Leather tooling is the practice of transforming leather into art using shaping techniques, coloring techniques, or both.
Leather tooling is the practice of transforming leather into art using shaping techniques, coloring techniques, or both.
Every piece of leatherwork at Sandwitch Leather starts with original artwork by Kindra and a veg tanned leather hide. Aside from a hide still covered in fur, veg tanned hides are the purest hides you can get.
Moisture is added to the leather to make it pliable enough to be cut and tooled. From there, the leather is placed on a hard surface like marble or granite to ensure that the cuts are consistent in depth.
Every piece of leatherwork at Sandwitch Leather starts with original artwork by Kindra and a veg tanned leather hide. Aside from a hide still covered in fur, veg tanned hides are the purest hides you can get.
Moisture is added to the leather to make it pliable enough to be cut and tooled. From there, the leather is placed on a hard surface like marble or granite to ensure that the cuts are consistent in depth.
Similar to the process of tattooing, the basic outline is laid out (rather than starting in one corner or one focal point of the artwork). With tooling, this outline is created with a swivel knife. Details are then brought in by doubling down on the initial cuts with a variety of tools like a beveler or even heavy duty box cutters. Each tool creating different textures, patterns, and visual effects. The more tools at your disposal, the more dimension in the piece.
Similar to the process of tattooing, the basic outline is laid out (rather than starting in one corner or one focal point of the artwork). With tooling, this outline is created with a swivel knife. Details are then brought in by doubling down on the initial cuts with a variety of tools like a beveler or even heavy duty box cutters. Each tool creating different textures, patterns, and visual effects. The more tools at your disposal, the more dimension in the piece.
"I LOVE TRYING TO INCORPORATE MORE MODERN DESIGNS USING THE CLASSIC TOOLS OF THE TRADE. CREATING DIFFERENT STYLE OR PATTERN THAN THE TOOL WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT FOR. THERE'S A LITTLE SHELL BORDER TOOL I USE TO CREATE FEATHERY TEXTURES ON BIRD WINGS, OR A CLASSIC TOOL USED FOR FLOWER PETALS THAT I USE FOR SKULL INDENTATIONS."
~ Kindra Adair
Learn about the art & technique of leather tooling ...