Showing posts with label Leather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leather. Show all posts

Thursday, September 15, 2011

First the Worst?

I had my first consultation with the first person who was crazy enough , had enough faith in me to commission a scripture case (it was actually her idea when she saw my mom's wallet (still to post) but now I am hoping it can be something that I can DO for people... so if ya know anyone...hint...hint). This will be my first scripture case and I am really excited about.
As I met with her, we kinda discussed that she might want something a bit different than the usual leather flowers and such because this is for her husband as a Christmas present. This got me to shaking thinking, searching, and praying about what I could do.
She had suggested that maybe she wanted wildlife, the only thing I could think of for wildlife was my kiddos.... just kidding. I just wasn't sure if wildlife was something I could wanted to do for a scripture case. I was looking at burned and engrawed leather and was amazed at their beauty (and their price), but they do not have the hand carved quality or story.
Just for your information: Burning is a process where they burn an image onto the leather with a machine, and it can be personalized with names and things like that (if you are interested there is a great company in Lindon that does all sorts of LDS leather burnings). Engrawing is also machined and it is a process where they print an image on with ink or stain. These can also be very beautiful and are primarily done in Chili, if you know of a missionary who has gone there, they might have one of these.
So I was looking and decided I would just try to carve the Saviors image when He was being baptized by John the Baptist. I used some scrap leather, that way no one would need to know I had even tried if I failed. But I really like the way it turned out, so I am sharing it with the World (on my insignificant blog). There are some other things I think I might try as well, like the First Vision maybe?
With Leather there are no rough drafts, once it is on there, it is on there. There are some things I know I will do differently when I do it again, I would like to try using an undercutting method to maybe bring out some more detail. I have never done undercutting (to my knowledge) so there might be scrap leather picture up for grabs later on... so keep following :). I also want to try some more things with staining... I am hoping to meet up with Grandpa to show him and see what he thinks I can do to make it better.
Well let me know what you think, and if you like it feel free to post it on facebook or share with your friends ( I know it is only by the support of my Heavenly Father, family and friends that there is any chance I will ever be successful at this). I love you and I thank you for your support!


Thursday, September 8, 2011

A Little Knotty Wallet

This Sunday is the 7th Anniversary of the Day we met (I have decided that just like the 5th Anniversary is Wood, the 10th is Tin, the 15th is Crystal, the 20th is China, the 25th is Silver, the 30th is Pearl, the 40th is Ruby, the 50th is Gold, and the 60th is Diamond, the 7th should be Leather). We celebrate in September because we were married in December and there is WAY TOO MUCH going on then. My sweetie, Don, served his mission to Ireland so I decided I would be ambitious and make him a Celtic Knot wallet... I was afraid it would turn out to be a Celtic NOT... but I think it turned out okay, and he loves it so that is all that matters.
I also thought that it might be helpful to show a little bit of the process of making a wallet (there is a lot I left out, I'll just have to show you the others with a different wallet) , it is QUITE the process. So here goes:


Yay! It is done! I think I will take a break from wallets for a while, but I am so pleased that my hubby loves it and that it is something he will use for a LONG time!

Monday, September 5, 2011

"And so Nauvoo, we say farewell to you"

My cute little family just moved from Nauvoo Illinois back to Utah (yay mountains!) to be close to family (yay family!).... It has been a wonderful change for our family, but Nauvoo will always very much be a huge part of our lives. My hubby and I met there 7 years ago (this Sunday... Happy Anniversary Love!). It was wonderful and we loved it there, the thing we miss most (other than the amazing friends we made) is the gorgeous LDS Temple.
Although we miss it one of the perks of being back in Utah has been being close to my Grandpa who has been teaching me leather work... I am a novice but I love it very much, and I love the time that I get to spend with him doing it together. As a reminder of our love of Nauvoo I tooled this temple for our little family to keep. I hope this helps my kids remember the feelings we had while we were there.