First project!

[Jwilli2213]

Here are some pics of my first project, 3rd year anniversary gift for my wife. Swivel knife is something I need to work on, cutting the letters in proved to be much more difficult that I thought it would be. Im still working on the right dampness of leather to cut. I think I cut some of these letters while the leather was to damp (got a little ahead of myself). Overall I'm very happy how it turned out for a first project. But still lots to learn.

 

 

Open to any and all critiques. Anything that will help make me better. 

 

Edited October 13, 2016 by Jwilli2213

[Wedgetail]

Looks great to me Jason! Better tooling than I can do, even after a couple years. Haha

[bikermutt07]

Looks great. Happy Anniversary.

[bdpeters]

nice job. I think your swivel knife work looks real good. very thoughtful.

[rejerome]

Nice.

On the lettering, one thing that I have found that improves them is to use a modeling tool and very slightly round over the sharp edges of each letter.

A modeling tool can also be used like a "magic" eraser to remove/improve small errors.

[Greggers]

Looks great! Nice work.

[billybopp]

Looks good!  

And yeah ... Letters can be a bitch.  If you miss your cut or tooling just a little bit on flowers and leaves, it's just a little natural variation like you meant it to be.  On a letter, everybody knows better.   Getting bevels done around those really tight parts of your letters kinda sux too, you just have to do the best you and and use a really small beveler.  

I'm convinced that when it comes to casing your leather, it takes a good deal of time and experience to figure out what is exactly the right amount of moisture.   It takes a good deal longer to develop the patience to learn to wait until your leather is at that moisture level before you start working on it!!

You're off to a good start!

[ToddMaine]

NICE!! I havent tried letters yet. Still working on scrolls and such but it looks good to this newbee