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MY63
June 7th, 2015, 01:24 AM
My son is about to leave high school 2 years ago when my daughter left high school I made some custom boxes with fountain pens and inks.
Although I could still make boxes I thought note book covers in leather may be an interesting option.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8871/18547165662_1cbe1a2297_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ufX5bj)IMG_0408_1 (https://flic.kr/p/ufX5bj) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

From blank grey board I printed out a design of a shamrock unfortunately the design was a little more complex than I first thought so some of the inside detail had to be removed, I would not have been too unhappy about this had I not spent two hours cutting it all out with a scalpel first.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8876/18551631065_11d7889f4e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ugkXA2)IMG_0410_1 (https://flic.kr/p/ugkXA2) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/384/17930960093_793b8572f4_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tjuRJn)IMG_0414_1 (https://flic.kr/p/tjuRJn) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I have four in total to make so I had better get on with it

MY63
June 7th, 2015, 01:40 PM
This is the project I had the green dye for the shamrock now has its green cover

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8892/17951081573_7ec1d0bb96_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tmgZ9r)IMG_0418_2 (https://flic.kr/p/tmgZ9r) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

The difficult thing now is to stop the card from cupping as it dries out as the leather was applied wet and glued to the grey board once the required shape was achieved.

I have left one of the note books in its protective plastic sleeve so I can wrap the damp leather around it

MY63
June 8th, 2015, 12:37 AM
I applied some wax to the leather as it dried to help it to take the shape and remain soft,
I then left it to dry overnight the colour has darkened nicely.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8839/18404545699_85f8c84006_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/u3m7er)IMG_0421_1 (https://flic.kr/p/u3m7er) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

The next step is to make the inside

MY63
June 15th, 2015, 12:58 PM
I freely admit I have been slacking on this project I don't have one finished as yet and this is the last week so the shamrock front piece is finished the next two front pieces will be roses the fourth cover will be embossed initials.

The starting point is the same grey board 1 mm thick I found a suitable image of a rose and printed off two images for each cover after cutting out the basic outline I stuck one to a scrap of leather and the other to the grey board, this is to make locating the leather rose simple.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5555/18811356716_c67cdaf55c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uEi7Yu)IMG_0482_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uEi7Yu) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I spent a long time with a scalpel cutting them out

https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3731/18840316131_6988ea6e3c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uGRxAK)IMG_0485_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uGRxAK) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

This picture shows all the stages brought together grey board with the image glued to it with the leather cut out glued to that

https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3685/18650351078_bc80b29a5f_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uq4VBd)IMG_0489_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uq4VBd) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Now all that has been done I can start thinking about cutting some leather

Newjelan
June 16th, 2015, 06:14 AM
Your son's teachers are lucky and I look forward to seeing the final products.

MY63
June 16th, 2015, 01:36 PM
Thanks Newjelan

Here is the next instalment I soaked the pieces of leather for the covers in cold water before starting to form them onto the card.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5537/18247908533_47457b620a_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/tNvisD)IMG_0500_1 (https://flic.kr/p/tNvisD) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

As you can see there is now a pair of roses in an ideal world I would have dyed the leather first however experience has shown that the leather stretches and the colour changes so this time I am dying after the forming process.

Thanks for looking

Michael

MY63
June 17th, 2015, 12:01 PM
I have started adding the dye to the leather each piece of leather takes dye in a different way the first cover I wanted what I call an antique look so I applied the dye to dry leather which gives a mottled antique look.

https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3692/18899825151_bb3ddb4698_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uN7xyk)IMG_0510_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uN7xyk) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

This cover I wanted a balanced colour so I applied the dye to wet leather

https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3778/18896982325_638deaf23a_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uMRYu6)IMG_0506_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uMRYu6) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr.

Thanks for looking

Michael

MY63
June 18th, 2015, 01:26 PM
The second rose cover is mahogany in colour I am not sure I have got the mix correct for this colour it will lighten as it dries I want the red to show through more, I will wait to see what it is like when it dries.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/305/18745567529_5c66bfe3f2_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uytW9a)IMG_0522_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uytW9a) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

MY63
June 21st, 2015, 03:13 PM
This is the half way point I have finished the first two covers so this one is number three this is the front view as you can see I have punched the holes with a stitching punch.

https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3706/19005462526_d7ca5c42c1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uXrXSo)IMG_0528_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uXrXSo) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

This is the inside view I am not a fan of unfinished leather so I have filled the gap with a piece of black suede

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/383/19026175142_0578becfe6_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uZh81s)IMG_0533_1 (https://flic.kr/p/uZh81s) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Here is number two with the notebook inside.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/453/18411017093_9603c6ef55_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/u3VgXc)IMG_0526_1 (https://flic.kr/p/u3VgXc) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

If anyone is interested in making a cover I have found it is best to mark out the leather whilst it is wrapped around the notebook in the closed position, marking the top bottom left and right.
I marked lines and added 15mm to each side and 10 mm top and bottom then glued the pieces together using a pair of dividers I marked 5 mm inside these edges for stitching and punched the holes

