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Tips and Advice

Advantages of Handmade

June 13, 2015
So you have problems when you buy a belt! It is either too long and has a huge long bit hanging round your waist, or it buckles on the last hole and sticks out! Neither of which improve on your style.
So to get around this why not order handmade? And to be honest it probably wont cost you any more than a fancy shop brought one.

So what do you get when buying from me?

A Bespoke service
Every item that I make is made to order. That's right I don't stock any 'standard' sizes.

Made to Measure
As I only hand-craft to order means that you can get the perfect size and fit to suit your requirements.

English Craftsmanship
Everything that I make is painstakingly made by hand right here in England. No English leather that was shipped around the world, made in to a belt and then imported back to the UK as an 'English Leather Belt'!

Hand Stitched
I stitch every item I make by hand using traditional time-honoured skill. This gives you a robust item that with the proper care will last a lifetime.

So why not visit my store today and place your order

Si
 

New Dog Collar Ideas

April 15, 2015
I have a few ideas in my head for some new styles of handmade leather dog collars. I thought I might put these ideas to paper - so to speak.

Patent Stripe
This would be a leather dog collar based on my patent stripe browbands and nosebands. A standard traditional leather dog collar with an inserted piece of patent leather. I can't make a collar entirely from patent leather as it is too thin in substance. Therefore the strength will need to be in the normal bridle butt leather that I make all of...
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Oxford Handmade Leather Belt

April 14, 2015

Time for a look at one of my new belts. The quick release Oxford handmade leather belt with Marshalsay Buckle.


Leather

As always this Oxford Leather belt uses to grade bridle butt leather from Metropolitan Leather. At between 3.5 – 4 mm it is some of the best leather you can buy. It is very supple but supremely strong. A super smooth finish to the grain making for a true one of a kind leather belt. There are not too many markings on the leather, but that is what makes leather unique.


Buckle

The...


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Boarhound Collar for a Boerboel

April 1, 2015
A big dog like a South African Mastiff Boerboel needs a Big Collar!

This handmade leather dog collar is not for the faint of heart!

Solid Brass double pronged buckle sets this leather dog collar off

And three solid brass loops keep the large point under control.

At two inches wide (50mm) it has three lines of hand stitching to keep its strength and robustness. and a solid brass dee ring for your lead (I make these as well!)

Si

Visit www.oaksidesaddlery.co.uk to buy your own boarhound collar

...
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Dog Collars and Leads Store Now Open

March 28, 2015
It didn't take as long as I thought to put all of my leather dog collars and leads into the new store. I'm really quite impressed with Yola on that one.
So go and visit http://www.oaksidesaddlery.co.uk/canine.php
The original pages are still there while I decide what to do with them. Will it affect my SEO if I delete pages? Or will it affect it more if they are dead pages with no links?


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Invoice Problems!

March 24, 2015
I am gaining a large pile of stuff that I have made recently that has just not been paid for (which is annoying)! I'm hoping that when my new store is properly up and running it will stop all of that.
I'm not sure what the cause of the problem is. I know that some customers just don't receive my PayPal invoices as their email client has decided that the email is spam. This is bad for me as;
  1. I don't get paid for my work. A loss that I can't write off against my tax return.
  2. The customer just think...

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Store Opening Soon!

March 19, 2015
So I have decided to 'bite the bullet' and open a store. It's not something that I really wanted to do as I don't want to look just like any other shop!
Anyway, I decided to go for Yola's online store. Why?
The price was good for a start! But also after watching Yola's youtube video it had everything I seemed to need. The problem I have had with most other means of selling my products was a lack of options. When ordering a collar for instance. It is not just the style of collar, but what colour...
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The way that you pay is changing

March 3, 2015
Don't panic!
I have had a few orders that after I have made their order have then just not paid.....Bugger!
Great I still have an item, but as this was made to a very specific style it is difficult for me to resell.
So.
I will soon change the time that I will invoice my customers. Presently I invoice once I have completed. What I will be doing is invoicing when I receive your order. This will mean that I get your money earlier (excellent for me!) But unfortunately you have to part with your hard ...
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Leather Colours

February 28, 2015
My standard colours of Bridle Butt Leather
Tan (Foreground)
Black
Dark Havana (Brown)
Australian Nut
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Padded Camera Strap WIP

February 28, 2015
A work in progress for a padded camera neck strap. I've worked out the padded neck part but not sure what to put on the ends to connect to the camera. My thinking has been to stick with what I know and buckle a couple of small bridle cheekpieces to the ends with hook billets to connect to the camera fittings. Or should I stitch webbing straps with standard camera fittings? or something else? Any ideas?
As my photos show I haven't got a clue about cameras!
Si
www.oaksidesaddlery.co.uk


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Cordwainer


Simon Harrison Cordwainer at Oakside Saddlery Handmade, bespoke leather Made in England. Leather Collars and Leads for your Dog, Handmade, made to Measure Leather Belts, Leather camera straps, Leather briefcases and messenger bags, watch straps, And Leather rifle slings for Field Sports. All made in the Traditional Hand-stitched way

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Simon Harrison

Oakside Saddlery

67 Windmill Rise

Minster

Kent

ME12 3QA

United Kingdom

oaksidesaddlery@gmail.com

+44(0)7976892950

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