TomSwede

Excellent first pieces!! Steve's got a interesting point. When I lay down and plan a tooling pattern I like to think of it as an illusion of 3D to get my head around how to get the field of depth in order and also I like to think about how the light would fall onto an object in a real life situation (creating shadows and such). As for carving I think you will get it into your fingers quite fast. I like to use s-curves and straight lines for practice and alternate between them. The s-curves is also good practice for trying to keep the swivelknife straight on the vertikal plane, if the blade cuts at an angle you'll get under/overcuts wich you only want when you know how to use them. Good job!! Tom

Good looking belt Josh! I like the design alot and I'd be happy to carry one around, actually I do need a new belt;-) The keeper is very nicely matched! Tom

Hey Anne, this is some great work!! Love the two tone braiding and excellent carvings!! Keeping my thumbs for you, don't give in for depression. It's a parasite who rides you so try shake it off by any means (sounds easier than it's done, I know). Tom

I have a special love for anything round nowadays, lol, so definetly like it. Way cool!! Tom

Hey Bro, AWSOME!!!!! The details and execution is so cool and the skulls are sooo nice! Out of words, just *strong word* awsome Tom

Heey William, that came out pretty cool. I like the look of the inside too. Now you're really set up for a renfest weekend. Well done!! Tom

Very nice, beautiful leather!! About where to post, just put it in show off and the forces will sort it to a fitting category later on. Tom

Thank you Tim!!! Ha ha sorry to say my economy situation is not out of sympathy with you guys;-) but a result of a few bad decisions but off course your economy will to some degree affect mine too. I'm sure this one will find it's way to someone who really appreciates it and I will make more of them but I'm sure they will all head the same way;-) but I'm thinking about maybe ganging up a bunch in my entrance hall. Good therapy job to make those since I hav lots of looow and blue days at the moment. For a viking there is a BIG difference between a crow and raven, answer lays in Norse mythology but I can say this, sitting silent in the forrest hidden from the ravens eyes and just listen to two of them talk to each other is fantastic and seeing one up close...they're quite alot bigger than a crow. Tom

Thank you Clay!! Those look really interesting, we'll see what economy allows this winter. I'm gonna have a really tight budget from now. There's is a good online Swedish store for this kind of stuff and I think they have some of those products but prolly other brands so gonna have a looksee there. Tom

I second this thought wich have struck me a few times. I always forget that there is a good conversion table there for me to use since I'm metric just because the link on top is so invisible. Tom

Dito Marlon!! I just open that can from time to time to smell it;-) Tom

I don't have the same experience as Brandon. I have helped with some images that I scavenged internet for and have sat down and written basically what is instructions for a technique or construction and stuff like that and it has been very appreciated and I think for every single time I've seen big thanks when people published a finished project from whatever input I had. So onwards I move to the core issue. If this were a marketing/selling business site I think asking for patterns and stuff would be maybe not inapropriate butt a bit unfitting. However this is a forum for leatherworkers and we are all here to learn and without sharing stuff we could not do just that so just ask away but be sure to show your gratitude and give back and we'll keep this forum run forever and get our products out there and soon enough we'll be rich and famous and people will pay anything we want for our stuff...eh oh well maybe I drifted off there a bit;-) Tom

For bracers I like it when the packing tape makes it all furry like because it makes it sit nicer on the arm and I have never seen ant distorsion probs when pulling it off. I seem to be quite stuck with making bracers but it so happens I sometimes do something else and then I have used just water and smoothed it down with the bonefolder a bit. I have tried a little bit with sanding the back but that seem to just make it worse for me but maybe need to work on my tecnique there. I was thinking for a belt or strap maybe glueing some sandpaper over a rounded thing like the back of chair and perhaps with a damp leather just pull it back and forth over the sandingpaper could work?? I do this anyways to stretch and soften the leather. Tom

Ha ha thanks bro!! It's a plan!! Tom

Oh thanks alot Jim!! Gonna look for it because this has puzzled me all night!!! I really want to get that bluish shine to it because it may land upon a true raven lover (just like me) so I really would like that realism. Hope I can get it. Swedish market is a bit limited compared to US. Maybe Tina knows something about this. Thank you Art! He he that's the only thing featherweight aboue me, he he Tom

Thanks SmoothZey!! 1 hour and half or so, I did take a long break before final molding but sumting like that. Tom

That looks realy great and very lifelike woodgrain/structure!! Excellent and solid carving!! Tom

Hey thanks you too!! Well the feather felt just like the kind of fun you can have with the leather and that's a great mood to be in when you wanna learn. I think it came out ok so very happy with it. Now what Kate said is really cool about a mask and feather combo. Go for it Roo. I'm gunna have to focus on customers now and bring in some money. I'm really in a bad situation moneywise. Tom

Yeah, that demo really got me going for a take on a raven feather. First try, did have some troubles keping the lines with the hariblade but I think it came out ok. I was surprised how fast it was to make. I just went through the demosteps and dyed it black. No stiffener yet. Thank you Johanna and Jim for putting this one up. Sometimes US is not so far away;-) Tom

KILLER!!! Love the shape of it and the initials are sooo cool. That really is a tribalistic looking face combined with traditional basketweaving. Looks so cool and I'm glad I could be of help!!! Tom

I love this!!! Fantastic piece and the layout is great. Tom

Great looking sporrans!! Punisher is really cool but what catches my eyes is the braiding and the last sporrans with the bones details. It feels so solid when you use own ideas and natural materials instead of clasps (even though I love those clasps). Welcome to the board!! Tom

Thanks for sharing Jim, very generous and got me interested in trying to make a ravenfeather!! Tom

Holy crap Mark!! That IS a cool wallet!! Love the way he is layed out over the back and with the cross there and all. Serious stitching!! Slick and good looking interior too!! Tom

A fine looking bracer!! I like to round of my corners a bit. I also really like to put the bottom lacing holes as close to the bottomedge as possible because in my experience the bracer will push down on your hand at bit if they are higher in position and may disturb the hands movement (depending on the wearers mentaility off course). Tom