VonTannin

So it looks like you did your tooling AFTER gluing the leather to the body. I'm assuming this was done so the pieces wouldn't warp? Would you suggest doing it this way if one were planning to cover the entire piece in floral tooling? Tool after attaching the leather to the body or before? Thanks!

I don't think we've met in person but I have seen you at Tandy by the airport teaching.

Gorgeous gorgeous stuff. See? Just by having a conversation we're compiling some good stuff for anyone interested. Well, you guys are ahahah I still can't remember that name so I'm not contributing yet lol

Just checked him out. Wasn't him but amazing work nonetheless!

Always on the ball Bob!!! Yeah I noticed that as well. Very similar to the "s" shapes for belt carvings. There was another gentleman, the name escapes me, that does absolutely gorgeous finger cut work on linings. If I remember I throw his name on here, maybe a link or two.

Pacific Northwesterners unite!!!!! If you happen to have those patterns handy, I would appreciate them! Please and thank you!

I can't seem to find any information on here about developing a pattern for decorative lining cuts. Like for the lining of a belt or purse handle. I understand it's mainly free hand, but I thought it would be nice to compile some tips and tricks!

It might be a little off-topic but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in here. A) It looks like your leather is too wet when you're carving/stamping. That's why the lines and tool marks look "mushy". Practice fading everything you do. If you look at all of the really good toolings out there you really won't find a single cut or bevel or anything that is the same width and depth throughout the line if that makes sense. So just to make it clear for cuts, each cut you make starts of deep and wide, then as you pull the knife towards you you should start letting off the pressure and fading the cut out until you're just kissing the leather when your cut ends. The same principal I mentioned in B applies to decorative cuts. They all start deep and taper out to nothing, and they all angle towards a mutual point, almost like the rays of a sun. Your petals on F2 are a good example. Your decorative cuts go in all sorts of directions, but they should be headed towards the center of the flower. There are some really good YouTube videos about decorative cuts, especially by Bruce Cheaney. Don't be discouraged it looks like you're off to a good start. My first tooling looked very similar. Keep searching through these forums and asking questions!

Like a standard headband/hair barrette I like your Sheridan pendants btw. Pretty sweet idea!

I just went through my phone and realized I never snapped off a pic after antique and lacquer oops

Thanks Bill! First time using a traditional bargrounder. Was used to that teardrop shaped Tandy backgrounder and never liked it. Fairly pleased with the bargrounding results. Leafy Colorado hahahahaha funny thing is it was going to the Cannabis Cup in Colorado to be auctioned off

I couldn't find the finished drawing on my phone, but I did find these three I had antiqued. This was before I learned a really neat trick from a Japanese guy for antiquing that has really taken my antiquing to the next level. But at least you can see the finished pattern in the photo haha

For my letters I made a jig. Think of the table top paper cutters you see in offices or at FedEx-Kinkos. They have that little guide for the paper to slide under before it reaches the blade. I took two pieces of wood with true straight edges on them, rigged them up so that the leather slided underneath and makes contact with my marble slab. The wood goes overtop with the letters I want sandwiched between loosely. So the wood just acts as a guide. Hope that makes sense.

It's probably the best obsession you can have when it comes to leatherworking. I strongly believe edges make or break a leather item. I've seen some amazing pieces, truly CRAFTED, that just looked ameatur because the edges were overlooked, and on the flip side I've seen some pieces that had shoddy stitching, dye job was a little off, but still looked gorgeous because the edges were meticulously executed. If you haven't checked out Bob Park's method of edge burnishing, I highly recommend it. Best method I've tried so far. And get a Pro Edge Burnisher. Best leather tool I've invested in and he's a pleasure to work with.

Hahaha I don't use chrome-tanned for that exact reason. The edges drive me insane, little OCD about it.