Sounds like you are doing right by them. What kind of puppets are they? Human? Amimal? Do you tell stories with them? They sound interesting.

I hope I didn't sound too preachy, but I've dealth with leather strap goods and full saddle hides for about 35 years of my life. I worked in a reconstructed period 'village' in Ohio and taught their saddlemasters and also taught the first saddlemasters in Williamsburg their trade. Others will have helpful ideas as well, I'm sure.