basketweave and dragon

[ETW Grumpy]

Wanted to post pics of some stuff I've done. Criticism and suggestions are welcome and expected.

** Standard excuse my lack of photography skills disclaimer **

Thanks for looking.

[Beaverslayer]

Grumpy,

Very nice and clean work, I especially like the Celtic Dragon.

Ken

[leathernut]

nice work grumpy.still think xians wallet came out badass.

[Johanna]

Hi, Grumpy! Could I beg, plead, or coax some basketweave tips from you? I liked looking at your other work, too, but the symmetry and coloring of the basketweave hammer holsters really caught my eye. I'm sure I'm just one of many who would love to know more about how you do that kind of work.

Johanna

[ETW Grumpy]

Thanks for the kind words. Leathernut, Xian's wallet was one of my favorite pieces to do. Only had to do it 4 times to get it right.

Johanna, those are actually cell phone cases. The mallet is just my attempt at decent photographic composition.

Thanks for the compliments. What I do is use my wing dividers to find the center of the pattern, then scribe a line down the center of the piece. Then I start at one end of the piece and strike the first impression on the left of the line, then turn it around (helps me to line it up easier) and strike the next impression on the right side of the line being careful to make sure that the tool is straight on the line and that the bottom third of the tool (everything from the center diagonally marked section to the end) overlaps the first stroke that I made. I continue to do that down the center line and then pick a side and fill in the gaps I created by going down the center. I hope this is not too confusing. If enough people are interested, I could take some pictures in sequence and show what I mean.

I have attached a pic of a seat cover I did for a friends bike.

[Hoyden]

Love that Celtic dragon Grumpy.

I haven't tried basket weave yet. My husband is nagging me to learn it to make his dad a belt

[ETW Grumpy]

Hoyden, jump out there and do it. I keep hesitating to try new stuff because I'm afraid I'll mess it up. If I do, so what. Gotta try anyway. Basketweave isn't hard, just somewhat tedious. Give 'er a shot and post some pics when you get it done.

[Hoyden]

Hoyden, jump out there and do it. I keep hesitating to try new stuff because I'm afraid I'll mess it up. If I do, so what. Gotta try anyway. Basketweave isn't hard, just somewhat tedious. Give 'er a shot and post some pics when you get it done.

My problem is that I am a perfectionist and have to have my work PERFECT.

I have a huge bin of scrap leather to practice on, so after Ren Faire season when I get grounded by snow, I'll give it a shot.

[ETW Grumpy]

I understand the perfectionist disease. I have not done a project yet that has gotten done once. I always see some flaw, and just can't live with it until it gets redone. Even then, I'm not happy with some part of it. Everyone I have done something for has loved it and every piece I have done I have thought looked awful. I know that if I keep working and keep learning I'll get better. I'll never be perfect, but I'll get better. Practice basketweave on some of that scrap until you get it the way you like it.

[ETW Grumpy]

Just got this wallet done for a customer and wanted to post a pic to get some opinions. Thanks for looking.

[freak]

Looks good to me, i like it. What color is that and what type ?

[ETW Grumpy]

It's a saddle tan antique stain from Tandy, with the background dyed with a black oil dye.

[Luke Hatley]

Grumpy, I like the stiching on the Bilfold with the Flames.

What type of sewing machine did you use for that ?

[Guest]

Hey Grumpy,

On the biker wallets (a buddy of mine calls them chain drive wallets) I especially like the celtic dragon. That is my favorite of the group and the VM wallet turned out nice too. A personal preference on small items like checkbooks, wallets, small note books and book covers.... I prefer to see them stitched rather than laced....and that is coming from someone who LOVES to lace projects together. I don't know why, but I guess it is that small projects look too.... cowboy..... for my taste. That isn't to say that your lacing is bad.... heck no it's great.....like I said personal preference. Your stitching is perfect too, so SHOW IT OFF.

Dave Theobald

[ETW Grumpy]

Luke, I do all my stitching by hand. Thanks for the compliment. I used orange Irish linen thread at 7 or 8 stitches to the inch, can't remember which.

David, I have a friend who calls them chain drive wallets, too. Thanks for the kind words. I prefer stitching most things large and small. I agree that small things look a little too cowboy (for my tastes) when they are laced, but the VM wallet was a replacement for a customers husband and she wanted the same style.

[abn]

Real nice work on all this stuff, Grumpy. Thanks for snapping the pics and sharing.

-Alex

Edited to add: Do you have a pic to share that shows the other side -- the interior?

Edited August 28, 2007 by abn

[bustedlifter]

Neato,neato, neato!!!