Mydori

[pegasong]

I like the embossed dragon but I think you are right in that the edges aren't quite defined enough. How did you get the leather to be embossed?

 

I really like the retake on the carved dragon. It's lovely in the black.

 

I like the tab on the next to the last one you posted. What type of notebooks will you use in it?

 

Where do you get the pierced and embossed leather? It's gorgeous!

[my63]

Thanks Pegasong

The embossing is done by cutting a shape out of leather and then moulding another piece of leather or suede on top to be honest the pictures don't do it justice it is quite well defined when you see it in person.

 

The carving will improve once I get the hang of the tools to make it stand out. Here is my sample piece.

 

IMG_7446 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The cover with the tab is made from English bridle leather and was made in the same style as the ten pen case I made for TinJapan and will be jetting off to Japan to join its big brother when finished. I is designed to hold the rhodia note pad I am going to make one for myself to hold an a5 hard back notebook

 

The red and purple embossed leather comes from

 

http://www.pittardsleather.co.uk/surface-embossed-red-leather-skin/p838

 

You have to take care with it as the embossing has almost cut through the leather so it will seperate if stretched when gluing I rolled I on to a piece of dowel and only glued one side then rolled the leather back into place. As I rolled it out I watched closely for the glue comming up through the pierced holes and wiped it away.

 

I hope that helps

 

Michael

[jimhughes]

Michael:

The 2 Notebooks arrived yesterday. Long day so I didn't get to open and enjoy your work till now. These are perfect. The nicest and most well done pieces of functional art work, I've ever had the pleasure of using. Your leather working skills, particularly dying are beyond compare. These are clearly heirloom notebooks. They'll be used by the family long after I'm gone. I really appreciate your sharing your art and skills with me.The Tomoe River notebook inserts , I got from a fellow here on FPN, fit perfectly in your covers. I can carry several inserts in each cover. This lets me have a To Do List, Schedule for Appojntments and another for jotting quick notes.

Have you considered opening an online business like through etsy.com? I think you'd be surprised at the level of business your outstanding art work would produce. Have a great weekend, Jim

[my63]

Hi Jim

Thanks for the very kind compliments I am pleased that you like the notebook covers.

 

Michael

[jimhughes]

Like is too mild a word. I'd say ecstatic is more in line with my feelings about materials, design, and quality of artisanship. Look forward to what comes next out of your shop. I've still got a few pence left after the quarterly Tax Set aside. Jim

[my63]

Here is a peek at my almost finished red cover

 

IMG_7500 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited May 26, 2014 by my63

[my63]

I made this to go with the black ten pen case that I made for TinJapan it is English bridle leather with a kip leather interior which has been dyed oxblood as usual the oxblood dye has thrown up some challenges but I am sure that when it is fully dry it will even out

 

IMG_7505 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_7518 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_7507 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited May 26, 2014 by my63

[my63]

This red cover is now almost complete it only needs some elastic I cant decide which colour red black or gold if anyone has any thoughts then please let me know.

 

IMG_7520_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This cover is Midori traveller size although it is slightly larger it is designed to hold more than three notebooks

 

thanks

 

Michael

[Inkwellpens]

It would have to be gold for me!

[my63]

To be honest I could not make a decision so I have put it to one side for now if I ever get around to advertising it I think I will allow the buyer to make the choice.

Thanks for the input though I appreciate it.

 

Michael

[my63]

After some thought I have decided to put the red cover up for sale in the classifieds section

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[my63]

I have been asked to make a cover for a Clairefontaine notebook with purple leather outside and Aqua interior

 

IMG_7727 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I cut the interior and exterior pieces and dyed the interior piece to the required colour. and glued them together the first attempt failed but the next attempt went well.

 

IMG_7750_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After the glue was dry I punched the holes for the elastic and assembled the tools required to sew around the edges.

 

IMG_7761_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

it took most of the afternoon but it is finished now and ready to have the edges sealed and the elastic added.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

Large cover completed

 

IMG_7763_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Hand made

 

IMG_7767_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the largest cover I have made so far 9 in x 6.5 inches

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[jimhughes]

Great job Michael, you are doing some fantastic art work with your covers. I'm really enjoying the 2 you shared with me. They are a constant source of pleasure for me to use and draw a lot of compliments. Keep up the great work and share your new project with us. Jim

[my63]

I have been posting this in another thread on this forum but feel like I have been hijacking someone else's thread so I will continue here in more detail.

 

The conversation was around a thin and light notebook cover

 

IMG_7784_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I decided on a yellow interior and oxblood exterior

 

IMG_7791 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Unfortunately I glued all of the pieces together and marked out the holes for stitching before I dyed the front cover which allowed the dye to pass through to the interior

 

So I have had to start over again, I dyed the failed one oxblood inside and out however that did not cover the marks left by the other dye. It is currently Mahogany

 

IMG_7800 by my0771, on Flickr

 

So here is my latest attempt oxblood exterior with yellow interior

 

IMG_7798 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The outer cover is made from 1.3 mm kip leather and the inside pieces are 0.9 mm kip leather kip is soft and very flexible.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

The next steps involved trimming the yellow pieces and sewing the card slots I applied a small amount of glue around the edges to hold everything in place.

 

IMG_7806 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

IMG_7805 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have to be honest I am a little unsure about the oxblood so close to the yellow but we will see

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I am about to start a new project for a FPNer a matching four pen case and a notebook cover for a Leuchtturm 1917 a5 notebook

 

The starting point is a clear block of granite

 

IMG_7840 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have cut a piece of leather large enough to make all of the pieces which I plan to dye in one go

 

IMG_7842 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The next step is to wet this whole piece of leather and then start applying dye the colour chosen is the same as the field notes cover I made earlier this week which ended up being mahogany but started as oxblood so in order to get the same colour I will first dye this project oxblood and then apply mahogany on top of that.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I applied the oxblood dye first and before it started to dry I applied the mahogany the sun is shining so I have taken it outside to dry off a little.

 

IMG_7845 by my0771, on Flickr

 

if anyone is interested I used a piece of cotton twisted to make a ball in a similar manner to applying French polish I poured some dye into a glass jar with a wide top and then added some dye reducer dipped the cloth in to it and applied it in lines then circles then lines going the other way.

I continued until I had used all of the dye in the jar then cleaned it out and changed the colour with new gloves and cloth.

The mahogany dye started off with reducer I kept adding dye to the jar making the dye stronger and stronger until I was happy with the colour.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I have taken some better pictures of the freshly dyed hide

 

IMG_7846 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The background is brown paper so the colour is a little light

 

IMG_7851 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The colour will change as it dries out but I am very happy with the result so far

 

 

 

Thanks

 

Michael

Edited July 5, 2014 by my63

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

just beautiful Micheal!