Making a STEEM symbol minimalist Card Wallet. A PHOTO BLOG. Leather Art and Craft by @armadilloman

in art •  7 years ago  (edited)

INTRODUCING the STEEM 3 pocket Card Wallet!


This last week I had two leather embossing plates made, one with the STEEM logo and one with the word STEEMIT.  Here is a step by step photo breakdown of my first test item I made using those plates.    


The embossing plates are made of plastic, created with a laser engraving machine and cost about $50 each to have made.


First step to making a wallet is to cut some 3-4 oz vegetable tanned cowhide and mark it off for the sized pieces I need with reference marks so that I can get the STEEM design centered.


After dampening the leather with a sponge, I take it and the embossing plate to my 20 ton press (which is about 15 tons overkill) to press the design into the leather.  The fibers of the dampened leather compress together under the weight and an impression is left.  Because it is tanned for this, the impression stays after the leather dries.


After the leather is embossed and dry I apply some color to serve as the undertones.


The next step is to apply some "Hi Lite" stain that will settle into the impression.  The excess is removed with a wet paper towel when the stain is dry.


A first coat of acrylic finish is applied and then four parts are cut out: two front pockets and the taller middle pocket pieces. The top edge scoop is cut and finished before  the parts for the two sides are glued together and a stitching groove is cut around the edge.


Holes are punched around the two pieces in the stitching groove with a diamond point stitching chisel.


Next step is to glue the two sides together and start sewing the wallet with a waxed thread using double needles.  


When the wallet is all stitched up. the edges are sanded, dyed and burnished using a Dremel with a burnishing tool.  

The finished card wallet will hold 6 cards now, 8 when it is broken in.  What do you think?



There are lots of possibilities of what could be made with either the STEEM symbol or embossed with the word STEEMIT.  Key case, phone case, hat, billfold, belt.  Comment below what you would like to see me make.



I will be giving this wallet away to one of my followers soon, so make sure follow me to get the latest. Ask me any questions about this project or leatherwork in general.



Listen to Wanda Petronski: "If you want to see more of this kind of content from @armadilloman, please upvote and resteem this post!"



Updated to add:  Want to win this wallet?  Giveaway details are here..

https://steemit.com/contest/@armadilloman/contest-giveaway-steem-symbol-minimalist-card-wallet-giveaway-contest



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This is a great product!
How much does it cost to make?

Oh, not much in materials, its all labor. On Etsy I would charge about $35 for a tooled card wallet. Haven't thought about outside that marketplace.

Alright!
Let me know if you will consider accepting steem or SBD one of these days ;-)

Yes I will.

$35???- I'll easily pay $50 worth of STEEM or SBD for one of those!

That is amazing! Suddenly my pocket feels incomplete.....

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amazing idea sir! you blow my mind!

Your craftsmanship is incredible! These wallets are pieces of art, I'm blown away by how beautiful they are, and the work you've put into them. Really, really nice work, @armadilloman !

I have been a carpenter, sculptor, draftsman...but I always come back to leather, for its challenge (it is a very unforgiving medium) and its utility. Leather items age with handling, use, which is another fascinating part of it.

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

You do well with it. You are an artist, these are just spectacular wallets! Please let us know when you get your Etsy shop re-opened, I predict that you are going to have more business than you can handle!

Thank you @seaslim. I already have more business then I can handle. I have been making something north of 300 items a year for a couple years now.

Amazing stuff. I really hope this takes off. 😁

real nice as always man! that stitching chisel is a new one for me, never knew they existed, must save a load of time punching individual holes eh!
if you havent already, you should tag @slothicorn. theyre looking for crypto inspired art, this fits the bill i reckon https://steemit.com/slothicorn/@slothicorn/how-to-earn-crypto-for-your-art-slothicorn-for-dummies

Nice hand crafted wallet, these things take time to make. Thanks for taking time to share this. I didn't know plates can be made from plastic, looks like 3d plastic printer made the mold.

beautiful craftsmanship.... i would love one for my son.

I appreciate that @thewayiseeit I will get more made in a few weeks. When I get caught up with the hat, 4 wallets and eyepatch orders that i am behind at the moment.

Amazing work! Not only in making the wallet which looks great, but also high quality photos and good explanation of the process. Thanks for sharing :)

I have been taking process pictures of everything I make so I can do some more of these kinds of things if folks enjoy.

Thats nice, I really enjoy seeing the process of how things are made, so looking forward to seeing more!

@leanvix I have photos taken of making of two different eyepatches, two different wallets and a hat, so I have plenty of posting options when I get the time. So stay tuned!

