It was a beautiful day in Stratford this morning.

On the table today was to complete the kilt for Rocky Roeger of USA Kilts. I had to finish of constructing the pockets.


Once they were complete I marked the location on the kilt itself to prep them for stitching.



Later I installed the buckles and straps as well as re-enforced the stress points with rivets.


It will need a final pressing and a ranger belt and it will be ready for shipping.

My apologies to my followers. It’s been a hectic few weeks. As a result I haven’t been posting on the blog.
I also took a few days off to celebrate my 55th birthday, and take a motorcycle ride up to visit my folks on Manitoulin Island.
It was a hot day when I rode up and I took a break at an outdoor rink.

I also got to see first hand a harp my father made for my mother

So now I’m playing catch up.
I’ve been very productive this week and turned out three lovely black hemp kilts that should be shipped out on Monday.
Yesterday I started on a kilt for my good friend Rocky Roeger of USA kilts. He was quite taken with the new colour Army Green hemp and decided that it is a must have.
My family gave me a new camera and gorilla tripod for my birthday so I used that to take the following photographs of me stitching up Rocky’s kilt.

Just before quitting time today I was measuring out for the waistband


More to follow tomorrow as I hope to complete Rocky’s kilt.

Back from a successful games.
I arrived late afternoon of Wed. June 30th, found my spot and took the cover off the trailer.

I begin unloading and get the canopies ready for covering the trailer.

I raise the canopies and open the display wing on the trailer. (I did straighten up the leg of the tent later.
Eventually I have the product out and the booth is ready for the day of sales.


Throughout the day pipe bands parade through the vendors area. This is the Ingersol pipe band celebrating 100 years as a band



The weather was wonderful, the sun was out and the temperature was just right.
Lot of people stopped by the booth and old friends too.
The next games I will be attending will be at the end of the month in Maxville.

I’ve had the pleasure over the last few days to be working on a couple of Mach V LE’s. This leather is wonderful to work with and allows me to build a leather kilt with lots of pleats

This kilt is still in the midst of construction but it contains 26 one inch pleats that taper to 3/4″ which translates to 8yds of supple leather. The pleats are very deep making for an excellent swish factor.

The other night I wore my own Mach V LE to a party, I sat down next to a woman. Her hands were immediately on my kilt as she was asking “Is this leather” Her husband was sitting across from me and his jaw dropped. I looked at him and shrugged my shoulders and suggested he might want to look into getting a kilt.
I pretty much always wear a leather kilt. it regularly elicits positive comments. Something to consider if you’re on the fence about acquiring a kilt be it tartan, hemp or leather.
Soon I will have pictures of the two leather Mach V LE’s before shipping. They’re still not on the website but if you email me I will be happy to give you the price and data on these special kilts.

It’s taken a couple of months, but I’ve finally have the largest die in my arsenal working. This one measures 10″ x 17″ and is the body for the cargo pockets on an RKilt. With this die I can punch out about 20 pockets at one go. It does speed up the process and allows me to work from a more uniform pattern.
A die of this size requires at least 10 tons of pressure to cut the material. This means I have to suspend my 235lb body on the handle of the press in order to achieve this to work.

I have incorporated notches in the die which gives me a guideline to the folds in the pocket. I used to have to mark out the fabric, measure each line. I save about 15 minutes per pocket, and be more precise.

The above photo you can see the end result of the die at work.
Cheers

Although it’s mid week for most, today is the first day back in the shop. I took Monday off and managed to get some vitamin D in me. Thanks to Karen and Stan for the use of their cottage for a day.
Tuesday I spent most of the day on the road, picking up much needed hardware, leather for belts and straps and sporrans. Also went to Toronto for more hardware and leather, returned home late in the afternoon to a shipment of hemp.
The shop is full of supplies and I have to get crackin.
Did my morning walk this morning, got a little wet, but the leather kilt repels the water so only my head is still damp.
The view outside my window this morning.

The white spots are a result of the rain.

Stay dry

It’s been a rarity, but it’s time to spend a day away from the shop. It’s been a good week and I managed to complete a number of kilts. A few in Army Green Hemp as well as a Black leather. Some will be picked up and others I will have to ship.

The town was ringing with Morris Dancers today. It is also the annual Garden Party at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Monday will mark the opening week of a number of shows the Festival will have on offer this season. To my fellow Artists I wish them all much success. Break a leg, Merde.
I have some more leather shopping to do as I have sold a few of the limited edition Mach V LE leather kilts. (which reminds me I have to get that up on the website)
To further assist in a greener world I have ordered three more solar panels to generate green energy for the operation. Which will get me 460 kw/h at peak.
The next Highland Games I’m prepping for will be held in Embro Ontario just south of Stratford on July 1st. If you’re in the area I look forward to meeting you.
In the meantime, Have a great week
Cheers

There are days I rush to the store, plan my day, and start sewing.
Well this morning I looked around, and enjoyed the serenity of the town in the early morning, before the bus tours and school trips of folk arrive. The mist was just burning off as I got to the shop, the light through the tree’s and the reflections on the water were similar to a dutch painting of the canals.

Yesterday I took advantage of a major sale at the local fabric store and purchased new cutting boards. I’ve been wanting to replace my old ones for sometime. This kit pretty much covers the whole cutting table, making it easier to deal with some of the leather projects I’m currently working on.

Taking a few breathes before starting on today’s projects. Army Green Hemp is the flavour for the weekend.
Enjoy

I went for a softer look of bronze leather to go with the Madura though black might be a better option. But this bike is a little more laid back than a Buell, however, it still has a lot of attitude much like the Bronze leather RKilt.

This week brought the arrival of more kilt hose, and I have a good selection to choose from.

I also filled up the belt and sporran section. I have a few in stock to choose from.

All in All it’s been turning out to be a rather good week.
The weather is superb! Great riding weather….well that’s the plan later this evening.

This past weekend I attended the Sudbury and District Celtic Festival. It was a fun weekend the weather co-operated for the most part.
I closed up the shop for the weekend and hitched up my portable shop and headed north. I didn’t get too far out of Stratford when I blew a tire on the trailer. I installed the spare, but I didn’t trust it so headed back to Stratford for a replacement. An hour and a half later I was back on the road and had a pleasant drive up north.
I set up on Friday worked out the bugs of the set-up. The solar panels were generating electricity and I was able to do a bit of sewing.
Saturday the festival started, a little slow at first, but my product generated a lot of interest.
A number of bands came out to play.



I was located right next to the heavy events, I regret not taking pictures but I was rather busy throughout the day.

It was mostly warm and sunny for the better part of the day but dark clouds and strong winds appeared in the late afternoon prompting me to batten down the hatches. It cleared up for the Ashley MacIsaac concert which was well received. The Mudmen were playing in town that evening too, but I was knackered and decided to call it an early night.
Sunday also started off slow, wonderful weather and a number of people came up to me to discuss the leather kilt I was wearing that day and about the ensemble I wore the day before.
Late in the afternoon I packed up and headed back to Stratford, with loads of emails to answer as well as new orders.
The sales for the Limited Edition black leather Mach V LE are going rather well as a couple of them have been sold and a few spoken for.
All in all it’s been a good weekend.
More later this week.