Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-09-23
Ornamental Leather Picture Frames.

A CORRESPONDENT of the Country Gen
aenan gives the following directions for
making the above:
Articles needed in making ornamental
leather work are;
/ Fine sheep-skin, which can be select
ed when convenient from the waste leather
of the shoe shops. Some will need be
quite thin, and Others thicker, ato.work in
flowers, leaves, grapes, etc s
2. Patterns, IN paper to outline and cut
the leather in shapes these can be most
" taken from natural leaves and flowers.
3. A yeiner, for striking the veins, etc,
of leaves; this may be broken penknife,
the edge and end of the blade blunted and
rounded of, 50 as not to cut the leather
when used
4. Alcohol, gum shellac, and colors of
ground burnt sienna and little Venetian
red. Dissolve the shellac in alcohol
about half pint of alcohol to half an
ounce of shelac, and add sienna with Just
a trife of red; to get just the color you
must try it; be careful not to make it too
thick; to apply this a fine hair brush is
necessary
5. A little broom wire, annealed, for
vines, etc round-head lacks 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
varnish; and yarnish 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
crs require different "Wednesday 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 a dish Of water, immerse
to dampen 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 f; lay aside where
they will dry quick When perfectly dry,
take each piece separately, and with your
brush paint it over with the coloring mat
ter in the alcohol and gum; it will be
necessary to 90 over each piece several
times to get the right shade, giving time
10 dry between each coat. The dissolved
gum holds the color in suspension, and
applied to the leather gives it the proper
size or stiffness to keep in shape.
Flowers are made Of several pieces, &C
cording to the variety. A rose has seven
one for the calyX and six for petals. To
cut a pattern Tor rose, cut out a piece for
the calyX with five parts or lobes, little
smaller than the next or outer corolla, to
cut which, strike circle and divide it by
five clefts, making each heart shaped
petal; diminish each corolla in size from
the first, keeping the form the same. Wet
and shape each corolla, by stretching and
pinching over the thumb, fitting each sue
cceeding size to set in the preceding all
fitted, with an awl make a hole through
the center for the stem, which is a narrow
strip of leather dampened, twisted, rolled
and knot tied in one end this is drawn
through from the center When the
leather is dry each part is painted separate
ly, and when to the right shade it is put
together while moist with the colored
size This will cause the whole to adhere
together; each corolla is strung on the
stem, commencing with the center; the
petals are stuck and finally shaped as the
parts are put together the stem is left
three or four inches long to draw through
and hsten to the frame. Dahlias are made
of six or seven pieces, each corolla divided
in to eight ovate shaped petals, and all
fastened together same as the rose A
fuchsa is made Of three pieces; the envel-
ope funnel-shaped, with four parted calyx
toothed; this is sewed up the tubular part,
and rounded the corolla is four -petaed,
and shaped by pressing the center into the
neck Of vial the stamens and pistil are
cut from a single piece, twisted and rolled ;
the corolla is inserted in the neck Of the
envelope, and stuck with the size or with
glue, and the stamens made fast to the CO.
rolla in the same way. Other flowers
made similarly, all being fashioned to re-
scmble natural ones as much as possible,