Hey leatherworking community! I didn't know about this site until the manager at my local Tandy Leather Factory outlet told me about it. I just started getting into leathercraft in february and have only made two projects. My first project was a disc golf bag that holds 3 frisbees. This is my second project. It is a costume piece backpack that was made to hold a 3l camelpak water bladder. This piece evolved with every single step because, being unaccustomed with leatherworking, i was unsure how things would come together. Here is a chronicle of it's construction. Originally this pack was going to sling over one shoulder but i had to turn it into a more conventional backpack design. This bag is going to be part of my costume for burning man this year
Then i forgot to take a bunch of pictures in between this last one and the next
I wetformed the closure flap to look like a leaf by letting it dry over pens which made the leaf spine effect. I also had to glue a piece of heavier leather inside to hold the concho i used (it's to be installed into that hole punched)
I used a couple different green dyes to get the effect of a more natural looking leaf. and added some quick designs into the cross straps then painted them with a gold glittery dye
Close up of hand stitching
Concho used to retain flap closure
First row of leaves used on the pauldron
This is where i turned it into a backpack style
As a backpack instead of a a sling it's able to support the weight of the water bladder (and 2 lightsabers :D )
As a final touch i tooled some orchids into the new shoulder strap. This is dear to me because they are a copy of the tattoo i have that the strap covers
