What makes you describe a piece of work as 'well finished'

[UKRay]

This is a thread I've been meaning to start for a while as I'm only too well aware of my own shortcomings when it comes to finishing things to a really high standard. Don't get me wrong, I make and sell a fair bit of stuff but sometimes I feel that with a little more 'finesse' - or whatever it takes - I could have made something 'special' but instead it only turned out okay.

This is not about design (or maybe it is?) - I think this is all about finishing and presenting work in the best way possible. You know the sort of thing I mean: attention to detail, all the loose threads clipped off, burnished edges and the buckles given a final polish. I know that the saddle makers and western leather guys are particularly good at this sort of thing - and so is Tina, her work always has something really special about it. Does anyone have a check list?

Help me here folks... Imagine you are going to buy a finished piece of leatherwork:

1. What sort of things do you look for?
   
2. What do you think goes to make up a well finished and beautifully presented piece of leather work?
   
3. What do you think is the most important thing to get right?
   

Edited April 14, 2009 by UKRay

[Shorts]

The details matter. The smallest cuts, bevels, edges, folds, stitches - everything. I guess someone would call it a perfectionist mentality. I say the results are a reflection of me . If I look at something and I say "I could have done that better" then....well...not impressed. I like to see the attempt to put the very best foot forward. Growing up, in sports and life, doing 'my best' included executing the good plans. Having a good plan isn't enough, you have to execute that plan. Give 110%.

As I said, details matter.

[hidepounder]

I'm with Monica 100% on this. For me there is no such thing a good enough! I have NEVER been satisfied with anything I've done. I know that once I'm satisfied, I will not progress any farther. If something is not the best it can be, then it's not good enough! Attention to detail is deifintely the issue. It can always be smoother, cleaner, brighter, deeper, finer, more square, round, even....well you get the idea. IMHO if it can be improved upon, then that should be the standard. I can't tell you how many pieces I finish...even now...that I hate because I don't think they're good enough, or because I can't get past some flaw that I know I could have avoided. I think everything I do stinks, and I really try to improve on the next one! I think the process of improving or growing is never ending. Geez....that's depressing!

Someone should probably take my knives off my bench for a little while....

Bob

[Shorts]

I think the process of improving or growing is never ending.

Bob

Which is why we are going to live forever!

[flyingcuda]

i know i am my own worst critique....i know i have a very long way to go..pretty much a beginner... how do you know if what you do is good? i love my friends and family dearly...but... i don't know that they trust my reaction enough to be brutaly honest with me... i keep telling them...be honest...it's the only way i can improve. i know there were many pieces that i can see the flaws like flashing beacons...and when i point them out they say i wouldnt have seen that if you didnt show me. or they say i am too picky. i know if someone makes something for me by hand...i certainly don't pick it apart, i love that they wanted to create something with thier hands for me. my hubby says that with hand made..you want some flaws...makes every piece unique and people can see it's not machine produced. still doesnt make me go any easier on myself. i'm just glad that i get so much pleasure while i'm working on the project. maybe thats what i need to guage my performance on..not so much the end...but how much i enjoyed doing it? so i guess as i type this...my most important thing to get right...is keeping it fun and challenging

[Tina]

I have NEVER been satisfied with anything I've done. I know that once I'm satisfied, I will not progress any farther. If something is not the best it can be, then it's not good enough! Attention to detail is deifintely the issue. It can always be smoother, cleaner, brighter, deeper, finer, more square, round, even....well you get the idea.

Bob

I'm totally with Bob:-)

In a way I hope I'll never get to be "finished" either, then all this will most likely make me too bored and I'll give it up. Somehow for me the challenge is half the thrill, it has to be intereting in some ways to get it going, difficult enough so I don't know the end until I'm there etc.

And Ray... Great Thanks for the confindence in my work *S*

[rustyriggin]

Thanks everyone!! I feel so much better now, I can't stand the stuff I turn out, but folks brag about it, and say they love it. I see junk cause I see every flaw ( cause I put it there ). It's nice to know I'm not the only one that does this, thats why I don't post any pics, I'm ashamed of the stuff. It is nice though when people ask if something I made is machined or done by hand cause they can't tell. I posted a pic of a holster in critique my work, and only got 1 small sugestion, so I guess thats good. Rus

[BearMan]

