I sent this by PM, but maybe it belongs here in the forum too:
Leatherworking is a casual hobby to me and I try to keep it that way by charging
WAY too much for the things I get cornered into making for others.
But it's really not that hard to do yourself. I started when I couldn't find suspenders for my nail bags that I liked, so I went to the local Tandy Leather store and bought some supplies and a book on leatherworking. Then I made a few belts and other Christmas presents and lost interest for awhile.
But then I bought this newfangled phone called the Treo 300. It was so new that there wasn't a single accessory available for it, but one day I spotted some leather remnants and had one of those "I wonder" moments. It took 3 or 4 tries before I finally came up with a holster I liked and the design has remained basically the same for every holster I've made since. Simple but utilitarian.
I've spent a little over 40 years building and fixing electromechanical things for a living and I'm good at it, however I don't think I have much of an artistic side. But as I already wrote, basic leatherworking wasn't very tough for me to grasp. I learned what I know from a book, from examining what other people have made, and trial-and-error, but most leatherworking supply stores also offer classes.
The photos are of my Treo 300 and the first holster I made that I was satisfied with. I should add that the photos show well over a year of use and abuse. If you build them like a saddle, they're going to last.
Pete