OrchidNoir

Thank you James and groovytech. I actually got a few things done and, much to my glee, came out better than I was expecting after so long out of it. (I had prepared myself for middle school summer camp project level work) It was some awards for a game I play, everyone was thrilled and I was able to judge what I need to work on. Some tooling, some painting, some antiqueing, chicago screws on the ones for belts and a some realizing that I don't have as much catching up as I feared and do still have some tools to buy before I can finish a piece to my satisfaction once I'm back in the swing of it. (I totally forgot to pick up edge finishing stuff... like any of it, so the pieces were just cut. lol) Photos will be forthcoming once things slow down a little. Just spending time at the bench playing with scraps working on remembering how to do some things now that those awards are done and awarded.

I get some basics to get back into tooling and within weeks I have a list of projects I need to have finished by the 24th of this month. Wow. The first three I took on were little things, to be made into "belt favors" (a badge/emblem to be put on a loop and hung on a belt, seen at Ren Faires and LARPs all the time). Okay, a little swivel knife work, a tiny amount of beveling to enhance the emblem, and painted. No problems, get them done in a couple of sittings of a couple of hours each and the only person that has seen them lost thier mind. Whew. I'm not totally happy with them, but I'm the kind of artist that tears their own work to shreds with critique, so.... Next. Yipes. A tooled/carved award certificate. Nah, didn't go in whole hog on getting back into this at all. Takes everything I got practice in on the favors and tosses in some celtic knotwork, a rose, antiquing, and having to decide if it's going to be a frame or if I'm going to be insane enough to try to letter this thing in a week, on top of everything else getting ready for a weekend camping type event, I'm thinking it's going to be a frame or ink/paint calligraphy, but still... It seems I don't believe in taking slow. I'm either going to do it, or not. lol 1) Casing: still have a little ways to go on getting it "just so," but not too bad. 2) Swivel work: It felt SO GOOD to pick up that thing again. Like coming home. Of course I need practice, but I was no where near as inept as I feared I would be after so long. 3) Beveling: This was a cakewalk to get back into. 4) Tooling/carving (not sure where my work would fall, but my mentor/Grandfather called all of that tooling): Other than a lack of a couple of tools and having to improvise, again it went much better than I had prepared myself for. 5) Painting: I grew up painting, a little adjustment for media and I was off like a rocket of contentment. 6) Antiquing: Not there yet Still missing some things for the bench, so burnished edges, and a few other things are going to have to wait until later. I hate money right now, it's getting in the way of having more than a few tools and scraps to work on. Dang electric bills in the summer. lol Oh well, I'm patient and will work with what I have and slowly build the bench to what it needs to be. Best parts of the expreience so far: --My son wanting to learn it more and more each time he comes to the bench to see how the projects are coming along, and realizing that a modest piece can be finished in a real amount of time. --Feeling so close to my Grandfather again after so long. I can feel him behind me watching just like he used to. Worst parts: --Missing my Grandfather, because he's not there when I turn around. --Realizing we're going to need a bigger place to live with two more people wanting to get into it... We're going to end up scrapping over workbench time at this rate. lol I will post images after the event they are for, don't want them accidentaly seen before then by those that should see them until presentation.

Warm thanks for the warm welcomes. Nooj, I was ecstatic when they both said they wanted to learn tooling when I reached the point of wanting/needing to get back into it. The other half has been picking up some things here and there as he has wanted things for LARP gaming and I told him that we could make them instead of buying them. The kiddo saw me testing a few tools when I went to get some basics again (I wanted to see if it was like riding a bike, and it seems to be so) and he got bit by the bug. lol Rex, we're going to have to take that photo once they both have some projects to include in it. And if I can be half the leathercrafter my grandfather was I'll be happy, if I can get to where he was he'll be smiling from the beyond, I know he's there beaming at the interest expressed by his great grandson (also a Rex, lol)... He always said he wanted the family tradition to continue, and now it will for at least another generation.

Been outta tooling for way too long and feeling the need to get into it again, but 15 years out of it and I feel like a noob all over again. Still trying to remember/find the "before you touch that tool to the hide" leather prep before jumping in. lol Lost all the tools long ago, lost the man who raised me in it, and lost the passion with those losses, could even make it through the door of a leather shop without feeling the loss of him. The passion has returned with a painful vengeance, and so I'm rooting around getting my confidence back under me so I can pick up the mallet again. Never gave up the leather totally, just couldn't bring myself to do the tooling leather and workbench, still did plenty of small soft leather projects (mostly small bags and garment work). So, here I am, getting a bench together, getting back in that saddle, ready to try to honor his memory through growing in what he taught me, and a husband and child of my own both wanting to learn it, too. So expect to see me around the forums, I expect to become quite the regular. This is the man who guided me in leather tooling growing up, back long before there was any thought I might one day exist: