May 18

50mm
f/8.0
1/125 sec.
ISO 100
Genesis 200 camera left

(I've decided to quit my second year of project 365. I just don't have the time, I'll still attempt to post daily, I just won't make up lost pictures. I'll try and post more interesting things later.)


Well, now that that's out of the way, I'll talk about the picture above. The picture above is of a custom order I had. (see listing here) Two monogrammed, custom ordered colored, dice cups. I feel really pleased with these. I also like the way the colors turned out. I've never had a reason to dye something blue or purple. So I was pretty stoked to get mess with these colors.

The setup for this shot was pretty easy too.

May 8

Current

One of my current projects.

Just a wider view. Oh and some clarification it's different colors because it's wet. And I don't work on a piece of cardboard, but a big o' slab of granite. I'm using "that" on something else that's why it's not there. Yeah, just thought you'd like to know.

April 9

Perismmon Red



Picked up a new highlighter dye.
It's red and eco friendly. :)

Fresh in

I finally got the purse up. You can go check it out.

The shop.

Project 365; 298

Ha! I defeated you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember

Its finished.
I've not posted it yet though. I'll take pictures of it tomorrow, and then post it on Etsy.

In other news, I voted today! We did early voting over at the mall. We ended up waiting in line for about an hour. It was kind of weird, I thought we'd have to use voting machines, but instead we filled in the ovals with a pen. Like the SAT's or ACT's.

Project 365; 285

At long last.

Finally created a decent header for the etsy shop.

I think my GIMP-ing skillz are getting better.


Ps.You can click on the banner and it will take you to the shop.

And

Yes,

I do realize I misspelled skillz. :)

Finished

Finished a leather project, you can check it out here

Really cheap, but really awesome studio.

Really cheap, but really awesome studio.

I used two pieces of poster board as my background.

And propped them in a chair.

My pictures came out like this.

A little tweaking and a little cropping in lightroom and, you get this.


And you can see the purse here

New purse in the shop

Stuck a new purse in the etsy shop today.

Here

I was really happy with the way this picture turned out.

I used a pretty neat setup for this picture. I'll post it tomorrow cause I forgot to take a picture today.

Day 3

Sealed the dye. Then sewed the whole thing together.

The sketch pad in the leather case.

The pocket.

Day 2

Added a pocket to hold sketch pad.

Finished.

Took apart to dye.

Day 1

I though I'd show a project from start to finish.

This is project I've never done before so you get to see everything.


The project is a leather case for a drawing pad.

This is the pad I'm using as a guide.

First I drew up some really simple plans.

For leather I'm using a 6-7oz shoulder.

Above is a picture of an average sized shoulder.

To scratch the pattern out you need a square (the metal thing), a pencil, a modeling tool, and a yard stick.

Once I've finished scratching out the pattern, I cut it out with a pair of scissors.

Next I punched holes in on the top side of the leather pieces I just cut out.

Then I sewed them together.

(By hand. In case you were wondering)

The pieces sown.

A better look. I know the end is unfinished, but this is the first time I'm doing this pattern.

The first time I do a pattern I like to put the thing together then take it a part to dye it.

And this is the leather pad in relation to the drawing pad.

And that was day 1.

This was yesterday but I didn't have time to post last night so I'm posting it today.

I'll post what I do today later.

Also This isn't today's picture. I'll post that later today too.

Leather Purse

I've put another purse in our etsy store.

Here.

I sold it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally sold my first leather purse.

Here

So....because I can, I'm posting a picture of it below.

I've got a black one with a tooled flower on it, but I can't find a 12'' black zipper. So..I guess I'm going to have to search for one on-line. I'm also working on a small purse that I can sell cheaper, but I still have to cut the designs on it, and then dye it. My plan this summer is to make a bunch of these purses and go around to some of the local shops, and pawn my wears. I'm also planing on making a refillable leather sketch pad. I may do a step by step post on that, I'm not sure. Well, anyways, I was really stoked 'bout that, and thought I 'd share.

Problem Solving

I've been having a problem with the lighting in my room when it comes to taking pictures.

Most of my pictures look like this.
(w/o flash)

Then others look like this.
(w/ flash)

But I have now solved my problem with aluminum foil, and card board.

You simply hold the the diffuser?/reflector? in front of the flash,

And you get...

...this.

I just found the greatest web site ever!

Here it is

It's an online yellow pages for leather.

Project 365; Day 59

Leather Tools 5: Dyeing & Sealing
(I've decided that today is the last day of the leather tools series)


I added a decorative border.


I was just messing around so I tried something different.

I've never dyed a round an object before. I don't like the way it turn out so I probably won't do this again.

Okay, so after I've let it set for 24hours.
The dye is ready for a sealer.

Basically all you do is brush it on, let it sit for about a minute, then wipe it off with a sponge.

Then repeat.

You need 2-4 coats depending on the use.

I only used 2 coats for this project, but I use 4 coats on the purses I make.


And last but not least I buff it, with a soft cloth.


The finished product.

I've done nothing to this picture.
So if clicked on. It will enlarge.

Project 365; Day 58

Leather Tools 4: Seeder, Wing Dividers, & Basket Weave

This is a seeder.

There are lots of different kinds of seeders but this is a good basic one.

Seeded.

This is a wing divider.

You use these to "scratch out" a perfect line around the edge of your project.

Like so.

The line cut.
(with a swivel knife)

Now I can basket weave the background.


The Basket Weave.

I drew a guide line.

And there you go a background.

Note
This was a practice piece, and the background is totally off.
I've not fully mastered the going around objects yet.