What to make with small bits of tanned hides?

A friend of mine says they are coming over with a few scraps of tanned animal hide with the fir still on that I can use for crafting.

Any suggestions on things to make with small scraps of leather (with the fir on)?

I don't know yet what kind of animal yet.  

Depending on how big the pieces are, they could be used to make soles on felted or knitted slippers (with the fur against the felt/knitted side to to nake them less slippery).

Smaller pieces could be made into pouches for glasses, scissor keeps, leather thimbles. My leather thimble is commercially made but I imagine it would be just as effective without the plastic bit.

My first thought was Christmas ornaments or key rings to give as gifts.

I looked over at Pinterest and found some unique ideas:


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It's a beautiful piece of leather, maybe a quarter or a fifth of the hide near the rear quarter.  But the hair is stiff like bristles.  

I'm wondering if there's some way to remove it?  

Can you post a couple pics, please? Like one of the whole thing, then maybe a couple closeups, so we can see the stiff hairs?