My daughter, who is a junior in High School this year, has taken up leather work.
Here is an example of some chinks she made for herself this year.
She is looking for ways to make some money to buy her first vehicle.
I am proud of her that she is not looking to me to buy her vehicle.
Do any of you have any ideas for custom leather work that a surveyor might actually purchase, or that might make good gifts for a surveyor?
Nice looking work! I was never into tooling, but back in the day when I did a lot of construction staking I learned (mostly from my brother-in-law) how to make pouches and cases from leather, making and using forms, hand-stitching with waxed linen thread, etc. I still have the tools I acquired over the years, but rarely get them out these days.
That reminds me, though -- I've been meaning to put another hole in my belt for months now -- I need one right in between the ones that are there.
Wow, that is amazing work.
I need a cell phone case...Can she make one of those? :angel:
I need a cell phone case...Can she make one of those? :angel:
I was thinking the same thing! B-)
Really nice work, I started tooling in the 8th grade and can really appreciate her skill. Tooling requires a very artistic eye, you are literally creating a bas relief sculpture. I am not particularly artistic so much like Jim most of my leather working has been constructing utilitarian items like holsters and such. Your daughter obviously has the artistic flair.
Randy
imaudigger, post: 334818, member: 7286 wrote: My daughter, who is a junior in High School this year, has taken up leather work.
Here is an example of some chinks she made for herself this year.
She is looking for ways to make some money to buy her first vehicle.
I am proud of her that she is not looking to me to buy her vehicle.
Do any of you have any ideas for custom leather work that a surveyor might actually purchase, or that might make good gifts for a surveyor?
A really cool machete sheath would be a nice touch...
Here's a leather pickguard for a telecaster I always thought was really cool. I have two teles, so I was thinking of getting one. That is a popular guitar model. She could also make them for the stratocaster along with custom guitar straps, etc. I would imagine local music shops would buy them from her. I guess you could buy the plastic pickguard as a template.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pickguards-for-guitars/el-dorado-hand-tooled-leather-tele-pickguard?rNtt=telecaster pickguard&index=3
StLSurveyor, post: 334877, member: 7070 wrote: A really cool machete sheath would be a nice touch...
Yes personalized custom machete sheaths might be a winner. It also broadens the market to other occupations.
I know someone whom makes earrings from pop tops of soda cans and sells on a site called Etsy. She does ok especially at Christmas time.
Dan Patterson, post: 334878, member: 1179 wrote: Here's a leather pickguard for a telecaster I always thought was really cool. I have two teles, so I was thinking of getting one. That is a popular guitar model. She could also make them for the stratocaster along with custom guitar straps, etc. I would imagine local music shops would buy them from her. I guess you could buy the plastic pickguard as a template.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pickguards-for-guitars/el-dorado-hand-tooled-leather-tele-pickguard?rNtt=telecaster pickguard&index=3
Dan, how does that attach to the guitar?
imaudigger, post: 334899, member: 7286 wrote: Dan, how does that attach to the guitar?
It's got about a dozen or so little screws. You remove the existing pick-guard and replace it with the leather one re-using the old screws again. It's function is just to be a protective a plate to protect the guitar finish where the pick may slap across the body of the guitar under the strings. Apparently the leather one comes without the holes and the purchaser just uses the old guard as a template to drill through the leather and reuse the old screws.
I think guitar shoulder straps would also be a good item to make. Everyone who has a guitar buys one of those (usually more than one). That's a much broader market than machete sheaths and plumb bob holsters. (Not that those wouldn't be cool)
This is something she made for her horse last year when she was getting started.
Dan Patterson, post: 334900, member: 1179 wrote: It's got about a dozen or so little screws. You remove the existing pick-guard and replace it with the leather one re-using the old screws again. It's function is just to be a protective a plate to protect the guitar finish where the pick may slap across the body of the guitar under the strings. Apparently the leather one comes without the holes and the purchaser just uses the old guard as a template to drill through the leather and reuse the old screws.
I think guitar shoulder straps would also be a good item to make. Everyone who has a guitar buys one of those (usually more than one). That's a much broader market than machete sheaths and plumb bob holsters. (Not that those wouldn't be cool)
Is there a certain thickness it should be to not interfere?
I'm also wondering about the amount of relief on the tooling.
For example...in the picture above there is quite a bit of relief.
Does your hand slide on it a lot?
I'm not near my guitar, but the neck is raised above the body at that point. I would estimate there is 1 inch clearance between the strings and pick-guard. Plenty of room for embellishment. I would say the maximum thickness would be like 3/8"......I'm just guessing though. Hand does not really come in contact with the guard wile playing...may rest on it depending on your style.
I'll pass these ideas on to her.
I was thinking a tooled cover for a field book with the surveyor's name and license number would be cool.
Also a note pad cover that a person could take to meetings or trips to the courthouse with the company name on it.
Anybody else have any ideas?
Pocket protector B-)
DDSM :beer:
A couple of years age my daughter gave me a new custom made leather camera strap with my initials stamped in it for my birthday. I loved it, but it was the first time the maker made a camera strap and may not have used an existing one for a template, it's about an inch or two short of where I like the camera to hang at it's full adjustment. I've since abandoned the stock style strap altogether for the sling strap. either one might have a market.
Other ideas:
belts or belt buckles
Capability to reproduce different flowers (state flowers for instance)
Bracelets (w/name or initials)
Think of something and it will probably sell. She has TALENT.
mkennedy, post: 334982, member: 7183 wrote: Other ideas:
belts or belt buckles
Capability to reproduce different flowers (state flowers for instance)
Bracelets (w/name or initials)
Yeah - A new belt and tool pouch would be cool! With a compass pocket.
