Canadian Leathercraft – Winter 2008-2009

An issue of the Society’s newsletter, transcribed from the original. Download as PDF.

Page 1

1 Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft
CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT

Volume LVII No. 2 Winter 2008 -09 0045-5121

Your CSCL Executive Council Members 2008-2010
Back Row: Nancy Durham, Jim Wilkes, Paul Kitchener, Lauch Harrison, Peter Grove, Madeleine Mitchell Front Row: Marilyn Harry, Della Chynoweth, Barb Chynoweth, Phyllis McHale, Laura Bush
Absent: Dave & Dorothy McPherson, Barry Taylor, Barry Boyd, Joyce Scruton, Sandra & Miles Roberts, Tracey Howard

In this Edition…
Page 2 Notes from the Editor, Highlights from the Executive Council Meetings Page 3 Get Well Paul, Pebble in the Water, Birthday Wishes for Hilda
Page 4 Sandal Workshop March 21, 2009 with Peter Grove FCSCL
Page 5 Membership Reminder, Unique Gift for Antony, Leather Craft Tips Page 6 Dream Catcher Project by Nancy Durham FCSCL

President: Phyllis McHale, 3783 Cty Rd. 45 RR#1 Coboconk, ON K0M 1K0 –[email protected]
1st Vice-Pres.: Barbara Chynoweth, 701-45 Balliol St., Toronto, ON M4S 1C3 –[email protected]
2nd Vice-Pres.: Paul Kitchener, 885 Rangeview Rd., Mississauga, ON L5E 1H1 –[email protected]
Past President: Lauch Harrison, 68 Tisdale St. S, Hamilton, ON L8N 2W2 – [email protected]
Treasurer: Della Chynoweth, Po Box 98, Brecken ON L9W 4V9- [email protected]
Recording Secretary: Della Chynoweth, PO Box 98., Breckon, ON L0K 1B0- [email protected].
Correspondence: Darlene Fry, 1296 Seaforth Cres., RR#3 Lakefield, ON K0L 2H0 – [email protected]
Membership: Tracey Howard, RR#1 2316 Conc Rd. A, Brecken, ON L0K 1B0 – [email protected]
Editor: Madeleine Mitchell, 17 Light St., Woodstock, ON N4S 6G7 – [email protected]
Website: www.canadianleathercraft.org

Page 2

2 Notes from the Editor…
I decided (with the urging of my next door neighbour) to help breakup the winter by taking an Art Course –an Advanced Art Course –at our local Senior Centre. Our instructor suggested to the class, a painting of three favourite things in our lives…this caused me a lot of consternation. If you ever visited my home you know I have a lot of things to choose from. What could possibly be worthy of a painting? Yes, you guessed correctly, three leather pieces I created since I joined CSCL. The first item created a stir at the 1975 Annual, my first Annual. It was dubbed the “flame bottle” because of the shape of the sherry bottle and the yellow, orange, and red colouring I used on the natural skiver. I won my first “Salon” ribbon with that creation and Carol McLean and I were invited for tea with a longtime CSCL member and superb glove maker, Clarice Packham.
The second article for the painting was my moulded mask from the 1980’s –made from a single piece of 7oz cowhide and taken to the Annual as an afterthought. The mask took away Awards and ribbons quite surprisingly to me. I liked the curves and sensousness of that piece but didn’t expect the accolades awarded it.
The third item is a personal favourite because it combines function with a bit of whimsy. I refer to the small notebook as the “Lizard Book”. The looseleaf binder is covered with a mock lizard skin that seems to have swallowed a real lizard. The three dimensional aspect along with the usefulness of the piece caused some attention at a CSCL Biennial Exhibition and I had to turn down several offers to sell my little Lizard.
The painting is a work in progress as I explore composition and techniques, but my fond memories of the creation of my favourite leather items take me back the people, creativity, and adventures I’ve had while a member of CSCL.

CSCL was planning a second Jewelry Workshop for March 21, 2009 –however due to Paul Kitchener’s illness, we have postponed the Jewelry Workshop until a future date. However, circle the March 21st date on your 2009 calendar, because Peter Grove stepped up to the plate and is going to present a Sandal Making Workshop!
See the details in this issue…and get registered asap

Contributions to upcoming Newsletters will be from Hamilton & Mississauga Branch

Highlights from Executive Council Meetings…

November 2008 and January 2009 highlights--Madeleine is in the process of writing some guidelines for organizing Workshops and will present the completed guide to the Executive at a future meeting

-The Membership pamphlet now includes a “Student Member” fee of $5.00. Student must provide the name of the school attended.

-Toronto Branch President, Barbara Chynoweth is already working on plans for the 2009 Annual which will be held at the Lindsay Inn in Lindsay, ON on May1,2,3, 2009.
Registration forms will be out soon. Watch your mail.

Page 3

- 2010 Biennial Exhibition to be held in Toronto at the Ontario Crafts Councils around the end of August. Dorothy McPherson started the ball rolling and has now passed it on to Paul Kitchener. Details as they become available.

PEBBLE IN THE WATER Drop a pebble in the water, just a splash, and it is gone; But there’s half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on,

Spreading, spreading from the center flowing on out to sea And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water; in a minute you will forget But there’s little waves a–flowing and there’s ripples circling yet.

