CitizenKate Report post Posted May 19, 2007 Here is a photo of a bookmark I just finished. Not much to it... except about 5 hours of carving and dye work. Turned out to be a little more ambitious than I expected. It's 3.5" x 6". I decided to try a wider format for my bookmarks to open up more artistic possibilities, but this particular design was probably more work than what even a hard-core bookmark collector would be willing to pay for. But we'll see... The odd-looking horse/fish figure is a mythical creature from Scottish legend known as a "kelpie". Kelpies are said to be seen standing by brooks, rivers, or lakes, posing as beautiful, tame horses, and when someone comes along and tries to ride it, it rushes into the water with the hapless rider and drowns them. Sounds like good work, if you can get it. Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Regis Report post Posted May 19, 2007 Kate, That is beautiful work. It's quite interesting how you transitioned the border from 2 row (sides) to 4 row (top & bottom). The virtical lines at top and bottom,,, are they cut through or just light cuts? You got really good depth for leather thin enough for bookmark. What weight leather did you use? Thanks for sharing, Regis Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted May 19, 2007 (edited) Thanks, Regis. I make bookmarks from 5-6oz pieces that I've split down to 3-4oz. This particular one is probably closer to a 4oz thickness. The border design was done using the "celtic knot font" that you can purchase and download from www.clanbadge.com. The vertical cuts are cut all the way through the leather, to make a kind of fringe that you see on a lot of bookmarks. Kate Edited May 20, 2007 by CitizenKate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete Report post Posted May 19, 2007 I'm curious- why didn't you use a lighter weight to begin with? And do you carve and finish and THEN split it? pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted May 20, 2007 Pete, My specialty is large-sized game boards, typically 22" or 23" square, which I make with 5-6oz. Out of one side of leather, I can cut out 2-4 game boards, and there usually is quite a bit of perfectly useable leather leftover. Usable, but not big enough for another game board. By the end of last year, I had built up over 300 sq. ft. of those smaller pieces. So I needed some smaller projects to use up those smaller pieces. If I couldn't use the leather I already have to make the bookmarks (or wrist bands, or keycases, or wallets), I'd probably have no reason to make them. I do the splitting before I do anything else to the leather. Kate I'm curious- why didn't you use a lighter weight to begin with? And do you carve and finish and THEN split it?pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johanna Report post Posted May 20, 2007 Hey, Kate...ever thought about doing your thing and putting it into a frame and calling it "ART"??? If I had a genuine KD bookmark, I'd be too scared of losing it to use it, and would feel much better with it securely hanging on the wall, where I could look at it and appreciate it every day. But then it's probably different at your house. If you lay something down, it's there when you return. *sigh* my youngest will graduate from high school in 2018. Johanna Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Major Report post Posted May 20, 2007 Georgeous Kate. Love the design. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted May 20, 2007 LOL When I lay something down, it becomes a victim of absent-mindedness. That's almost as bad as having kids around. And no, it's not a senior thing; I've had this problem since I was a teenager. A lot of people buy handcrafted bookmarks as "collectible art", and often don't actually use them as bookmarks. Kind of a shame, in a way, because I make them to be used. They can be preserved quite nicely inside the pages of a book. But you make a good point. Maybe part of the packaging should include some way to mount them. Kate Hey, Kate...ever thought about doing your thing and putting it into a frame and calling it "ART"??? If I had a genuine KD bookmark, I'd be too scared of losing it to use it, and would feel much better with it securely hanging on the wall, where I could look at it and appreciate it every day. But then it's probably different at your house. If you lay something down, it's there when you return. *sigh* my youngest will graduate from high school in 2018. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roger Report post Posted May 20, 2007 very nice! seems a shame to hide it in a book Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SmilinJim Report post Posted May 20, 2007 Truly lovely work lady. You should do a tutorial on coloring. Jim Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
