Leather carving & crafting.
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:05 pm
Many years ago in the late 70"s I was heavy into leather carving and tooling. I was stationed in Spain with the Navy at the time, and good tooling leather was cheap and easy to find in that country. I made a lot of money making hand tooled purses, belts and many other items for the Navy families on the base. Some months more than my actual Navy pay. But it got to the point where it was more of a job than a hobby. Almost every spare minute was spent cutting, carving, dyeing and either sewing or lacing leather together to finish another order. I burned out on the hobby/business, and when I left Spain I sold my tools and supplies.
Recently the fire has rekindled, and I feel the need to play with leather once again. This time it will be kept a hobby, with things I make for my family and friends. I may occasionally take an order, but mostly I'll be making things as gifts.
I could have spent hundreds of dollars on new tools and supplies. Instead I have been searching out good buys on ebay, (as pink can tell you). Thanks Pink, for being my cheering squad while I bid on tools. Anyway, after a couple of months of bidding, I now have just about everything I need to get started. First projects will be a new purse for my wife, and a new belt for my best human buddy. My other and very best buddy Jake will get a new collar with his name on it.
In the coming days I will be taking pics and posting info about the various tools and their uses, and the other supplies needed. Since it has been so many years since I last set tool to leather, I'll be carving a couple of practice pieces, just to find out how much I've forgotten. I'm hoping that it's just like riding a bicycle. "You never really forget how". So wish me luck in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.
Just to not be completely away from lapidary, I've shared with Pink that I think I've figured out a way to set cabachons in leather, using only the leather as a bezel. It's worth a try anyway.
Just a warning. Those with small children, you may not want them to watch. While carving leather in Spain, my specialty was demons, dragons and skulls. Of course I did my fair share of flowers and fancy work too. But I have always been drawn to the dark side, and have recently acquired a large collection of drawings which I can trace onto leather.
Recently the fire has rekindled, and I feel the need to play with leather once again. This time it will be kept a hobby, with things I make for my family and friends. I may occasionally take an order, but mostly I'll be making things as gifts.
I could have spent hundreds of dollars on new tools and supplies. Instead I have been searching out good buys on ebay, (as pink can tell you). Thanks Pink, for being my cheering squad while I bid on tools. Anyway, after a couple of months of bidding, I now have just about everything I need to get started. First projects will be a new purse for my wife, and a new belt for my best human buddy. My other and very best buddy Jake will get a new collar with his name on it.
In the coming days I will be taking pics and posting info about the various tools and their uses, and the other supplies needed. Since it has been so many years since I last set tool to leather, I'll be carving a couple of practice pieces, just to find out how much I've forgotten. I'm hoping that it's just like riding a bicycle. "You never really forget how". So wish me luck in the coming days, weeks and months ahead.
Just to not be completely away from lapidary, I've shared with Pink that I think I've figured out a way to set cabachons in leather, using only the leather as a bezel. It's worth a try anyway.
Just a warning. Those with small children, you may not want them to watch. While carving leather in Spain, my specialty was demons, dragons and skulls. Of course I did my fair share of flowers and fancy work too. But I have always been drawn to the dark side, and have recently acquired a large collection of drawings which I can trace onto leather.
