Making a clamshell box

One of the tasks at my day job is the creation of custom enclosures for items that need housing. It doesn't come up very often but when it does it's a welcome change of pace and a nice challenge. I used to make clamshell/dropspine enclosures all day long at my first bindery job, but this is probably the third or fourth one I've made in the last ten years. This particular one was needed for a stack of wood-bound, accordion-fold books that were beautifully, but awkwardly, housed in a wooden box. It is a circulating item, so something a little more practical had to be created.

New wallet available

I've just completed this new biker wallet and for a change it is available and not already promised to anyone. It's tooled with imagery that is a twist of western floral, scrollwork and filigree, but with a ribcage, teeth and eyes thrown into the mix. Please visit my Etsy store for purchasing information.

Catching up

Another year down, and more work to show off. Most of this was commissioned for Xmas presents, so it had to be kept under wraps until after the holidays. Now that everyone has been gifted and is happy, it's time for blogging. First up is a beer-themed belt for a local brewer, complete with his brewery name and a matching sheath with a removable bottle opener:


You can't really see too well in the second photo, but the bottle opener has edge filing along all sides. Next is my contribution to the Arts and Drafts white elephant gift exchange - a versatile pouch/wallet. Two different colors of doe kidskin for the outer, and glazed pig skin for the interior:




Next is a front pocket wallet with hamscorpion (hamster/scorpion hybrid) imagery:


This wasn't exactly a holiday gift, but was a lot of fun to make. A carved brass skull bead with an opening large enough so it could be fitted to a dreadlock:



For the same lovely lady was the next item - a clutch purse. The outer is constructed of black doe kidskin and purple watersnake skin and the flap snaps shut with a magnetic closure:


The interior is constructed with veg-tanned leather and has many useful card and cash pockets. Plus there's a surprise when it's opened:

This small sheath is for one gorgeous folding knife:


And last but not least is a guitar strap for a local musician, in my favorite shade of rusty green: