Contributing Member Bob Blea Posted February 21, 2017 Contributing Member Report Posted February 21, 2017 This was a custom order I finished up recently for the wife of a coworker. He had a very specific design in mind with wild roses in the foreground and a mountain scene in the background. He also wanted the roses to have some color but the rest of the scene to retain the natural leather color. Both he and his wife were thrilled with how it turned out, and since I've known both of them for over 20 years it was important to do a spectacular job. The flowers were colored with acrylics and the overall notebook was antiqued. For some reason I didn't think to take pictures of the interior, but it holds a 8.5 x 11 refillable notepad. Quote There are always possibilities.... Bob Blea C and B Leathercrafts Fort Collins, CO Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandBLeather?ref=si_shop Instagram @bobbleacandbleather
Members Rohn Posted February 21, 2017 Members Report Posted February 21, 2017 You really did it! That is a spectacular job for sure. Beautiful work! Quote Rohn(John 8:32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (KJV)
Contributing Member Bob Blea Posted February 21, 2017 Author Contributing Member Report Posted February 21, 2017 On 2/21/2017 at 7:08 PM, Rohn said: You really did it! That is a spectacular job for sure. Beautiful work! Expand Thanks Rohn! Quote There are always possibilities.... Bob Blea C and B Leathercrafts Fort Collins, CO Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandBLeather?ref=si_shop Instagram @bobbleacandbleather
bikermutt07 Posted February 22, 2017 Report Posted February 22, 2017 I'd risk being called a sissy to carry that around. Really beautiful piece. Quote I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with. Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day. From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Members KurseD Posted February 22, 2017 Members Report Posted February 22, 2017 Dig it a lot man. The depth looks amazing. Quote
Members Sofaspud Posted February 26, 2017 Members Report Posted February 26, 2017 Wow, that looks fantastic. Nice work. Quote
Contributing Member Bob Blea Posted February 28, 2017 Author Contributing Member Report Posted February 28, 2017 Thanks all! She carries this around work daily and apparently one of her coworkers is considering ordering one too. Hope that works out! Quote There are always possibilities.... Bob Blea C and B Leathercrafts Fort Collins, CO Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandBLeather?ref=si_shop Instagram @bobbleacandbleather
Members Tugadude Posted March 1, 2017 Members Report Posted March 1, 2017 Just stunning. I'm not a huge fan of lacing, but you can lace so well I might have to change my mind on that. Quote
Members TonyP Posted March 11, 2017 Members Report Posted March 11, 2017 Looks great! I'm curious how you did the design in the oval ring around the flowers. It looks like it's sewn or is it a stamp? Quote
Members cjartist Posted March 16, 2017 Members Report Posted March 16, 2017 Beautiful work Bob! Quote Check out my Unique Marketing Strategy and see if it might also work for you to get paid for your art.
Members LeatherBeast Posted March 19, 2017 Members Report Posted March 19, 2017 That is such a sweet gift idea. I love it. It looks great! Quote Sign up for the FREE beginner leatherworking mini-course at www.leatherbeast.com
Contributing Member Bob Blea Posted March 24, 2017 Author Contributing Member Report Posted March 24, 2017 On 3/11/2017 at 11:51 PM, TonyP said: Looks great! I'm curious how you did the design in the oval ring around the flowers. It looks like it's sewn or is it a stamp? Expand Tony- I apologize I didn't see your post until now. That is a stamp. It is called a Geer Braid and it's made by Barry King and is available on his website. It makes a great impression of being some kind of sewing or braiding and it worked really well in combination with the lacing. I really should be using it more. Thanks all for the compliments! Quote There are always possibilities.... Bob Blea C and B Leathercrafts Fort Collins, CO Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandBLeather?ref=si_shop Instagram @bobbleacandbleather
Members CraftyNick Posted March 24, 2017 Members Report Posted March 24, 2017 That is beautiful! It's inspiring. I have tried to figure out how a leather cover should work, does it have inside layers that the cover of the note book slides into? Did you use a resisting finish to keep the leather so light after antiquing? Now I am also wondering what leather you used to start with because it seems most leathers, at least the more high quality ones, are much darker tan, but I'd love to know where you can get light leather like that. Quote
Contributing Member Bob Blea Posted March 27, 2017 Author Contributing Member Report Posted March 27, 2017 On 3/24/2017 at 11:26 PM, CraftyNick said: That is beautiful! It's inspiring. I have tried to figure out how a leather cover should work, does it have inside layers that the cover of the note book slides into? Did you use a resisting finish to keep the leather so light after antiquing? Now I am also wondering what leather you used to start with because it seems most leathers, at least the more high quality ones, are much darker tan, but I'd love to know where you can get light leather like that. Expand Hi Nick, My notebooks typically have a pigskin lining across the entire tooled outer part. On smaller notebooks I just cut a slot in the lining that the notepad can slide into, and that part of the lining doesn't get glued to the tooled outer cover so the cardboard backing of the notepad can slide into it. I've done the same thing for these bigger 8.5 x 11 notepads and it worked OK but that's a lot of weight to hang off the pigskin. So for these bigger notebooks I prefer to build a separate pocket out of 2/3 oz veg tan leather, cut the slot in that and let that hold the notepad. It gives more support that way. I believe this notebook came from a hide from American Leather Direct. It's the first hide I've gotten from them but it tooled really well. It was a very light veg tan leather, but I've got the same basic light color in tooling leather I've received from Herman Oak and Wicket and Craig. The antiqing actually darkened this quite a bit to a more tan color. Hope that helps! Bob Quote There are always possibilities.... Bob Blea C and B Leathercrafts Fort Collins, CO Visit my shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/CandBLeather?ref=si_shop Instagram @bobbleacandbleather
Members CraftyNick Posted March 27, 2017 Members Report Posted March 27, 2017 Bob, thank you for answering my questions! I appreciate it. Was browsing your work on etsy and really like your style. Quote
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