Steamstress: belt and hat accessories

Sometimes I go a little overboard with things. Like the idea I had a year ago that I was going to try leather working. I bought a bunch of tools, my dad sent me his tools that he no longer uses, and I ended up stuffing everything away in a big box. I’ve sewn some leather things and am getting better with the punch tools and grommets, but haven’t got up the courage to try tooling yet.

Out came the big box. You would think with such a big box I’d have what I needed but I ended up driving almost an hour up to Tandy Leather to buy more rivets and grommets and things. Friends – it’s as bad as a really good fabric store but even more expensive!

Another necklace or two or three were pulled apart and put back together. Various leather scraps came apart and came together. I had gotten a little excited a few months ago when I thought I’d be making this for halloween at the International Quilt Festival – the perfectly natural place to wear a Steampunk Seamstress costume, right – and bought some lovely vintage scissors on eBay.

I spent the longest time of anything playing with this bracer. It laces up underneath, has a scissors sheath and the flaps near the wrist open up to needle books.

I cheated and just bought a hat that could get to my place quickly because I was totally running out of time.

I found a lovely leather tophat while at the RenFaire but that will probably sit around waiting until next year to get really finished up.

I think I’ve gotten a fair bit of mileage from the tape measure fabric, wouldn’t you say?