Feathers and Arrow Belt

[Brokenolmarine]

I started another Oak Leaves and Acorns belt using that template I bought as an electronic download from Joe Meling.  I love his stuff and that nearly hour long tutorial I watched a LOT taught me a lot and got me excited.  I used my backlit drafting board to trace the pattern to the tracing paper and was very careful to transfer that pattern several times, sliding it left as I moved down the length of the belt strapping, 1-1/2" wide, since it would be a second pants belt.  Slow and steady, line for line, CAREFUL to follow each line.  Am I good or what?  

Ah... Actually, NO.   While tracing each and every line so carefully, I had forgotten at ONE point, somewhere along the way, to WATCH the reference line at the top of the pattern and the Template I made so carefully somehow slipped a bit.    The pattern leaves a beautiful 1/4" border down both sides with the leaves at times peeking over the edge of the border enhancing the 3D feel of the pattern.  When it slips, the pattern is nearly off the belt, creeping into the future line of stitching.

I had spent about ninety minutes creating a very long practice panel, part of which I'll use to make a leather pair of sewn pads to fit my bench vise I bought to use in my knife making.   Unroll the 8/9 ounce leather and cut another LONG (fatboy) 1-1/2 inch strap of leather to start the new belt.  Don't feel the Oak leaves and acorns anymore.... now it's Feathers and Arrows to honor my Grandfather.

[Brokenolmarine]

This is the Second download I purchased digitally from Joe, and it's a cool one.  It has a belt pattern, plus several other feather related patterns.  I transferred them using the backlit screen and then to the leather after determining the window for the pattern.  She will be a beautiful belt unless I manage to slip up again.

With the pattern transferred and the swivel knife sharpened, time to cut in the outline.

Then we bevel to bring out the pattern even more...

[Brokenolmarine]

This kind of work is hard on gimpy ol Marines with arthritis, so it goes in stages.  I work it in hour to ninety minute blocks, and sections of the belt.  Too much time and I'll be done for days rather than sections.  I'll be a lobster with claws the next day.    I worked each section of the belt with the beveling until I had it all done, then switched to detailing the feathers and arrows.  Starting to look like something....

I worked this in sections just like the last, until the detailing was completed.  NOW comes the part that is really painful... the background shading.  I love the tool I use, for the effect I get, but I use the fine checkered shader, and it's small.  I haven't been able to locate a larger one, so it takes TIME.  Short sections, but it gets into the smallest areas with care.

After another session, you can see we are making more progress....

 

[Brokenolmarine]

When I took this next picture, I thought I was done with the background work, but downloading it I spotted a couple very small areas that would need attention.  Ten minutes work, and the backgrounding will actually be complete.  The next step will be some dye work, burnishing the edges.  I can't progress much further until I get the buckles I ordered from Tandy, and some tools as well.  Big Black Friday Sale in progress.  Mid Week predicted for delivery.  Since Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I guess other than knocking out the backgrounding, I'll take the day off... rest my broken old man hands.  The steel plate in the left hates backgrounding.

The sale at Tandy is a good one, so I order two each of the two buckles I chose.  Two for pants belts, and two for gun belts.  Mainly because I discovered that two buckles or four buckles, the shipping remained the same. LOL.

and yes... once that last section dries from my last tooling session, the color will be even. 

[Brokenolmarine]

You'll note that at the beginning of this thread I said I blew the pattern for the Oak Leaves and Acorns.  BUT, I'm not tossing the belt.  I'll still keep the belt blank and tool the pattern on the portion I don't cut up to make the vise pads.  I NEED the tooling practice.  I can use the cutting in and tooling practice and use the blank to test various dying or painting techniques as well as finishes ...  It won't be wasted.

Once done I can use it to practice sewing on the Cowboy 3200, it still intimidates me.  I want to own that bad boy.... 

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, Brokenolmarine said:

You'll note that at the beginning of this thread I said I blew the pattern for the Oak Leaves and Acorns.  BUT, I'm not tossing the belt.  I'll still keep the belt blank and tool the pattern on the portion I don't cut up to make the vise pads.  I NEED the tooling practice.  I can use the cutting in and tooling practice and use the blank to test various dying or painting techniques as well as finishes ...  It won't be wasted.

Once done I can use it to practice sewing on the Cowboy 3200, it still intimidates me.  I want to own that bad boy.... 

Looks nice! That's is going to be a awesome belt. 

[Brokenolmarine]

I did sneak out for a half hour or so before we left for a friend's house for Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday, and touch up the spots I had missed on the backgrounding, and then gave a little attention to the areas on the feathers and arrows in the detailing where I thought I needed it.  I'll take a couple days off to rest my aching hands and relax and enjoy the holidays, and wait for the Tandy Order.  I will enjoy the work when it all comes in and I can get back to this one and start on the Gunbelt.

[DieselTech]

10 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said:

I did sneak out for a half hour or so before we left for a friend's house for Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday, and touch up the spots I had missed on the backgrounding, and then gave a little attention to the areas on the feathers and arrows in the detailing where I thought I needed it.  I'll take a couple days off to rest my aching hands and relax and enjoy the holidays, and wait for the Tandy Order.  I will enjoy the work when it all comes in and I can get back to this one and start on the Gunbelt.

Looks nice! I looked today for a pattern/line art of the feathers & arrow belt. 

Is that by chance a digital pattern? Or is this your artwork? 

Thanks. 

[Brokenolmarine]

Thats a Joe Meling digital download pack, $10 and worth every penny in my opinion.  There is the belt pattern, a couple loose feathers, and a cluster for notebook or bible type covers.  His website is 23+ I believe.  Or google Joe Meling... So much there.

[Brokenolmarine]

I actually gave Joe credit at the beginning of the post.  I am quick to let folks know if something isn't my original work.    I am good at designing the knife layouts, or so they tell me... 

I can't claim the same with leatherwork, yet... I keep hoping.

[DieselTech]

9 minutes ago, Brokenolmarine said:

Thats a Joe Meling digital download pack, $10 and worth every penny in my opinion.  There is the belt pattern, a couple loose feathers, and a cluster for notebook or bible type covers.  His website is 23+ I believe.  Or google Joe Meling... So much there.

Ok thanks. I looked on his sight & ordered a couple of his pattern books yesterday. 

I will have to go back & look at his digital downloads. 

Thanks. Much appreciated.