AaronR

I've been experimenting with laser filigree and burning on leather and have found some very satisfying results depending on the use. This piece for instance uses a victorian illustration for the design. Due to the human origin of the source art the digital conversion sustains enough "imperfection" to retain much of its original charm. The laser art on another piece combines both original material and vector-precise geometrical figures. Both are run through the same program as one image yet the contrast blends together as if I had used a compass. The main frustration I've found with laser burners is that the burning wears off given enough wear and time, especially on high-use items (e.g. key fobs). Interestingly enough as the charred skin dissipates the surrounding leather darkens leaving a faint reversed contrast in the piece. Ultimately I see lasers as no substitute for skill but merely another tool that offers a different flavour of embellishment.

Heya Joanna. Couldn't find the private message function. Would you add me onto the Adult section list? Cheers

Thanks for this Terrymac. I didn't realize how much I'd miss the old stains Tandy's used to carry until I started playing around with their new EcoFlo Gel Antique Stain product line. Everything seemed fine with the glop buffing off leaving a nice detail-catching tone until I started soaking the pieces in hot water to shape them (tophats with rolled rims). Long and short of it I don't want to sell products that after five minutes in the Texas summer sun will start to turn my clients' hair brown.

Wife? heh, not this bloke. Interesting recommendations on the epoxy. A two-part wouldn't allow you much time to get the disks on and would be hell to clean up. Since it's a handle probably doesn't matter if it's rock hard after setting. You wouldn't be able to point me to the knife forums by any chance Randy? I'll have to check with the guy about intended use. He went ahead and ground the edge back to razor sharpness, so I'm guessing he's intending to use it for something.

I'm working on replacing a knife handle for a friend since the original one has much rotted all the way through. I've been mulling over various methods for treating the new discs (see image) to prevent new rot. Will some application/mixture of waxes, oils burnishing &/or sealers keep the iron from eating into the leather over time or am I just worrying about the inevitable?

The underlying concept of "Intellectual" + "Property" to me seems steeped in exploitative double-think seeing as how we're wired to adopt incorporeal impressions of culture, societal norms and tools (i.e. language) from the day we're born. A better term for the issue should be "Cognitive Custodianship & Recognition" as we are all inheritors of a global legacy that's been developing long before us and will continue after we've passed on. As far as reproducing the Artist's original work - the exact artwork, downloadable files, text etc. offered on the website - I can see validation for respecting the artist's wishes regarding creative commons & licensed reproduction. As far as reproducing the essence of an artist's work when that work stems entirely from the pre-existing commonwealth of human inheritance I see no grounds for justifying any claim to authorial copyright regarding the "intellectual" aspect of the work. George Bain's book provides sufficient information for recreating and learning how to construct Celtic-style knotwork. Very user-friendly and legally legitimate.

Hey Ed, With the Press-n-Snaps I've found you can sometimes get "loose sets" with the posts'n'studs - where the post part curls enough to lock the stud into place but not tightly enough to keep it from spinning like a pinwheel. Also, if you're planning on setting a lot of snaps (i.e. dozens) at once I'd recommend something that doesn't require you to repeat a tight, squeezing motion with one hand over and over and over again. -AaronR-

Probably won't say much on here other than how honored I am to find an open community of fellow artists specializing in my favourite medium, so here's the obligatory "Hi!" and a couple introductory samples of some of my latest pieces. (Most of my work is uploaded on DeviantArt so I won't spam the boards here.) Cheers! -Aaron R.-

Heh, nothing so complicated as a Tier set eh? Not sure the colour scheme on the spaulders goes well with either of the tunics.