thank you for sticking around!
Hope to see you soon!

Have a great week!

:)

Send a message to learn more

09/04/2023

Close on the heels of my 'stepping away' update comes another.
Sometimes a long weekend affords you the luxury of an hour or two to blast out some project work.
Cutting up sides of leather can be pretty easy, and a strap cutter can make quick work of it for sure.
Six 3/4" belt blanks, six 1" belt blanks, six 1 1/2" belt blanks, and three 3" blanks for the new baldrics/bandoleers.
One of those is a commission.
Nine belt pouches, varying styles and sizes.
One of those is a commission.
I learned a long time ago, from my crafty Mom, that the process of making multiples of something is not much more than making one.
So when you're set up to make something, maybe make two...or nine, or 21...
Also took the time to dust off a personal project that's been lingering in my mind for a few years now, and took the step of getting material and putting tools to wood.
No idea if I'll have much time or energy to get much done this week, but it's progress.
Another thing my crafty Mom taught me is that "If you're not moving forward you're going backwards."

Ever forward, friends.
We'll see you when we see you.
Do what you love, love what you do!
:)

09/01/2023

It's not Sunday, but this is an update...
Likely the last for a while.
Real life has taken it's toll and something had to give.
That would be the 'hobby' of leatherworking.
It's just not that fun anymore.
Pressure to produce, and invent, and pursue new markets, and compete, and, and, and...
Naw, not something I need to have as another stressor in life right now, or ever for that matter.
The last year has seen more and more leather merchants and sellers at the events I attend, and I really don't need the added aggravation of competing with lesser wares for higher prices.

I'll continue to do commissions, and to deal with a long list of standing projects I've put off.

I'll still be here, and will check in every now and then when I've got something to say or show.
Feel free to message me.

Thank you for all the support and enthusiasm, it's been a good run.

Have a great time out there!
:)

07/16/2023

Coming at you with yet another sunny Sunday update!
Not much to update...lol!
Been a slow week, I'll blame the heat and all the walking I've been doing at work.
Short evenings and lazy weekends have contributed to very little getting done.
Some stuff cut out waiting for burnishing, so there's that.
Trying to figure out what I might need/try to get done for our trip to Clinton BC in a couple weeks, while also hoping to tick a couple things off by then.

Otherwise it's been quiet...

Have a great week!
See you next time!

:)

07/09/2023

Another sunny Sunday update!
Summer is definitely here.
Looking forward to our main summer event up in Clinton BC.
Decided that we will be merchants there, with some reduced stock but still plenty to keep people interested and supplied with what they need. :)
Completed a quick commission this week, great little re-fit of a heavy duty belt.
Also cutting out the rest of the pieces for a couple other customer projects.
Finally at a point with work where I'm setting up my evenings to get things done, at least an hour of project work a night and things will get done. :)

And some time spent on an actual hobby, not just 'hobbies'
LOL!

Only one pic this time out, of the very cool lifting belt that I got to work on this week. Fresh holes and stitching.

Have a great week everyone!
We'll see you next time!
:)