My First Attempt - Celtic-Tooled Belt.

[ScotsPagan]

Hey all...figured here was about as good as any place to post my first piece of leatherwork... Got into this craft about 2 months ago, just in time for the SO to buy me stuff for Xmas...finally got around to finishing the first project - a simple celtic-patterned belt...

Here's a pic from an album of photos I took...

Aside from not being very good at it, I had no real issue with the tooling (aside from a few mistakes)..

The dye was a real PITA tho - Tandy's water-based...the purple didn't want to adhere to all my piece, and after I resisted with super-sheen, the black wouldn't take properly either (I was v. careful with resist!); it's almost like parts of the leather, especially the parts in-between the spirals that I'd backgrounded, didn't want to dye...the dye wouldn't soak in, but just sat on the surface. Maybe I got oil on it from my hands or something.

Anyway, it didn't look great, so I dug out the acrylics and gave it a good coat of black, then 3 coats of super sheen and it looks fine now...

Then I had trouble with the snaps going on....the 2 backs went on OK, then one of the female caps simply wouldn't - wasted 3 snaps hammering it in till it would sit...

OK, so this is turning into a novel. Sorry.

[shadowryder]

looks good,a great start to your leather crafting future.

[4wheeler4]

Keep up the great work, You are off to a wonderful start

[ScotsPagan]

Thanks

Any advice regarding my dye woes?

[WyomingSlick]

Thanks

Any advice regarding my dye woes?

Did you clean the leather before attempting to dye it? While you are tooling, the leather can pick up oils and other stuff from your hands. It's just like painting a car....wouldn't you clean the dirt and car wax off before painting it? Most supply companies sell a product just for this pupose. I, myself, use a bleach made of diluted oxalic acid.

[ScotsPagan]

Hmmm, no I assumed the water from casing it would do the job. Hadn't seen it mentioned anywhere in the guides I was using...

I will definitely try that next time...thanks