The Medicine Bag

I’ve worked on a variety of leather accessories over the past few years, but this has quickly become one of my favorite builds. Depending on who you talk to this bag has a variety of names, from a hippie pouch, biker pouch, waist bag, or my favorite, “the medicine bag.” Bags such as these are a popular accessory with bikers and serves as a stylish and useful place to store a wallet and cellphone for comfort and safe keeping while on the road. 
There is a considerable amount of work involved in building a bag like this, but on the positive it doesn’t require the purchase of a lot of tools to construct, making it an ideal project for someone looking for a creative challenge. Handmade bags of this quality can usually be purchased for $200USD and up and are well worth their weight in gold, but often outside of most budgets. But If something like this is out of your price range, then I might suggest you try your hand and making it yourself! There are a variety of tutorials available online for free, including some of my own! 
Anyways, I hope you like the bag and if you are interested in working with leather, but don’t want to break the bank buying tons of expensive tools and equipment, then I would highly recommend something along these lines. Let me know what you think! Thanks!

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The centerpiece is made of vegetable tanned leather that was dampened and stamped with a texturing tool then dyed black and finished. A variety of leathers can be used for the centerpiece, although this is my favorite so far! The most exotic leather I've used so far is alligator skin, as illustrated below. Which do you like more?

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The back closes securely with a leather strap that loops around the decorated concho at the centerpiece. I made this entire piece from different thicknesses of vegetable tanned leather. I prefer using vegetable tanned leather so I can tool and color as I wish. You can also buy pre-stained leather, but tooling and staining will not be optional.

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For the sides of the bag I dampened and folded the leather so that the pouch can expand or shrink depending on it's load. I added the tassles for added aesthetics. 

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