The backpack

I am rather proud of this piece. It's the only one I have made so far. The 'overhanging' closure flap design  turned out to be a good choice.  

I had to try

Making shoes of any kind is tricky, especially without any kind of training whatsoever. Expect something similar in the future. Maybe a high-top hard soled moccasin. I wore these on a three week Costa Rica/ Nicaragua trip and completely ruined them, but I still think they were pretty damn good for my first ever pair of shoes.

Custom orders, straps

A custom order for a friend of mine. Features include an inner sleeve for which to securely slide in a laptop and a dedicated inner pocket for one of his many cameras. It's a rather sturdy, almost Latigo style of oil tan leather.

There is almost nothing I cannot put a strap on. I would like to do more of these for cameras... or binoculars. Or even your saxophone.

Golden Rule additions

These have been on display at

 Golden Rule. 811 E. Burnside Suite 122, Portland, OR 97214. (503) 477-5124 

Most recently

February produced some good things. 

The early styles.

We all have to start somewhere. Here are some of the first 'prototype' designs using different weights, tans, and colors of leather. Hardware arrangements, straps, pockets... all things that require a lot of trial and error. My ultimate goal with everything I make is for each piece to feel like it is in perfect harmony with it's self, and has a timeless quality which allows it to work well with any combination of weird clothing people wear these days.  

Beginnings

My name is Steve Dewey Coleman. I have, for the last couple of years, been cutting and stitching pieces of  leather into what I consider to be quality products people should have. Since I was a child, I have had a fascination with old cases, trunks, bags, packs, wallets, etc., that were as cool and interesting as whatever could be inside of them. Those 'carriers of things' became very important to me for some reason, and when my father, Neal, taught me a few things about tooling leather and hand-stitching I began to understand that dedication to this could turn into a real art form and expression of beauty. It wasn't until moving to Portland in 2006 that I became aware of just how many people shared my adoration of fine, practical, well made and  functional leather goods. So I decided to continue a craft that my father and his father before him had spent large portions of their lives devoted to the perfection of; hand made leather goods. I am proud to find that I have the capacity to continue something of a family tradition with these hands of mine.