First Run Of Tooled Leather Bags

[LHissong]

Hi all,

Started to try some tooling with some of my leather bags.

This is my latest. Still stitching it.

This was made for a friend of mine for a Christmas/Thank-You gift. I wasn't able to get a picture of the bag with the lacing for the toggle and the shoulder strap before getting it to her.

This was a commissioned piece made for a friend who wanted a Christmas gift for his sister. My mother is holding the bag in the picture.

Feedback is definitely welcome. If anyone is curious, almost all of it is hand drawn or freehanded with the swivel knife or stylus, so there are definitely imperfections. There were images used as reference for the central animal images, however, they were not duplicated exactly. However, alot of the people that have inquired on the bags have seemingly liked the rough hewn look, so I guess it has a silver lining? What do ya'll think?

[zfcjr67]

I like the bags. The rough-hewn tooling look goes well with the limited use of natural coloring on the bag and I can see a Good Sir Knight carrying some important dispatch in this bag.

In my opinion, additional colors (greens, blues, reds) would detract from the simplistic beauty of the bag.

I am jealous - free-hand leather skills are not in my genetic code. All of my designs are in CAD or drawings, printed on plastic tracing film to get it out of my head onto the leather.

[LHissong]

Agree completely with you on other colors. I ran into something like that with my lion bag. Had it dyed so the lion was a very realistic color and the border was sort of a watered down red. Lacked that deep feeling darker colors often give so I redyed it.

These measure quite large as well. I just measured the newest one at 16in at its widest point, about 13.5 inches tall, and 4 inches deep. I've been using Eco Flo mixes of Java Brown and Canyon Tan for the main body and then Canyon tan at differing levels of watered down or a hint of another color for most of the detail work. Never been too happy with the splotchy coverage and uneven look, but after putting on some mink oil it actually looks okay, though not anywhere near perfect. Going to try experimenting with some antique stains and see if I can get better definition on the tooling.

[Ferg]

I will try to do this as discretely as possible.

Your tooling needs a lot of work. Desiring rough is one thing but lets get to some basic procedures of tooling leather.

You desperately need to buy some books or video tutorials.

Beveling should be a smooth transition from one impression to another.

Study Al Stohlman techniques for use of tools.

Don't take my dialog as picking on you. I only convey what I see.

ferg

[LHissong]

I understand and appreciate your advice.

However, please do not assume I haven't studied this a bit. I have not had anyone to show me tooling in person, so all of my tooling has come from texts and video tutorials specifically.

I do know that my beveling needs work and I have improved from each piece to the next. Still have some technical kinks to work out. I think I get too much in a hurry and hit a bit too hard on the beveling tool. I have gone back over and made sure there was overlap on many of my projects and still have difficulty eliminating tool marks. I tend to have difficulty walking the tool properly. I've only been tooling for a month or two when I decided to add to my medieval themed interests.

[Peter Darby]

Looks good. I am also one who doesn't have the genetic code to free hand so I am envious.

If your having trouble with getting smooth beveling lines you might try going over them with a modeling spoon.

[Wishful]

+1 for the modeling spoon and practice, practice, practice. You're off to a good start, just be patient.

[Ferg]

Almost sixty years ago I started tooling leather just as you are doing. I did watch a man tooling once or twice but the majority of my education has come from text and simply practicing what the photographs and text tell me. Al Stohlman books are some of the best available.

You are striking the tools way too hard. Ease up a bit and try not making your impressions so deep. When you do some tooling on bodies of figures use the modeling tools and follow same procedure, light touch is better.

ferg

[WScott]

The tooling style suits the products you are making. Both bags and tooling may get more refined as you do more, but IMHO the bags are different in a good way. Not everyone has to do Sheridan cowboy flowers

[MonicaJacobson]

I like the art work a lot, but I do agree that slowing down your tooling will help you out. Just know that it takes an extra few hours and don't rush through it. You've got a cool product that really has a medieval feel.

[Bob Blea]

One suggestion I would make is that your leather may be too wet when you are tooling it. That will sometimes cause the tool marks you are seeing. When you case your leather let it dry again until its almost back to its normal color before you try to tool it.

Bob