An issue of the Society’s newsletter, transcribed from the original.
(9 pages, 482 KB)
the full-resolution scan, 1.2 MB, for close research
Page 1
Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft CANADIAN LEATHERCRAFT
Volume LIV No. 1 Autumn 2005 0045-5121
Jim Linnell at the Tandy Leather Factory, November 9, 2005 with Jim Wilkes, Peter Grove and Lauchlan Harrison
In this Edition…
Page 2 Notes from the Editor, Highlights of the September and October Executive Meetings
Page 3 Highlights continued, “Canadian Leathercraft” Your CSCL Executive Council
Page 4 Jessie Little will be missed by CSCL
Page 5 Carving Workshop with Peter Grove
Page 6 CSCL Newsletter to have a New Schedule!
Page 7 Al Stohlman Award Winner, Jim Linnell
Page 8 Colouring and Dyeing Techniques
All material published in “Canadian Leathercraft” is the property of the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft and may not be reprinted in any form without the permission of the Society.
President: Peter Grove, 313 King St East, Hamilton, ON L8N 1C1 – - [email protected]
1st Vice-Pres.: Lauch Harrison, 68 Tisdale St. S, Hamilton, ON L8N 2W2 – [email protected]
2nd Vice-Pres.: Vacant
Past President: Phyllis McHale, 3783 Cty Rd. 45 RR#1 Coboconk, ON K0M 1K0 – [email protected]
Treasurer: Della Chynoweth, Unit 2- 42 Fourth Ave., Orangeville, ON L9W 4V9- [email protected]
Recording Secretary: Della Chynoweth, Unit 2- 42 Fourth Ave., Orangeville, ON L9W 4V9- [email protected].
Correspondence: Sandra Roberts, PO Box655, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0- [email protected]
Membership: Phyllis McHale, 3783 Cty Rd. 45 RR#1 Coboconk, ON K0M 1K0 – [email protected]
Editor: Madeleine Mitchell, 17 Light St., Woodstock, ON N4S 6G7 – [email protected]
Website: www.canadianleathercraft.org
Page 2 — Notes from the Editor, Highlights of the September and October Executive Meetings
Notes from the Editor…
Sunsets seem to be earlier, the nights seem cooler, and the leather tools beckon…it must be the fall of the year. Every summer, I have great intentions to do some leather, and every fall, I finally get around to do it! This year, a new project – bejeweled dog collars – customized for my neighbour’s “Chica”, a peppy, little black Chihuahua/ Shiz Tzu mix. After a few design improvements, Chica now sports a “bling bling” encrusted collar made specifically for her. Who knew that some pet owners are fanatics when it comes to doggie accessories.
If you have a look at the CSCL Website, I hope you will be pleasantly surprised to find some real information – not just the title page.
Look for it at www.canadianleathercraft.org
Longtime champion of CSCL passed away recently, read the tribute to Jessie Little.
CSCL Executive has met in both September and October and I’ve included some of the highlights in this issue.
Toronto Branch invited Peter Grove to demonstrate basic carving techniques in October, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it, right here.
By the publication of this bulletin, some CSCL members will have had a chance to meet and greet Al Stohlman Award winner, Jim Linnell in Mississauga, while he was visiting the Royal Winter Fair.
The Woodstock Branch started their fall program with colouring techniques, (see page 8) followed by the basics of saddle stitching – even the veterans learned something new.
Canadian Society for Creative
Leathercraft
Highlights of the September & October 2005
CSCL Executive Meetings at the Tandy Leather Factory
CSCL projects in progress:
-Revision of the CSCL Constitution –Peter Grove is arranging a meeting with Council of Fellows members and will report back at the November Executive
-Lamour Library Boxes are being inspected and reorganized by
Lauchlan Harrison and should be circulating soon. (Anyone having library books in their possession – please return to any
Executive member- NO QUESTIONS, NO FINES!)
- Watch for Participation Ribbons and Special Draw for all who participate at the 2006 Annual. CSCL is determined to make members feel part of the group and encourage all members to put articles on the tables.
Page 3 — Highlights continued, “Canadian Leathercraft” Your CSCL Executive Council
CSCL Business:
-the Woodstock Branch presented a cheque to CSCL of $1210 for the profit from the 2005 Annual Meeting.
-the editor of the Bulletin reported that the website will be up and running by the end of November –be sure to have a look at www.canadianleathercraft.org
-Hamilton Branch presented some details for the 2006 Annual:
-Dates: April28, 29, 30 2006
-if you have suggestions for demonstrations or workshops, please contact Lauch Harrison or Peter Grove (contact information at the bottom of Page 1)
- suggestion that a table, at the Annual display a workshop project, and one later created to illustrate the improvements.
