Finally getting back to it! (Finished portfolio)

[blink1688]

Hello,

This is a project I started a LONG time ago but didn't get back to it until this year -- kinda embarrassing since my wife's initials have changed since I started this when we were dating. Plenty of things to blame such as teaching high school science but excuses aside, I finally started to get back to the craft. Probably helps that I'm looking to make a career change and I'm hopeful that I can make leather work a big part of that change. I'm currently trying to learn about tack and saddlery because there's high demand in my area but doesn't seem to be anyone to supply to that demand. I'm still trying to find someone near-ish Cincinnati, OH, USA to learn from so if you have any leads, please let me know.

Anyhow, back to the project and my questions for you:

I made the front and back panels and originally intended to use them for a three ring binder with laced edges. I then learned that my wife preferred to have a portfolio similar to my personal portfolio but with stitched edges and pockets/pouches for her pencils, calculator, and phone (she's an actuary so she does a lot of calculating). Also, she really doesn't like pen/pencil loops so the internal snap pouch is what I came up with.

• What do you think about the coloring and finish, particularly the silhouette on the back panel and fading on the horse?
• How can I make the transition to a new thread for my saddle stitch less apparent?
• What do you think of the construction?
• Is this something you would have used an edge kote on -- I don't have any yet and I'm unfamiliar with its behavior?

[blink1688]

[Rohn]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I think you did an excellent job on this project.  I think that if I had done this I would have laced the outside edges instead of sewing them.  Your tooling looks great as does your coloring and finishing. What dyes and finishes did you use?

I live in Niles, OH.

 

 

[blink1688]

It's been a couple years since I did the dye work so here goes my best efforts to remember in order:

1. Satin sheen (maybe 2 or 3 coats?) to provide a bit of resist in the silhouette
2. Eco-flo dyes on the flowers and leaves (emerald green, scarlet, and sunshine yellow)
3. Fiebing's solvent dye on the backgrounds, initials, and the horse (black and light brown of various strengths with multiple passes)
4. Satin sheen (slightly diluted) on the flowers and leaves for partial resist
5. Super sheen on the horse
6. Eco-flo gel antique (tan) all over back panel, spine, leaves and flowers, and boarder of front panel
7. Satin sheen (full strength) on background, initials, and flowers and leaves
8. Eco-flo Pro waterstain (tan) on interior and over all non-tooled surfaces (before stitching and assembly)
9. Rubbed-in / hairdryer-heated-and-rubbed-in Aussie (after stitching and assembly)

P.S. - After posting, I realized I got carried away with pictures in my excitement -- I started this project in late 2012 / early 2013 and then life took over until May 2017 >.<

Edited July 18, 2017 by blink1688
add P.S. - maybe too many pictures

[Rohn]

Thanks, Blink.  I would like to get into more and better coloring of leather. I guess I am afraid of ruining a project by dying it the wrong way.

As far as the pictures go, I don't think you can post too many.  I love to see lots of pictures.

[MendellLeatherOK]

Looks great! Especially for taking so long of a break!

[blink1688]

I am right there with you! It's nerve-wracking for me every time becasue I can't resolve myself to the old adage of "You can always dye it black" if things go wonky.

I started with learning to use the Eco-flo gel antiques to obtain a solid even finish on other projects. They can be nightmare-ish at times because they have a tendency of going green (apparently not just in the environmental sense -- sorry I'm a dad and a dorky chem/physics teacher), especially around the edges when your sponge/applicator is too wet. There were also a LOT of trial and error test samples I made from the belly of the side I used for this project. Since every hide is different, they'll differ somewhat in how much dye they'll accept in each application and how they'll react to the antique, particularly when using the antique to desirably "fade" previously applied dye. I've found that doing some tests on different parts of the same hide that you don't intend to use will give a decent indication of how the piece you've selected for the project will behave.

I highly recommend checking out How to Color Leather by Al Stohlman. It was instrumental in this project.

[YinTx]

What are those two thingies in the lower pockets on the left side?  

I really like this portfolio, and hope to be able to tool even half that good someday.  Thanks for sharing!

YinTx

[tearghost]

Amazing tooling.

[Rolandranch]

That is very nice! I can see you put a lot of work and effort into it. Are you trying to hide stitching completely?