Sounds great, can't wait!

Nice work :) a real crypto wallet also needs room for a nano ledger s :)

I thought about that @drmake. How you would you suggest doing that? Just a pocket on one side. Have the Nano physically attached to the wallet with a lanyard or strap of some sort. What do you think?

You have to make that secure, after all, it is holding crypto gold! :D

Maybe a pocket with a button, one that hugs the ledger tightly. Better be safe than sorry!

Yes I almost think a case that would have a flap and a clip to attach inside of a pocket as well. When I got mine it came with a "shoestring" lanyard and I thought that was a disaster waiting to happen.

Yes, that is what the button is called! Yes, I meant exactly that, we do not want any disasters to happen with the precious cryptomoneys we hold :)

That’s a good question it should be a pocket but it should also easily accessible or better when you can accesss the buttons without removing the stick. And room for the USB cable...no this sound complicated to integrate into a leather wallet :)

Love this wallet! Looks so cool :) Upvoted!

Thank you so much, @crystalpacheco30.

I love these posts. The step-by-step process is so fascinating to me, and I appreciate the pictures you use along with your explanation. I may never make a leather good in my life, but I'll at least have an appreciation for those who do.

I appreciate that, @queenvick. I have photos to do 3 or for more how tos when I get the time to put together and post.

I'd buy that right now, If I was there. Awesome looking

@arrjey Thanks ! We'll see if I can find a way to get enough made and a place to market them for Steem

How can I buy one of these, can I pay you in SBD/Steem?! Awesome work!

I am intending to sell some, hopefully for Steem, if I can figure out the market framework. I will probably list on Etsy some later. Stay tuned!

I’m excited :)

This is excellent work.. Nice job. I hope you are making money with this leather work, because it's that good..

Thanks! Yes. Actually more business then I can keep up with, @pickyvicki

Hey @armadilloman , I am a curator from the Whaleshares Curation Team. I have selected your post to be presented in a live curation discussion on Monday 19th February. Your post will be awarded with a 100 Whaleshares vote on the night. I do hope you can come along and spectate. The event will be held in The Curation Lounge on the Whaleshares server.

Here's a link which explains things: https://steemit.com/steemit/@nikflossus/the-whaleshares-curation-show-tonight-23-59gmt-or-6-59est

Thanks! And I have not quite figured what exactly what you do with whaleshares, but I take it on faith that they are a very good thing!

There will be a vote on your post worth 100 whaleshares from officialfuzzy. It will probably come in tomorrow!

Thanks again!

How great your creations in leather, I'm looking for your art, I would like to implement it together with mine.

Thats a good idea! We will have to do something together @guillemanzano.

Very cool - I use a swivel knife to cut and then hammer/bevels to get the same effect. This is definitely a faster way to achieve the same look. Now I just need a large press and some embossing plates. >.< Beautiful work.

Hey @leathertinker...another leather crafter? We are becoming a rare breed. Cutting and beveling is only good for me making one or two of anything. Its funny, my press is a shop bearing press, not a leather one. I've made about 200 hundred items for my kid's band merchandise shop (see below) using plates made by the same guy, so I am pretty sold on them for production work.

Hey I will give you a follow @leathertinker and keep in touch. Thanks for stopping by.

IMG_1321_400w.jpeg

Yup - been doing some leatherwork for about 5 years now and loving it - so nice to meet you! I have a lame little hand press, not good for much and definitely doesn't make as nice impressions as yours. Do you have someone local that makes your embossing plates, or do you order online? I'm following you too!

A guy on etsy does the embossing plates for me. I bet there are some 3D printer folks on Steemit who can make that kind of thing happen as well.

I have few years of leather work. I did my first leather project in Jr High shop class. In 1972. Been doing it full time just the last couple years as health issues has had me retiring early.

resteemed by free resteems
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Those look awesome! I'll have to keep an eye out for that giveaway ;)

I'd love to feature this in a post about an initiative @el-cr and myself have created, called #wearyoursteem! I'd love to use one of your images for a collage. Would you allow that?

The tag will be a way for people to share how they wear their STEEM to proudly promote this amazing platform to those around them.

Check out @el-cr's post announcing the beginning of the tag!

Thanks @thatsweeeneyguy! Sure use a picture if you like. I may be making a post announcing that I will sell a limited number of these on Etsy and here for SBD. Well see.

That's a great idea! you should definitely check out the #wearyoursteem initiative we've started. You can read about it here and here!

yes, is a great idea @armadilloman I actually would love to have a wallet like that. I used your post for my #wearyoursteem post by the way!