Hmmmm,,, It seems that we have a LOT of like minded people here!! Is it that we are always looking to do things,,,, Just That much Better everytime we pick up a tool. Or,,, is it the "perfectionistLeatherist" disease?? I know that I always find, & know where alllllll the areas where I Really need to work on. But Alas,,, it seems like even with the best of intentions,,, I have a Brain Fart,,, & do it again!! Seems like I just went through that,,, with the background on a recent project. So,,, even though "perfection" is something, I'd like to be able to do,,,, I know that until I can walk on water,,, it just Ain't gonna happen,,, no matter how hard I try. ( Ohhh well,,, at least I'm good lookin',,, hehehe NOT!! Ed

[Hilly]

I'm with Monica 100% on this. For me there is no such thing a good enough! I have NEVER been satisfied with anything I've done. I know that once I'm satisfied, I will not progress any farther. If something is not the best it can be, then it's not good enough! Attention to detail is deifintely the issue. It can always be smoother, cleaner, brighter, deeper, finer, more square, round, even....well you get the idea. IMHO if it can be improved upon, then that should be the standard. I can't tell you how many pieces I finish...even now...that I hate because I don't think they're good enough, or because I can't get past some flaw that I know I could have avoided. I think everything I do stinks, and I really try to improve on the next one! I think the process of improving or growing is never ending. Geez....that's depressing!

Someone should probably take my knives off my bench for a little while....

Bob

Hey Bob, next hundred times or so you feel your project stinks, you can just send it to me and I'll make sure it doesn't hurt your eyes any more Seriously.

[Suze]

Well Ray

If I am buying a piece of handcrafted "whatever"

first it has to call my name. Which lately is not hard to do (I want one of just about everything on this forum)

I want pride in workmanship to show in the item, well designed - form and function are important - a purse should have a top that you can get your hand in, belts shouldn't be made for "runway models"

it must look as good in my hand as it did from across the room. It was the design that drew me in, but if it is poorly executed or sloppy, I am not going to be reaching for my money. As you said threads clipped, edges burnished, the little things. Oh and if it is dyed in a pattern (like a celtic knot) no runs. Is it even from side to side. ragged cuts are a turn off.

Consistency of work - is it all "even" or does it look like the items on the table were made by several people of varying skills. (if there are things that just won't sell - look at them with a "new eye" and the question "would I buy this?" If the answer is NO - does it still belong on your table? Or should it go to dusty corner of the workshop to make room for other things that ARE selling)

If you are trying a new to you skill, I feel it is ok to put it out and mark it a "prototype" and get feedback. Do you have people looking at it and going "when are you going to start selling THIS" or are they looking at it and "sniffing" the former says to start making it, the latter says that it is not ready for the table YET and it needs a bit more pratice/polish/tweaking to be the best it can be.

Presentation on the table is also key to selling. A jumble of purses in a pile is not appealing. You put a lot of work into them, treat each one like the "Crown Jewels" Racks to display "little things" like keyfobs (which can be simply cardboard coverd in cloth - or a bullentin board, also cover the cork with cloth) I see a display set up as another extention of "pride in workmanship" The item that costs a few dollars should be treated the same as the one that costs a hundred - I won't root in a box of keyfobs. Not worth the bother to me, I have a keychain. But displayed so that the design shows - I will probably buy the one with the unicorn head one it (I'm a "dumb" girl what can I say >grin<)

to give you all a little example of what a change in display can do - My Rennisance Group did a street festival, among other things that we sold were "Maid Marion Halos" I am sure that most of you have seen little girls running around with a piece of tinsel on their head with some curling ribbon hanging off of it.....we sold them for one dollar. The first year we didn't sell very many - we had them hanging on some hangers around the booth. The next year we sold over 400 of them - the change? We stood on the outside of our booth with an armload waveing them around. Two people sold that many- we got them out from the jumble of the booth and where all the little girls could SEE them better. (DADDY - Daddy - pleassssse)

But the best display in the world is not going to make up for shoddy workmanship.

Pride in your own apperance - Ok this is a stretch, but hang on with me. If you are sloppy in apperance at a show. I see that as a sign of "sloppy" in more than dress. dress neat and clean (even if it is jeans and a t-shirt) - TRY to get the dye out from under your fingernails. .....

(we have a person who sells leather at some events that doesn't WASH often enough - I know he lost sales because he STINKS and nobody wants to be in his "aura" - and since our shows are not juried, we can't keep him out >sigh<)

I could go on and on and on, but right now if I don't go feed the cat she will dry up and blow away >giggle<

If you have read this far thank you for reading the ramblings of a person on the "other side of the cashbox"