Music Bag

This was my first big project. I wanted a briefcase that I could use at work. It should be able to contain a laptop and a block of paper. This meant that it could be relatively small.

I searched the web and found this beautiful bag:

It is made by ORTUS - a japanese leather company. They make extremely good looking bags  which off course costs a lot of money.
http://www.ortus-bag.com/philosophy/

A bag with this unusual closure is referred to as a music bag. Most of these bag have a rather long and thin bar as opposed to the one from ORTUS which has a small and thick bar. The thicker bar makes the bag look more solid and less flimsy.

The bar looks like it is made of brass. I looked into making one but as i don't have access to metal working shop i though of something else.

My farther is a carpenter and has a woodturning machine and was kind enough to help be make a bar. It is made from a single piece of yew.

I pretty much copied the design of the bag. The ORTUS bag seems to have a steel bar in the bag to support the structure. I did not find this necessary so I made it without one.

I decided not to line the bag - something i regret now.

As this was my first big project I am very happy with the result. I have used it ever since and it holds up nicely.