30/04/2009 by Paul Carpenter.

Been upto my old tricks again, trying out new ways of ruining perfectly decent leather. This time it was for a belt to fit an increase in a persons presence (put nicely). Below is found a few pictures of this lovely green belt with black tooled tribal patterns with a link to a PDF representing a short tutorial (800kb). Hope it is of use to some one.

Messing around with tandy tools - 1    

One item I forgot to mention in the tutorial is the colour application. The green was tandy dye added to neatsfood oil, this produces the streaky effect of the colour as it does not mix too well with the oil. A much better all over colour (if that is what is desired) is achieved by adding antique stain dye to neats foot as they both mix well. I apply dyes with the oil as a way to dilute it and allow it to soak into the leather further along with the oil - I set dyes, i.e stop them from running, by applying aussies leather conditioner which seems to set them in place.

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26/04/2009 by Paul Carpenter.

The variety of stamping tools out there in craft land, made not just by Tandy leather company allow for numerous repeatative patterns to be created on bare veg tan leather - the tandy tool X514 is just one example and one of the few I own - in a fit of boredom I decided to make yet another quiver decorating it and matching braces with just one tool.

The above finished tooled braces and quiver illustrate just a few ways different patterns that can be laid into leather by applying the tool at different angles. What can probably also be seen is my need of practise at stamping but althought the patterns do not all match up exactly I think the effect created is very good if not different.

Below are pictures of the finished items.

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19/04/2009 by Paul Carpenter.

Years ago when I started playing around with rope knots of all sorts, I used to make these whips from rope as illustratated in Ashleys knot book. I cannot remember making any out of leather before but found it alot easier after the experiance I have gained making the bullwhips.

 If I was to use such as whip I guess it would be with the horses swishing away flies and that most evil of flying vampire’s - the midge, and we get plenty of them up here in Scotland. Pity they would’nt do much for the ticks which are also starting to come out in force this time of year.

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05/04/2009 by Paul Carpenter.

And now for the water bottle. Have done a few of these over the years, always sort of a presentation item but this one has gone directly into use with a group out riding the dava way with the Templestone trail gang.

The carving is from a design provided by the customer, the edge braiding and braided belt were my idea, made long enough to be flung over the shoulder (as requested).

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