Domino

He he.. I considered doing that. Instead I went for a crazy idea that I may not get around to doing this month. I've already spent a fair bit of time planning it, and sorting out the artwork. I've estimated it'll need about 2000 tool impressions from the 4 stamps I plan on using (I saved the 5th in case I decide to add a border). Each needs to be accurately positioned and I still need to make some sort of guide for the tooling as each of those 2000 stamps will need to be pretty much spot on for it to work. I'm not going to spoil the surprise by posting my artwork, but will post the final work even if it's a little late.

And you kept a straight face while saying it It's not the dragon that's the issue, it's thinking of something to make that I'd want to put a dragon on..

Found this while I was looking at dragon pictures hoping for inspiration to strike.. Added to my things to make when I get good enough list... I've still no ideas for the challenge though..

I dunno about that. You've been hogging the funny hat to good effect. Just kidding - I couldn't find a clown smiley

Bit rushed as I've been busy and only got to this today.. Used swivel knife, backgrounder, beveller and seeder.. I didn't bother doing anything fancy with colouring - only having a few shades of brown to choose from is kinda limiting and I wanted to assemble this and make sure the design worked. I think I'd make the decorated panels a bit smaller next time, they are too close to the folds..

Looks a bit like the results from two tone rag dying - leatherlearn website http://www.youtube.com/embed/MQ7zgeGavKw

It was for me.. I ended up spending £80 without even trying.. £57 for a 3mm 1.25 sq meter shoulder and the rest on bits I picked up from the offcuts mountain.. I managed to stop myself on that pretty quickly, I could easily have spent the £80 just on offcuts.. Mountain is definitely the right word for it though.. Waist high and at least 10ft deep by 20ft wide.. I had to climb on it to check some pieces towards the back and I literally only checked the top.. Who knows what was lurking if I started digging.. There was some really nice maroon hair on hide that I left as it would have taken me over budget - there was a lot of unusual offcuts even some shiny silver leather, and more normal stuff - I even saw some pigskin in there. The bits in the offcuts were a large range of sizes. There were even what looked like at least a side of black goat, so there was plenty to choose from. I'll be going back with a bigger budget next time Here's the three offcuts I picked out.. The brown is about 1 1/2 sq ft, the black about 6 sq ft and the blue about 4 sq ft.. So looks like £2 per sq ft for stuff on the offcuts pile.. You just pick pieces and he tells you the price afterwards. That's why I put the hair on hide back, I picked a piece that turned out to be £20 a bit much for an impulse purchase that may or may not have got used.. It is a warehouse rather than a showroom, so I didn't bother looking at all the hides etc they had.. I asked specifically for a small 3mm tooling shoulder, we pulled out a roll that had maybe six hides in and the smallest one looked fine to me, so that's what I got.

Yeah, I do like Le Prevo, but I'm just about to set off to check out J Woods Leather - they are just 20 miles away, and I'd prefer to not have to order any more leather through mail order. What's the odds I won't need a wallet when I get back

Nice design. I'd have been tempted to improvise and find a small round nail to make the ends of the catch slots - those punch holes look a bit big to me. With the two flaps and main crease there's a lot of smooth folds, good to hear you plan on reflecting that smoothness in the edges.. I do like it, I kinda wish I'd gone for the columbo side now when I ordered my leather from Le Prevo, there's a lot of character in that leather.. I've got some purple violene dupion silk I planned on using for a wallet lining. It's a very similar colour to yours, but has a red weft so changes colour in different light.. Now I'm gonna look like I'm copying you - must be a Northern English taste, I'm in Burnley The lining looks loose, did you test gluing it down and decide against it?

Yeah, it does make a big difference.. I've switched to a hollow ground for my main blade, but yesterday I was using Little Border Wizard, so I was using my original blade.. Halfway around the project I was kicking myself for not sharpening it before starting.. I swear it was getting duller every six inches. Of course I didn't want to risk not getting it back into the Wizard in the same place, so I struggled on, but it was really hard work cutting towards the end.. I had to use the tool the other way up to use the other end of the blade for the last curve, by then I was having to push so hard I didn't fancy my chances of getting around a curve with the side I started with..

I think my leather better hurry up and arrive before this thread gets filled with great pieces.. Nicely done, though it must have been tough cutting out those shapes with a swivel knife

Thanks Hopefully someone will have tips on sharpening, because I'm clueless.. On both these, I was the only bidder.. So cost me in total, with shipping, £15 - about US$24.. Bit of a bargain I think..

Just got this off ebay.. I didn't know much about it when I bought it, but did a little research while waiting for it to arrive. It's a Goodell and Pratt No 41 washer cutter. It's advertised in their 1926 catalogue, but I don't know the exact date of this one.. Goodell and Pratt closed down in 1931 so it's at least 80 years old, and could be over 100 assuming it was the 41st model of tool they offered.. I knew I needed a brace to use it, and with no Goodell Pratt ones available I went for a UK made one from W Marples and Sons (I was tool poor before starting leatherwork ). The nearest I can find is in their 1938 catalogue, but mine doesn't have the alligator jaws.. Here they are together.. Now I need to go shopping for some clamps to hold the leather..

I printed out my design and realized a few things did need changing.. I simplified the flower so I'd half a chance of getting a tool to it - I based it on a lliama (as used in leys) to match the theme. I also had to move the stud position, so I redid the cogs to make it more obvious they ran together across the panels and to leave space for personalization... So here's the new improved version.. Hopefully my leather will turn up before I change it again

Le Prevo had pinstripe nubuck on clearance, but unfortunately they had sold out when I tried to order.. If you got some and can spare some, give me a shout. Cheers, Domino

Rats.. I should have said that.. Good excuse when my carving looks nothing like my plan..

Yeah, well coin purse.. It's based on an idea from an idea.. I couldn't find a pattern for the cutting so I made my own up.. Hmm, looking at video again, maybe I should have allowed a bit more for the outside folds.. Other way around.. I'd decided on the steam punk idea for this before I started in leathercraft, it's what my very first coaster was a practice run for. The bottom of the press studs will be the axles for the cogs I wasn't entirely sure what to put on outside.. I kinda played with the idea of the outside of the machine, but it didn't feel right.. When I saw the challenge, I thought it was perfect for the outside to give a cool looking purse with the hidden steampunk detail.. I'll have to use v gouge, hole punch and stud setter to finish it.. Are assembly tools freebies in cases like this or should I put those stages in another thread?

Hey are you spying? Sadly that's all I can do for a week or so.. I designed it for the 2mm leather I'm ordering, so can't do anything else until it turns up..

Are roo lace supplies in jeopardy as Google takes over the outback..?? Google had a lot of fun this year.. Roundup of their pranks..