CitizenKate Report post Posted February 5, 2007 Just finished up a couple of wrist cuffs I decided to make on a whim. I've been seeing high school and college students wearing ones they got at Wally World and Hastings that are made of plastic. Every time I see plastic "leather", I just want to spit! :ranting: But this time, instead of spitting, I made something. Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmilinJim Report post Posted February 5, 2007 I truly love your work. I visited your site and cannot compliment you enough. I like the cuffs too, especially the tribal design. Could you give a quick guide as to how you colored it or shouldn't I ask. The shading is awesome. Keep on smilin Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johanna Report post Posted February 5, 2007 If you used inexpensive (standard Tandy) hardware, coat the snap backs, where they touch the skin, with a dab of Neat Lac or clear nail polish. Nickel is a common irritant to the skin, and no one likes green bleed marks either. (I'm assuming they aren't lined?) Beautiful work, as always, Kate, and you're right, those plastic things are ugly. My daughters treasure their bracelets; the ones I made for them, and the ones we did together. Jim, I'm a Kate fan from way back. She has pics of her work she hasn't posted that would knock your socks off. (hint hint! Kate!) Johanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmilinJim Report post Posted February 5, 2007 Would it help if I beg to see some more of your work Ms Kate. You really don't want to see an old man cry. Tryin to keep on smilin Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BruceGibson Report post Posted February 5, 2007 Hey, I'll beg too!! Self-respect and dignity are WAY overrated! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 5, 2007 Thanks for the kind words, guys & gals. Do you have something specific in mind to post? If not, I'll go through my photos and see what is there that might be of interest. Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 5, 2007 Of course you can ask! When I have a little time this evening, I'll write more about that. Could you give a quick guide as to how you colored it or shouldn't I ask. The shading is awesome. Thanks again for the kind words. Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 5, 2007 (edited) Jim, to color the celtic/tribal design, I covered the entire carved portion with solid yellow dye. Then started working back from the tips with reduced oxblood. When I got to the parts where I wanted the red to fade into the yellow, I used a dry brush technique very similar to what Peter Main describes in his books. This involves loading the brush very dry, then working from more intense color to where hardly anything is coming off the brush. This produces a kind of feathering of the color with your brush. The edges had a little reduced brown dye sprayed around them with an airbrush. Then I antiqued with my usual formula (the recipe is in another thread, but I can list it here, too, if you're interested. Usually, I have a hard time getting the yellow to show much after I apply the antique, but the formula I use now seems to let the dye colors come through a little better, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that yellow still showing after the antique had cured. The other wrist cuff was colored entirely with an airbrush. Solid brown over the entire thing (as well as the trim pieces), then the edges were shaded with some brown dye that had a little black mixed in. Same antique formula as the celtic/tribal design. Kate Could you give a quick guide as to how you colored it or shouldn't I ask. The shading is awesome. Edited February 5, 2007 by CitizenKate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 5, 2007 (edited) No, these are not lined, although I may make some that are. Meanwhile, thanks for that tip - I didn't know about nickel being a known skin irritant. The rivets are from Tandy, but the closures are nice mini-anorak snaps from Dritz, which appear to have some kind of resin coating on them. I will do as you suggest on the rivets. Kate If you used inexpensive (standard Tandy) hardware, coat the snap backs, where they touch the skin, with a dab of Neat Lac or clear nail polish. Nickel is a common irritant to the skin, and no one likes green bleed marks either. (I'm assuming they aren't lined?) Edited February 5, 2007 by CitizenKate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johanna Report post Posted February 6, 2007 You know how your ears might itch or get sore when you wear cheap earrings? It's the nickel. Some people can't even wear a watchband without getting a rash. Nickel is a common allergy. Thought I'd share one of my favorite bracelets. It was made for me by a dear friend in Georgia. It's been worn so much that I couldn't get it to lay flat, so pardon my hand in the picture. If someone were doing craft shows, it would be easy to make a few of these up ahead of time, then stamp the name (or whatever) in while the customer waits. Biker chicks call them "property bracelets", and if you wear the name toward you, you're taken, away from you and you're available. This one would cost more because of the silver heart conchos. I like to Neat lac the name for a resist, then antique the piece at demos and shows. It's fast, and you can ask $10-$20 for them. I rub them down with Leather Balm with Atom Wax at shows like that or Scouting demos. Hey, Kate, not trying to hijack your thread, just maybe give some ideas to those of us who aren't artists like you... Johanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmilinJim Report post Posted February 6, 2007 My thanks Lady, I haven't tried much coloring yet. My wife does tole and shirt painting and I am familar with dry brushing. Been trying to get her interested in doing some leather works too. Again, thanks for the help. Keep on smilin Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 6, 2007 Ha! You can hijack a thread of mine anytime. Not so sure about that artist ranking yet. The financial end of it stinks (so far, anyway), but maybe at least history will be kind... ? Guess we'll see (on both scores). Thanks so much for the feedback - it is always welcome. Kate Hey, Kate, not trying to hijack your thread, just maybe give some ideas to those of us who aren't artists like you... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 6, 2007 My pleasure, sir. :-) Hope you get to try it sometime, it's so fun when you see it work. Kate My thanks Lady, I haven't tried much coloring yet. My wife does tole and shirt painting and I am familar with dry brushing. Been trying to get her interested in doing some leather works too. Again, thanks for the help.Keep on smilin Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmilinJim Report post Posted February 9, 2007 Ms Kate Still waiting patiently to see some more of your work. No rush. Keep smilin Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted February 9, 2007 Check the main topic, Jim. I'm diggin' around in my photos to see what else I have.... Kate Ms KateStill waiting patiently to see some more of your work. No rush. Keep smilin Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
