croc inlayed/celtic eyeglass keeper

[sodapop]

ok folks...since some of you encouraged me to put something together instead of just tooling on scrap etc...so heres my first attempt at a finished item...i made this eyeglass case for myself as practice...this is the first time braiding anything other then some holes in scrap and the inlay is a first as well under the olde english V for my last name...

what did i learn this round...well lets see..."HOW TO SPLICE LACE" not just ONCE but TWICE!! hehe...also i started the braid on the wrong side and was too far along by the time i noticed...so watch that next time...theres some other little details i need to be careful of...but theres always something to be gained by just "doing"...the braid is the 8 string round braid...

and look tom swede...i made it around the damn corner lol

i'll give kevin king some credit...cuz seeing his stuff is what really motivated me to try an inlay...

thanks for looking and critiques always welcome!!

darryl

front

back

Edited June 29, 2008 by sodapop

[wildrose]

Those are both really great! I can't pick which I like better.

[sodapop]

thanks alot wildrose!!...i added an edit now...cuz i see i'm not so clear, sorry bout that...its actually the same one...just front & back...

darryl

Edited June 29, 2008 by sodapop

[Storm]

Very sweet Darryl,

I really like the entire piece.   Love the job you did on the lacing too. Each piece is getting better and better. Keep going Bro! You are on a roll.

Storm

[sodapop]

sloooooowly but surely storm hehe...glad you it!!...now i gotta think of something else

darryl

[TwinOaks]

Darryl, very nice work! One thing I'd like to critique, which I did on my first Mex. basketweave braid. The holes for the lacing need to be the same spacing as the lacing width. That will help eliminate the gaps between the laces on the sides. I knew mine looked funny, all spaced out the way it was, and someone was kind enough to explain it to me. Interestingly enough, I had to learn how to splice into that braid twice also!!

Keep up the excellent progress.

Mike

[Beaverslayer]

Great looking case, the lacing turned out real good.

Ken

[sodapop]

much appreciated mike for the critique!!...i did not know that...definately do that my next shot at it...what i did know it wasn't pretty...i got a overstitcher comin...is that what i should be using for my spacing with the differnt wheels it comes with etc??...and i drilled the holes out with a drill...well that wasn't too pretty either ...but i did learn how skive & splice hehe

thanks for the kudos ken!!...i struggled with the lacing abit of course...not enough length, the dreaded corner on the bottom...superglue is my friend now lol

darryl

[leatheroo]

i think its a great piece..love the colors and lacing

[sodapop]

i think its a great piece..love the colors and lacing

thanks a bunch roo!!...one thing i've grown fond of so far is antique...the cognac color of the croc, oil + anitque and some aussie to finish'er off...just all went together nicely...some roo lace would of been even better...but i didn't want to use perfectly good roo for a practice piece...and the caimen croc was from some remnants i bought so wasn't no biggie with using that really...

darryl

Edited June 29, 2008 by sodapop