A Hercules beetle turned into a wearable bag is the kind of idea that sounds odd until it works, and in this case it clearly works. Nils Beardfoot shaped 2.7 mm vegetable-tanned leather, that is 7 oz, into a pouched insect with a closure strap at the top back, and the finished piece holds real storage inside.
The construction is the part worth studying. Printed paper patterns are transferred with a stylus, then the pieces come out under a round head knife. Sections are soaked and hand-molded over a ceramic bowl into curved domes, with rubber bands holding the parts in shape while they dry. A bone folder grooves the shell texture into the carapace, dye goes on with an airbrush in light brown, dark brown and black, and high spots are then sanded with 1000 grit paper to pull lighter contrast back out. A protective resist coat is sponged on, and the edges get burnished.
Plenty of details stand out. The articulated legs attach to the body through metal D-rings and loops, and some legs get snap fasteners. The upper horn curves over the lower pincer horn and is fixed with rivets and brass-colored stud hardware. An overlapping flap shuts with a Sam Browne stud, six D-rings take 3.2 cm straps, and clip-on leather carrying straps connect at the sides. Scalloped borders and impressed dots along the carapace and horn round out the surface work, all stitched along guide holes.
The maker rates the difficulty as medium with a basic tool list, though in my view molding domes and layering airbrush dye ask a bit more of a newcomer than that label implies. One thing left open for me is how the riveted legs handle daily wear over time.
Project by Nils Beardfoot. Watch it on their YouTube channel: