Formal Introduction

[Spinner]

I figured since I've been more actively involved lately it was probably time to give an introduction.

My name is Chris and I've been working on learning leatherworking for a total of about 8 months. Currently living in L.A. near Eagle Rock with my soon-to-be wife (June 26th) and our 3 dogs.

I started back in late 2008 when I was looking for a new hobby and decided that I needed a new motorcycle seat for my bike. So off to Tandy to buy a book, some tools and ask questions. Met a couple of good folks, found out about the local guild and spent about 6 months tooling around. Took a 1 day class from Bob Beard and one from Wayne Christiansen at Standing Bears trading Post and then about a month later had to step away from studies due to time and money. A year later (about a month ago) things got back to normal and I picked up my tools again and am all fired up to learn.

Before leather, I have dabbled in a number of mediums including drawing, ceramics, acrylic painting, wood carving, some metal work, metal turning & spinning, computer graphics design and most recently woodturning. The woodturning bug lasted about 7 years, the last 3 I did mostly custom and one-off pieces on commission including a piece for a indi art film. My work & articles was featured in Woodturning Design Magazine and a couple of galleries & private international collections. I also founded and ran the popular website, Woodturner's Resource for most of that time. Unfortunately, in late 2007 a severe allergic reaction to a wood I worked with one day caused a pretty nasty skin reaction and my doctor suggested I stop out of fear of doing permanent damage. I still have most of my tools and play once in awhile but am a bit gun shy as I like having hands & feet still attached. I'll attach photos of work from my previous life at the end.

I'm looking forward to one day achieving the same goals I had set for myself in woodturning via leatherworking and look forward to the journey & making some new friends along the way.

Chris

[Spinner]

For those wondering about the woodturnings:

1: 7 1/2" tall x 4" wide, sycamore. turned, carved, bleached - had a small part in a local Indi film.

2: Maple burl hollow form with ebony collar and foot. 7" dia. x 6" tall, 1/8" wall thickness

3: Box Elder Burl Rose box with dyed maple stem & leaf - 7 3/4" Tall

4: Claro Walnut Sink - 13 1/4" square x 3 1/4" thick (single slab) - custom design for interior designer

5: Hand spun copper & African Blackwood candlestick: 8 1/4" tall x 4 1/2" base dia.

6: Camphor burl natural edge/square edge bowl. 6 1/2" width & height. Wing thickness is 3/32". The bowl is 3" dia. and 2" deep. Ebony stand.

[TimDreamer]

Spinner, welcome to LW! If you can carve/tool as good in leather as you do in wood you'll do just fine! All your pieces look great, but I really dig that sink! Looking forward to seeing your projects.

[Spinner]

Thanks Tim. The leatherwork isn't quite up to the level my woodturning was but I'm working on it.

Glad you like the sink, it was a pain to make. It actually maxed out my big lathe as the corner-to-corner size was almost 19" and I only had 20" of clearance...having 3 1/4" thick corners whipping by your face and hands and 1000 rpms will surely wake you up.