chancey77

Well, since Twin Oaks our Grand Poobah is SWAMPED with work...we have been talking and he encouraged me into posting this months challenge. I figured myself and probably about half the other people here are more than sick of Winter, and with Spring rapidly approaching I thought to myself; Snowflakes! I got the idea the other day when it was snowing what I though was just the most perfect snowflakes I have seen since I am not sure when...not globs of frozen fluffy stuff but actual single frozen star style flakes about 1/8" in size...it was quite beautiful seeing them land on my porch rail and stack up and blow away again separately with a slight gust of wind and landing in my hand before they quickly melted...It was a very Zen moment I would not like to forget. SO SNOWFLAKES IT IS: Here is the guidelines for this months Challenge.... You can use 3 tools Things that are NOT CONSIDERED TOOLS ARE- Hammers, Rulers,90°Squares,Pencils/Stylus,Computers,Or anything that is not the 3 main things you need to actually make the snowflake embossed/carved/Stamped on the leather.... You are aloud to color them after you are finished before posting your work STAINS AND PAINT ARE NOT CONSIDERED TOOLS IN THIS CHALLENGE EITHER! I am allowing the stains and paints because I want to see people put all they have into 1 post of pictures...cause I made 2 last month hahahaha... THERE ARE NO: TIME CONSTRAINTS LIKE MY OTHER TIME TRIALS... So settle in, we have 1 more month of Winter left so lets see some Snowflakes! I hope yall enjoy this one, I made it 3 tools so maybe some more beginners will join in. A 3 tool option is better than what I originaly thought , making it a 1 tool challenge, but I figured ahhh what the heck give them 3 tools and free range color options!!!!!!! If you would like to post them just after tooling that is cool as well...but figured I would at least make the color optional without it being a tool choice. We are all really looking forward to seeing your work! Cheers, Chancey and the (Grand Poobah) Twin Oaks! Twin Oaks will return with the March Challenge.. This Challenge will end MARCH 1. (So Twin Oaks, while you are pounding away start thinking of March's challenge)(I am sure you already have it figured out) BTW! God Speed!!!!!!! Chancey77

If you come across that problem again, take the artwork to a t-shirt printer and try getting them to screen print the design for you on the leather. They run it through a bake machine so it should stay on the leather for a quite a while. Personally I do a few jobs that are not what I would normally do as well... I have a very good client who loves what I do, but has not had the ideas to make something for himself yet, He has a race car team that travels Europe and they hold top records at Nürburgring. So he brings me shoes to burn the tracks and names of drivers and car logos into...kind of strange request, but I think it has been a total of about 12 different pairs at this point... Next time that problem comes up...Post it up! I am sure one of us will help brain storm with ya so you can make some cash... I would have said.. Dye the main leather and tape off a stencil of the name that she wanted...take of the tape and make another stencil for that school name and tape it up nice and dye or paint that...like doing custom paint work on a car/motorcycle with scallops or flames...that kind of technique... Attachment is for a pair of off track shoes...so you see what I mean... Sometimes you just got to put some gas in the tank and feed the kids...we are all whores:) But please lets not talk about doing a motorcycle seat that way...I would have to puch someone in the Neck! ha ha haha haha.... ha SERIOUSLY! In the NECK!

I have been thinking ...ya to much again today.... But ya your tatoally right Jim, so no more basketweave! Ford Logo done in the style of Pinstripes!!!!!!!!! Put that in your pipe and smoke it...hahahaha PS Jimbo, I am a True Southerner...I was born in the Swamps of Florida.) I just live in Finland now:) Actually the only one to leave since my family immigrated to America since the 1800's....

COOL!!!!!!! I DIG FREE STUFF!!!!!!

Things I look for mainly are purses and bags with brass or antique brass parts, although I do take my fare share of stuff with silver/gold hardware, my main interest is brass. Brass wears very well, and I never see D/C rings in bad shape! It is always worn out springs on some of the belt loop clips, also you can find a fair amount of stuff with brass links/chain which is always cool. Some of the purses have really nice clasps that have backings that un screw so they are recyclable as well. I have just noticed a lot of beginners here getting sticker shock at Tandy and other normal markets, and thought I would post this for a great recycled way to find entry points into leather crafts. Jackets also have a lot of material, but usually cost between 20-70 dollars, so that is why I mention bags and cases. Much cheeper when you buy in bulk...don't be afraid to haggle with the manager...after all 2nd hand stores did get all that stuff for free, and by clearing space for them you are doing them a favor of taking stuff that has been sitting a while... I know that every woman I have ever been with; has had a lot of purses that rarely get used , so the chances of bags and hardware being broken is considerably less then if you buy stuff that was made for men... We wear thinks until the just can't be used anymore, so that is why there is always less stuff for men at 2nd hand stores.

