My sincere thanks to you all for the nice words. I did not say this before, but I think I am more pleased with this one than any I've made before. It is heading to a dear friend tomorrow, otherwise I'd be keeping and using it. What's the old line about cobblers and shoes?
James, I am humbled that you studied the details on this bag. As you know being The Leather-Meister, all of the details add to the look and function of the whole. Your bags always have super detail work. I figured out in the past that I did not want square edges catching on things, and those corners roll up and become unsightly. I try to leave no corner unclipped.
"Really mice work Marc, I like the detail on the inside button." Tim, are you saying mice can do better work than I can? Lol.
I like those ceramic buttons for anchors to the pewter ones on the front side. I got those at Camden, and am hunting more currently.
Scott, the canvas lining is the same size as the piece of leather. The whole thing is lined in one piece. The canvas is sewed up the sides at the same time as the leather. My temptation is to say that sewing across the bottom of the bag would basically provide a perforation for a line of leather failure.
Using stretchy buckskin for the hold-down thong makes a much more useful product than something non-stretchy. The thong ends are a tight fit through the holder, but they can friction slide.
Best wishes, and God Bless, Marc