Building Designers Portfolio A2

[alleycat]

Hi,

My name is Allison and I am 22 currently. I'm studying to be a building designer and would like to make my own leather portfolio case so I can ditch my crapy black plastic one.

I never met my grandfather because he died before I was born, but I have an example of the leather work he did on a bag he made for my grandmother....just thought it would be a nice creative skill to learn in his memory.

I'm thinking of making an A2 sized potfolio case but mainly just an ornamental one to impress clients with! I'd like to create a pattern and punch holes to create lacework, but i don't know what sort of leather I need ???

I just needle hlep on what to buy to start with because all i have is the hole punch...

thanks for your time,

All the best,

Allison.

[TwinOaks]

Hi Allison and welcome to Leatherworker.net!

If you want to include a lot of tooling/carving, possibly the WHOLE thing, then you'll need a side of veg tan leather- it's what we tool and carve on. It'll also take a LONG time to do that much tooling. I'd suggest getting some upholstery leather (yes, like what you'd see on a chair or couch) and building the case from that. Then, as you want to add lacing, or tooled portions, you can attach that to the case as inlays, overlays, or appliques. I think this would provide the best combination of factors. The upholstery leather will stand up to a lot of use and provide a uniform pallet for other things you wish to attach to it. It's also thin enough that there won't be significant weight involved (think of how heavy an A2 portfolio would be if the leather was 1/4 inch thick.....not that it wouldn't look nice).

There is more than a bit of skill involved in the production, and fortunately, you are in the right place!

Tools you'll need to borrow or buy-

something to mark stitches

something to punch stitch holes (no, not the hole punch)

something to stitch with - I use needles from walmart for my handstitching...$0.96/ pack.

PRACTICE.

Or just use a leather sewing machine......NOTE: DON'T BUY SOMETHING OFF EBAY JUST BECAUSE THE PICTURE SHOWS THEM SEWING LEATHER

For tooling the leather you'll need stamps, bevelers, shaders, cams, backgrounders................long list....

We have a section called "getting started" that addresses many of the 'what tools do I need' questions, and may give you a better idea of what you need. If the responses to this thread don't seem to answer your questions, it's worth a few hours of reading/ browsing to see if some of our other members have answered it better.

Also, for bag construction.....check out some of the work by " esantoro ", here on the board.

[Dwight]

If you would post a picture of the bag your grandfather did, it may make a difference. Some designs are easy, . . . and, . . . ummm, . . . some are not.

Also, you may want to have someone else do the actual tooling for you, . . . sell you the panels, . . . you do the punching, lacing, and finishing, and it is a case that you have made yourself.

May God bless,

Dwight

[alleycat]

Hi Allison and welcome to Leatherworker.net!

If you want to include a lot of tooling/carving, possibly the WHOLE thing, then you'll need a side of veg tan leather- it's what we tool and carve on. It'll also take a LONG time to do that much tooling. I'd suggest getting some upholstery leather (yes, like what you'd see on a chair or couch) and building the case from that. Then, as you want to add lacing, or tooled portions, you can attach that to the case as inlays, overlays, or appliques. I think this would provide the best combination of factors. The upholstery leather will stand up to a lot of use and provide a uniform pallet for other things you wish to attach to it. It's also thin enough that there won't be significant weight involved (think of how heavy an A2 portfolio would be if the leather was 1/4 inch thick.....not that it wouldn't look nice).

There is more than a bit of skill involved in the production, and fortunately, you are in the right place!

Tools you'll need to borrow or buy-

something to mark stitches

something to punch stitch holes (no, not the hole punch)

something to stitch with - I use needles from walmart for my handstitching...$0.96/ pack.

PRACTICE.

Or just use a leather sewing machine......NOTE: DON'T BUY SOMETHING OFF EBAY JUST BECAUSE THE PICTURE SHOWS THEM SEWING LEATHER

For tooling the leather you'll need stamps, bevelers, shaders, cams, backgrounders................long list....

We have a section called "getting started" that addresses many of the 'what tools do I need' questions, and may give you a better idea of what you need. If the responses to this thread don't seem to answer your questions, it's worth a few hours of reading/ browsing to see if some of our other members have answered it better.

Also, for bag construction.....check out some of the work by " esantoro ", here on the board.

thanks so much for the advice!

I'd like to ultimately create something quite delicate looking by punching out holes in the light upholstry leather...i really hope this works!

I'm going to go work on the design now, I'll put some sketches online when i'm done drawing.

thanks so much!

Allison