Well, that didn't work...

[BrokenolMarine]

I started the next belt, a much nicer oak leaves and acorn belt. I took my time and used an illuminated drafting plate to transfer the pattern to the tracing paper. I made sure the leather was exactly 1-1/2 inches wide. I took care to stay exactly on the template lines. I should have been beautiful.

Each template section is about 10" long and you have to shift the template and reposition it each time to move down the belt length. Then you move down the template, tracing the pattern to transfer it to the damp leather. Slow and careful gets it done. I was slow, I was careful, and made sure I stayed right on the lines.

What I didn't notice until I was done, is that the template shifted on one section. The pattern was OFF, and nearly to the edge. The belt pattern is supposed to have a 1/4" border down both sides. That's a stitching line. Nope... time to start over.

I took a long break, that way you don't throw things, or cut off a finger.
(That's always a good thing, NOT cutting off a finger.)

The NEW pattern is called, Feather's and Arrows, and honors my Grandfather's Bloodline. Choctaw and Blackfoot. I've just gotten started, but you get the idea.

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[BrokenolMarine]

I had a second session yesterday and got the beveling done. I got back in the shop today for a bit of work til the hands cramped up. The tooling is bad enough, but the backgrounding is a killer.

I added the details and it really starts to bring it to life....

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Then, when you begin to background, putting in the shading... it adds to the 3D effect and makes the rest pop.
Unfortunately, the tool I really like for this is small, and has to be to get into the areas I need to background. But I don't have the larger matching tool for the open areas, which means a lot of tap, tap, tap in those areas. Kills the hands. You can tell where I took my break.

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I'll get back at it after lunch... or this evening, or ...

tomorrow.

[BrokenolMarine]

There are those who like to paint these type designs after they are done. Nothing wrong with that. I prefer to add a touch of antique to bring out the tooling then finish them in either a light dye or natural. Miss T doesn't care for the painted belts, thinks they are a bit gaudy... I think it comes from Riding Western and English shows and seeing all the outfits and costumes all those years. Me? I have always liked subdued things. Cars, clothes, trucks...

I'll paint it if it's for someone who requested it. (Granddaughter... )
Duh....

But prefer natural.

[BrokenolMarine]

Sometimes, when I make the holsters and the sheaths, I don't even tool them, just do a rich dye and finish and like them like that. Subdued. But, I need to practice my tooling, can't improve without practice.

[daytime dave]

It looks really good. Another nice project.

[Hatchdog]

Ditto the above.

Interesting how the fletching feeds right into the feather, I like that.

[BrokenolMarine]

Joe Meling design, not mine. I learned a lot from watching his videos. One line from a tutorial stood out.

Someone sent him a comment that said, "I wish I could carve."
His reply was, "I used to think the same thing, so I just started carving. Practice, it just takes practice."

That last design, the template slipped. I'll use some of that leather to make vise pads. I'll carve the other sections for practice during down times, practice. Never hurts. I remember my dad telling me how he got so good at golf... He kept buckets of balls in the back yard, and every chance he got, he walked out and putted or chipped his way around his makeshift course. My woodworking buddy hated dovetails. So he made a set a day using scraps, until they were easy. Lol.

[BrokenolMarine]

It's fun to practice the things we like. Or we are good at.
When I was competing, I'd shoot six rounds or so at seven yards. A dozen at fifteen. I was good there. The bulk at twenty five and fifty. Most at fifty. Fifty was work. It paid off, my scores continued to climb. Lol.

[BrokenolMarine]

Another session in the shop. Worked until the hands asked for some time in the heating pad.
A bit over halfway with the backgrounding. JUST a bit. Two more sessions should see that done. Then on to working on the extra highlighting details, then dyes and finish work on all the parts and components before assembly. Seems like a lot of work, but it passes the time and I'll have something to show for it.

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[BrokenolMarine]

That little scrap laying in front of the belt strap on the granite? I use it to test punches or the sharpness of the swivel knives after I strope them before cutting into the real project. Always have scraps laying around. When I am ready to dye the belt, I'll use that to test the dye color, then test the antiques to decide which one I want to use. Scraps are very handy. LOL.