Cool! Heavy Metal! I like the background behind the Pentagal! Nice texture!

Another one of those customer gets what he wants deals Jimbob...and to tell you the truth I HATE FLAME JOBS! I dig scallops but flames....showing your biker age there Jim:) Agreed, and don't worry I won't let ya down! There is going to be a kicker panel on the bottom of the panels because of the leather sizing issues even with whole sides, they just are not big enough for 38x 38 so I had to compromise to make it work right, so kick panels it is...maybe it'll get a Ford Logo, I don't know yet, I am just the Vessel from which the Swivel Knifes work...hahahaha Keep yall posted with progress pictures for sure! Besides Swallows are old school tattoo designs designed for sailors who cross below the equator....I have 3 of them tattooed on me from Fred Marquand, and Jerry Collins. I promise Jimbo I take this as serious as I possibly can! True Until Death! I can hear you say in my head in your SW VIRGINA ACCENT...Really Birds...REALLY...and it is cracking me up right now......so a little hard to concentrate...especially with that stupid emotioncon...hahaha

So when I moved to Finland it became a bit harder to locate parts that I wanted especially quality buckles and D/C Rings... So I started hunting out all the recycling and second hand stores sifting through all the piles and piles of old purses and carry bags. Most of which are priced 2-5 bucks. Grab a pile go to the register and tell them I will buy all these bags for 20 bucks maybe like 15 bags or what ever I can low ball them down to. Usually the are just happy to be rid of them! Commercially made purses especially name brands sometimes have much better quality rings and clips than you can find at any specialty house. Also you can get a lot of leather bags and use them for say insides of wallets or re use linings, I was amazed that spending only 20 buck I probably saved my self 100's of dollars in materials and have buckles and clasps and rings I would never have just bought any other way. Just something I thought I would share to people looking for alternatives and trying to save some cash! So hit Goodwill or what ever secondhand stores you have locally and see what you can dig up! Sometimes there is even some tooled purses you can pimp out or just add some simple creativity to or cut a piece out and use in your own from scratch piece! Happy Hunting!

Do I really need to give away all my secret ammo.... Just Kidding... Straight Edge, Swivel knife, Swivel Bevel, Ruler, and go to town! It is just a pattern like anything else. Divide rectangles in halfs and make segments 1/3-1/4 the width draw 2 lines inside of each rectangle or a center mark using the straight edge and ruler skipping every other segment, and either stamp or create design inside that smaller space, checker board to offset them and before you know it a weave will start to emerge from the skin....Bevel edges..and so on... so long lines gong the distance first...then start up and down lines every 2-3"'s so you have just a hole space used up of rectangles then I think you can visualize it from there right-.) If you are using something like a bar stamp like the Tandy celtic/rope/chain bar stamp for belt borders, just make sure you measure the bar stamp and make the rectangles that tall...and start from the center line like you would with the basket weave stamp that you already have....

Mad Props! Awesome and at a loss for words! I like to meet and see people that make me sweat a bit...NICE EXECUTION!!!!!! I really like the blending of color choices in the Tans and browns! Very Very nice!

Come on! Where is the Hero shot?!?!?!??!...lets see your tooling better! Don't be gun shy! We don't bite...hard anyway... Great job setting up your photos with a background and lighting!

Great Job Cheryl!

Very nice work! You have done a pattern on the snakeskin one I have never thought about...very nice!

