Nighthawk

I use this: http://www.tandyleat...w=border+cutter I cut a border. Then I use this to set the holes in the border: http://www.tandyleat...ure=Product_219 Then I use this to punch the holes: http://www.tandyleat...ure=Product_202 It's a tedious process that yields rather precise results: By the way... the fleece that this was taken on is covering my feet on this chilly Colorado night. It was on sale for $30 at Tandy! Couldn't believe it! Hell of a deal if you need one!

I'm making a trip to Tandy to pick up a stamp and some latched today. I may have to get some and give it a try. Sounds like it would work well out of an airbrush- which I just got! I've been looking for an excuse to start playing with it...

It's a good red! It does indeed suit the tartan well. I haven't used Ox Blood yet. How does it differ from the regular red?

Wow!! I love the color of the sporran!! Guess I came in on this a little late, though! Glad it went off well.

Well then, I thought I might just throw this into the mix... I made this targe to go with my Renaissance festival costuming! It's not exactly historically accurate because of the color, but it certainly works: Beanie baby wars!! The leather I used on this was junk. It sat in a friend's basement for like 3 years. I spent several trying to soften and restore it. I oiled it, I cased it... and it still cracked when I unrolled it! Still it came out fairly nice for what I had to work with. So this is a thought on the historical side of things. Leather mugs were also common: Here's a link to some good information on the history of leather drinking vessels, too. http://www.hidebound.co.uk/history.htm

I took the iPhone case to my karate class tonight to show my instructors. They both liked it so much that I now have 2 months of free classes coming- one month of class per case... Not a bad barter if I do say so myself.

First, I made a leather mug for a friend in Poland: Second- an iPhone case for my brother, and a cell phone case for my wife, for Christmas: What do you all think- good Christmas gifts?

That's so cute!! All ready to club someone.

I was wondering the same thing! It looks more like mahogony or red with a dark antique finish than brown. I love it! It looks great!

SWEET!! My son doesn't wear his garb for Halloween- he wants to wear a costume, he says! His garb is too normal... Guess I'm doing something right!

I like the middle one alot! What was the technique used to get that effect?

McKenzie weathered. It's the one I chose to wear for my living history group- it close to what would have been worn 300 years ago

My new Rob Roy style sporran. I've been talking about making this for 2 months now! This thing has a flap that is interchangable using snaps in the back. (I freely admit to having gotten lazy on the first flap- no tooling; just stamps! I'll do better on the next.) I plan on making a flap with Iron Maiden's Eddie on it and a skull and crossbones concho for the catch next. I cut the button off of a mule deer antler.

One thing I'm surprised I haven't seen in this thread is mention of the targe. They were usually just just leather stretched over wood and secured with nails, but they often were very intricate with tooling.

I attach one of these: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/8122-00.aspx?feature=Product_1&kw=slicker to a drill. I put my drill in a vice clamp. I turn the drill on, hold the leather tight, and run it through. I like Echo Flo Gum Tragacanth. I rub a bunch into the edge, run it through the wheel, edge coat it, run it through the wheel, wax it, run it through the wheel, and then sheen it. Makes lovely edges!

My first mug! The crest is the Polish eagle. My dad asked me to make this for a friend of his in Poland, who happens to love hand made gifts. Never done one of these before since they are technicly not period for me. I'm really pretty pleased with how it came out!

The pink one... Man, are you TRYING to destroy what little self esteem that poor dog has? The brown one is good, though! (Honestly, they're both really nice!)

Thanks for the ideas! The circle I need, I found out last night, is exactly the same diameter as a spindle of Tejas lace! I'm using it for the bottom of a leather mug that I'm making as a Christmas gift for a friend.

This may seem like a silly question... but how the heck do I cut a clean circle?!?! Tried guides, freehand... Is there some kind of tool that I can use, like a compass that holds a blade?

Very nice! I like that kind of basic shape in a sporran. I'm working on a Rob Roy style sporran for myself, speaking of intimidating sporrans. I plan to make it so that it has interchangable flaps, one of which will be and Iron Maiden flap with a big ol' Eddie on it! If you don't know what Eddie looks like... google him, and you'll understand the whole intimidation thing!

Yeah, that can happen with lighter leathers! I use an electric razor to fix the fuzz.

Interesting! I figured you designed it to fit. Thanks for the insight!

I love that style! How do you do your edges? I use a belt sander. I tried trimming by hand with debatable results.

Oh for Gods sake. So I misspelled it. Everyone's a critic... ***Walks off grumbling*** And I still haven't found a reasonable pattern that I can use for leather!! They're just big gloves...