Demo: Block dying

[CitizenKate]

So when i try to block dye, some surface that is pressed down, is also colored...

I am pressing another leaf into leather right now and i will try the following.

The leaf will be pressed into wet vegetable tanned leather for about half an hour.

After that i will block dye it right away when it will be still wet.

---Is this okay, or is it better to wait for the leather to be dry inside the press?

The dye tends to bleed more when applied to wet leather, so for this technique it's better to allow the leather to dry completely before applying dye.

IMO it is harder to dye embossed leaf with wide embossed surfaces, compared to deeply tooled leather. Is there any other suggestion not to paint over the embossed surface, or is the only answer: practice makes perfect :-) ?

Yes, it is more difficult, but it does take some trial-and-error to get it just right. One other suggestion: don't put too much dye on your block. If you're getting dye into depressed areas, use less dye and work lightly over the surface of the leather.

Kate

[whinewine]

The dye tends to bleed more when applied to wet leather, so for this technique it's better to allow the leather to dry completely before applying dye.

Yes, it is more difficult, but it does take some trial-and-error to get it just right. One other suggestion: don't put too much dye on your block. If you're getting dye into depressed areas, use less dye and work lightly over the surface of the leather.

Kate

Suggestion: AFTER applying dye to the block, BLOT heavily on newspaper to remove most of the dye. Think: 'dry brush' technique.

russ

[CitizenKate]

Suggestion: AFTER applying dye to the block, BLOT heavily on newspaper to remove most of the dye. Think: 'dry brush' technique.

russ

Kate

[dvawolk]

Great!

I just needed some practice - for fun, i will post my first few block dyed embossed oak leaves! The progress is really obvious :-)

Thanks for the hints and guidelines!

[dvawolk]

Hi!

These are my first attempts in leaf embossing and block dying. With last one (right) i am very satisfied! Comments and critiques welcomed!

[CitizenKate]

That last one really turned out great. Thanks for showing them to us.

Kate