HEY El Paso...if that is your real name...hahaha J/K Anyway, Presses are great for belts, but you basically need 2 things to get those stamps to set properly just with a bit of practice. A 2-3" thick smooth top Granite stone, which you can get from a garden center or kitchen counter top maker for about 5 bucks and a good solid table to work on. 2 Hard plastic mallets to start off with . I have 2 one that is about 1 lb for letters and big stamps and a smaller one about 8-12oz for border stamps and stuff like that. Home Depot about 8-20 bucks depending on the brand hammer. Practice practice practice! I have been doing this kind of stuff my whole life and do not own a press...I do sometimes wish I did have one, and that info is cool so thanks! Welcome to the lions den...no just kidding everyone here is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am just pulling your leg it is not actually where the term came from...but a way you can remember it...hahahahaha Once upon a time everything in Finland was made of wood, but these days is concrete. Although there is some purists left. Thank the Lord! A real finish carpenter used to be a Joiner, a cabinet and furniture maker. Now called a Finish Carpenter,...but with all the Finish Immigrants that moved to the USA during the 1940's in Michigan , Minnesota, and Florida. I would not actually be surprised if the change from Joiner to Finish was not a result of so many Finnish carpenters entering the carpentry and forestry trade in the USA..( I imagine it went something like this..." HEY WHOS THAT NEW GUY?" OH MAN HE IS GREAT! HE'S A FINNISH CARPENTER" ) AND THE REST IS MYTH AND HISTORY...BUT THAT IS MY THEORY ANYWAY... It is not actually known why the term changed from Joiner to Finish..but it is my thoughts about it anyway...remember I am an American...just living in Finland now, but being a carpenter by trade, I do that kind of work from time to time here as well, so I know the level of work that is created by hand here is still highly sought after and greatly appreciated and admired.

When you click on the picture to blow it up when you are in your own gallery, next to the picture on the right there is a mod options button, here you can edit descriptions or delete it. Also in the same box frame just above the mod options button there is a button that says set as cover image ..

Finlander thingy ma bob....it isn't like the movie Highlander...it is ..................Finnish:) hahahahaha I am sure you have heard the term Finnish Carpenter...it isn't just the guy the puts in the trim work in your house and makes sure the paint and walls are done right, it is a way of construction from long ago that has become a trade job title that unfortunately in the States lost its original heritage...(Kind of like Pride in ones work) Master builder,Finnish Carpenter) All the same. Just one of those sayings that got lost and becomes everyday language... Plus it is very warm today...18f outside now...perfect day! Ok Suicide heat up the Sauna!

It takes a lot of talent to print out or screen print an image onto leather.....wow NOT IMPRESSED!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like it was made in China and I wouldn't give 5 bucks for it! And they want 250 for those door stoppers! Give me 250 and see what you get! NOT THAT GARBAGE! And no one else will have the same seat! Rich Phillips has some ok tooled stuff why they would even bother selling that garbage is beyond me...They are not original pieces and for that walmart approach to motorcycle customising seats I DESPISE!!!! AND CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT!!!!!!!!!!!! Things like this make my blood boil...If you think this was tattooed you obviously don't have any yourself. (SORRY THATS MY BLOOD PRESSURE RISING THINKING ABOUT THIS)

This has nothing to do with what you have done now...You have created a real cool old looking gun case that is very cool! But as a blanket statement... Since you are starting out you can take this advise or leave it , but Color choice for lace can really make a project stand out. I do it kind of like this Tans and Browns/Red Browns get either Black or Natural lace or the Same exact color of the main piece. Black is good with any color of the rainbow, just I tend to stay to more natural colors..not anything like purple, unless that is what a client wants. Natural color base, -Black lace or same color I personally do not like that chocolate lace, I always thought it looked a bit corny unless the same color is being used for the project. Think Contrasting colors, maybe a color that is used inside a 2 color piece but the out sides are black and insides are natural, use natural lace... It is only my opinion, but I think the lace is a great ornamental way to border the tooled piece, like a picture frame. And lace is all I ever use...I have 2 old singers from the 20's that where owned by a shoe maker, but they have 3" of dust on them.... Again, just my personal taste and opinion...Take it or leave it.

So is that what you have been doing all day! Ihana! Vittu Hyvää! Is that another old tandy project from the new web library?

Wow those are cool!!!!!!! There are some real cool ones in that box of tricks you have there!!!!!!!

That knife handle looks interesting! How about a picture with the knife out of the case so we can see it as well! Lets say it all together...Brain Tan...wasn't that fun..... Brain Tan...I love that! Awesome Sheath!