St. Patricks Day Quick Display

| sandrews
2022
2023

I started this quick way of doing a simple, bold and eye-catching

St. Patty’s display last year and repeated it this year.

In 2022, I used green poster board, splattered on some paint

and cut into large hearts.

I assembled them with hot glue.

The shamrocks are attached to a long piece of cardboard to create a single unit.

I added some obnoxious green bling-bling ribbon in the mix

and stuck it up with gummy mounting tape .

For 2023, I used 12″ x 12″ green cardstock to make the shamrocks.

This year was extra rushed,

I threw this mess together then had to tape and tuck some of the shamrocks

after mounting the unit to the metal awning.

I like this idea cause it’s fast, lightweight and easy to put up and take down.

That is the beauty of making this paper cut-out business….It can be jammed and shoved.

I can’t imagine getting excited about cabbage and corned beef…..but people buy up this shyt.

who the what is OUCH?…

| sandrews
Ouch

…this is ouch,…….at least from what I can remember from glimpses of it.

It’s not like its gonna sit for a portrait.

I feel maybe it’s a sprite, spirit,…troll type elf being…maybe, I don’t know.

I see it. No one else has

but they hear it and sense it.

People just think I’m having another episode,

cause I freak out a lot I’m kind’a jumpy.

I don’t remember the first time seeing it.

I think I just sensed a disruption in my well being.

Over the years the visual “Ouch” became more apparent…

or maybe I’m just seeing shyt.

are there more?

I mentioned it being, maybe, a troll but it’s not evil or mean…..just kinda pissed.

I mean…look at it….tsk.

Not developed to its full potential.

My guess is Mother Nature was working on a prototype or got side tracked when working on this one.

Wings not fully developed but at least MN gave it prehensile feet so it can make stuff.

I call it “Ouch” cause it’s clumsy and trips over shyt… a lot.

I see it still try to fly and……… that never goes well.

Just it’s little chicken wings flappen, little white fur floating in the air as

Ouch is falling to the ground yelling out with it’s little voice.

Kind’a sounds like a screaming rabbit.

It could be a spirit guide of mine or maybe I’m a spirit guide of it’s,

either way we’re screwed…

but maybe there’s hope…

I tell myself…

He follows me to work at a grocery store.

I do grocery store type stuff but mostly make signs and much of the sign making is in the basement.

Ouch likes to make signs too….of nonsense and goofisms.

Sometimes Ouch will write some stupid shyt on one of my signs

and I won’t notice till I put up the sign.

Sometimes I just leave it but most times I need to fix it cause

a’someone will choose to be offended by it instead of accepting it as a joke.

It’s a shame cause Ouch’s stupid stuff is pretty funny.

One of my co-artists will hear a crumpling or crunching and look up at me.

“Did you hear something….I think I heard a ghost?”

I will look over and see Ouch tripping over some shyt.

I just reply “hmm, maybe it’s just something falling upstairs”.

Ouch in younger days.

PART 5 KVC LEATHER TOTE

| sandrews

This is a “half of a belly” leather cut.

I will use a portion of it to make the straps for this tote.

I use a long wood slat for a straight edge to make my first guide line.

I use a t-square that is 2″ wide as my template to mark out cuts.

I transfer the full piece up to my work table to cut the straps out.

I use a standard ruler and put a new blade in my utility knife.

I cut about 8″-10″ of length at a time.

I work very carefully.

I bevel the edges of the removeable shoulder strap.

I measure out roughly 24″ lengths of strap for the handles.

I measure out one of them and mark stitching holes.

I replicate those measurements on the second strap.

I am showing how the handles will be folded when stitched.

After I stitch the handle, I bevel then sand to even the edge.

I use a rougher grit then a very fine grit.

I do this over my tub, then wipe out the dust.

The edge after sanding and before burnishing.

Edge after burnishing

The handle connectors are trimmed, punched and burnished.

The second picture shows how they will join the handle.

Stitching the handles to the tote.

For the most part, this tote is finished , just some small separate features to complete.

The shoulder strap is removeable.

I will make a slim shoulder pad to slip onto it.

PART 4 KVC LEATHER TOTE

| sandrews
2″ wide rectangle loops for handles of bag and 1″ center bar buckle for the tote hardware.

strap attachment pieces for the double handles

working on buckle attachment for the closure.

The piece that will attach the buckle has marks for hole punching.

The... (wait,… I need to go look up what the rod in the buckle is called)

prong.. (oh neeto, I learned something…parts of a buckle…frame, bar and prong)

I need to create a long hole for the prong to go through.

There is a pounding punch tool for creating that shape but I don’t use punches that require hammering cause they make too much noise for being in an apartment. I also would need to go find a heaver table and pound board…..too much extra extra.

This is a little more rustic way of creating the hole. I punch two bigger holes spaced apart.

Then to slice the portion out between the holes. Bevel the oblong hole and burnish it.

(all measurements tested out on scrap)

white stuff in the holes is lotion I used to condition the leather and help burnish the edges.
now for the closure strap. I use a round object to mark corners.
and trim
then bevel
entire piece
stitching the gussets to the cover of the bag
As I stitch the gussets, I incorporate a long thin piece a couple inches from the top rim that will be the reinforcement for securing the hardware attachments.
bottom of gussets are stitched
stitching hardware attachments
now just wait for strap leather to arrive

PART 3 KVC LEATHER TOTE

| sandrews

The stitching part starts with a length of waxed polyester thread that is approximately 4 times the length of the seam with a needle on each end.

When I started sewing, I tried non synthetic threads like linen and hemp. Those fibers are not strong. They broke after a few tugs. I found that I needed to use a waxed polyester thread. I first tried waxing polyester threads myself (Too labor intensive and creates beeswax crumbles that I have no patients for…..perhaps I wasn’t doing it correctly? Maybe there is an easier way of doing it.?..perhaps) I tried a very popular and well marketed brand called Ritza Tiger Thread. Its braided thread (impressive) it is strong, and comes in a good selection of colors but I find it slippery. Maine Thread is my go-to source for thread these days. I used their waxed polycord which has the perfect amount of wax for gripping stiches.

The stitch I’m using is called a locking saddle stitch.

a wrap over and under with each stitch

pull the stitch tight with both needles to finish a stitch.

starting a new stitch, I begin with inserting the needle from the back (flesh side).

It makes no difference if the wrap goes “over and under” or “under and over” it just needs to be consistent. I pick a pattern and stay with that.

after finishing a seam, I insert both ends of the thread into the last hole.
This tucks the thread under the seam to hide the ends. I will snip off the extra thread it the edge.

one gusset completed.