Creating with Leather
Some artistic ideas simply do not fit into a traditional category.
Signature Creations is home to my one-of-a-kind works, sculptural pieces, mixed-media projects, and artistic experiments. These creations often begin with an idea, a challenge, or a desire to explore something new.
From leather dragons and sculptural vessels to display pieces and nature-inspired artwork, each piece reflects my continuing desire to learn, create, and push the boundaries of what can be done with leather.
Creating with tooling leather is very exciting and really simulates the imagination.
I first start learning to make the leather feather jewelry I make and have been selling since January 1996. I also learned to make the leather leaves and leather leathers. From what I have learned by doing all these different items, I have enjoyed making one of a kind and custom items from tooling leather.
I am in the progress of making lessons to teach people how to create their own items without being limited by others lessons. I am not going to even try to compete with the lessons Paul Burnett has created. He is a master in his leather creations and in the lessons he has created for others to learn to tool and paint tooling leather. The are available to purchase on www.paintingcow.com.
In my Signature Creations Line, I make a 10-inch leather feather with the quill traditionally wrapped, or the quill not wrapped for one to use in their own creations. I also have a style enhanced with rabbit fur, horse hair and prayer tie. My realistic leather feather, leather leaf jewelry, and specialty items are light weight and durable. An added benefit is they are light weight, saving on shipping cost which make them ideal for gifts which need to be mailed. Each of my pieces are signed with my logo-a small Golden Eagle Tail Feather.
The following are samples of what I have made. I will be making unique and custom items for sale.
10″ Golden Eagle tail feather with traditional wrapping on the quill an Hudson Bay washed beads on the deer skin ties. It is framed with a shadow box insert.
10″ Bald Eagle Tail leather feather with tradition red wool wrapping on quill, trimmed with black rabbit fur and rough textured white and black deer skin.
This is a custom dragon made from tooling leather. I had made a wire mandrel shaped with tin foil, love tin foil, then covered that with air dry Sculpy. When I skive the leather feathers I make I have fine leather shaving. I use Beacon FABRI-TAC, a permanent clear glue mixed with the shavings which I used for the body. Each claw is a separate piece of leather. Detail was crucial in finalizing this piece.
Close up of the dragon above I made.
This was an amazing custom project. I was asked to replicate in leather the Vietnamese Coolie Hat. I had never made a leather hat prior to this one. Making the conical crown was an interesting challenge. I found on a leathercrafter website that the best way to make a black dye was to put rusty nails in a jar of vinegar. I ended up leaving it for about 3 months, longer is better. This makes the most beautiful black leather that does stain what it touches once dried. You do want to use gloves to apply it for it will stain your hands when working with it.
This For-Get-Me-knot heart box was a Christmas for a young lady who collects boxes. It’s all done in tooling leather. Every little bud is a single piece of leather. It’s about 2 inches from top to peak of heart.
This is a Dragonfly barrette I had made for my Granddaughter’s birthday. Her theme that year was Dragonflies. This Dragonfly barrette is about 4 inches long.
I hand tooled, shaped, and painted this rose pin. I was doing some items for a Valentine Day’s craft show.