One day to go and I have to get it done

If you have been reading this blog on of the re-occurring theme's of the blog is that I wait to the last minute to get things done. Well it is a day before Brendas birthday and I need to get her present done.










I photocopied the main pattern for the cell phone holder. As I looked at it I noticed that the pattern was not full size. Crap!!! Well, I decided that I would just draw up the pattern by hand. The outline of the cellphone holder was traced onto paper, and the paper was folded in half. I drew half of the pattern and then traced what was drawn onto the other side of the paper.
In this photo, the pattern was transferred onto the leather and the initial cuts were made using the swivel knife. A border was also added to the pattern.


I am hard at work tooling the pattern. Notice how far down my nose my glasses are resting. My glasses are not bifocal but I really need a pair. At this point in time, I have a cataract in my right eye that has image ghosting problems.
This show shows some of the tooling on the main section of the cell phone case. At first I think that the tooling doesn't look all that good, but it seems to get better as the project progresses.

Here is a shot of the cell phone holder after the tooling and assembled. The finish has not been applied at this time.
The case went together really easy with out any problems. The leather was still wet at the time from the tooling. I began to get impatient so I used a hair dryer to dry the leather so I could apply the finish.

Below is a shot of the case with the finish applied. the hair dryer was also used to help dry the finish.
Here is a shot of the case looking at the side. The finish looks good and I think that it will work.

Here is a shot of the completed project. Brenda likes her new cell phone holder.

More leather work - Brenda's cell phone case

Started working on a leather cell phone case for Brenda's birthday. Here is a photo of the project as I am getting ready to start working on it.

I started tooling the front flap of the cell phone case. After the pattern was transferred I noticed that it was just a bit off center.
A border was added around the flower. The border was not in the original plan but I like to customize it just a bit.

Below the border has been beveled and the background started.

The 30 Year Leather Handbag project

Sometimes I just don't work on projects for a long time. Just after high school 1978 - 1980 I did some leather work and made a handbag for my girlfriend at the time. My mom saw the handbag and had to have one. The supplies for the handbag were acquired and the project started. Then life happened (Marriage, Children, Job, etc.) and I forgot about the handbag. Yes I know that its a lame excuse but the handbag ended up in the basement lost with all the other junk that's down there.

A couple of weeks ago, I was out visiting my parents and the discussion came up about me and how sometimes I don't finish projects. At that point my mother piped in with a "Where's my handbag???". I was finally shamed into completing the project I began over 30 years ago. I wondered if the parts for the handbag could even be located in the basement. Fifteen to twenty minutes later most of the parts for the handbag were found.

I created a list of the missing items needed to complete the handbag. The additional items needed to complete the handbag were purchased at a Tandy leather store in salt lake city. I wondered if Tandy Leather was even in business. I bought some additional tools and a 12" x 12" x 1 1/2" piece of granite to tool the leather on.

I started tooling the leather and quickly noticed that my eyes were not the same as they were 30 years ago. On came the lights and the thought crossed my mind to get out the lighted magnifying glass I use with the scroll saw. A few days later I was lacing up the handbag and putting the finishing touches on it.

I took the handbag out to my parents house. I had my wife wear the bag over her shoulder when we walked into the house. My mom keep looking at it but didn't say anything. Finally my wife asked my mom how she liked her bag. We finally let her know that it was hers. Later I told my dad that I would make a wallet for him but he would probably not be alive 30 years from now when I get it finished.