Mydori

[my63]

I will make some enquiries about a blog thanks to everyone for the comments.

 

Michael

[my63]

Inkwellpens asked me if I could make her a Midori style cover for her Calepino notebook.

 

The starting point is a piece of leather this is kip leather very good quality normally this would be the only piece of leather however we are going to emboss a date onto the rear of this case so this thicker piece will be the inside.

I will use a thinner piece for the outside that will form over the numbers to be embossed. pictures will explain better I think.

 

IMG_7199_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I printed two copies of the numbers to be embossed onto copier paper and cut them out as shown

 

IMG_7191_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_7194_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

the first set of numbers were stuck to a piece of leather and cut out.

 

more later

 

Michael

Edited May 2, 2014 by my63

[my63]

The first attempt has failed the numbers were too small so I am printing some larger numbers and a slightly heavier font.

[Inkwellpens]

It's looking great Michael, I will be uploading the latest pictures and updates on the blog tomorrow.

[my63]

I am sorry to say attempt number two has also failed the long edge of the number four is too thin and disappears when the top piece is applied.

The next attempt I will ask my wife to write it by hand.

 

Michael

[my63]

I like to show what works but I also like to share the things that don't work.

Here is one of the things that did not work

 

IMG_7204_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

So what has gone wrong I used a font that had thin lines and to compensate for that I used thicker leather I thought I could overcome this by adding pressure so I folded up a microfiber cloth placed a piece of wood on top and then clamped it down.

If you look closely you can see the imprint of the cloth on the leather (I will remember how this happened as I might use this later) There is a lack of definition around the numbers.

I can also see the backing paper.

I will get it right.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I have been working on this between sewing the red pen case today I have tried a number of different fonts but eventually returning to the original font and increasing the thickness of the long side with a marker pen.

 

IMG_7208_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I will reserve judgement until it is dry tomorrow numbers are really hard to emboss.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[Inkwellpens]

I like the way it looks at the moment. Sorry for the difficult task. Didn't think numbers would be so difficult.

[my63]

I like the way it looks at the moment. Sorry for the difficult task. Didn't think numbers would be so difficult.

Thanks it looks good this morning I enjoy the challenge.

Unfortunately I have just realised that I have put the embossing is on the front and not the back.

 

Back to step one.

 

Thanks

 

Michael

[my63]

I cant undo the mistake on the green case so I thought I would finish it anyway dye is still wet

 

IMG_7210_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have also made a start on a pair of covers one in orange and one in yellow

 

IMG_7216_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

A good start I need to sort out the size for the yellow cover it is going to be passport size.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[jimhughes]

Perfect Orange Colour. Looks Beautiful. Your Leather working skills are impressive. Have a great week, Jim

[my63]

Perfect Orange Colour. Looks Beautiful. Your Leather working skills are impressive. Have a great week, Jim

Hi Jim

I am pleased that you like the orange I hope that you like the yellow too.

Lighter coloured dyes are affected by the colour of the leather before you start so I chose the part of the hide with the lightest tone.

 

IMG_7218_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

As you can see after dying there is a two tone effect to the leather the leather was dyed wet and I am hoping that it will disappear as the leather dries out.

As the leather starts to dry mink oil is applied it darkens the colour a little and helps to remove any excess dye that is lying on the surface.

 

IMG_7223_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the orange cover it has dried and has been oiled with mink oil and has had a coat of carnauba wax it will have four or five more coats.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[wikeh2004]

That looks great, Michael. Like all your other projects. Much admiration. :-)

[jimhughes]

Michael:

Impressive skills. Even Tinting of thick leather was always a major problem for my craft projects. Looks like you've overcome that issue in a perfect fashion. Looking forward to seeing the final result. Jim

[my63]

Thanks for the compliments

Jim I think you may have spoken too soon the yellow is not even in colour and may need more dye

Pictures to follow

[my63]

Working with leather is a challenge as a natural product it has its own properties, dying it is a lot more difficult than I thought if you work an area it will always come out darker,

If you dye it before working it as it stretches it gets lighter, yes you are right you cant win.

 

So the green project has fully dried out now, not as dark as it was but still a little patchy

 

IMG_7234_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

Edited May 5, 2014 by my63

[my63]

The yellow cover has a fade from bottom to top I will apply some mink oil and see what effect that has.

 

IMG_7231_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This post should have been part of the previous but it would not post??

[my63]

The first attempt was too dark so the best course of action was to stop and start again.

 

Step one with a new font and on thinner leather fingers crossed

 

IMG_7239_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Step two on the left of the picture the standard dye on the right I added some reducer to thin the colour down by 50%

 

IMG_7237_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The piece on the right will be the new front cover.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[jimhughes]

Difficult work like this takes several tries dying and drying before you end up with a finished product, even when done by a professional.

Looks pretty nice at this point. Jim

[Inkwellpens]

I am loving seeing the progress, I am also posting and updating on my blog .....

 

http://www.thepenandinkwell.com/blog/

 

Michael really does some great work.