I’ve discovered that tooling leather is extremely painful. Like, skiving painful if I’m not careful.
I’ve been sore all week so deciding to try tooling the leather for my saddle probably wasn’t the greatest idea. Ā I can’t say I’ve made a lot of progress, which really isn’t that big of a deal. But I like making lots of progress and having to stop myself because of this blasted pain is beyond frustrating.
Frustrations aside, I am pleased with how it’s coming along though. I ended up taking my tooling design back into the computer, where I digitally traced over it to simplify the design. (and mirrored some parts… is that cheating? I think that’s cheating. But hey, if you have the tools, why not use them!)
I’ve printed that up and am tracing the design onto the leather. It shows up well enough to go over with my exacto blade and embossing/dotting tool, which I’m using to bring out the design:
I still don’t really know what I’m doing though.
Unfortunately the only pieces I’ve gotten done are the upper skirt and one fender. Argh! Maybe next week I’ll have more progress made?
Till then, it’s back to work on these, if I can:
Desktop Stables 
Oh my! It’s looking lovely. ^.^
Hope Etsy will work for me and I can snag one of those saddle pads this time. ;’)
Lovely! I’ve been trying to learn to tool leather for a long time with no results so I think you’re doing fantastic! and computer tools are not cheating, that’s how its done these days š Huzzah!
Tooling is really hard, and yours looks great! I think doing it on the computer is totally brilliant! Also, I love that polka dot pad… I would buy that for my real horse š
I think your progress looks great! And love that pad with the dots too š
Your stuff is amazing! It is just so precise and cute!
That looks fantastic! I can’t wait to see it finished!
looks good! and super clever for using the computer to refine the pattern š
Awh it’s looking awesome! I can’t wait to see the finished product, it’s going to look brill! š so intricate o_o
Love the first saddle pad! It’s so gorgeous! :0 i don’t have etsy otherwise I’d nab one š