howardb Report post Posted April 21, 2009 OK, my swivel knife work usually bites dirt. I had a class with Jim Linnell this weekend (Indy Tandy store), and he showed me a few things. I mentioned I was doing some bookmarks, and he whipped one out & encouraged me to use it. So I did. I tried doing a tapoff, but it was light. It got me started though. The bottom one is my attempt to recreate his design from the tapoff (reversed). The top two were attempts to freehand what he had done. The other one was just me getting weird. Fun though! I think I have the concept figured out, but it seems to be an extension of Sheridan style, which is my weakest skill. Now I just have to practice for 30 years so I can be as good as Jim! {Jim, if you see this, PM me so I can find you in the dark! Otherwise, see you next week at the spring show.} Brent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crystal Report post Posted April 21, 2009 That's looking good, Brent! I like your tree! Good design doodle on that! And how lucky to get to take a class with Jim Linnell! Crystal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted April 21, 2009 Nice doodles, Brent! Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardb Report post Posted April 22, 2009 Thanks Kate & Crystal! Here is the address book cover we did last weekend in Indy with Linnell. I had to finish the texturing around the hosss'ss and the dreaded knife cuts. I'm not gong to be winning any Billy Wootres shootouts in the near future... I will git-r finished next week or two. I'm saving myself for the show this weekend! Woohoo! Brent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bree Report post Posted April 22, 2009 Real nice work! Jim is a great guy and an excellent teacher. I took a class with him and enjoyed it very much. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
anester05 Report post Posted April 22, 2009 Thanks Kate & Crystal!Here is the address book cover we did last weekend in Indy with Linnell. I had to finish the texturing around the hosss'ss and the dreaded knife cuts. I'm not gong to be winning any Billy Wootres shootouts in the near future... I will git-r finished next week or two. I'm saving myself for the show this weekend! Woohoo! Brent Looks good what tool did you use to background around the horse heads on the right side. I thought I had gotten on from tandy but it looks completely different. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevinhopkins Report post Posted April 22, 2009 Hi... Jim sure is a good carver, and you're doing pretty darned good with your efforts yourself! An old time leather crafter showed me how to do that stuff years ago, and he told me something that really helped me with my free hand swivel knife stuff. He said "all patterns are sort of like triangles. Sections of triangles. As long as your cuts all end up pointing toward the bottom of the triangle, everything looks pretty good" It helped me anyway.... And this guy's name was Stan Miles. He worked with Ken Gregson in the St Louis Tandy store, worked in a billfold factory, (carving belts and wallets) during ww2. He showed me how to western floral carve a wallet in about 10 to 12 minutes. Done. He used to make western carved belts and sell them in the little town that he lived in (Pelican Rapids Mn) for 10 bucks apiece. THat was in the 80's. He was quite a guy, and a heck of a leather crafter. Kevin Hopkins Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BearMan Report post Posted April 22, 2009 Good Going Brent!! You're showing some vast improvement there!! I'm impressed! Keep up the good work! Ed OK, my swivel knife work usually bites dirt. I had a class with Jim Linnell this weekend (Indy Tandy store), and he showed me a few things. I mentioned I was doing some bookmarks, and he whipped one out & encouraged me to use it. So I did. I tried doing a tapoff, but it was light. It got me started though. The bottom one is my attempt to recreate his design from the tapoff (reversed). The top two were attempts to freehand what he had done. The other one was just me getting weird. Fun though! I think I have the concept figured out, but it seems to be an extension of Sheridan style, which is my weakest skill. Now I just have to practice for 30 years so I can be as good as Jim! {Jim, if you see this, PM me so I can find you in the dark! Otherwise, see you next week at the spring show.} Brent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cowboy316 Report post Posted April 22, 2009 Howard very cool knife work ive been playing with it too but with not much luck but oh well it takes practice Bear man i see you over in the cas city forum too your work is way cool Cowboy316 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
howardb Report post Posted April 23, 2009 Looks good what tool did you use to background around the horse heads on the right side. I thought I had gotten on from tandy but it looks completely different. anester05 - It's called by many "the pebble backgrounder". It's from Hidecrafters and it's way cool. They have two sizes that I know of, SST construction & all that. I think they are around 10 to 15 bucks. I have PA004 and PA005. There is a smaller PA003, but the catalog image is fuzzy so I'm not sure it matches, though it probably does. Kevin - thanks for the tip. I will keep that in mind. It certainly makes sense! All - thanks for the nice words! Brent Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RustyMelton Report post Posted April 23, 2009 Looks great Brent. I've had a guy asking about putting a horse carving on a case but I've been a little scared to give it a try. Yours looks really good on the checkbook cover. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
