Looking For Gold Leaf Patterns

[Bobby hdflame]

I want to make some leather carving similar to the designs that are put on fire trucks for gold leaf. I may try to gold leaf after carving...I may just leave them alone or paint them.

This is similar to what I'm looking for:

http://www.firegold.com/images/HalfHB.jpg

http://www.firegold.com/images/FAfarm2.jpg

http://www.firegold.com/images/FAsr400d.jpg

http://www.firegold.com/images/FAjr400seat.jpg

http://www.firegold.com/images/FAfend400.jpg

Can anyone point me in the right direction for patterns?

Thanks,

Bobby

[mendedbowl]

Hi Bobby,

wow! that's some beautiful scroll work painted on that truck! I don't know of any direct source for fire truck scroll patterns, but i would suggest searching for scroll work in general (maybe a google image search) the beautiful examples you've posted remind me of work i've seen on antique carousels.

or you could just take pics of the truck scrolls you like, adjust the size with photo editing, and print out your own tracing patterns.

ken

[ReavesLeather]

I'm not sure the site, but I saw a book of vintage scrolls. I think the best thing would be to take pictures and redraw them by isolating different pieces of the design to fit your needs.

[Tina]

I want to make some leather carving similar to the designs that are put on fire trucks for gold leaf. I may try to gold leaf after carving...I may just leave them alone or paint them.

This is similar to what I'm looking for:

http://www.firegold....ages/HalfHB.jpg

http://www.firegold....ges/FAfarm2.jpg

http://www.firegold....es/FAsr400d.jpg

http://www.firegold....FAjr400seat.jpg

http://www.firegold....s/FAfend400.jpg

Can anyone point me in the right direction for patterns?

Thanks,

Bobby

One good source is Google images, search for "Victorian scrolls" :-)

[Bobby hdflame]

One good source is Google images, search for "Victorian scrolls" :-)

Thanks Reavesleather, I was actually being lazy and was hoping to find something to copy with tracing paper! But that is an option.

Tina, I had tried a Google search, but I guess I didn't really know what to search for. I will try Victorian Scrolls and see what happens. I had been using different searches related to the fire dept. in hopes of finding it that way.

I was hoping that there was a how to book on leather working that had some patterns. A lot of the scroll work looks like what you'd see in some of the Western tooling.

Tina, I'd like to ask you another question off topic. I admire your carvings and especially your use of colors and dyes. I am making some firefighter style key fobs for my guys at the station, and would like to use some WHITE and RED color that is dark and stands out. The Fiebings dyes that I've been using just look kind of see through and in this application I'm not really interested in seeing the leather. The white especially needs multiple coats before it starts to cover, and even then it's still not very dark.

I've read where I think some people are using acrylic paints, but wasn't sure if that was something I could buy in a craft store, or if it was specifically for leather. I was also concerned about paint rubbing off since it was on a key fob, and carrying it in your pocket will be rough on it. I do plan on putting a clear finish over it....suggestions?

I may make some more later on, and just finish in shades of browns and black, but I would like the option to use some bright colors as well since I plan on making some custom helmet shields as well. I'll post a couple of pictures so you can see what I'm wanting to do. I started this thread about the key fobs in the dyeing forum but didn't get any responses.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and help.

Bobby

This is a commercially done key fob. They are using stick-on vinyl letters on top of the red panel and sew on numbers.

This is the first two I've been working on. You can see how the white kinda washes out. Is this normal with dyes? I have another one that I've finished, but haven't taken any pictures yet. I think it turned out better and will post some pictures later.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Bobby hdflame

[Tina]

Hi Bobby.

Sure you can use Acryllic paint. When I lived in the US i always whent to JoAnns, they have a good selection of shades in every color. The Plaid (FolkArt) paint and the Deco Art Americana is the best, just stay away from Delta brand, pure quallity with low amount of pigments.

When painting white you have to paint many layers, make sure the dry in between for the best resault and thinn layers of paint. I use Acryllic sealers from Angelus but any brand will do (?) I'm not that familiar with other types of sealers and others may jump in here and help out on that issue.

When I look for the Victorian Scrolls in google I get loads of them, just play with the words:-) I think there might be some books on Amazon if I remeber right, maybe not how to but alreaddy made patterns.

I hope this will help you along the road//Tina

[Bobby hdflame]

Hi Bobby.

Sure you can use Acryllic paint. When I lived in the US i always whent to JoAnns, they have a good selection of shades in every color. The Plaid (FolkArt) paint and the Deco Art Americana is the best, just stay away from Delta brand, pure quallity with low amount of pigments.

When painting white you have to paint many layers, make sure the dry in between for the best resault and thinn layers of paint. I use Acryllic sealers from Angelus but any brand will do (?) I'm not that familiar with other types of sealers and others may jump in here and help out on that issue.

When I look for the Victorian Scrolls in google I get loads of them, just play with the words:-) I think there might be some books on Amazon if I remeber right, maybe not how to but alreaddy made patterns.

I hope this will help you along the road//Tina

Tina,

Thanks a lot for the help! We have a Joanns about 30 miles from here. I'll make a note of the names of the paints and go check them out. I'll look out for a 50% off coupon from them before making a trip!

Here's a link to some pictures with the first finished one:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=28410

Thanks for the help,

Bobby