Happy September!

I have been waiting for you, September.  Patient and (mostly indoors) waiting.  You don't bring us much by way of cooler temperatures, but there is that first-thing-in-the-morning scent in the air promising Autumn is not so far away now.  Our harvest this year has been one of productive artistry, business learning, and long range planning, rather than gourds, grains and greens.  Over the coming months we'll put this harvest to the best use we can...

But in the meantime, Welcome, September.  It's so good to see you again.

An Art Doll BOOK!

I think he believed me that I reeeeeeelly loved this book.  I checked it out from the Cortez Library near us, and then rechecked it, and then rechecked it again.  Then one came in the mail...for me!  My spousal unit may not say much at times, but he does know how to say I Love You with style.

Thank you, Phil.

Tooled Leather Checkbook Cover -- Start to Finish.

This is Phil...well, no this is the tooled leather checkbook cover he made. But those are Phil's hands. And he's going to show most of how he made it.

(As always, click on any picture to enlarge it for more detail. Except the one there on the right, and I don't know what happened to it.)

First, you start with a BIG piece of leather and spread it out on the living room floor.
Next, measure and cut the pieces you need.  Consider putting a board underneath so you don't cut the carpet.

Then, using a "Grooving Tool" you groove.
This makes a place for stitches later when he stitches the outer leather to the inner lining and pockets.
Groovy tool, isn't it?
(I'm NOT sorry.  That pun was practically mandatory.)

This is the edging tool.  It makes nice, smooth, beveled edges.  Very tidy.

Phil is using tracing paper onto which he has traced his own design.  Using a different colored ink (so he can tell where he's been) he goes over the design onto the damp leather, leaving a slight indentation.  These indentations become his lines for cutting.

Now he cuts the design with the swivel blade.  He makes it look soooooo easy.
I have tried to use this.  It's not easy.

Now, depending on the design, degree of complexity, etc. etc. etc., he tools the design into the damp leather.

If the design is a complex one like this, or has a textured background, this step takes a long time,
requiring refrigerator storage in plastic to keep the leather damp.  If it dries out, things go south pretty fast.

This is a fairly straightforward design.  No background texture, only horns.

This part gets messy (and sometimes stinky), so he has to go outside to the carport.     Stain on.....

Stain off!    Since leather is a natural material, every piece takes the stain differently.  Sometimes even pieces from the same hide can take same stain differently!

Now it's time for the stitching wheel.  It makes tiny dents to space the stitches evenly. 

The next step (are we there yet?) is to make holes for the stitches.  For this he uses a very pointy awl, y'all.

Next, of course, is the actual stitching.
He sews the outer leather, inner lining, and and interior pockets together, so it lasts a loooooong time.
(There's smelly glue and lining leather involved, but we skipped that part.)  

And here is Phil with the finished cover.  I think he's a genius (also handsome, funny, and an excellent driver),
but I may be biased.