Edges of wallets are hand-burnished with saddle soap, dubbin & beeswax to seal them and provide a fine finish.

• Sewing holes are pushed through the calfskin with a saddler's awl. 

 If I also make a hole in my finger, the blood remains
as testament to an occasional flight of fancy.

On the left, finished with saddle soap, dubbin, and a light coat of carnauba wax.  On the right, a bloody (my saddlers awl is sharp) wallet ready to saddle-stitch.  Many leatherworkers annualy succumb to puncture wounds.