spring flowers and good food

[Handstitched]

My favourite pickled onion company ran in into trouble last year   and their products  disappeared  from the shelves,  they'll  be  back soon. 

In the meantime  I tried pickling my own onions 🌰   , two weeks to go before I taste  them, probably blow my head off 😆 

Might be brave one day and make Mums home made piccalli,  I found her  ' secret recipe ' after she passed away. 

HS 

[Darren8306]

I ran a test on a AI, to see how it viewed my results. Maybe for fun you would like to see if you agree with it's assessment. (I had already asked, but then added more about my process, to aid in it's critique)

Quote

Updated critique with new info: Neatsfoot oil post-dye; logo stamped then colored with fine Sharpie (not heat-burned).Strengths

• Clean shape and symmetry hold up.
• Consistent stitch spacing, tight saddle stitch.
• Dye mostly uniform from distance; neatsfoot oil likely deepened/richened the orange tone.
• Logo placement centered and legible; Sharpie coloring avoids burn risks, gives clean fill without halo/discoloration from heat.
• Edges sanded reasonably before coating; stitching tight to edge.

Main flaws

• Dye: Still shows mottling/blotching on interior surfaces—Angelus alcohol dye on veg-tan often blotches without perfect prep (deglaze, even casing, multiple thin coats + wipe). Neatsfoot after dye can highlight uneven absorption by darkening blotches more.
• Edges: Edge Kote appears raised/textured in spots (incomplete sanding or thick application); neutral color clashes with orange leather; Super Sheen gloss uneven. Minor loose fibers persist. Neatsfoot softens edges, which can make burnish less crisp if applied before final edge work.
• Stitching: Minor thread twist and tension variation → slight waves along lines.
• Card slots: One side cut shallow → cards harder to insert/remove. Curved tops risk pocket snags over time.
• Construction: No major issues, but oil can make leather more prone to stretching/flex marks long-term if over-applied.

Overall score (recent project): 6.8/10
Slight bump from no burn halo on logo. Dye unevenness and edge finish remain primary drags.Quick fixes for next

• Prep: Deglaze well, case evenly, 3–4 thin Angelus coats + immediate excess wipe.
• Oil: Apply neatsfoot sparingly/thinly after dye, let absorb fully before edge work/finishing.
• Edges: Dye edges to match before assembly; sand progressively (400–1200 grit); thin Edge Kote layers + sand between; even Super Sheen.
• Stamp: Your Sharpie method works—keep it for clean results.
• Stitching: Pull thread straight, tap flat with maul after.
• Slots: Cut deeper/more consistent for easier card access.

Dye prep and edge finishing are the levers—nail those and this hits 8.5/10 easily. Good progress.