bracelet

[Pip]

Hi guys

I am very new at all this and learning from books so I am starting small but have had a degree of success so far. I now have the tools to stitch and thong so I will be asking for advice in the relevant forums but.... here goes.

This is a 30mm wide 4mm thick bracelet, dyed with leather dye diluted with vodka and antiqued with an antiquing wax. It is a simple free hand design which took approx 3/4 hr from start to finish. I wear it all the time and have had several orders for more.

My concerns and wants really from this posting, are 1) is the depth of carving ok about 1.5-2mm? 2) I have no modelling tools except for a stylus and a spoon bit, a swivel knife and ten basic craftool stamps what can you guys recommend as a progression in tools. 3) can anyone recommend how to incorporate gold/silver leaf onto leather (a request on a design which someone is willing to pay for and thrust bank notes at me as a deposit) and get it to stand up to wear and tear?

As a beginners tip, I have found the little plastic windows on envelopes that don't recycle make an excellent transfer medium for small designs.

thanks everyone

Pip

[JohnK]

Most of us started with a basic "7" tools. It looks great. A lot better than my first attempt at carving. A little more depth in your swivel knife and beveling would be good but that comes with practice. Put this one back and see how much different the tenth one down the line looks. Also bevel from the back (depth of the design) out to the closest overlapping the leaves. I hope that helps. Keep on toolin'

[Beaverslayer]

Hey Pip,

My question is....why are you useing Vodka to dilute the dye? Up here in Canada we drink the Vodka.

[abn]

My question is....why are you useing Vodka to dilute the dye? Up here in Canada we drink the Vodka.

Good point. I think a cheaper alternative might be diluting with denatured alcohol...

[Peter Ellis]

Whether the vodka is best used for drinking or diluting dye may depend on your opinion of vodka :angel_not:

More to the point, on that bracelet, if you were to texture the background, the space between your leaf pattern and your border, with one of the background tools, it would help make the leaves pop.

As to gold leaf on leather it can be done, I haven't done it yet but it's on my list, and I don't know what can be done in terms of improving its durability. I generally think of gold leaf as a delicate covering material, not meant for serious wear situations. OTOH, one can get some pretty good looking metallic finish effects by using gold or silver acrylic paint, burnishing the paint and then sealing with Resolene or one of the other acrylic finishes.

[Pip]

Whether the vodka is best used for drinking or diluting dye may depend on your opinion of vodka :angel_not:

More to the point, on that bracelet, if you were to texture the background, the space between your leaf pattern and your border, with one of the background tools, it would help make the leaves pop.

As to gold leaf on leather it can be done, I haven't done it yet but it's on my list, and I don't know what can be done in terms of improving its durability. I generally think of gold leaf as a delicate covering material, not meant for serious wear situations. OTOH, one can get some pretty good looking metallic finish effects by using gold or silver acrylic paint, burnishing the paint and then sealing with Resolene or one of the other acrylic finishes.

Thanks guys, all really useful stuff!

In response to vodka. I used to drink a lot of vodka but since the stomach ulcer, I have a stock knocking about, I find denatured alcohol takes my skin off but vodka doesn't. I have made a mix of different designs so far, koi carp, lizards, oak leaves, sunbursts, ivy leaves, tentacles and newts (don't ask) 28 in total and have so far sold all but five at £5 a hit.... I think this is because lots of people know me, but they are all wearing the things. I am starting to get asked for specific designs, which I have so far turned down bar a couple from close friends. The bracelets where a practise option to try and off set the cost of the leather. They seem to have worked so far.

i don't like doing specific designs as I feel encombered by other peoples styles, how do you either put people off or realistically price so it feels worth the while?