richardk315

I haven't posted in awhile, here is my entry for the show this year. Didn't win anything, but I was real happy with the way it turned out. Will try and post more often.

Very nice, you always do beautiful work. Did you design the lettering? If not, where did you find it?

I made this for a friend of mine. The image came from Lora Irish's Tattoo book.

Here are some more pictures.

I took the summer and fall off to build an enclosed porch so I didn't work on any leather projects. Here are some of the things I made for Christmas.

I had no problems with this program, it came directly from the company that developed it.

This is a program that I found that will convert picture files to line drawings. There are two versions, one is free, the other is a paid upgrade. You have to play with it to get a drawing you can use, but it is well worth it. Here is the link: http://www.thinkersoftware.com/photo-to-sketch/index2.htm Here is a picture that Hilly posted awhile back that I put thru this program. The piece I made:

This is a clutch purse that I am making for my sister.

We were at A.C.Moore this weekend. I found these modeling tools in the clay section for $3.49. If there isn't a store in your area, you can look at www.acmoore.com

I made this for my daughter who is graduating from college in a few months. It took me almost two years to complete. I took the original design from "The Art of Making Cases" book but didn't get very far. I got the handle on the second try, after three screw-ups on the gusset I was almost ready to give up. I spent about six months looking at pictures of cases on the internet and then came up with me own version. The bird was her pet, the oakleaf on the flap was my entry in the first contest. I needed extra thickness for the latch that I used, so that is why the flap is sewn on. I had a basic idea of what I wanted, but it kind of evolved as I went along. I figured because I had a book, I could make anything, boy was I wrong. I probably won't attempt something like this again unless I invest in a sewing machine, hand sewing is a lot of work.

Painted with acrylics and then finished with Tan Kote.

The only place I could find one was Cox the Saddler in England. WWW.Saddler.co.uk/. Its not cheap, around $30, but the quality was good. The key is kind of funky.

I started doing pictures last year, and I paint everything with acrylics. When you first look at one of my pictures from a distance, you can't tell it was done in leather. When you get up close, you can see the carving. If I do something traditional, I use the Fiebings Antique finish to highlite the carving. And, I have done both, painted soem areas, and then used the Fiebings for the backround. I have a hard time uploading stuff because we only have dial-up. If you look at the pictures that Johanna took at the show in Texas, I had the picture of the "light house" and the "blue-footed boobie". I know my style is not "traditional", but it is what I like to do. You have to do what you feel comfortable with, and what you enjoy doing.