Norland has done this and noted the improvements in workmanship from the first to the second piece.
-Lauch Harrison motioned that a donation of $100 be sent to Ontario Crafts Council in honour of Ruth Haig, FCSCL, who recently received the prestigious John Mather Award from OCC. Seconded by Nancy Durham.
Unanimously CARRIED!
-Peter Grove has been in touch with the family of CSCL’s Jack
Meharg. The family is in the process of selling Jack’s leather craft tools and leather. CSCL members will have an opportunity to view and buy items, probably early in 2006.
-Lauch Harrison also reported that Ruth Haig is selling leathercraft items. Please get in touch with Ruth directly or contact Lauch.
Executive Council members decided in September to start their monthly meetings at 7:30pm. Well, they’ll try again in November to get going earlier, since at the October meeting, members were still getting adjusted.
Your CSCL Executive Council 2005-2006-
Page 4 — Jessie Little will be missed by CSCL
Jessie Little FCSCL will be greatly missed by CSCL
[The photograph above, captioned "Your CSCL Executive Council 2005-2006-" at the bottom of p3, carries no caption of its own on this page — no names, no "Absent from photo" list. It sits directly above the obituary below with nothing printed between them. Left as printed; no caption text invented for it.]
Jessie Margaret Little passed away in Orillia October 26, 2005. The following is taken from the October 30th Toronto Star -“For 96 years Jessie lived with devotion to her family and commitment to her beliefs. She was a source of admiration and inspiration to all with her keen interest in learning, her enduring spirit and her ability to meet life’s challenges. She was a gifted teacher and a master leathercraft artisan”.
For those of us who knew Jessie, we knew her generosity in sharing her skills at workshops, demonstrations, and Annuals. She judged at Exhibitions and Annuals and never failed to make the creator of any piece feel worthy and willing to test their skills. Phyllis McHale said that when met with Jessie, in Orillia, she always came away with more leather knowledge, than she knew before. Phyllis and her mother, Hilda Chynoweth, visited Jessie in the past year and said Jessie was still asking them to bring tools – she was teaching the nursing staff a few things.
Her beautiful colouring techniques and her subtle design live on in her wonderful leather articles.
Jessie was a Fellow and Honorary Life Member of CSCL and longtime Toronto Branch member, she held executive positions within the Branch and at the national CSCL level. She wrote for the Newsletter and was always generous with her time in demonstrating and teaching. She was a capable and fair judge and when critiquing an article she always tempered an improvement tip with a compliment. She will be missed by son, David Little, daughter, Margaret Munro, and family…and by the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft.
Jessie Little FCSCL
Jessie’s Umbrella Stand
Page 5 — Carving Workshop with Peter Grove
Carving Workshop held In Toronto
CSCL President, Peter Grove shared his carving secrets with an enthusiastic group of CSCL members on October 1, 2005 in
Toronto.
According to Toronto Branch President, Della Chynoweth the workshop was a great success.
“Everyone walked away with a lot more knowledge on carving. There were 10 in attendance. Peter did an excellent job. He used a traditional pattern for his demonstration. Our new member, Darlene Fry, said she really enjoyed it and it was great to see how things were done. Darlene is a self taught carver and really does some nice work. The knives were flying in the hands of those from Norland and Toronto with a lot of practicing going on.”
[This page also carries a decorative heading and several photographs that overlap the workshop report in print. Read straight through, their words broke into the closing sentence about the carving knives, printing it as "The knives Peter Grove FCSCL were Wows flying in the the hands Toronto of those and Norland from of practicing Norland Branches going and Toronto on.” with a lot" — restored above to the sentence the article prints on its own.]
Lauch Harrison also came along with Peter and spent most of the day sharpening knives – Thank you so much Lauch!
Darlene Fry commented that she can’t believe the difference a sharp knife makes!
Della summed up the workshop by saying “we’re expecting great things from Norland and Toronto at next year’s Annual!
Thanks Peter!”
Page 6 — CSCL Newsletter to have a New Schedule!
The Newsletter “Canadian Leathercraft” will start a new schedule in 2006:
In February, May, August, and November
-expect to receive your mailing or emailing of “Canadian Leathercraft” in the last two weeks of the months above.
Also starting in 2006
Branches are asked to prepare at least one page for the upcoming newsletter
* must be received by the Editor by the 1st day of your Branch’s month*
Branch Presidents take Note:
For the February 2006 issue – Hamilton Branch
For the May 2006 issue – Mississauga Branch
For the August 2006 issue –Norland Branch
For the November 2006 issue – Toronto Branch
For the February 2007 issue – Woodstock Branch
Individuals as well as branches are always welcome to contribute articles about leather craft or CSCL to the editor.
