Since ,mom had her cameraI took some pics of my stuff

[undergroundpanther]

First my leather book , it holds any marble student type book
This is the front

The back

The inside (the hieroglyhs written there is Sekhmet's name.)



I got sick of my blah wood nightstand so.. I painted it.


Last,my panther staff, it's a twisty branch one that has grown up choked by a vine,so it is twisted naturally.I have had the stick since I was a kid,there has been several feline tops over the years on it, this is the latest one.For anyone who knows it there is one of Blackies shed tail feathers hanging off the back.

[eleny]

1. Wow! The leather book is gorgeous

No shyness when it comes to color. Good for you!

Btw, how do you color the leather? I've never learned or read anything about working with it.

[undergroundpanther]

2. I use

standard leather dyes alcohol based ones like Fiebings and then when the dye is dry usually 24 hours I use acrylic paint, to make it work on leather, I put it on before I put on any clearcoat or other finish,I add a touch of fabric medium,put the paint on in thin layers slightly watered down so it penetrates the leather a bit ,when it is done I finish it with super shene and when that's dry carnuba wax and buff it to a mellow shine.

some of the leather dyes I use:
Expensive but kick ass
http://www.turtlefeathers.com/text/angelus/angelus-main-dye.html

Standard leather dyes
http://www.shoeshineexpress.com/dyesprep.asp

You can also make your own dyes with acid dyes
Use a diluent to lighten dye colors and blend them almost like paint, more like batik.You can even use tjanting tools and airbrush to dye leather too.

[eridani]

4. Should have read all the replies first

What fabric medium? Do you dilute the dyes with just rubbing alcohol?

[undergroundpanther]

7. Fabric medium..

Just a few drops in whatever acrylic paint you wanna use I use don't use alot of fabric medium ,because it will make the paint feel almost like a plastic coating..and that that will just sit on top of the leather and over time it will crack..You want it to be more flexible than just acrylics are that's what the fabric medium does to the paint BUT you do not want it to just sit on top of the leather you gotta do thin watered down layers.Like the consistency of thin watery cream.You only can put it on unfinished leather(no finish,oils or waxes put on it), Go for stuff like veg tan because chrome dyed leather or aniline already has a finish put on it.However you can get a tanned and dyed aniline or chrome tanned leather skin without finish on it ,it's sold as "crust".

Fabric mediums..for acrylics(I use the acrylics in little jars like folk art pure pigments etc. because they have less of the plasticizers in it,Tube acrylics aren't the best for leather they have too much viscosity)Here's a link to the kind I use Liquidtex..Dick Blick is pretty good on prices too.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz006/18i/


Here are two kick ass places to get cool leather cheep
http://www.justleather.com/
http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/

Modeling tools
http://www.craftcave.com/leather/modelingtools.htm
http://www.hobbytool.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=3

I love this site, they got stuff no one else has cheep And I mean can afford that on SSI cheap.I wouldn't have the shop I got if there was no science surplus!!Some of it's junk but some is not.You gotta know what you are looking for sometimes,anyways You gotta poke around here there is all kinds of stuff an artist can use here.They have the best little bead boxes ANYWHERE.I love the small aluminum multicolored cannisters that have lids and fit together in a box that comes with it.And they are great on dremel points,riffler files and other metalworking supply..Don't even get me started on the leds, submersible pumps and motors.
http://www.sciplus.com/



One day I oughta compile all the links I got for art and crafts supply..I look around for cheep good and sometimes pretty weird stuff.
I got a really good source for glow in the dark pigments.In all sorts of colors, holographic films..I do some pretty weird stuff.

[eridani]

3. You seem to be way advanced in leather tooling

I'm trying to learn it for some jewelry pieces, and find it not at all simple. Standard set of tooling implements? Did you use paint or dye? Leather conditioner after?

Excellent work!

[undergroundpanther]

6. I don't use stamps

I use the modeling tools, little spoons etc.Dental tools too.If you do any carving or sculpture you'll want dental tools they are awesome.

One problem with thinning dyes with alcohol alone is it dries out the leather by leaching out the natural oils. It's great to use alcohol on leather if you are molding the leather into a shape like a mask because it makes the mask stiffer,harder and stuff . But for other uses it kinda sucks because it weakens the collagen fibers and the protein and it leaches out the oils the tanning process puts in..So, Mix water and alcohol together to thin dyes if you ain't gonna bother with diluent..
The alcohol and water will look whitish in the container but it does not dry that way.

[eridani]

9. When you get mom's camera again--

--would it be too much trouble to photograph your array of tools? I'd really like to get more into this.

[Dora]

5. Wow UP! Those are amazing!

You have such a sense of color and detail. I am in awe. Very Nice Work!

:applause:

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. Those are more than just crafting!

Those are true works of art!

Beautiful work, ugp! :hi:

[Left Brain]

10. Just... WOW!

You have an incredible skill and talent!
Beautiful work.

[Morgana LaFey]

11. OMG, the inside of the leather book has me reeling

I LOVE it. I love Egyptian motifs. Your work is fabulous, all of it, but the Egyptian thing just sends me. Thanks for sharing.