cjeureka

my first feeble attempts...I was a wimp and afraid of cutting into the leather...I have since learned I need to cut as deep as 1/2 of total thickness...to create a path for the beveling tool to create even more depth by flattening the surrounding area of flower...etc...giving th illusion of 3-D..Its all so fascinating.. I can tell em..I am a self taught tooler...learned at age 59...after 3rd degree burns..that should inspire somebody to do something...lol cjeureka

after experiencing the Cattleman's arts show and the prices tooling commanded...I just had to try...It was 2 weeks of blood seat and tears as I worked on mastering the tools...Finally a light went off..I think of the leather as a canvas that I dig into and carve away what I don't want. Think I want the biker crowd..appliques for purses. bike seats etc...my attempted scull looks like a "star struck alien ...with teeth...says my cuz...

I forgot to attach the photo...sorry

Okie so I have been watching George Hurst, hidecraft etc..clips...I was so afraid to just jump in....only had two scraps..(ordered some from Tandy today ) also had the kits from the basic set...did not want to touch them...Silly me...Glad I did...now I realize the practice I will need to learn to walk that beveler...I can barely move it ahead twice without lifting it...I am in no hurry...I will learn to control the tools...I did not realize I should start beveling in the cut...The carving clips really helped me realize that everything I do should follow the flow of the design...At frist I was pounding willy nilly.....then I realized every cut, every shading...every pound...is for the purpose of shaping the design and enhancing and doing all I can to create depth and realism...I am leaning toward carving...even ordered a carving tool that has a small spoon on one end and a stylus on the other....Saw a George Hurst clip and was amazed at the things he do to create depth...even adding some kind of texture paste.....cutting pieces totally out...puff em out and pop em back in.... I pounded way too hard on the coaster leather...and may not have gotten it wet enough...The brown scraps are wonderful..I used the granite slab and the tools really cut nicely into the leather.. I have a long way to go..but one thing for sure...I could not stop now if I wanted to...Totally addicted...I solicit any and all tips..advice...etc...tho I suspect I know the most important thing...Practice...practice...practice....I was hesitant to share a photo....but hey...nobody's perfect...at least...not yet...lol...Happy Turkey Day now, because if the scraps come tomorrow...I shall be pounding up a storm Thursday...Yipppppie...no annoying customers wanting a zipper put in...Realize please..I thank Goodness for those annoying customers, still more thankful...for a day off thanks cjeureka

Seek...and ye shall find a Slab of granite...Pal just brought this....said it was sitting on their patio 2 years....waiting on me...cool beans

I polished my nails in Geography class...gonna have to pull out the map...lol cjeureka

of course your handle intriques me...especially cuz I am listening to BB's channel 74' on xm/sirrus . I am already addicted...I am watching the video and was delighted to receive kits for a key chain, wallet...and something else...too lazy to walk over to the box and look. I am going to trace them for the future...I definitely want to do iphone...android...etc...carries...Would love to figure out the demensions for the Ipad...to accommodate the support it needs...and flexibility for horizontal and verd ...etc... I am so glad Tandy is so near and just asked Nick yesterday about taking advantage of club prices....I am on a very tight budget and can barely support this new habit...but its cheaper than crack...in the long run.. Be careful about offering to send me stuff...as soon as you offered I immediately fell deeply in love with the wooden mallot...lol....Send me any and everything I could get away with...When you are ready...I'll send snail mail...shoot me a email...cj2015@gmail.com with...especially knowledge and personal experience...I will absorb it like a casing sponge.(they sent me one...cool)..liking U dude...where do you live?

