Back at the beginning.
I made my first case today. Not a customer order but just a case to try a few techniques I have been working on. It’s a first draft of a prototype line I am working on for Sterling Gaming. So I can’t describe it just yet because the “competition” might be reading this.
I’ll say this much. I used canvas to prototype with because it’s lighter and easier to sew and manipulate. I used two contrasting shades and although I don’t intend to use this cloth for production it did come out looking pretty sporty in a khaki, going on Safari sort of way.
I just wanted to describe the feeling of getting back to case making. The “I did this” proud feeling when the heap of material, collection of zippers, tubes, and foam rubber gets shaped into something useful and good looking. That’s what it comes down to for me. Hefting something in my hands that I made.
Now I didn’t actually “make” this case all by myself. I have a great team that knows far more than me about making patterns, woodworking, working leather and tailoring. I provide the design, I create the case in my mind and they are the tools I use to sculpt. Without them I couldn’t get anywhere in this venture because I don’t have the patience to learn to sew, tool, or dovetail. 
But I dream, and it feels good to have an outlet where your dreams can take physical shape. — and I do get my hands dirty as well, the interiors are all me, every protective inch of them.
