Excellent leather craftsman

[Sir Brian]

I'm not sure if anyone checked out this vendor at VARF or not but I found the quality of his work excellent. I recommend we add his web site to our links listing. http://www.tstarleather.com/index.htm

One particular product he had in which I put in a custom order for was his wide kilt belt. It offers a double buckle and numerous innovative straps, hooks and clips for attaching various weapon/mug frogs and pouches WITHOUT having to undo the belt to attach or remove them!
~ Sort of a medieval utility belt! 

[Dragonlover]

I believe that was the vendor you and I were looking for wasn't it? He had left for a few days and was going to return at a later date.

[Sir Brian]

Yes that was him. I was able to catch him the last two weekends at VARF. I was able to resist purchasing a kilt belt the first time but succumbed on the last day of the fair! 

[Sir Wolf]

weakness hahahaha

[Sir Brian]

Get behind me Satan! 

[Sir Wolf]

hmmm dunno if you want hi back there, i hear he likes to carry pineapples hehehe jkjk

[Sir Brian]

Ok well I received my new belt yesterday and will have to send it back for a minor size adjustment...
but I am liking it a lot! I like to think of it as my renaissance utility belt. 

Note that I don't have to remove the belt to attach pouches, daggers, axes, swords, etc. It also
has a built in tankard frog and a couple of loops for a sporran or other accouterments.

Right:


Right Close up:


Left:


Front:


Too bad the ATLD (Automatic Turkey Leg Dispenser) option was a little out of my price range. 

[Sir Edward]

A medieval bat-belt, so to speak? It just needs a grappling hook gun.

Awesome, that'll be really handy, being able to attach and remove things without taking it all apart.

[Sir William]

Nice belt, I like it.  How is the VARF?  The one time I went I didn't think much of it...rather small, hot and dusty with not a lot going on.  Of course, this was 3 or so years ago and much could've changed since then.

[Sir Edward]

Yep, VARF is growing, albeit slowly. Each year they build something new and the attendance numbers go up a little bit.

If you go by yourself, you'll see most of it pretty quickly. But what I've found is that if you go with a group, you can hang out and have a good time. My fiancee is on cast, and for such a small faire, they really do take their storyline and historical basis seriously. Unlike other faires, VARF is an educational non-profit and has an entirely volunteer cast. So I think it's worth supporting it.

[Sir William]

You know, the biggest draw for me is always the food...if the food's good, I'll have a good time.  When I went, the food was awful...consequently, my wife and I haven't been eager to go back but I agree, it being an educational non-profit, is certainly worth supporting.  Suppose I could go by myself...

[Sir Edward]

Well, we often arrange armored faire days here on the forum, so keep an eye out when spring rolls around.

[Sir William]

Will do; Sir Brian, if you don't mind me askin...what'd that belt set you back?

[Sir Brian]

The belt was $200 and even though it is a little on the pricey side when compared to other belts of similar width it more than compensates for the higher price with the convenience IMO. 

[Sir William]

Speaking of leather craftsmen, try these guys on for size:  http://www.ravenswoodleather.net/shop/store/index.php?p=catalog&parent=56&pg=1

They're as good as my personal craftsman, Slayer, maybe a touch more pricey but a good deal more inexpensive than Sir Brian's belt.  Just a thought.