First long-stitch Leather Journal

Posted by Ryan on January 25, 2012
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I have a tradition with my best friend where I get her a journal for Christmas. In the past just bought nice journals in stationary stores, then moved to a nice leather journal. Last year I bought a beautiful book from Nova Scotia’s very own myhandboundbooks and it was well received. This year I wanted to up the ante and try binding my own. My first small scale attempt was a prayerbook made for another friend and it turned out better than I had hoped for learning from just a few online videos.



For the cover I’ve used oil tanned hide because I wanted to be sure the book could travel well. It also gives a rugged look while still being soft to the touch. While the detailing would be more embossed than actual tooling, I am still happy with the result. Cutting the paper for the signatures was the most tedious job. I will have to invest in a paper guillotine for the next one. I managed both journals without one single paper cut. The actual stitching took roughly 45 minutes which is pretty fast compared to the double loop lacing of the wallet and should only improve with practice. The only thing I think I would do differently is the punching of the cover. If you look closely at the spine the holes are all over the place. This could have been fixed easily with a 4 prong chisel that I have but it’s needs sharpening. At the end of the day I have created something that will hopefully carry fond memories that will only make it more valuable as time passes.

Dressing up my Harley

Posted by Ryan on January 6, 2012
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Having been an avid biker for the better part of 5 years, I knew that the main focus of my craft would be accessories for my Harley Iron 883. Seeing many available online from companies like Mustangbut the simple basic design left something to be desired and didn’t seen deserve the price they commanded for something probably mass produced by a machine. I wanted something that stood out and would turn a few heads even in a sea of chrome. I started with a rough template made of paper cut to compliment the lines of the tank. The bib would fit more snug after it was wet and formed.

rough fit for tank bib

fender bib test fitment

Re-fit with the hole cut out for the gas cap.

triquetra (love knot) cut un with swivel knife

For the tooling designs, I edited a pattern from a book and manipulated it to repeat the right length in Photoshop. Instead of tracing paper, I use standard paper taped down to my project to transfer the design. I use a fine tipped ball point pen so I know not to go over an area twice.

Celtic weave, cuts done with a swivel knife

finished tooling with backgrounder and beveler

 

I had previously made a black fender bib but this set was going to have better tooling (from practice) and finishing in Fiebing’s Ox Blood leather dye. It goes on pink but after 2 coats and an application of mink oil the color is a rich crimson.

Finally the finished product with whip stitch lacing done by my wife Kelly around a camp fire.

I wanted my bike to have soul, and a hand carved tank bib and matching fender was just what the doctor ordered.

Double Loop Lacing

Posted by Ryan on January 5, 2012
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When I built up enough courage to tool pre-cut wallet in the starter kit, I already knew what I wanted to put on it.

I’ve seen so many cheesy “pirate” wallets around after the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Not that there was a bandwagon to jump on; Pirates were always cool. I wanted a wallet that was sturdy rugged and simple. And Calico Jack’s jolly roger is the most recognizable, but also the most pleasing to me with my slight obssession with symmetry. The tooling and dying took no time at all. The double loop lacing is very time consuming but it is durable and looks fantastic. The lace time alone pushes the production time on this project way up so that if I ever decided to mass produce them the price will reflect that. But whatever that amount is I’m confident the finished product will be worth every penny. I’ve had this wallet in use for about a year now and it’s worn in beautifully. It will most likely outlast me.

Humble Beginnings

Posted by Ryan on January 5, 2012
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I honestly can’t remember how it all started, only that one day I happened to stumble upon a store called Tandy Leather Factory.  The smell of tanned leather is just comfortable and soothing.  It makes me think of baseball gloves and well worn jackets.  It is a smell of tradition, of endurance.  And I wanted to be a part of it.  I bought my starter kit for a mere $30 CAN and just read the instructions over and over.  It’s like opening a journal or sketchbook for the first time and being almost scared to mark it.  It’s new and perfect and it’s limitless potential is still hermetically sealed.  When I finally built up the nerve to try my hand at tooling, this key fob is what came out of it.

My very first key fob