Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-09-17
Ornamental Leather Picture Frames

A CORRESPONDENT of the Country Gen
Hen'da gives the following directions for
making the above:
Articles needed in making ornamental
leather work are:
/. Fine sheepskin, which can be select
cd when convenient from the waste leather
of the shoe shops. Some win need be
quite thin, and Others thicker, sto--work in
flowers, leaves, grapes, etc.
2 Patterns, in paper, to outline and cut
the leather in shapes these can be most
ly taken from natural leaves and flowers.
.. A veiner, for striking the VEINS etc,
of leaves; this may be broken penknife
Minded or, sG6p1 OF. the blade blunted and
when used.
t. Alcohol, gum shellac, and coiors of
ground burnt sienna and little Venetian
red. Dissolve the shellac in alcohol
about half a pint of alcohol to half an
ounce of shellac, and add sienna with Just
trihe of red; to get just the color you
must try it, be careful not to make il too
thick; to apply this a fine hair brush is
necessary
8. A little broom wire, annealed, for
vines, etc. round-head tacks for fastening
to wood frame; scissors and sharp pointed
knife for cutting the leather, varnish for
vanishing the work when fastened to the
| frame-this should be the best furniture
v0rnish; and varnish brush.
Select yonr leather according to the ar
| ticle to be made-a leaf thick or thin, flow
ers the same, as different leaves and flow
ers require different thickness-lay the
| leather on a cutting board, and lay your
| pattern over it, and with a pointed awl or
coarse darning needle, trace the outline ON
the leather now with your scissors or
| knife cut to this outline. Serrated edged
! leaves have the Serrating done after first
| cutting to near the shape, which is best
| done with the knife ON the board.
/ Have ready dish of water, immerse
! to dampen II little your cut leather, lay
| it ON your board and with the veiner
mark all the veins, leaving them quite dis
tinct; they should be veined to nature,
and natural leaves to pattern from will aid
greatly; while still damp, shape by fold
ing, stretching, etc, to initiate natural
leaves as far as possible; lay aside where
they viii dry quick. When perfectly dry,
take each piece separately, and with your
brush paint il over with the coloring mat
ter in the alcohol and gum; it will be
necessary to go over each piece several
times to get the right shade, giving time
to dry between each coat The dissolved
gum holds the color in suspension, and
applied to the leather gives II the proper
size or stiffness 10 keep in shape.
Flowers are made of several pieces ac-
corling to the variety. A rose has seven
-one for the calyN and six forpetals To
cut pattern Tor rose, cut out a piece for
the cllyX with five parts or lobes, little
smaller than the next or outer corolla, to
cut which, strike circle and divide it by
five cletts, making each a heart-shaped
petal; diminish each corolla in size from
the first, keeping the form the same. Wet
and shape each c0rula, by stretching aud
pinching over the thumb, lifting each sue
oeeeding size to set in tho preceding all
lifted, with an awl make hole through
the center for the stem, which is a narrow
! strip of leather dampened, twisted, rolled
aud knot tied in one end; this is drawn
| through from tho center. When ths
leather is dry each part is painted separate.
ly, and when to the right shade il is puI
together while moist with the coloreC
size. This will cause the whole to adher,
together; each corolla is strung ON th,
| stem, commencing with the center; th,
/ petals are stuck and finally shaped as th'
! parts are put together; the stem is lei
/ three or toHr inches long t0 draw thrOug l
( ahd hsten To the frame. DahliaS are mad
/. of six or seven pieces, each c0rola divide,
4 in To eight oyate shaped petals, and al
p fastened together same as the rose,