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Posted

Thank you so much, guys!! I need the encouragement haha

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I also just started on a bag! I am in the process of tooling the flap, and the tongue is going to tuck into a strap on the front as the closure. Eventually the face will be painted- I'd like to try to use the natural tawny color that the leather is now as a base so it looks a bit fleshy. I was going to Super Shene the painted parts for sure, but what about the rest of it? I wanted it all to remain somewhat pale, like the creepy naked cat demon that it is (only the flap is probably going to be this detailed though!) but will it look awkward without some kind of dye/color?

I am going to have to start sewing soon and I'm TERRIFIED! AHHHHH.

I also don't know if the embossing of the eyeballs is going to remain, or if they will flatten over time. It feels pretty stiff. I'm currently working on the tongue- I keep hammering it into a form I like and it keeps popping back up haha! I think I need to make the cuts a little deeper or something? Paint might be the best solution though so I don't make the part that's probably going to get the most damage too brittle?

Still terrified, though.

DumbFaceBag2_1.jpg

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Posted

That is a very cool bag front!  Can't wait to see it finished and painted!

Concerning the finish, I recommend you take some scraps of this leather and experiment with different waxes/finishes to see how they wlil affect the color.  Then you can apply to your project.

Gary

Cowboy 4500, Consew 206RB-4

Posted
1 hour ago, JiffyJones said:

Thank you so much, guys!! I need the encouragement haha

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I also just started on a bag! I am in the process of tooling the flap, and the tongue is going to tuck into a strap on the front as the closure. Eventually the face will be painted- I'd like to try to use the natural tawny color that the leather is now as a base so it looks a bit fleshy. I was going to Super Shene the painted parts for sure, but what about the rest of it? I wanted it all to remain somewhat pale, like the creepy naked cat demon that it is (only the flap is probably going to be this detailed though!) but will it look awkward without some kind of dye/color?

I am going to have to start sewing soon and I'm TERRIFIED! AHHHHH.

I also don't know if the embossing of the eyeballs is going to remain, or if they will flatten over time. It feels pretty stiff. I'm currently working on the tongue- I keep hammering it into a form I like and it keeps popping back up haha! I think I need to make the cuts a little deeper or something? Paint might be the best solution though so I don't make the part that's probably going to get the most damage too brittle?

Still terrified, though.

DumbFaceBag2_1.jpg

Haha, you could use a Sam Brown stud for a closure, then the cat would have a tongue ring. 

Just a thought, feel free to use it though.

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.

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Posted
58 minutes ago, bikermutt07 said:

Haha, you could use a Sam Brown stud for a closure, then the cat would have a tongue ring. 

Just a thought, feel free to use it though.

Yeah, I think if I have trouble getting it to stay in the strap thing I'll definitely do that haha!! 

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Posted

That is really really nice work, do you know that if you put the leather in a warm domestic oven after you've shaped it and while it is still damp it will permanently harden into shape really well? the oven needs to be 'hot but not hot enough to burn your skin' probs about 60 degrees or whatever weird temperature scale you use in the US :o

Absolutely love your painting, Acrylic works really well on veg tan leather - especially Angelus Acrylic Leather paint (any decent quality stuff is good though.)

Good luck and keep at it.

Andy P.

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Posted

PS,,,,,, Don't be worried about stitching, it's the most therapeutic and relaxing part of the whole thing, 'couple of beers, good film on netflix  a couple of bags to sew and I'm sorted, (I am getting old though.)

Get yourself a pile of decent saddle stitching needles, I use John James size 2, 3 and 4 for just about everything. Get or make a stitching pony of some sort - doesn't have to be fancy to start off with, some way to mark the stitch holes - I prefer irons, and a good sharp awl. I like to use braided thread but there's loads out there, just try a few and see what you like. maybe watch a few different youtube videos.

Have fun.

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Posted
3 hours ago, JiffyJones said:

Thank you so much, guys!! I need the encouragement haha

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I also just started on a bag! I am in the process of tooling the flap, and the tongue is going to tuck into a strap on the front as the closure. Eventually the face will be painted- I'd like to try to use the natural tawny color that the leather is now as a base so it looks a bit fleshy. I was going to Super Shene the painted parts for sure, but what about the rest of it? I wanted it all to remain somewhat pale, like the creepy naked cat demon that it is (only the flap is probably going to be this detailed though!) but will it look awkward without some kind of dye/color?

I am going to have to start sewing soon and I'm TERRIFIED! AHHHHH.

I also don't know if the embossing of the eyeballs is going to remain, or if they will flatten over time. It feels pretty stiff. I'm currently working on the tongue- I keep hammering it into a form I like and it keeps popping back up haha! I think I need to make the cuts a little deeper or something? Paint might be the best solution though so I don't make the part that's probably going to get the most damage too brittle?

Still terrified, though.

Have you thought of using a diluted antique finish? Perhaps that will emphasize the detail.
It's a well done piece, by the way, so I think your design choice is wise here, to hint or suggest color rather that saturate it with a full-on dye job. 

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Posted
3 hours ago, KittenThrasher said:

That is really really nice work, do you know that if you put the leather in a warm domestic oven after you've shaped it and while it is still damp it will permanently harden into shape really well? the oven needs to be 'hot but not hot enough to burn your skin' probs about 60 degrees or whatever weird temperature scale you use in the US :o

Absolutely love your painting, Acrylic works really well on veg tan leather - especially Angelus Acrylic Leather paint (any decent quality stuff is good though.)

Good luck and keep at it.

Andy P.

Thank you!

So, do you think if I hypothetically only wanted to harden the face and not the bendy part of the flap, that I could maybe cover the parts I want to remain somewhat malleable with like wet paper towels?

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Posted
3 hours ago, DJole said:

Have you thought of using a diluted antique finish? Perhaps that will emphasize the detail.
It's a well done piece, by the way, so I think your design choice is wise here, to hint or suggest color rather that saturate it with a full-on dye job. 

I would love to experiment with paint consistencies! Has anyone had any luck with something to thin leather paint or help it's transparency without just watering it down? I have some beautiful thin cova color, but I would also like to play with the opacity! Like with pouring medium, or maybe gouache? Do you have a particular antique finish you like or recommend?

Posted

you are mixing media. I am fascinated! I have been wanting to know how close dyes correlate to paint. Acrylic/water. Oil/ thinners. Oil is said to be more resilient on leather. brilliant work so far.

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