Hello, so we all have heard of patina and leather getting darker when exposed to sunlight. But, has any of you heard or got his hand on the ellusive Reverse Patina leather? I had heard rumors about it; first made by the ancient Celtic Druids while trying to tame the Loch Ness Monster, the ancient spells required to its creation were lost to humankind. Untill today!!! I give you the Fadeaway Leather!!! (In case someone still did not pick up on it, I was kidding about the druids...) More seriously, I picked up this hide around 14 months ago, and it has been sitting in my workshop ever since, covered with a think paper. This morning, while moving it, I moved the protection paper a bit by mistake and I discovered that the part left exposed to sunlight had actually lost color, dramatically. It is a chrome tan leather from Tannery Dupuy in France, and it has never been hit by direct sunray. It is exposed to daylight but the sunray do not reach the area of my workshop where it is stocked. Is this normal? Am I overreacting?

This was more than anything else an exercise in stitching Alligator with a thin lining 0.5mm Chevre Sully than anything else. I used a Lin Cable #832 and pricking irons (no awl this time). I like how it turned out. This was more than anything else an exercise in stiching Alligator with a thin lining 0.5mm Chevre Sully than anything else. I used a Lin Cable #832 and pricking irons (no awl this time). I like how it turned out. Also tried my hand at "Oh no! I am not using the sun's light" photography. Shot at night with artificial lights. P.S: @Daniel Styffe , see what snaps I used... ouch!

So I finally succumbed to the lure of the French way! I made a leather glass slip case in Alligator lined with chevre using 2.7mm pricking irons, an awl, 632 Lin Cable thread and black Uniter's edge paint. My first time using edge paint! Needless to say, it was a challenge! One that I immensely enjoyed because I usually like a challenge, and because the person I made this for is worth the effort :D Also, design wise, it is based on a case my father had since the 80s (also i think i forgot to mention that back in the 80s and early 90s, my dad used be the GM of a shoes/leather accessories manufactury!). This case is one produced by the company he used to run. What I Think i could improve: 1- A Little edge paint spillover on the side. 2- I used a 1.2mm lining, i think i should have went with a 0.8 one. Although in retrospect, i live the "cushiony" effect the thicker lining is giving. 3- I did a binding over stitch on the beginning and ends. Seeing how the ends are curved, I shouldn't have. 4- No idea what else, that is why I am posting here so that you can tell me if where else I could improve.

I thought it would be nice to show each other the very first items we made and have a good ol' laugh at our own expenses! I'll start by sharing with you the very first wallet I ever made (which was also the first item I ever made). And I have to say, it is awful!!! Now I am not saying that I am not proud of myself for having made it, but here are all the things i did wrong: - I free hand cut everything, no template no nothing, because why not? - I used 7 oz hard temper Vegtan for the main body - I used 4 oz goat skin for the pockets - I used a 2.7 mm diamond chisel for the stitching paired with an 0.8mm stitching awl thread, (whatttttt???) - I pressed down so hard when burnishing that the edge of the goat skin actually folded bakcwards and hid the stitching lines (which could be considered a blessing given the look of the stitching) Next to the famous wallet is my revision of the same design, 6 months later. Needless to say, I had made some progress. I am also sure I don't need to tell you which is the old, and which is the new... So, I made you laugh at myself, now make me laught at you :D