For more information: contact Madeleine Mitchell at [email protected]
Or write to 17 Light St., Woodstock, ON N4S 6G7
[This page sets more text than it shows. Beneath the schedule notice above the page also carries its own heading, promised on p1 as “CSCL Newsletter to have a New Schedule!”; the captions for the three photographs printed on p5 — “Top Photo –Phyllis McHale, Miles & Sandra Roberts / Middle Photo –Kevin Magura, Darlene & Jim Fry / Bottom Photo –Peter’s tools, carving & coffee”; a further caption, “Peter Grove FCSCL with Barb Chynoweth, Cecil & Joan Cake”; an invitation reading “-you’ll have your chance to share leathercraft tips, interesting leather supplies, or techniques or review a book or video about our craft”; and the line “CSCL web site is at www.canadianLeathercraft.org”. None of it appears on the page as issued — the notice is laid over it — so it is given here rather than above, because it names members and photographs this issue names nowhere else.]
Page 7 — Al Stohlman Award Winner, Jim Linnell
Al Stohlman Award Winner, Jim Linnell Visits CSCL –November 9, 2005 Jim Linnell learned to carve leather while growing up in Montana and admired the Sheridan Style of carving and for which he is now internationally known. On his recent visit to Canada’s Royal Winter Fair, he took time to visit the Tandy Leather Factory in Mississauga. CSCL members were invited to
Page 8 — Colouring and Dyeing Techniques
attend a special carving demonstration and meet Jim Linnell.
Over twenty members crowded around Jim as he shared tips and techniques about carving. The leather Factory carries tools that Jim often uses as well as instructive DVD’s. For about two hours, Jim carved, talked and shared with his Canadian friends.
Jim Linnell at work Peter Grove, Jim, & Lauch
Harrison Anthony Wohlgemuth & Jim’s horse carving
Jim’s Carving Detail of Jim’s carving More of Jim’s work
Colouring and Dyeing Techniques
By Nancy Durham FCSCL and Madeleine Mitchell
Splatter Dyeing
-Use a tooth brush to splatter dye over a wire screen.
-make the wire screen by cutting out a 3 inch square in the middle of a plastic margarine container lid. Attach a piece of wire or vinyl screening to the lid with masking or duct tape.
-always work from light to dark colours
Variations:
1. String –pin to cardboard over project
2. Use keys, pins, paperclips for silhouette designs
3. use leaves or flowers or pebbles
Page 9
Abstract String Design
-apply base coat to project
-immerse length of cord in dye. Blott lightly to remove excess dye.
-drop randomly on dry leather
-cover with a piece of heavy paper or a light magazine
-pull gently on the string and work back and forth while applying light pressure to the top.
Wax Resist Dyeing
-Work from Light to Dark colours
-Melt wax- keep temperature below 300 degrees for safety – for a soft wax mix ½ parawax with ½ beeswax – for a brittle wax 2/3 parawax with 1/3 beeswax
Drizzle method:
-dampen leather or apply base coat
-drop or drizzle wax on leather, allow to harden
-crack, if desired and apply colour
-drop or drizzle wax again, crack, harden and apply next colour
-repeat as desired for colours
-allow to harden completely, remove wax and harden
Variations:
-attach shapes (keys, leaves, etc.) with masking tape to leather (with base coat)
-apply wax with brush along outside of shape and apply colour
-allow to harden, crack, if desired, apply second colour to perimeter as above.
Dry Brush Technique
-Use one brush for each colour
-work from light to dark colours
-dip brush into dye and then brush off always all the dye onto a paper towel
-apply “dry brush” lightly to project with feather touch strokes, work from the outside edge towards center.
-apply more layers to build up colour
-q-tips or cotton swabs can also be used instead of brushes
Sponge Dyeing
-cut sponge into small squares, bevel the four corners, if desired or tear into irregular shapes
-apply a light coloured base coat to project
-when putting dye onto sponge –either dip sparingly or brush on colour with a brush or swab
-enjoy the sponging – use music and set a rhythm, avoid repeating on the same spot.
-build up colours from light to dark
Marbling Leather
- this is an experiment in progress, taken from techniques for paper marbling
- make a gel: 1 package Garden Fare and a scant 4 cups water, mix together and pour into flat tin foil dish (large enough to hold your project). Allow to set.
- drop 2 to 4 colours (acrylics or water based leather dyes) randomly over the gel.
- using a comb or stylus, draw the colours across the gel, try a wave design, or turn dish and draw another pattern at 90 degrees,
- dampened or apply base colour to project and lay on top of gel. Avoid air bubbles.
- lift carefully and let dry completely before using.