Desk Protector

[BillB]

This was my latest project for a friend of mine. He has this real nice dark wood desk that he wanted a desk protector for. This was the final product. Since he was not concerned about writing on the surface there were lots of options for the backing material. I did leave the inner edge of the top and sides loose so that a heavy paper could be inserted for a writing support surface.

The carvings are Native American Totems.

The top and sides are from 5-6 oz leather.

The back is suede buckskin.

The top and sides are butted together and hand stitched.

The suede was machine stitched to the sides and top (my first machine stitching project) on an Artisan TORO 3000 using a Schmetz NM:180 Size: 24 794 D needle and Linhanyl #277 thread top and bottom.

Edited March 2, 2008 by Johanna
reduced pic size

[BillB]

I apologize for the sixe of the files on the original post. Here is a set at a higher compression ratio.

[Spider]

Bill,

Very cool designs. I love Native American pics. You did them well.

[leatheroo]

very nice...so envious of the 3000... lovely stitching

[BillB]

Spider, My other works using NA Totems are found in the "Specialty Leather Work" section of the forum under "Other Specialties" in the "ART" section. I also posted a Rabbit Totem pattern that I drew to use on my wife;s PDA case. It is in the "Fabrication" section under "Patterns and Templates".

Leathroo, thanks for the compliment on the stitching. The 3000 is an investment for when I retire and I can spend more time making things.

[TracyMoss]

I made one of those out of skirting, but I fitted it to a Hermann Oak desk pad that they send out every year. Do you have problems with your leather curling up with it being lighter leather?

[SCOUTER]

Bill, Looks great! Marv will love it. One question- Is there a finish applied? Do you plan to? Any oil, stain or color would really make those carvings POP!

[BillB]

TracyMoss,

I have not had any problem with the leather curling, probably due to using Lexol to restore some flexibility. I did have problems with the suede stretching as it was machine stitched, but I was able to adjust for that and eventually got the suede damp and used stiff cardboard insert to stretch the whole piece into shape.

Scouter,

I applied Lexol to the leather prior to stitching it to the suede. I had considered staining either the background or the totems them selves but was concerned that it would not look right on Marv's very dark wood desk (almost a jacobean color). So I decided to use Lexol and let the leather darken naturally over time. I also considered using the new Eco-Flow HighLite, but again decided to just let it go natural. If the desk had been a light wood, then I would have stained it.