carr52

Seeing this post again gave me to the desire to go back to something I started awhile back. That is to try and make my own points. Right from the get go I found out the hard way that they are sharp the moment you pick them up. You probably cant see the little red spots on them. Thats me blood. The one on the right was really starting to take shape till I knocked the side off of it. Bummer. I'll see if I can't make a smaller one out of it. Tom

You are correct in that thought Ray. I tried using bees wax instead of gum trag. I'm gonna take it apart and see if I cant clean it up some more. If you think it looks bad in the photos you should see it in real life. Looks like crap. I don't think I would even give this bag away. om

Still not quite finished yet. I think if I do another one like this I need to find a better way to form the strap. I don't like the way it came out. Maybe I tried to force it too much when I was forming it. The flap is held on by the strap. I guess I should have taken a pic of the back. It closes with a snap under the cross concho. Tom

Here's the finished product. I had to redo the interior cause in a moment of, for lack of a better word "stupid" I punched a hole in it. Bummer. Oh well, alls well that ends well. Now to try and find something else to do. Cant do any carving till I get my glasses back from the eye doc. She said it will be about 10 working days. Tom

I agree with Tom, I too like the color combo. Tom

What are the nails and steel wool for? Do you put them in the vinegar? I've never done this before. But sounds like it could be handy to know. Tom

I just used the same material as for the liner. It's about 1.5 to 2.5 oz. pigskin lining. Got it at Tandys. It's on sale till 4/18/09. It's in the Skiver listed for $1.20 a sq. ft. I'm gonna go back and get another one. Seems like a good deal to me. Tom

I've made the insides for checkbook covers but not to many for wallets. Heres a try at doing one with credit card slots. Being black it doesn't so up very well. The piece in the middle just floats so when you close the wallet it doesn't bunch up. I know the thread looks funny but I was out of black. I'm gonna touch it up with a sharpie and hope that works. Tom

Thank you for the compliments guys. If you see anything in any of my posts that I can do better please tell me cause I really want to improve. I didn't wet form any of the parts but I did cut a shallow V- groove on the back side of the fold lines of the small pocket to make them look a little cleaner. I also used a little glue in the groove and held it in place till it dried, just a few minutes. That leather weld stuff doesn't take long to set and is very strong. I posted a copy of the pattern on the patterns thread. Also a better pattern of the small pocket with the stitching holes is on there too. Tom

I really like the color but it's hard for me to get it even. I also added a different method of attaching a shoulder strap. Tom

Dancing girls. Tom

Here is a layout for the small pocket. I even managed to get the stitching holes right this time. It made the assembly so much easier on the second bag. But if I were you I'd still check it to be sure I did it right. I also grooved the inside of the folds to make the corners crisper. It looks a lot better I think. My dye job needs more practice though. Maybe I'll get it right on the next one. It should print out full scale. Tom Pocket_Improvement_Template_1.pdf Pocket_improvement_Templates_2.pdf Pocket_Improvement_Template_1.pdf Pocket_improvement_Templates_2.pdf

I would. I like em. Tom

Invisible stitching, What a cool idea. Well now I have to try that. Thanks for the idea. Tom

Thank you Rob I am planning on doing the pear shading and a few other things. That line you see on the edge is the overall size. It just hasn't been cut off yet. A beveled border does seem like a good addition. I haven't made up my mind on stitching or lacing yet. I like both. I also want to use some color on the backgrounded areas. It just looks like it needs something to make the leaves and flowers stand out. Especially the area between the two outer leaves and vines where it's just beveled. It doesn't stand out. And maybe it shouldn't. I'm just not sure. Thanks again. Tom

This is what I have so far, but I don't really want to do the rest of the box behind the flowers like I did on the man's floral wallet. But I need to do something to make the carving stand out a little more. I was thinking of using a matting beveler to go around the outside just to give it some contrast or make it stand out. Thoughts on this anyone? Oh yeah, when I post something please feel free to critique it. I mean really let me have it. It's how I learn. Thanks everyone. Tom

That was pretty good. Made me hungry for lamb chops too. Tom

I posted this in the wrong place the first time. I think. Oh well here it is again. One of the posts are bound to work. Tom ladies_floral_billfold.pdf ladies_floral_billfold_2.pdf ladies_floral_billfold.pdf ladies_floral_billfold_2.pdf

I got it from the Lucky Seven book that I got at Tandys. Here is a pdf file that should print out full size. I hope. Being a computer dummy I sometimes send things out into cyber land. I'm just learning how to do files in pdf format. Tom ladies_floral_billfold.pdf ladies_floral_billfold_2.pdf ladies_floral_billfold.pdf ladies_floral_billfold_2.pdf

I really like that suntanned saddle look. So a couple of days it is. Thanks Troy. Tom

Well I didn't get that golden color I was looking for on the first attempt so I'm trying again. Maybe I didn't leave it out in the sun long enough. I used the neetsfoot oil. I'll leave the one on the left out for a couple hours longer this time. Tom

This is an idea I had for the straps and fastening the flap to the bag. I was going to sew the flap to the bag then got the bright idea to let the straps hold it, so I'll attach the straps to the back with Conchos or Chicago screws. I like the way the 2 straps come down into one. I really want the flap to be green but am having a hard time getting the color right without streaks. Any ideas? Tom

It's on it's way. I'm also going to post it here just in case I goofed up the PM attachment to you. Tom celtic_bag_design.pdf celtic_bag_design.pdf

It wasn't the best piece of leather but it will do. Still have some background work to do and decide on the colors for the rest of it but I leaning towards green. LOL. I think the border is kinda bland so I might do something to that also. As for attaching it to the bag, well I still haven't figured that one out yet. I'm sorta doing this one thought/idea at a time. Not thinking too far ahead. Tom

Put a " Caution" warning on the collar, I like the idea. I made a couple for a guy a few months ago and the small one was 24 inchs to the first hole. Big hound. Tom