MY63
June 22nd, 2015, 12:50 PM
When sewing a cover there are two options cut first and use the dividers to mark inside the cut line and punch or the method I chose find the edge of the notebook mark around it and then stitch once that is finished use the dividers to mark the cutting lines like in the picture the join the dots up with a steel rule and cut.


https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/341/19035345676_624aaa3377_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/v16867)IMG_0537_1 (https://flic.kr/p/v16867) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr


No need for a late night tonight all four covers are finished and the notebooks are installed


https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3935/19035352096_e8bf65bc4f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/v169ZN)IMG_0540_1 (https://flic.kr/p/v169ZN) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr


They are ready to be wrapped up for my son to deliver tomorrow


Thanks for looking


Michael

Crazyorange
June 22nd, 2015, 06:31 PM
Beautiful work Michael.

fqgouvea
June 22nd, 2015, 06:40 PM
Very impressive work.


Fernando Gouvêa -- fqgouvea@roadrunner.com

Lady Onogaro
June 22nd, 2015, 06:41 PM
Michael,

Are you largely self-taught? How do you know what to do and when to do it? Is it mostly trial and error? I love these posts of yours--would like to know more about how you got to the place that you are in terms of your skills. You are not only practical and skilled, but you are certainly an artist!

MY63
June 23rd, 2015, 01:11 AM
Thanks Crazyorange and Fggouvea for your comments

I am indeed self taught in leatherworking I have always done woodworking for home DIY jobs.
In 2004 I had a life changing accident, Having always had an interest in pens I started buying old pens and learning how they worked I restored quite a few pens but found pens a little small for my large hands.
I had quite a few pens and my wife bought me a Georgian writing slope as a Christmas present it needed a new skiver and rather than learning on my present I bought two scrap writing slopes from an auction site

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8141/7419511826_9d49a180a5_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ciCWnG)box2 (https://flic.kr/p/ciCWnG) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

After a few weeks I turned one of them into this

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8296/7888841444_3fcd140e8f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/d27nHE)IMG_1828 (https://flic.kr/p/d27nHE) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I then made some little boxes before I was asked to make this

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8381/8683413410_ee40bb35d6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/eejLhj)IMG_0420 (https://flic.kr/p/eejLhj) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I still have writing slopes that I plan to restore this one in particular

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7411/9935755185_6cfbd67bc0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/g8ZkRT)IMG_4981 (https://flic.kr/p/g8ZkRT) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

I was finding working in wood a little heavy and when buying suede at Le Prevo (leather suppliers) I met their master leather worker Pete who encouraged me to try working in leather, when I saw a case in leather with a kydex liner for $200 I decided to have a go myself and the rest is history as they say.

Having written this I think it might be a good introduction to my blog which I am still building.

Michael

Crazyorange
June 23rd, 2015, 06:20 AM
Michael,
The last picture.....is that design in laid wood? The design is amazing.

MY63
June 23rd, 2015, 09:57 AM
Yes it is all inlaid veneer except where it has fallen off here is a close up of the bottom left of the picture in the other post you can see the new veneers once everything is scraped smooth no sanding on this type of work as the different colours of sawdust contaminate the other colours

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2867/10071876723_b9ec1afd2e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/gm213X)IMG_5101_1 (https://flic.kr/p/gm213X) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

It is a lovely little walnut slope there are more pictures on flickr just click on the picture

Crazyorange
June 23rd, 2015, 10:59 AM
Amazing.....you actually inlaid the wood???? You have patience. I'm going to steal the design for a zentangle. It's so darn beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

MY63
June 23rd, 2015, 12:29 PM
Yes one piece at a time here is a picture of the first pieces being laid down don't encourage me I am busy trying to finish your big pen case.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2812/10049578973_790ba78b66_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/gj3HGZ)IMG_5075_1 (https://flic.kr/p/gj3HGZ) by my0771 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/47080473@N07/), on Flickr

Crazyorange
June 23rd, 2015, 12:31 PM
Ha ha ....I hope you have a large man cave to hold all this projects.

MY63
June 23rd, 2015, 03:35 PM
Actually I don't and if my long suffering wife ever finds out how many projects I have stashed away in a number of locations I am in big trouble.
I still have the first writing slope I restored and agreed that I would only buy more writing slopes if I sold one so I stopped buying them but I can tell you I have more than ten.
So I started buying brief cases I have sold two the replacement ratio is currently 4 to 1, then there are the Gladstone bags I have 5 two large and 3 small.

Here ends the confession

Crazyorange
June 23rd, 2015, 03:36 PM
Ooohhhhh......you've got a lot of projects ahead. Chop chop get working so the wife doesn't catch on ;)

MY63
June 23rd, 2015, 04:27 PM
I forgot to mention I have received a call from the first teacher to receive her notebook cover it is the one with the shamrock she loved it. Which is good news😀

Newjelan
June 25th, 2015, 04:54 AM
They look stunning, no wonder the teacher called saying she loved it.