Newbie from Eastern Nebraska

[HavenHillJay]

Hello everyone.  Just started to work leather last Christmas when I decided I wanted to make my wife a handmade gift.  Went to Tandy, picked out a journal kit and away I went.  The last time I was in Tandy was  in '89 when my wife and I were making costumes for a Renaissance Faire.  If I had only had a clue when I was a younger man, I would have gotten into it then!  I love it and wish I hadn't waited so long to get started.  In addition to the journal, I have done a money clip wallet, two check books, a set of coasters, and couple of suede pouches.  I am going to attach some pictures of the journal with this post.  I didn't dye it right away because I ran out of time before Christmas.  After I did the first check book, my wife liked the color and asked me to dye the journal the same way.  She is happy with the finish but I feel like it could have had a more even tone.  Any advise would be appreciated.

 

[bikermutt07]

I think it looks great. 

If you used a dauber, it's really hard to get an even finish on the larger items.

The dauber picks up so much dye and then releases most of it with initial contact to the leather.

I use cheap house hold sponges cut into 1x3 squares. 

Also, the leather from Tandy can really be hit or miss at accepting dye. I have some thin Tandy leather that looks terrible when I don't use full strength dye. Even then I have to apply it in three different directions to get it even.

Welcome to the forum.

Edited October 31, 2016 by bikermutt07

[HavenHillJay]

I dyed the inlay part, buffed it out once dry and then applied antiquing gel over it with a scrap of sheep wool. I did the same thing to a checkbook and got a even coloring effect over its surface. Not sure why this one came out a bit uneven other than it being a larger surface area. 

[HobbledCobbler]

I think it looks great!

 

Welcome!

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

Honestly, I kind of like the uneven look on this. Makes it look old and used.  Glad you are enjoying your new hobby!

[bikermutt07]

12 hours ago, HavenHillJay said:

I dyed the inlay part, buffed it out once dry and then applied antiquing gel over it with a scrap of sheep wool. I did the same thing to a checkbook and got a even coloring effect over its surface. Not sure why this one came out a bit uneven other than it being a larger surface area. 

Just curious. Were they both from the same piece of leather?

[HavenHillJay]

6 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

Just curious. Were they both from the same piece of leather?

Probably not.  They were both project kits from Tandy that I purchased at different times of the year.  

 

 

7 hours ago, Big Sioux Saddlery said:

Honestly, I kind of like the uneven look on this. Makes it look old and used.  Glad you are enjoying your new hobby!

Thank you!

[Tugadude]

Welcome!  Great projects, especially the neat stitching.  Regarding the mottling, I don't think it looks bad.  If you aren't doing it already, next time try circles on the first application and straight lines on the second.  This works for me and I learned it from folks here on the forum.  

Again, welcome and keep sharing.

[HavenHillJay]

Wish I could claim the stitching as mine but the journal kit I bought was already stitched.  Will be doing a small journal for one of my kids soon, will be using a tooling side I bought from Tandy.  Will see if I can do a passable job of stitching on that one.  Thanks for the tip on using a circular motion for the initial application, will give that a try.