A Complete Guide to the Ornamental Leather Work Part 2

TO MAKE THE CONVOLVULUS FLOWERS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 7.]

The Convolvulus, termed, by Botanists, Monopetalous, from its being composed of only one petal, is exceedingly well adapted for leather work; it is made by cutting a half circle of leather with a little piece cut out of the centre of the diameter, as seen in the annexed engraving (Fig. 1). The leather so cut must be wetted and veined, then bent round (the smooth side inside, so that the smooth side of the leather form the inside of the flowers) until the two edges on each side of the notch come together, where they are to be joined by being either st.i.tched or glued together; it will then have a conical shape, and must be moulded with the fingers, or the mould, until it a.s.sumes a natural appearance; the top can be cut to shape, and that part is finished; cut the stamina, as in (Fig. 2), leaving a stalk of leather attached to it in the following manner:--take a piece of basil about a quarter of an inch wide and a few inches long; cut the top as in Fig. 2, taking care to preserve the form of the anther at the top of each stamen, and rolling the stalk part up, put it through the petal and glue it in its proper place. The calyx has five leaves (Fig. 3), and is cut in one piece of leather; a hole is made in the centre, it is strung on the stalk and attached with glue to the bottom of the flower outside as in the finished flower (Fig.

4), so that the perfect convolvulus is composed of three pieces, the petal forming the body of the flower, the stamina inside, and the calyx at the bottom of the flower outside.

THE CONVOLVULUS ANOTHER WAY.

Another way to make the Convolvulus is to cut a round piece of leather the size of the flower required, and while wet, moulding it over the mould for that purpose and bending it into shape; the Canterbury bell can be formed of one piece of leather in the same manner, cutting the top into proper shape with a pair of scissors.

HOPS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 8.]

The Hop consists of numerous membraneous scales having the fruit within, and at their base; with the fruit however we have nothing to do, as it is out of sight. The membraneous scales are the petals of the flower, and in the engraving (Fig. 1), are twenty in number; they are all the same size, and are cut out of skiver leather, the shape of the single petal (Fig. 2).

To make the Hop, proceed as follows:--Take a piece of wire and wind leather round the end of it, as in Fig. 3, fastening it well with liquid glue; this inner body should be somewhat shorter than the Hop is to be when completed, and pointed at both ends. Cut out as many petals as are requisite, and mould them into a convex form at the end of each petal, then glue them alternately, commencing at the bottom and finis.h.i.+ng at the top of the flowers.

Pa.s.sION FLOWER.

The Pa.s.sion Flower is composed in leather of five pieces, and when well made presents a very beautiful specimen of what can be accomplished in that material.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 9.]

In making the Pa.s.sion Flower cut out the calyx of five leaves--that is the part of the drawing in the annexed diagram with the pointed end; then cut out the corolla of five petals with the rounded ends; cut also a circular piece for the nectary, which must be cut all round with the knife to form the radii, the centre having many small cuts radiating from the central point; when turned upward, in putting it in its place, forms the fringe-like appearance around the pistil seen in the flowers.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 10.]

The Pa.s.sion Flower has five stamina with ladle-shaped ends, or anthers, and three stigmas a little elevated above and turning over the stamina; the anthers and stigma are made of one piece of leather. The involucrum is formed also of one piece, and the three leaves are laid one over the other as in the annexed flower.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 11.]

To put together the various parts above described and form the Pa.s.sion Flower, begin by doubling a piece of wire over the angles of the stamina, twisting it underneath; roll a piece of skiver leather round the wire to form the style of the pistil and the stem of the whole flower; then turn up the three stigmas and roll a small piece of leather round them close to the stamina and turn them over; this being done, place the nectary on the stem, taking care that the cut portion in the centre be arranged upwards around the pistil. The petals are next placed on the stem, followed by the calyx; the leaves of the calyx must alternate with the petals; liquid glue must be inserted between each portion of the flower to give it firmness.

The involucrum, which is a sort of calyx, is put on the stem last a little way below the true calyx; we may just add, that all the leaves, petals, &c., with the exception of the involucrum, must have the smooth side of the leather uppermost; the petals and calyx must be hollowed out with the modelling tool for that purpose, or if that is not at hand, use the handle of the veining tool, and laying the petals and also the calyx on a smooth surface, rub them with the ivory end of the veining tool till they become hollow and smooth as in the natural flower.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 12.]

The above is the way, as plainly as we can possibly describe it, to make a Pa.s.sion Flower. We have repeatedly made the flower exactly upon the above plan, and it has always been much admired.

[Decoration]

CAMILLA.

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Camillas vary in the form of leaves, and the petals vary in number. To make a camilla, cut out two pieces, as in the annexed diagram, containing four petals in each; then cut out one or two larger pieces, with six petals in each, and one or more still larger, with seven or eight petals; then, having a natural camilla at hand, mould them all into form, fasten all the pieces of leather together, the smallest at the top, and the largest at the bottom, so that the petals alternate, with liquid glue, and put a piece of wire through the whole for the stalk; cover it with skiver leather.

[Decoration]

JESSAMINE.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 14.]

To make the Jessamine, copy the corolla from the annexed design, by cutting a star-like piece of basil, into which insert the wire for the stalk as closely as possible. As the stamina are not visible in this flower, it is needless to make them. The tube upon which the corolla rests, can be made by rolling a piece of leather round the wire thickest at the flower, and then add another piece of leather about an inch below the corolla, which must have five fine pointed leaves for the calyx.

[Decoration]

DAISY.

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The Daisy is formed by making two pieces of leather, like the pattern, one larger than the other, and putting the wire, for stalk, through both of them. The little golden centre of the daisy, can be well imitated by placing a round piece of leather, rather thick, in the centre, shaved off at the edges, and marked with the veining tool full of dots.

[Decoration]

ROSES.

[Ill.u.s.tration: No. 16.]