PDA

View Full Version : Ink, Leather & Plague Doctors -- What do they have in common?



jbb
May 22nd, 2013, 09:30 AM
I was sewing a batch of leather Plague Doctor masks ('cause that's what I do) when finally solved the mystery of strange blue-black stains we occasionally get in the leather. The tannins in the leather (from tanning the leather.... get it??? tannins, tanning...) react with the iron in my sewing needles when I leave the leather in water with the needles still threaded. The stains are the exact same color as my homemade powdered iron gall ink so I had an "Aha" moment.

https://img1.etsystatic.com/013/0/5288709/il_fullxfull.445466265_nlm8.jpg

MisterBoll
May 22nd, 2013, 10:14 AM
Wonderful mask. Where are they available?

jbb
May 22nd, 2013, 10:23 AM
Wonderful mask. Where are they available?

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TomBanwell?section_id=5537297

Laura N
May 22nd, 2013, 10:37 AM
That's a neat observation about the "ink" stains.

ETA: Great mask, too!

jbb
May 22nd, 2013, 10:45 AM
That's a neat observation about the "ink" stains.

ETA: Great mask, too!

Thanks. The problem of these ink stains has been a mystery for a long time it was fun to have all my iron gall experimenting suddenly matter for our work.

MisterBoll
May 22nd, 2013, 01:12 PM
If found the prefect music for these masks -
David Lang - Death Speaks.

Uncle Red
May 23rd, 2013, 02:31 PM
Jill, I have his Etsy store bookmarked but I never knew you were connected. LOL

jbb
May 23rd, 2013, 02:47 PM
Jill, I have his Etsy store bookmarked but I never knew you were connected. LOL

You do? Small world! Here's a family photo:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5104/5572851450_78bb3576b6_b.jpg

Uncle Red
May 24th, 2013, 12:06 PM
Cool

Marsilius
May 24th, 2013, 05:08 PM
They are just a little bit creepy, but wonderful, too. Or wonderful, but a just little bit creepy, too. Pantalone and Il Dottore meet All Quiet on the Post Modern Western Front?

79spitfire
May 24th, 2013, 09:49 PM
You should have been at the Maker Faire in San Mateo...

Flake
May 26th, 2013, 07:40 AM
jbb these are amazing!

jbb
May 26th, 2013, 08:01 AM
jbb these are amazing!

Thanks! This is my husband's work.