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Bob Blea

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Everything posted by Bob Blea

  1. Thanks Aaron, after talking to her again today she says that laser engraving is what she had in mind, so I guess we are OK. It is just bothering me some that she's going to take it and modify it like this as soon as she gets it. Feels like she is ruining it thought it will probably come out fine. I probably am taking too much ownership of one of my 'creations' and should just let it go. Thanks again for the advice, Bob
  2. Hello, I have an odd situation developing. I've had a customer purchase one of my notebooks from my Etsy site. It's an already completed notebook and normally I would just ship it tomorrow. HOWEVER she asked on the order if I could add some text to the notebook before I sent it. I told her that I couldn't because the notebook was already finished and there really isn't a way to add the saying she wanted to it. The notebook is carved vegtan with an antique finish. It has been coated with Wyosheen prior to antiqing, and has a final coat of acrylic as a top coat to resist moisture, so it really isn't possible to recarve the covers. I wrote to her and explained that this particular notebook couldn't have her saying added, but I could make a new one that included it, just not in time for Christmas. I was surprised when she wrote back that she would take the notebook as is and would just have her saying 'engraved' when she got it. I'm certainly no expert at leatherwork but I'm not sure what sort of engraving or any other technique she could have in mind to add her personalized message. Do any of you have an idea how she might be planning on doing this? I've written to her asking her for details, and trying to explain how the carvings end up in the leather in the first place, and why I think she couldn't add her saying. However, if there is a way to do this without destroying a notebook that I am fairly proud of, I would appreciate knowing how to do it. If I can recommend some way for her to do this safely I will be happy to. Just from my limited experience I don't know of a good way to do this. I'm thinking maybe you could heat emboss this somehow, but I don't this that will be very good on existing finish. Here is the notebook in question. She wants to add the saying 'Ever Faithful' to the notebook. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have, Bob
  3. Hi OWLSHD, and welcome to the forum! For contact cement I use Weldwood contact cement with the red label. Once it sets I usually need a knife to separate the layers. You can get it at about any big box hardware store. Bob
  4. Thanks all! I've learned something about when to use round holes today. Bob
  5. Hi Chancey, I'm certainly not an expert on drawing my own patterns, but IMO I don't think the vine work is too complicated. I think the problem is that the roses look a little oversized for the vine work. If they were a little smaller that would allow for some background between them and the vines circling them. That little bit of background would probably make things look less crowded and busy, and I think that would make it look better to your eye. With smaller roses you can also see more of the vine flow and make it easier for the eye to follow. Also, where your design repeats it doesn't look like the vines connect. The top rose of the pattern sort of covers where the vine would continue to the next flower, but not quite. It looks a little like they aren't connected. If you can redraw that to show the vine continuing, I think your design would be fine. Hope this helps! Bob
  6. I'm like Cyberthrasher in that I have a full time job and not much time left over for working on leather. I've found I really enjoy the carving aspect but not so much the contruction. I found making leather notebooks gives me a nice big canvas for carving and not really complicated construction, so I've been focusing on that. I'm now forcing myself to do more construction things like hand sewing because I would like to make purses and cases and maybe those will become my thing. But right now my idea of a relaxing evening is working on a new floral carving on a notebook cover. Bob
  7. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

    1. LNLeather

      LNLeather

      Happy Thanksgiving to you too & I second that... Happy Thanksgiving to All.

    2. Sylvia

      Sylvia

      Happy Thanksgiving everyone. May your Turkey be moist, may your Ham be tasty, my your potatoes be fluffy and gravy not pasty. :)

    3. BondoBobCustomSaddles

      BondoBobCustomSaddles

      I hope you had a good one too! Also, all the friends here on this site!

      Bob

    4. Show next comments  141 more
  8. Welcome from another Coloradoan! This site has really helped me and I think you'll find everyone here is willing to share and help. Glad you are here. Bob
  9. Double U, that work looks fantastic. You really have mastered Sheridan Style carving, and I'm even more impressed to learn how you come up with your patterns! You are producing really great work and you should be proud of these. Bob
  10. Thanks for the info, it sure turned out stunning.
  11. Hey Double U, I've got a question. The lettering on this can looks great and it really stands out. Did you emboss that lettering, or is that just really good beveling? I'm impressed how much it appears to stand above the floral carving. Really nice work! Bob
  12. Thank you all for the very kind comments. I try to get better with each one of these. Bob
  13. Thanks for the kind words! The lining is tan pigskin but the pocket is 2 oz. veg tan. Bob
  14. Thanks for the nice comments Bill. On the laced corners I do make a double pass through three holes. What are you seeing that made it look off or odd? I don't think my lacing is all that great yet so any feedback would be helpful. Bob
  15. Thanks Phil. The matting was done with a large figure beveler. I don't have the tool in front of me right now but I think it was the biggest one Tandy made, and it's an old Craftool one. I tilted the tool back onto the shading end so the beveling part wouldn't leave a mark. Then it was just a matter of hitting the beveler and leaving a dent with the shading end while turning it every time so the effect looked random. You could get the same effect with a large smooth pear shader. Bob Thank you! I've admired your work for a long time so I take that as quite a compliment. Bob
  16. Hello, This was a custom project I just finished. The customer wanted his family coat of arms and name on a notebook. He was just thrilled with how it turned out. I really like the lion carving and wish I could think of something else to use it on. It was kind of neat thinking that I was carving a crest that might have been carved in wood or stone 400 years ago! The customer specifically requested the mottled matting and it did turn out pretty neat. I wasn't expecting it to turn out so leopard spot like but everyone including the customer seems to like it. It felt nice in the hands, and it looks like hammered metal. Thanks for looking, Bob
  17. Macdaddy, part of the problem might be the tool itself. Are you using an F895 that you bought recently? I've found that most of the modern figure bevelers from Tandy have a very sharp edge around the sides of their beveling surface. With that sort of edge I don't think there is any way not to get tool marks when trying to use them. I'm lucky enought to have a set of old Craftool figure bevelers and they do take a little more skill than a regular beveler, but they are usable. They have very rounded edges so they don't leave sharp lines or chatter marks when you use them, and they are very good at matting. The modern versions IMO are almost useless. I've toyed with the idea of tying to file down the sharp edges to make them useable, but I have the old tools plus a couple of Robert Beard figure bevelers, so I'm not very motivated to try it. BUT - even with good tools, it takes a lot of practice to get those folds you are trying to do to look good. I've had some success with a lot of practice, but I'm not great with these tools by a long shot. Hope this helps, Bob
  18. Another possible solution: get a round punch that has an inner diameter that is the size you want the scallops to be. Use a grinder or a file and grind half of the punch away at the tip. You will be left with a semi-circular punch that is really good for making scalloped edges. Bob
  19. That is a great wallet! Love how clean it looks. Bob
  20. Very beautiful work. Let us know when your book becomes available. Bob
  21. Very nice work Marlon. I'd love to know how to do the basket weave as well, but all of your work on this is great. Thank you for posting! Bob
  22. Thanks all, this helps me too. I was planning on bonding a fabric layer to a leather one and was just going to use my Weldwood contact cement. Could to know there is a better way to do this. Bob
  23. Really nice Marlon! I really love your edges on this too, and everything else. I've looked at that article a few times and keep thinking I should give it a try. Doubt I could do as nice as yours. Bob
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