harelei

Thanks for the reply JLSleather, now I know what I've got... not really what I was after, I think I'll get my order in for veg tanned belt blanks.. 10oz; awesome! Looks like a cuff coming on... I read another of your posts (first tools?) so while waiting for USPS to bring me my tools, I'm gonna get out my stanley knife that I used for harvesting and prepping up flax for weaving back in NZ, cos I think it's similar to the x-acto knives you mentioned, dampen down that dried up ol' scrap of skin and get started!

Hi there, I've just been given this small piece by an old saddler here in town. It's about 4-5mm thick (0.157" sorry, don't know how to convert that into a fraction ) He said it was bridle leather. Would anyone know what it is? (veg tan etc) Will I be able to tool and dye it? The old guy doesn't know anything about carving/tooling leather, so couldn't answer my questions... What kind of items would it be good to use for? I'm waiting for my first tools to arrive (ebay), and I'm really looking forward to getting started. I think I'm already addicted, cos I've got all these designs running around in my head and in my dreams! Hope I can develop the necessary skills to transfer them onto leather...

Hello Tina, Thanks for the welcome! The moko that we wear "on our face" that's "in your face" is about genealogy, and major accomplishments in our life. The first part of the moko on my chin was done with the tattoo gun, and by a relative from my father's tribe. It was finished by someone from my grandmother's tribe 11 months ago with the chisel (tapped; leaving dots). We're not allowed to have it done traditionally anymore, for health reasons... when it was carved with a chisel, leaving deep grooves in the skin. My husband has the full face moko. We get a few strange looks here in Australia! Moko has made a renaissance, as with a lot of indigenous arts, language, and cultural practices globally... Hoping to "tap" into that aspect of my heritage...

Kia ora, My name is Leiana, and I'm a native New Zealander (Maori), and we recently re-located to Queensland, Australia for work purposes. I was making taniko belts back at home; a traditional patterned dense fabric made using a finger-weaving technique, and had them stitched onto leather belts. It was while I was searching on the internet recently to learn how to sew the taniko onto the leather myself that I learned about the art of leather carving.... I think the belts would look better if the weaving was set into the leather, maybe I can skive out the centre? I have leather craft tools coming now... I've bought an old Singer 251-4... I'm going to need help learning how to use these, because I want to carve leather belts with maori patterns of whakairo (wood carving), raranga (weaving) and kowhaiwhai (rafter paintings).... I want to carve belts with Australian native plants (gum leaves and gumnuts, and kangaroo paws etc) for the Aussie cowboys and girls here.... (Whether they want them or not is another story though!!!) Happy to hand-stitch the belts using saddle stitch. I want to make leather bags and tool them also, with our Maori patterns.... Would probably use the sewing machine to make up the bags. I want the rest of the kids to grow up and leave home, so I've got more time for the above Still got 5 of 9 at home! Well, that's a little bit about me, and why I've joined this community. I don't have much to offer others right now, but I'm hoping that with time and practice, I'll be able to develop some skills, and be in a better position to start giving back.