And those little waves a–flowing to a great big wave have grown; You’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Excerpted from the full-length poem: PEBBLE IN THE WATER which can be found on the internet. This poem is often quoted at official OVSA presentation ceremonies

Page 4

CSCL invites you to a Workshop…

Make a Pair of Sandals

Instructor Peter Grove FCSCL will guide participants through the completion of a pair of Birkenstocktype sandals.
Using basic skills & materials supplied by the instructor, you’ll take home wearable, durable sandals by the end of the workshop.

Saturday March 21, 2009 10:00am to 4:00pm Etonia United Church Hall Princeton, ON

Bring your own Lunch Woodstock Branch will provide water, hot beverages and snacks

Registration & all materials (composite sole, leather & findings) $100.00 per person Pre-registration necessary for ordering of supplies Please include shoe size and whether for a man or woman. European sizes preferred –see www.healthyfeetstore.com/sizingchart.html look for sizing chart to the bottom of page

Bring these basic tools:
A sharp pair of shears or scissors
A lip knife
Any stiff bladed shoemakers knife any tools used for precise cutting of 5 oz. chrome tanned leather
A rotary punch, a rivet setter, skiving tools / knives, pencil
Please make sure all your cutting tools are SHARP.
Peter will supply cement but if you have “Barge" or "528" it will speed things along.
As usual, if you don’t have something on this list, someone at the workshop will.

Page 5

Register NOW or as soon as possible: Call Peter or Sean at 905- 527-7745 during business hours.
or email: [email protected] or [email protected]
No registrations accepted after February 28th

Don’t Miss Out –Register today!

CSCL Memberships will be due April 1, 2009 See your Branch Treasurer or contact Tracey Howard at 705-426-4663 or email to [email protected]

Unique Gift for Antony from CSCL

At the November Executive Meeting, Paul Kitchener of the Mississauga Branch of CSCL presented Antony Wohlgemuth with a set of longhorn steer horns. Antony is planning to return to the West come Spring – he just can’t take the Ontario winters.
CSCL will remain indebted to Antony for his long hours and tireless service at the Mississauga Tandy Leather Factory Store. This joint gift between the Executive and Mississauga Branch will help Antony remember CSCL –especially when he takes those horns aboard the TTC buses.

Keep in touch with us Antony

Leather Craft TIPS:
Remove mildew from a leather suitcase by wiping it down with a cloth moistened in a solution of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water. Dry in an airy room.
From: Dorothy McPherson

Page 6

6 In case making you may need both a stiffener and some padding. Try some “Self
Stick Mounting Foam” from your local Hobby Shop. It’s made for mounting needlecraft pictures for framing. It’s heavy cardboard laminated with polyether foam. Peel off the liner to expose the adhesive, and stick your leather lining right to the foam.
From: Pinkerton Hamstring of the Columbine Leather Guild Inc.

Recycle blusher and eyeliner brushes to use for tiny glue or dye jobs.
From “Canadian Leathercrafter” Winter 1995

Page 7

DREAMCATCHERS by Nancy Durham

_ Materials = Wr brass ring, size of your choice 5 artificial sinew assortment of beads or stones (pony beads or smaller) piece of deerskin feathers sharp scissors white glue (Weldbond)

Begin at a point on the ring opposite the weld on the ring by tieing a square knot, leaving a short end of sinew. Push the knot to the inside of the ring. Use your own judgment to determine the spacing you will need for the size ring you have chosen, and start looping the sinew using a half-hitch around the ring. Keep in mind, the closer the spacing, the more sinew needed and the more intricate the design. Continue on to the’ starting point and be sure to complete the last half—hitch to tie into the start knot.

Place the sinew to the back of the ring and start threading it through each loop. Do NOT do a half-hitch. You can start adding beads anytime now, but not too many. Your first round will bring you back to the start. Be careful that you don't miss any loops, especially near the start, as this will throw the design off. Continue in the same way around the ring. In some spots you may have to pull the sinew apart to

~ find the proper loop to go through. You will find that the loops get smaller and tighter as you work to the centre. When you have completed as many rounds as you can, pull the sinew tight to straighten out the design. Tie a double knot in the centre. A few beads or a piece of bone pipe can be tied on to this piece of sinew and knotted to finish ont .

Deerskin binding: cut a piece of deerhide, and round off any corners. Cut the lace you will need about 1/4" wide. To cover the ring, begin at the top — NOT where you started. Glue start of lace and wrap around the hoop back to the starting point. Trim the lace end and secure with a spot of glue. The remaining lace is used to decorate with streamers. Cut one piece for hanging (about 10") and attach to the top of the ring using beads to decorate and.tie a knot at the top. Cut three longer streamers (about 12-14") depending on the size of the ring. These will hang, one on each side and one at the bottom. Some beads are added here also and finished off with feathers.

SWEET DREAMS

It is believed that dreams have magical qualities. When hung over cradle boards or in lodges, the dream catcher captures the dreams as they float by: the good dreams, knowing the way, slip through the centre hole, drifting gently to the sleeper below. The evil spirits are caught and dissipate as they get lost wandering through the sinew, beads, and feathers. Any remaining bad dreams or evil spirits are burned. off with the morning sun. (Dreamcatcher lore)

Taken from “Canadian Leathercraft” Winter 1995 Written By Nancy Durham FCSCL when she was still and Associate

Canadian Leathercraft – Winter 2008-2009 – Newsletter by CSCL