My very own, handmade, pasted paddle strop! That's some of ChrisL's Chromium oxide on leather, on a cypress (I think) board.

Here's some shots of the leather...smooth:


And not as smooth (wouldn't call it rough...more like velvet--this is the side that got pasted):


It's not perfect, but it's close enough for me, and it's MINE. I'm not a real big guy for making things with my hands, and this is the first time I've been really successful...so I'm really, really happy with it!