Tropical Sea Life Patterns And Templates

[Eddyc53]

Hi Folks,

I'm ready to get started my venture into this wide world of "Leather Craft" and since I'm on the Island, I have a few questions about selecting Leather/kits and patterns etc. to start making some small items like:

1. Key Fobs, Coin Purses, Cell Phone cases, Leather Pendants and the like for our Tourist market and such.
   
2. Please tell me, are "Kits" the way to go for learning or should dive right in and I try my hand at "free hand" cutting?
   
3. Which weight of leather will work best for these items? I wish to "hand sew" these items.
   
4. Are there any "Plastic" templates for these items and are there any "Tropical Sea Life" or "Nautical" patterns that will lend itself to tourist related items?
   

Your assistance and suggestions would most appreciated.

[Sylvia]

Hi Eddy

If you intend to make a profit on these I would say dive in and learn to cut your own. If you are wanting to learn and are limited on tools... get the kits.

The problem is that a Key Fob Kit will cost you around $8 plus shipping if you order it. You can buy templates on Ebay to get the shape of the key fob and the rings seem to be pretty inexpensive.

As for tropical designs... your best resource is right in front of you. Search for "line art" and some times Font's will give you interesting images too.

here's a link to a search I did when we had our Tiki challenge a month or so ago.

http://www.canstockphoto.com/illustration/tiki.html

Font's

http://www.fontspace.com/category/tiki

Nautical

http://www.canstockphoto.com/nautical-icon-set-5025005.html

Tropical

https://www.google.com/search?q=tropical+line+art&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=PbO&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=YL7gT86-IKO-2gXdoazkCw&ved=0CGEQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=639

Just tape some of those thick clear page protectors to your monitor and gently trace with a sharpie. Then lay that over the leather and trace with your stylus.

[Eddyc53]

Hi Sylvia...many thanks for this quick help ...I've been searching in the wrong places!!!

I'll let you know what I fine!!! BTW...Tandy has some rectangular shapes I'll try my hand on!!!

[Sylvia]

Hi Sylvia...many thanks for this quick help ...I've been searching in the wrong places!!!

I'll let you know what I fine!!! BTW...Tandy has some rectangular shapes I'll try my hand on!!!

LOL Good... search ebay for "leather templates" You'll get something like this... http://www.ebay.com/itm/KEYFOB-TEMPLATE-SET-FOR-LEATHER-CRAFT-5-PIECE-FREE-SHIPPING-NEW-/140763699793?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c62b9a51

Keep in mind that Tandy tends to use the cheapest and thinnest possible leather for their kits and shapes. Thin leather is harder (in my opinion) to tool on. If you are ordering, you might be better off ordering a double bend or a side from one of the higher end leather vendors. http://springfieldleather.com/

However, if you are going to a local Tandy... ignore the precut shapes and ask for their Veg tanned scrap bin. They are great to practice on... and you'll have no worries about screwing up a piece...it is just "scrap."

By the way... please don't waste your $$ on those alphabet sets. Font's are easy to line up and size... then print right from your computer.

[Eddyc53]

Aw Shucks...How did you read my mind on those 3-D Alphabet sets?

Anyway I'll Follow your advice...but I thought Tandy was the Grand Daddy of "ALL" things leather?

And while we're at it, is there a way to craft a piece without "carving"...that is, just out tracing a design and then use stamps to tool in the sculptured look?

Thanks again...

[Eddyc53]

Another thing I've thought of...would there be any value in getting my own custom made steel shape dies and a clicker for mass production, when the time comes or just suck it up and cut-one-piece-at-a-time till "Elsie" comes home?

[Stewart]

Here is a site that may help.

I downloaded one to my pictures already

www.idsource.com/keytags.php

Joe

[Eddyc53]

Hey Joe...many thanks for this site...I've saved it too!!!

[Sylvia]

Aw Shucks...How did you read my mind on those 3-D Alphabet sets?

Anyway I'll Follow your advice...but I thought Tandy was the Grand Daddy of "ALL" things leather?

And while we're at it, is there a way to craft a piece without "carving"...that is, just out tracing a design and then use stamps to tool in the sculptured look?

Thanks again...

Oh I coveted the stamp sets too, until I realized how easily one can use the computer for different fonts. Before alphabet stamps... leather workers traced, cut and beveled from sheets of paper with alphabets on them. You'll have a far better variety at your fingertips.... and you won't have a disaster with one stamp giving you a double impression... or worse... a crooked impression.

Tandy... is the grand daddy... but in recent years they became the "Walmart" of leather.... with similar quality. Don't get me wrong, I use them too... but I know there is better stuff out there. Also, since I don't relish the idea of driving into Boise... and dealing with traffic, getting lost (true) and what not.... I just order most of my stuff online from http://www.steckstore.com, often much less expensively than locally even with shipping.

Yes, in figure carving... a lot of the work is just traced, then impressions are made with stamps or modeling tools or bevelers, with only a few cuts or decorative cuts.

Your investment in clicking dies and a press is up to you. To get or make a clicker press is going to cost you some serious $$$... and I've not looked into dies yet. I imagine one could spend upwards of $50 or more per die... but I could be really off the mark on that one. It's probably a good idea to look into yourself, to see if it is worth the expense. Keep in mind that a machine is probably going to end up being an asset for accounting and tax purposes, at least until it is amortized to $0 value. (talk to an accountant)