JayEhl

I'd carry that to work! Looks terrific!

Hi, I'm still a noobie, but I'll share with you how do this part. A warning: Not sure if this the best way but it seems to work for me. After tooling: 1) dye (usually the areas I tooled with a backgrounder) 2) dye the rest of the background leather sometimes with a separate color to separate the tooled background work. 3) after letting everything dry for a few hours (usually overnight) I apply a coat of Pro Resist very carefully with a paint very gently with a paint brush over everything. Sometimes I use a damp sponge if there isn't any delicate dye work that I don't want to smudge and let that dry. 4) Sometimes a second coat, but this time with a damp sponge. Being frugal, on the second coat I've also used a mixture of Resolene reduced with 50% water -- (not even sure if that's good so I'll rely on someone else to tell me how that can be improved) (And, Okay, I'm a little cheap) 5) I apply gel with a damp sponge and work that in back and forth in circular motion clockwise and then counter clockwise and wipe off excess. Experimenting here I've found the dye in the gel is a nice color tone and in several instances didn't bother dying anything outside of the tooled areas I've painted. 6) Letting that dry I use something like Fiebings atom wax or Eco-Flo Supersheen as my finishing clear coat so nothing rubs off. 7) Depending on the project I'll assemble with glue (gluing both sides) and waiting a few minutes for it to become tacky before tacking down and letting that dry and do the final assembly with stitching by hand (don't have a sewing machine, yet.. ). when I was out of glue I've also used some of the wife's double stick tape she has for quilting and it works, too. 7) I'll sand the edges smooth and burnish the edges sometimes repeating with higher grit to make it really smooth and use edgecoat for the finish. Most of my work is in the evenings so letting things dry isn't hard but I do understand being anxious and impatient. So something else this craft has really taught me is patience. I have lots to learn and best of all I'm having a blast (and it keeps me off the streets at night!) Cheers!

very clever, simple yet eloquent solution

Hello all you fellow leather crafters. I live out her in Pearland, Texas (due south of Houston) and work in the IT field at a university. I've been married for over 30 years and have two grown daughters and my German Shepherd. And, the recent addition of a rescue doggy for the wife but thats another story. I started my journey about a year and a half after seeing a random video about how to make a leather mouse pad from Weaver Leather and Chuck Dorsett. A couple of weeks later I ran by the Tandy store and bought my starter kit. I've yet to make the mousepad but boy have I spent some money on more tools, leather and accessories. I've taken over the kitchen table (the wife has pretty much all of upstairs for her quilting, so... ) I told a friend that getting into a hobby can be as fun as expensive as you want it to be but none the less, I am having a really good time, de-stressing after work and lately, de-stressing during WFH-ing. I have two Tandy stores that are about equal distance apart (about 30 miles away) but would I would love to meet up and visit anyone else in the Houston area to just share some work, how to's and general fellowship and oh yea, coffee.

Hello Adonis. Would you care to share your thoughts on the big Solar Winds hack?

wow that is a great paint job. What kind of paint did you use? I've heard alot about Angelus and I saw some videos how to dilute acrylic paints Did you do this, too, and layer it to build up the color?

crazy utilitarian!

really nice stitch work. Was that done by hand?

Is anything still available?

Not sure what a noob like me can provide as advice. I think its creative that you're able to upcycle an old leather jacket. very well done!

I am working on a candle holder for the wife. Think, a wrap that goes around the jar. I'm trying to learn different sewing techniques from youtube. I'm curious: how did you sew your ends together?

Cool design idea. Maybe even adding another copy so it has four wings at 90 degree angles? I have a wind thingy in the back porch but it has way more wings so that when it spins it looks like one big object but it can also lay flat for storage. hmmmmm....

The way the zipper is laid in the dividing leather piece looks... "oddly satisfying" , as the cool kids call it . Great work!

Definite sculpture art. Frame it, hang it and put it in your office. Or it'll make a really nice Christmas gift. But I would keep it, myself.

I dig the handle on the spine. I always liked that feature on my (cordura) bible cover. I've never added a zipper to anything but I do want to try it. I like your paint job, too.

Wow, very noticeable. If I were to see these on a table along with a bunch of other crafting type stuff (thinking arts/crafts fair) I would definitely do a double take. I also like the idea of a green edge. Well done!

Hi, It's been over a year since you posted so sorry if the reply is now inappropriate. Have you sold out? Just curious as I noticed what looked like alligator skin or is it just an impression on a chrome finish? Thanks in advance. ~JL

Frodo, a sign of a good learner is a reflection statement like you just stated: "If I do make it again, .... " I need to be more brave and work with zippers on a project that I've been putting off. Good job!

Awesome first start. I wish my first round looked as good!

Thanks for the definition. I was think that describes this group, about our passion for leather work, thinking about it, working with it, teaching it, mentoring, and just plain fellowship! #leathercrafter1%er ~JL

Stitch color and works really pop!

oh man! That first photo made me do a double take! Outstanding!

Yea, I'm still very much the novice/hobby-ist and am in total awe of the work that is done with other tools that are other than manual ones such as your creaser, skivers, heck even a sewing machine! I am saving my pennies and adding my next 'toy' to my wish list which I think is going to be a skiver since I've ruined so many pieces with my 'hand skiver' or an air brush painter. I'm also pretty scared of buying really expensive leather right now until I feel comfortable with a process. I did bite the bullet to buy some really nice 'pull up' leather that I made a badge ID holder and have enough to make a couple minimalist card holders. I guess that's the best practice, - that is, practice on more inexpensive leather to get the steps and processes down so I won't get frustrated with more expensive leather. But one thing for sure, I learn something each time I finish a project and learn so much from people like you and others on this board! Thanks! ~JL

yea, those colors snap. But I've always been curious. What does 1% er mean? (serious question)