lcmattson
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Everything posted by lcmattson
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Made a quiver for a friend today (and yesterday). Not really based on anything; just sort of sprung out of my head. I found a green stone in my misc beads box, and set it in. I wasn't sure on how to do that, but I think it turned out ok. The only thing I didn't get a chance to do was to line it with something. I wanted to use a thick sheepswool or something, but I didn't have any.
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I'll give it a shot!
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I am working on some practice pieces, and I was given a straight dagger to make a sheath for. I found some images online of dagger sheaths that have the style that I am looking for, but I am unsure on how to achieve the form. I know how to wet mold, but how dose one get the pointed end like on these sheaths? Thanks!
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I think I need some other colors of dye besides red...
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From the album: Experimental Projects
5.5x8.5 longstitch bound, bank book. Proof of concept for the large-scale, detail-exact version I want to do. Also, good practice for carving -
From the album: Experimental Projects
5.5x8.5 longstitch bound, bank book. Proof of concept for the large-scale, detail-exact version I want to do. Also, good practice for carving -
From the album: Experimental Projects
5.5x8.5 longstitch bound, bank book. Proof of concept for the large-scale, detail-exact version I want to do. Also, good practice for carving -
I'm curious about some books from films that I've seen, and would like to craft both on the inside and out. The list I have right now includes: The Red Book of Westmarch from The Lord of the Rings The Shepard's Journal from Atlantis: The Lost Empire Journals 1-3 from Gravity Falls I can find photos and reference for the exterior of the books easily, and I am working on blank versions of these, but its the interiors of the books that's a bit more tricky. All of these books are thick, and are full to the brim with content. The problem is finding that content. I know that not all of the content for these books is available to find, and that I'll have to take creative liberties, but I also know that there is information about the content in these books out there. I've begun my research on them, and am filing away images and blog pages, but I wanted to extend my reach to this community as well, since all of these books will be bound in leather. And speaking of binding, for the book binders out there, how would you go about binding these books? Most of them look case-bound, but I'd probably modify them to be bound with a hidden longstitch. What do you folks think?
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Thanks everyone for the advice! Sona, that sheath is beautiful! The blue is exactly the color I am looking for. Did you make the knife as well?
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Hahaha! Touché. With the other colors, though, I haven't had the issue. But, yes, blue is a problem. Thanks for the visual! Nice carving, too.
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Ah, I wasn't aware that Fiebings made a blue dye. I'll check that out! I haven't yet had a problem with the Pro Waterstain, but I'll keep an eye on it. Thank you!
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Hey, folks. I am looking for some insight on dyeing leather blue (a dark, navy blue). I use Tandy's Professional Waterstain for the majority of my dyeing, but I've noticed that the blue fades to a odd pale greenish color over time. The dye will be coloring the covers of longstitch books. My question is: Is there a blue dye/stain that any of you have found that doesn't do this, or do I simply have to deal with it? Thanks! - Lauren
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From the album: In-progress Work
Getting it all laced up. I'll be making a plug soon, as well as the straps for the rigging.© Lauren Mattson
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Haha, if you get up close and personal with it, my lack of experience shows. I used Eco-Flow's Cova Color: Gold. I get it from the Tandy shop I work at, but any metallic gold acrylic paint will do, so long as you layer it and don't gob it all on at once. It took 3 coats to get it this way, and I could have used another coat. It has to be acrylic paint, though. I also used Eco-Flow's Super Sheen as a finisher and sealer. -
Ah, no. Acrylics. Oils don't work on veg-tan leathers as far as I've known it.
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Also a good strategy. And I do agree with Cyberthrasher and Lightningad on this one. When I look for leather items, I do care about how it was crafted, and I will pay more for something because you can tell when someone put thought into the item. And as an art and design student, there's more to design than just slapping 2 pieces of leather together. I don't want glue I know it could be done with stitching, and I don't want stitching that's there just for show, because, in my opinion, function takes precedence over looks. And when a craftsman can combine function and beauty flawlessly, that's when items become worthy of expense, and that's what I'll dish out the dollars for. Excellent craftsmanship takes time and skill. In the same way, excellent leather working takes time and skill. The more time you put into something, the better it will be. If it could be fabricated so easily, there wouldn't be a point to selling it for more.
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Cynical, but there are grains of truth there. I'll keep all that in mind! Thank you Roseville, St. Paul area.
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Excellent advice; thank you!
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Thank you -
Hey folks, I'm fairly new to leatherworking (I know the basics of tooling, sewing, lacing and carving), but I've never sold anything, and I'm curious if there is a "system", so to speak, on how to price original pieces of work. I've been making quivers lately, but I was asked to design a pattern for a belt. The job is easy enough, but I'm not sure how much to sell the pattern for, and then I started wondering how you folks price things for sale; whether it be finished pieces, or patterns and design-work. Thanks!
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From the album: In-progress Work
The knife-work for a quiver I'm working on. It's not super ornate, but being that this is the first time I've done anything with a swivel knife, I like it.© Lauren Mattson
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Drawing arrows isn't half bad, but I certainly won't be taking it hunting. I do agree that my next quivers will be slanted for any sort of hunting. Thanks, Shtoink! Thanks for the quick critique, Red Cent! I wasn't really planning anything for the design, and this quiver will only be for target practice and plinking around with my buddies in the back yard. No bells on this one, though, haha! The feedback you gave me is really helpful, and I will remember it for my next quivers.
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First real project. Lots of amateur mistakes, and very simple build. I'd do it again, but more skillfully; clean up all the rough spots and add more stitching, but it was a good learning process. I kinda "MacGyvered" it, (harvested the hardware from horse halters, used an old bracelet for the decoration, didn't really research the strap system, and such) so its a bit scrappy, but I think I'm still proud of it for my first project that isn't a little bracelet or just designs on paper. I just wish I had carving tools and dye. Any tips on when I make more? I have 2 more in the works. One is still on paper, and the other I have the pattern cut out, but I haven't started sewing or anything like that.
