Menu Covers

I made these in about 1981 for the National Parks Service in Tsitsikama - The flowers are all indigenous to the area.

I later heard that these were stolen a few months after I left the National Park (I had worked there for six months to wait for my final semester at University.)

A few projects from long ago

I unearthed some old photo albums and found these pictures of some of the projects I did about thirty years ago!

This is a hand guard for ten pin bowling.  I think the cutting design was from an old Leathercrafter magazine, but it was my own first rather successfulness attempt at a tooling design.

I was in the Voortrekkers, the South African equivalent of the Scouts, and in 1981 I made these quivers that carried messages all over South Africa to a celebratory conference for the organization's 50th year.

Skull on a Book

I am binding some magazines for the local guild and decided to have fun with the carving of the covers.  the topmost magazine in this volume had a picture of a skull covered in leather so I turned it into a picture that I could carve.

After all the carving was done, I covered the design with two layers of Super Sheen and the back ground with two layers of Block-out.

After it had dried, you cannot see where the Super Sheen and Block-out had been applied.

Then I covered the whole picture with Eco-Flo High-Liter and quickly wiped the excess off with a damp cloth.  Now the difference between the parts resisted with Super Sheen and with Block-out became very prominent.  It turned out exactly as I wanted, so I was well pleased.

I followed the instructions in Tony Lair's book about getting a Sheridan style finish to a carving after being inspired by Mike Pederson.  I will see if I can get a photo of the check book Mike had done in the same way.

A Doodle

I had to teach someone a masterclass in tooling and this was the piece I demonstrated techniques with.  I don't know what to do with it now....

New Hatband done

Here is the completed hatband - now to find a buyer!

A new Hatband!

The Potjie hatband sold - with the hat. Now I have to make a new hatband for the slightly smaller hat I made - for sale!

This is the hatband in progress ... aimed at the biker community.

A Band for a Hat

One of the most fun projects ever - the hat is just easy and fun. The hat band was made after I took a class from Dave Genadek on designing your own floral pattern. The Potjie in the center is there because I will wear this hat band with the hat on the Fourth of July when we get together for a Potjie Day (Dutch oven cookout)

 

 

 

A Top Hat

This is my third hat and a very fun project - as was the first two hats!

But this is only the start - I intend making various themed hatbands: 4th July / St Paddy's / Christmas / etc.

How else am I going to be able to wear it?!?

Or like someone pointed out: "Wearing it will be the occasion ..."

 

 

 

Some of my braiding

This shows some of the kangaroo leather dog leashes and collars I braid.

Bible Covers

These two are for sale and were made for the big Life Study Bibles ...

Two very trusty old designs that I like very much.