CitizenKate

Skip, there are quite a few different methods to mask out areas from dye spray. When dealing with straight lines, I just use "purple" painters masking tape. (Low tack, pulls up easily without disturbing the grain too much.) On some designs, I create a custom mask by printing the design on some page-sized labels, then cutting out the design with an Xacto knife or swivel knife, then removing the backing and laying the mask over the leather. I've just recently started experimenting with the latex, and so far it seems to be great on very intricate designs where a cut-out mask is not practical, either because it's too intricate or because I don't have artwork I can print out for a label mask. One of the things it's great for is masking out areas created by stamped patterns for which I have no artwork. Kate

Just a thought... if you want a shiny finish from a natural oil and wax finish, how about the ol' military spit-shine method? I don't know the exact way to do it, but it has to do with a lot of buffing with a moistened buffer (cotton ball or cotton cloth?). Maybe someone who was in the military during the 40's, 50's, or 60's could explain it better. When it's done well, it's quite amazing. They don't do that anymore since patent leather came along... Kate

The gold crown is a cute touch - heheh! Kate

What tell? How about... WOW! It's beautiful Vera. It has the crisp texture of some linoleum block carvings I've seen, but this has a lot more depth to it. Thanks for posting it, I love seeing your new work. Kate

Thought I'd better throw in a quick disclaimer, here... Since spirit dye is notoriously flammable, and this process involves heat, please use extreme caution when trying this at home, kids. :fire: Kate

Leatheroo, I just happened to have found a book on the subject of batiking leather on eBay awhile back. It's very interesting. According to its authors (Larry and Pat Raynak, and Luciano), batik is made from melting some candle wax and some bees wax, then mixing in spirit dye. The liquid dye-laced wax is then applied to the surface of the leather by a variety of different methods, depending upon what kind of a pattern you're interested in. The wax is allowed to cool and harden. Then the leather is flexed to crack and loosen the hardened wax, making it easy to gently scrape off the leather. You can make second and third applications of the batik for multiple colors. Once the wax is removed, what's left behind are permanent (more or less) dye stains in the leather, then it's sealed. The book includes much more detail than this - this is just the "executive summary". I'd be happy to share any details you are interested in. Kate

It's worth the wait. <nodding enthusiastically> Get your order in as soon as you decide. Kate

Okay, to be honest... I can envision those being collectors items one day in the near future. Very clean and as always, classy! I love the one on the left that has all those beautiful fat wrinkles. Ain't nothing like leather, is there? Kate

Heheh! I guess I could have been a little more specific, yes? Hate to disappoint you, but the photos are going to show how I use latex (which I bought from a hobby store) as a dye resist on leather. Not sure if I will get to it today, though... Kate

Hi whipit, That's some beautiful braiding - very tight and even. Great to have you here! Kate

Mike, that was a great lesson in expedience! I don't know if I could do something that nice in 3 hours, but you just gave me the inspiration to try. Thanks for sharing that. Kate

Ugh... can't imagine wanting to eat with my nostrils filled with that smell. I'm surprised they didn't hand out respirators. But, also kind of hard to eat with a respirator on, eh? But this does seem like a much better idea to me than, say, ethanol, which requires one form of useful energy to create another. I've read all the debates about whether it takes more or less energy to create the same amount of energy from ethanol. Don't know what to think of it, other than it gives corn farmers a new market. Oh, and I missed where I typo'd the acronym - ha! Maybe it should be PITA after all - People Interested in Tea and Apples. (... well, they are, aren't they, since they don't like animals?) Kate

I'll be doing a small project this weekend that I'd like to use it on... I'll snap some photos while I'm doing it. Kate

This caused me to remember that I had some liquid latex leftover from another project I did some time ago. It's a product by a company called Woodland Scenics, made for making molds with, and you can buy it at any hobby store that sells model railroading stuff. It has a fairly heavy, creamy texture to it, but thin enough to brush on. Anyway, I tried some of this as a dye resist on a small project, and it worked very well. It resisted the dye perfectly, and came right off the leather with a little rubbing. I didn't notice any harsh odors from it when I was using it, or any effect on the leather other than a slight appearance of dampness, which disappeared after awhile. Kate

Um, yeah... it's great that they found a way to turn waste into energy, but it sure would suck to have to work there. Kate

OOOOO! JUST WOW! Thanks so much for sharing that! Kate

Check out this article from chron.com about a new natural gas plant in Huckaby, Texas that turns cow manure and discarded cooking oil from restaurants into useful energy in the form of natural gas. Pretty amazing... Who knows? Might just give PITA something else to focus on besides the leather industry, eh? Kate

I know that feeling... having to go back to a day job after a year of making a go at it in the leather business. But I'm not licked yet, and I hope you're not either, durnit! Just soak up the take-home, reflect, regroup, and who knows what new ideas will come, and what opportunities tomorrow will bring? Kate

I love the airbrush work, and that iridescent look... what colors are you using, if I may ask? Kate

This is something I've been thinking about trying, too, but alas I know nothing about engraving. Kate

I've seen this before, and no longer buy the hides where I found it. I read recently how some tanneries will put a kind of paste on the grain side to hide defects. Kate

Yes! Excellent topic! This kind of information is rather difficult to come by. In some places (such as the LCSJ, but not to be discrediting them), the topic is more or less banned because the tool vendors who sponsor the venue consider it detrimental to their business for crafters to learn anything about making their own stamps or other tools. I know that would not be the case on this forum, so I've been hoping someone who has had some success in this area would come along and post some how-to information on stamp making. My first question: Where is the best place to get your checkering files? I could just kick myself now, because my dad was an amateur gunsmith (as well as a leather crafter), and had a whole set of those files. Thanks so much for bringing up this topic! Kate

Hilly, I have this Osborne stitching awl that I bought from Tandy (click here to see it), and although the description doesn't say it has a diamond point, it does. Kate

Great! I was just wondering how I could reupholster my couch in leather. The site looks like something designed in the early 1990's, but it appears to have some great content - that's the important thing. Thanks for sharing! Kate

Ain't nobody gonna mess with you today, Mr. Carpfisher! Kate