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pilgrimagedesign — Variations on a Half Mask
Published: 2010-02-15 14:27:20 +0000 UTC; Views: 1979; Favourites: 17; Downloads: 212
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So I spent my Valentines day watching the Olympics and making masks. Is that weird? I doing more experiments with learning to carve leather and these little half masks are perfect because they are not a huge waste of leather if I mess up. I just freehand drew the patterns on the leather and then started carving, so things like the gears are not as accurate as they could be. If the carved masks end up being popular, I'll have to make a more exact pattern.Related content
Comments: 18
That's a cool lot!
I instantly got an itch to make some half masks myself.
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They are totally addictive because they are so quick and fun.
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And I just got some leather, too - I'll have to have a mask making day tomorrow!
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They're stunning! The orange one with tribal markings is especially striking.
I think you did a great job with the steampunk design, too. Steampunk gears, I find, are almost impossible to get exactly "right" (we are not machines after all), but I've also found that it really doesn't matter. The curving & shaping process distorts the gear proportions anyway, so accuracy isn't as important as composition, & I think you created a very strong, effective design.
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Thanks so much Andrea. That means a lot to me coming from you because I think you have such a great design sense. I think I need to do some more research into real old fashioned machinery if I want to do more things in the steam punk style. I think the more it looks like it could be real, the cooler it is, like Skynz-n-Hydez stuff.
Today is experimenting with carving with the real knife. Woot!
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Remember with the swivel blade that it's most effective if you hold it at a 90 degree angle to the surface...straight up & down in other words. If it's the squared-off tip, you'll also have to tip it up on one corner. Always draw it towards you...keep turning your leather so you can do that. & be sure to case the leather well. Get it good & damp, & then let the top layer dry a bit (so that it starts to turn a lighter color again)...that's when it is perfect.
Also, if you don't have a 1/4 angle blade, do go get one (or order one), because they are SO much better to work with & you can do amazing detail with them.
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So I did my first carving with the one that I had in the house and I do love the beveled cut. Trying to do small curves doesn't work very well though. I have to go to the Tandy today and buy a new knife because I think this one was originally my husband's father's and it has seen better days.
I'll look for the 1/4 angle blade as well. I'm actually about to go order some leather from W&C right now. This is so fun.
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Cool! The angle blde is much much easier to use than the chisle-style blade. Also, I know they are a bit expensive but I've been using ceramic blades for years & they are MUCH better than metal. I have to sharpen them less, they're easier to sharpen & they last for years instead of weeks.
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I got the knife today, but I had to play music for a show tonight for Mardi Gras and so I haven't had a chance to play with it yet. Hopefully tomorrow. Thanks so much for your advice and encouragement. The guys at the leather shop got big eyes when I told them I was trying to carve with an exacto knife. It was pretty funny.
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Thanks so much. It was a lot of fun to carve.
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Wow, these are simply beautiful, I'm in love with the steampunk and orange ones!
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Thanks so much. It is my first steampunk and it was really fun. I can't wait to make more.
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much more productive than my valentines day haha
very nice masks. i like them a lot
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I also did my share of lounging around on Valentines day.
Thanks so much
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