So glad to hear that Dave....I will get some Fiebings and give transfers a try...Believe me as a digitizer (convert graphics to stitches) cjeureka.com I am aware of copyright violations...I draw most of my stuff...or get permission....thanks for the head's up...This is one terrific forum I stumbled across. BTW...got my kit from Tandy's Wichita store...Speedy service...gonna have some fun tonite....way better than sex, drugs...or ...well...maybe not rock and roll...course...I could have it in the background...so there...lil meatloaf.."bat out of hell" to pound leather to........LOL' P.S. Your work is terif...thanks for sharing photo cjeureka

I wondered what mallots you guys used terrymac....The wooden mallot comes with the kit...but I will get what I need to make things easier...That is why I am here...all ears...gleaning from the pros...thanks to all...appreciate ya' already cjeureka Neat suggestion terrymac...will do thanks cjeureka

An angel must be watching over me Budd4746..I was at the Tandy online site and had run up a bill of 65 bucks on the basic 7, some cement glue and a mallot....They called me on the phone to tell me the Basic kit was on sale...reg. 89 bucks on sale for 29.00...Was that not a wonderful thing to do? I am loving tandy and delighted to know there is one in Wichita...only 1 hour away...here is what I get for 29 bucks. btw...what can I subsitute for the granite block? Too pricey for me right now... Over $120 value if all items purchased separately. Basic Leathercraft Kit Contains: • Wallet Kit • Money Clip Kit • Coin Purse Kit • Rounder • Key Fob Kit • Two Dye Brushes • Jeweler’s Rouge • Sponge • Tanner’s Bond® Water-Based Contact Cement • 10" x 20" Tracing Film • Swivel Knife • Beveler Stamping Tool B701 • Camouflage Stamping Tool C431 • Pear Shader Stamping Tool P206 • Seeder Stamping Tool S706 • Backgrounder Stamping Tool A104 • Wooden Mallet • Eco-Flo™ Super Shene® • Eco-Flo™ Hi-Lite Color Stain in Briar Brown • Eco-Flo™ Leather Dye in Dk. Coco Brown • The Leathercraft Handbook thanks cjEureka

Hello everyone. My name is cjEureka, a Katrina transplant to Eureka Kansas. I have lived in Cowboy country 5 years now...I supply alterations to this remote city pop. 2000 give or take a dozen.......The people have been a blessing to me...and are glad to have an alterations lady...Its a dying art...all the old ladies are going on to glory, and the young folks would not know a needle and thread if they tripped over em...lol I was fortunate to receive a Consew206rb. I can finally sew leather..~!~ Yesterday I watched numerous videos an leather tooling and am now convinced I can teach myself. I realize that the proper tools are essential and am about to order a starter kit. I have limited funds for tools so please advise me on what I should get to at least wet my whistle...I plan to spend about 40 bucks...to start...Wish I could afford the 1000 buck complete kit...but hey...Rome was not built in a day...tell me what to buy...I know I want the swivel...and bevel?...Please hurry and share what you think I should buy...I want to order something today ...I am so anxious...lol thanks cjEureka

I found the book "Leather Crafting in an Afternoon" at Amazon...2.99...3 bucks shipping...It will be great for fast...cool looking projects for quick sales. Thanks ClayB~!~ cjeureka

thanks ClayB..I will google the book..... Great news...yesterday I watched some delicious videos on tooling....I am convinced I can teach myself. I certainly was fascinated by how the right tools can make learning easy. I am about to order a basic kit...I want the swivel, bezeler and anything else I can afford. Any suggestions about essential tools I need getting started would be appreciated from all. Limited cash for tools so I want what I can get by with for a minute. cjeureka

I recently received a Consew 206rb...been sewing purses over 25 years...now I can finally make leather accessories. I cannot tool but plan to learn...meanwhile..I will depend on intricate designs..such as pleating the leather first, but would love to embellish in other ways as I do in wearable art. Anybody ever used iron on transfers, or rubber stamps..stencils with paint...etc.. on leather? I have had success transfering to wood...but wondered how leather would endure the heat required. Would love to see what others have tried alone this line...share.. share share pretty please......I am a Katrina transplant to Eureka, KS.....been here 5 years...pop.2000 and only one of few Black folks in these parts...Love don't mind....Wonderful little city...with a great big heart... cjeureka