Mar 15
Well… The good news is, I found my leather tooling stamps and leather.
The bad? I don’t know what I wanna make.
Plus, I think I’m missing one stamp, but it would be in the tub at least. It isn’t one I’m considering using, however.
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Well… The good news is, I found my leather tooling stamps and leather.
The bad? I don’t know what I wanna make.
Plus, I think I’m missing one stamp, but it would be in the tub at least. It isn’t one I’m considering using, however.
A piece I’m working on, but I’m not sure which Concho I want to use. I’m still leaning toward the bear though it will have a traditional hook closure.
I also have a couple of residents in pieces I’m working on. I just completed one with a couple of care bears and then I’m thinking about doing one tonight with either bugs or Sylvester.
Or I may even do Marvin with my planet bars and other inclusions
I’d like an opinion on what to make next on leather tooling:
Should I make:
A. My St. Jude band? (A St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital buckle but a tooled band bc and not the red one it’s on. I bought two on clearance for this reason).
B. The Air Force band, or
C. A leather pendant with crystal druzy drop?
•••••
This won’t be tonight (it’s 2100 where I am), but I could work on it tomorrow.
I’m leaning A or C, but B is tempting.
Completed band. Turned out how I wanted but I realized the D ring needed to be on the inside not concho.
Hinge is remaining upside down because I don’t want to risk damaging the holes connecting it.
It’s comfortable though.
Marines band.
I may do Air Force next, then my flowers and hinge cuff after (or reversed).
I have the AF idea in my head, and the flowers.
The Navy one is still changing, and while I can get 5-6 bands per belt, I want to try to have a perfect 5/5 on bands from one.
Should mention why I use belts: technically they’re a little pricey, but I know I have a perfect shape band. This is important on most bracelets with a hinge.
Virgil’s birthday had been spectacular.
Perfect cake from France. Perfect drink to accommodate it.
Best of all… no rescues. John still was embarrassed about the “false rescue” that became a real one.
Virgil didn’t mind: he gave someone the gift of life in the process.
Even the presents were great… but one confused him still.
Gordon’s, which was another three dimensional star sign.
He had to give it to his aquanaut brother… he had the right constellation this time - Leo.
That memory still made him chuckle.
Even then… for a prank gift, Gordon seemed embarrassed about giving this one.
That was enough of an alarm… but his behavior the next couple of days added to the puzzlement.
Hushed calls to Thunderbird Five.
A - hopefully innocent - question about uniform sizes.
The squid hiding away in his room, with hasty noises of tidying up if he knocked.
By the third day, Virgil was seriously considering a mental evaluation of his marine life loving brother when said man walked up to him.
He was carrying a TB2 green package.
“Happy birthday Virgil… again,” he said.
Virgil quirked an eyebrow as he very carefully took the gift. “You already gave me present.”
“Not like this: open it.”
The artist stared at his brother, trying to determine if he was about to be pranked… only bigger.
Seeing Gordon not so much move a muscle, and look hopeful and not sneaky, Virgil opened the package.
Inside, was a steampunk themed bracelet.
Virgil gasped slightly in relief in spite of himself.
“I knew you liked those steampunk style bracelets, but thought too elaborate, so I made something simpler,” Gordon chuckled, but seeing his brother tear up, touched, he continued. “I would’ve had it on your birthday, butJohn helped me on some of the techniques. I couldn’t figure out the D-ring and double band.”
“It’s… wow Gordon,”Virgil chuckled. “I hope you didn’t ruin his best stamps learning,” he teased.
“Nah… I have a basic kit,” the younger man said, then shuddered. “Plus EOS said if I broke any she’d set my alarms to ‘Baby Shark’ - permanently.”
The artist smiled and took a closer look at the band, which fit perfectly and explained the uniform inquiry.
“Why two different colors?”
“I thought about your plaid shirts: so antique mahogany and briar brown,” Gordon said, and seeing Virgil try it on, smiled. “So, do you like it?”
“It’s… amazing. I seriously thought the Leo sign was it,” Virgil said, giving his brother a hug. He then smiled. “Now… why don’t we split the rest of that last slice of cake?”
“But that’s your piece.”
The elder man gently bopped Gordon’s head. “Yes… I think you need the calories after making this bracelet,” said Virgil. “You in Gordon?”
The aquanaut smiled. “Certainly.”
••••••
I could see Gordon do this, but honestly more elaborate than me.
Hope you enjoyed the more fluff birthday piece along with the previous one this week.
Metal flower bracelet with distressed copper effect leather cuff.
A western dressed Lady Penelope perhaps?
Virgil teasing Gordon for his Hawaiian shirts?
John making one just because EOS asked?
Who knows?
It was fun to make though.
Finished spur rondel bracelet. Worked out well. (Star is a spur too)
Definitely a John/Alan type bracelet given the band theme too, but I felt could be any brother and the Spur rondel set was from some of their parents’ spurs.
I got the zigzag stamp on clearance as an impulse purchase (to be fair a $1.50 tool is a huge bargain), but I’ve really liked using it on the border cuffs.