Sadly, in our online world, pictures play a major role in sales. I have seen amazing leather items crafted to perfection not selling because their pictures, well sucked. Also, I have seen very low quality leather items sell extremely fast due to their beautiful photography and display. I started this post with the intent of sharing knowledge of photography, our tips and tricks. The idea is that I will edit the main post of this thread (this one) with all the #photohacks (sorry Phil) the members propose so that new members don’t have to search and read pages and pages of comments to find what they are looking for. Please bear in mind that the following will be personal tips and tricks and might not work for your style of photography. This is not a photography “course”, it is just tips and tricks we use to get better pictures. I will start with mine: My Gear: I shoot with a DSLR with a 60mm Fixed Macro lens. I never use fake light/a light box. I shoot during the day in natural sunlight but in the shade. I find that this gives me a better, warmer picture. Sometimes if I find a good shadow play hitting my workbench, I drop what I am doing and try to capture it next to a product. Following on the above idea, I find that natural light gives me much much more colors and hues then with controlled lighting (Mostly because i dont have the means/knowledge/budget to buy the perfect studio photography equipement for that) If I have a camera with a Zoom, I try not to use the zoom. Why? Because standing in your place and zooming in and out will only make you look at your product one way. I learned that it is better to have a “fixed zoom” and to walk myself around the product; it allows me to find the best angle to photograph. I think this trick alone allowed me to improve so much. If I am not satisfied with a picture I took, I delete it right away from the camera. When you are reviewing your pictures on your computer, you do not want to have 100 pictures to review; it will make the task impossible. That way, you are only reviewing the ones you deemed worthy in the first place. DO NOT STAND BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND YOUR PRODUCT! I used to do that a lot. If I needed a photo from a certain angle, I would move around and sometimes position myself between the window (source of light) and my product. Nowadays, If needed, I rotate/reposition my object to get the right angle without having to block the light. Try to be not close to the windows/source of indirect light to minimize the "white reflection" you get in the pic (see below) Try not to "enhance" the colors (add too much contrast, saturation, etc.), simply because it will totaly change the color on your product and you want the customer to see as close to the original color as possible so that he knows what he is buying.

Sadly, in our online world, pictures play a major role in sales. I have seen amazing leather items crafted to perfection not selling because their pictures, well sucked. Also, I have seen very low quality leather items sell extremely fast due to their beautiful photography and display. I started this post with the intent of sharing knowledge of photography, our tips and tricks. The idea is that I will edit the main post of this thread (this one) with all the #photohacks (sorry Phil) the members propose so that new members don’t have to search and read pages and pages of comments to find what they are looking for. Please bear in mind that the following will be personal tips and tricks and might not work for your style of photography. This is not a photography “course”, it is just tips and tricks we use to get better pictures. I will start with mine: • My Gear: I shoot with a DSLR with a 60mm Fixed Macro lens. • I never use fake light/a light box. I shoot during the day in natural sunlight but in the shade. I find that this gives me a better, warmer picture. Sometimes if I find a good shadow play hitting my workbench, I drop what I am doing and try to capture it next to a product. • If I have a camera with a Zoom, I try not to use the zoom. Why? Because standing in your place and zooming in and out will only make you look at your product one way. I learned that it is better to have a “fixed zoom” and to walk myself around the product; it allows me to find the best angle to photograph. I think this trick alone allowed me to improve so much. • If I am not satisfied with a picture I took, I delete it right away from the camera. When you are reviewing your pictures on your computer, you do not want to have 100 pictures to review; it will make the task impossible. That way, you are only reviewing the ones you deemed worthy in the first place. • DO NOT STAND BETWEEN THE LIGHT AND YOUR PRODUCT! I used to do that a lot. If I needed a photo from a certain angle, I would move around and sometimes position myself between the window (source of light) and my product. Now, If needed, I rotate/reposition my object to get the right angle without having to block the light. • Try to be not close to the windows/source of indirect light to minimise the "white reflection" you get in the pic (see below) • Wear either a Black or White shirt if your are standing close to the object you are taking photos of. Why? Because your shirt will act as a reflector and if you are wearing a red shirt for example, your photos will have a slight redish hue. Balcony, Using the rails as "shadow makers" Living Room, midlle of the room, around noon Right next to the window. Notice how there is a big white reflection on the bag?

YES!!! I made some Christmas gifts but couldn't share them on social media being afraid that the intended receiver will see them before they get them. I can finally share them with someone :) And this is wallet that I shared on social media but that I love so much. I am really happy with how it turned out!