Warming up...

[GregGaub]

Hello, everyone.

I haven't done much leatherwork in several years. I've been getting a mild itch recently, but it wasn't enough to scratch. Then, my church decided to have a Celtic Faire, and my wife suggested maybe I could get a table and make some stuff. Purely a "toe in the water" type thing, and to give me something to do when the kids are at school. Well, I've begun warming back up with some stamping and simple tooling. I'd put this in Critique My Work, but I can see so many flaws in all this stuff that it would be a waste of everyone's time. Instead, I'm putting it here to hopefully get some encouraging words to keep going with this. The photo below is all stuff I've done in the last week or so. Mostly ovals which will become hair barrettes/clips, and a wallet back. They all have finish on them, so the camera flash makes the wallet back look a lot lighter in color than it really is. It's just Super Shened and then hiliter-ed, so it's color is more or less natural. Anyway... here you go:

[wildrose]

I know what you mean about that "itch" - it got me when I'd not done anything for years, then a friend asked me to make a sword sheath for him...after that was done, I couldn't stop myself from doing more!

I especially love the oval in the center - great design - and the wallet back too.

[Drac]

looks like you're doing good so far to me. when I do barrettes, I punch the holes for the sticks before doing any tooling/stamping so that none of the artwork gets eaten by a hole.

[tashabear]

looks like you're doing good so far to me. when I do barrettes, I punch the holes for the sticks before doing any tooling/stamping so that none of the artwork gets eaten by a hole.

Ever tried gluing French clips to the back instead of holes and sticks? I've had long hair for ages, and it's thick and heavy. The barrettes with the sticks will only stay in if I'm putting my hair up, and I rarely do that unless I'm in uniform, in which case a barrette with a stick wouldn't be appropriate anyhow. The ones with the French clips are *much* more versatile, IMO.

[Drac]

haven't tried the french clips. I probably should though and have at least thought about it.

[GregGaub]

Tasha beat me to my own answer. ;-)

These aren't going to be the kind with sticks. My wife's hair is also long and thick, and she could never wear those kind, even though I made her a couple really nice ones years ago. No, these will all have french clips, I call them spring clips, glued to the back. That type is much more versatile, from short to long hair styles and all different thicknesses.

But for sure, when I do one that is to have a stick, I make sure that the design accommodates the holes.

As for that design in the middle, it's not mine. It's actually a logo... For Heelys. Heelys... the shoes with the removable wheel in the heel. Me and my boys love riding them, but that barrette is likely going to be sold or given to friends of mine online who also ride Heelys. In any case, it is a cool logo, even not knowing (or better not knowing ;-) where it's from.

Thanks!

-Greg

[Justis Cases]

Hi Greg,

Remember when you did my first web site???

[GregGaub]

Hi Greg,

Remember when you did my first web site???

I sure do! I'm happy to see that your current guy has taken good care of it and made it so much better. I hate seeing sites go into disrepair due to poor webmastering, especially when I started them... I won't name names. ;-)

I'm glad to see you doing well. Still love your cases.