This project started out with a set of chaps. Specifically a pair of anniversary edition chaps from the Calgary Stampede. Unfortunately, my client could not quite fit into them anymore but she still wanted to use them during the Stampede. She decided she wanted to turn them into a purse!
I tried to use as much of the original leather as possible and we designed it to keep as much of the original fringe as we could. I unstitched the side lacing area and reattached them to the top corners of the purse to keep that fantastic western curve detail. the handles are made with a water buffalo leather that matched almost perfectly to the original leather.
All the hardware came from the original chaps, including the rings for the handles and the decorative conchos. I kept the Calgary stampede patch and sewed the entire piece to with a similar cream thread. While we originally planned for it to be an extra inch and a half long, while sending her progress photo she decided she wanted it shortened and I was happy to do it. The end result is the perfect size for her!
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