I've featured some wonderful leather jewelry artisans before (see links below). Their carving skills are remarkable. Have you ever wondered how they carve, stamp and mold leather?
Thanks to the craftsmen at Weaver Leather Supply, Joe Meling and Chuck Dorsett, you need not wonder any more! I have no association with WLS except as a fan of their series of leather working tutorials. They are short and informative.
I've picked some of the key how-to videos which will give you some idea of what tools and methods leather workers like them use. You can naturally adapt the methods for smaller bracelets, cuffs or even leather pendants.
Joe Meling's Introduction to Floral Carving shows how leather artisans get crisp lines and "shadings" to the leather.
Chuck Dorsett's Basic Leather Stamping has important tips - using good quality leather is key to successful projects. I also appreciated the one about working with the top part of the leather wet while the bottom remains dry to get good stampings.
The Hand Dyeing Leather tutorial shows it's not that hard to use oil dyes to dip dye leather pieces.
Just like metalsmiths add patina to their work, you can also Apply an Antique Finish to Leather.
This Wet Molding Leather tutorial is all about how to shape leather. The leather is wetted and then molded in some way so that it retains the new shape when it dries.
Wet molding was probably how this artisan got the leather cord in the first picture of this past post Can Men Wear Pearls?
I've also thought of trying to mold leather for inserts into my wood frames rather than adding polymer clay ones like Gloria Uhler did in her tutorial.
Given you tons of ideas? Or are you groaning - not another technique to get sucked into?
Before You Go:
- Amazing Leather Cuffs by Ethos Custom Brands
- Bold Masculine Wire Wrapped and Leather Jewelry by LeatherworksSUMA
- Easy Laced Leather Cuff Tutorial
Disclosure This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
______________________________
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
EASY GUIDE TO SMARTPHONE JEWELRY PHOTOGRAPHY - Read more here
Leather has been my latest obsession.... err, interest! The potential is never-ending; and I'm blessed to live within an hour from Springfield Leather in Springfield, MO. These are some tutorials I've watched in amazement, they make it look so easy! that's the result of lots and lots of practice I'm sure. thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are not the only one, Cally! Leather is popular. Lucky you to be so close to a good source of leather.
DeleteMy aunt did leather work for years and years. She made some really interesting pieces. Sadly she's long gone so there's no calling her up for the ins and outs so it's fantastic to know there are places and tutorials for those exact questions!
ReplyDeleteI learned a lot about working with leather from my mother who was a furrier. I won't even go into all the arguments we had over the use of leather and furs with people who stood in front of us wearing their leather shoes and belts and carrying a leather purse. Fun times!
I can sit here and smell leather if I think about it. Like raw wool it has a smell all its own doesn't it!
I worked at a small leather shop in Beeville, Texas back in 1981. I learned about working with leather and stamping on it and all. I still have several stamps and lots of stamping letters. Unfortunately, I don’t live near any places to purchase leather. I really haven’t thought much about this part of my hobby life, in quite some time. I really should look for some online and get back into the work. ( my husband rolls his eyes at that last statement ). I will add that I love the smell of leather!
ReplyDeleteGreat selection of tutorials. Have you come across any tutorials for painting or dyeing designs in leather? I'm looking to add some color to a leather bracelet in small areas that have been carved or stamped.
ReplyDeleteYes. These same folks also have a great tutorial on dyeing leather :
Deletehttps://youtu.be/DJ8s7wH-YCg