Leather as Art and Craft

New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1973. Assumed First Edition . Hard Back. Fine/Very Good. 7 1/4" x 10 1/2. Balter, Nedda - Design. 302 Pages Indexed. Dust jacket flap price has been clipped. This most complete and contemporary book on leathercrafting by a noted crafts expert will enable anyone to create hundreds of beautiful objects made of leather- all at a fraction of their store-bought value. Of all the crafts gaining popularity today, working with leather enables one to engage in the greatest variety of techniques. Leather can be sewed like fabric; cut, scored, and glued like paper; carved, laminated, and nailed like wood; hammered and tooled like metal; painted like canvas; woven and tied like yarn; formed like papier-rnache ; molded like felt; dyed like textiles. And with the invaluable aid of this book, even beginners will be able to do all these things and more to this versatile material. LEATHER AS ART AND CRAFT provides excellent step-by-step photographs, revealing everything you need to know to be able to turn out stunning items worthy of the most fashionable boutiques and home furnishings shops. The book offers a brief history of leather and discusses such vital information as how to prepare and cure hides, how different types of leather are classified, how leather is sold, how to choose the proper tools to work on it. Thelma Newman reveals the art of pattern making, cutting, skiving, edging, bending, folding, and creasing. She shows how different coloring processes, such as tie-dye, batik, block printing, and the use of marking pens can greatly enhance and enrich leather, giving it a truly professional finish.