The Doctor Report post Posted November 2, 2010 Hello everyone. Yep, that's right - you-ve got another newbie on your hands! I bought a small Tandy kit recently and have a mere few hundred questions, but those can wait I've made a measly three pieces so far; the coaster and wallet in the kit, and one of their iPhone kits. I'll try to post pics of them. Currently, I'm working on a patch for my riding vest, which is a fairly ambitious project for a newcomer, I guess. Anyway, the first pic is my first attempt, and so on... A guy in a bar bought this iPhone case from me a few days ago, right there on the spot. I'm going to tackle a case for it without a kit. Well, that's it so far. I have an order for another wallet, but it'll be basically the same as the one pictured here. The same guy who bought the iPhone case loves mine. I'll post pics of the patch when it's done, if anyone would like to see it. Any comments/criticism are welcome. I want to improve as much as I can. Thank you! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted November 3, 2010 ehhhhhh, what's up Doc? Hi and welcome to Leatherworker.net, the best site on the internet! We LIKE getting new members, so make yourself at home, and pull up a chair to the tooling table. Coffee is in the break room, bathrooms are down the hall, and don't eat the donuts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King's X Report post Posted November 3, 2010 Welcome to the forum and greetings from Central Texas! Your pictures show a good start. Your pieces look alot like my beginner pieces, which I have a reminder of since I turned one of my first floral pieces into a leather weight and use it daily. Practice with your swivel knife a bit more and try your hand at straight and curve lines. If you get a chance and can afford the book, I would recommend the Tandy Leather craft manual located at the same store. I believe it is listed for $14? In my opinion it is a good starter bible for leathercraft. Happy Carving! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Doctor Report post Posted November 4, 2010 Thanks, Twin Oaks, I'll just bring my own donuts And thanks also, King's X (great band, btw.) I think I may be pressing in too hard with the swivel knife, and probably not casing quite right just yet, as well. I'm a bit of a knife collector and wonder whether those high-falutin' expensive swivel knives make a lot of difference. Painting is difficult for me also, as I'm used to drawing with colored pencils, as well as tattooing. I'm trying to develop a better touch with the brush, but I tend to get in a rush and go outside the boundaries. I think I found the book you mentioned, which I can get for $10 as a member. I'll pick one up next time I head out there. Thanks again to both of you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Doctor Report post Posted November 4, 2010 Welcome to the forum and greetings from Central Texas! Your pieces look alot like my beginner pieces I can't imagine a higher compliment for a beginner, and I thank you very much! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TwinOaks Report post Posted November 4, 2010 If you've got the guns, go ahead and tattoo the leather!!! That'd be a pretty sure way to avoid rub off!!!!! Of course, the skin would need to be a LOT softer than normal......have you considered an airbrush? If you have a Harbor Freight near you, you can pick up pretty much everything you'll need (equipment) for a bit under $100. As far as the expensive knives go....There have been some great leather artisans who turned out mastercraft level work using a sharpened screwdriver- it's the artist, not the tool. Now, with that said......better quality tools perform better than 'cheap' tools. Combine a good artist with a good tool, and you've got magic. There's quite a few to choose from, and almost as many opinions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites