I'm Back!

Hey guys,

Sorry for the disappearing act. I got a bit tied up playing the new Tomb Raider :) But I'm back now.

I finally broke down and started a Facebook page for all my costumes and props. Its not very big at the moment lol. You can find it here http://m.facebook.com/NekoCroft

I'm also back to working on my Lara 2013 costume. so far I have dyed the top, lightened my cargos, made the quiver, bow and arrows, and purchased some boots. I already had made the holster and makeshift tool/axe. I'm currently working on the ice axe. All progress can be seen on my FB page. I will get more pics of everything posted in the morning.

G'night peeps!

Kat xx

DevArt trolls

Hey guys,

For some reason I decided to log into my Deviant Art account this morning. I haven't been on there in months, in fact the last time I think was in August. This morning I was greeted with tons of comments from the same person, on every single costuming pic I have up, on how ridiculous I looked. So sweet of someone to take the time to go thru my entire gallery and try to insult me.

Did it bother me? No, not really.  I have been insulted by much better than the likes of her.

The point of this entry is that crap like this is the reason I no longer visit that site among so many others....people like that lack manners. And its disgusting, that they have nothing better to do than try to insult others to make themselves feel a tiny bit better and perhaps more powerful? Yes it's powerful to hide behind a screen and insult someone for doing something you are too chicken-shit to do yourself.

Peace out guys,

Kat xx

Lara's Classic BackPack

Hey guys,

Back again :) And this time with a completed project to show you.
Lara's Backpack from the Classic Tomb Raider games. One of my Favorite scenes from the Classic games is in Revelations when Lara finds her boxy backpack that we all know and love

 

 

 

And here is my version:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is made from 3-4 oz veg-tanned leather. All hand sewn, edged tooling on the top flap and all straps, with four aged gold buckles. I will be offering these for sale after Christmas for $50 plus shipping.  If you are interested please feel free to contact me :)

 

And here is a sneaky peek at my next project

 

 

 

As always, Thanks for reading!

 

Kat <3

 

 



Long Time No Type

Hey guys

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. A lot has happened.

First off...... I found out that someone has been using my templates to make and SELL Tomb Raider props and costume bits >:( So from now on I will no longer "release" templates to the public. If you are interested in any of my work, I will be open for commissions after Christmas. I promise to try and keep this blog more "up to date" and include all items I am offering for sale.

Secondly... I have a new rescue baby that I'm taking care of. Most everyone knows of my boy Merle the Squirrel

   Well now say hello to Meeko ^.^

Thirdly.....On Thanksgiving Day, while slicing sweet potatoes I sliced the end of my finger completely off :(  I cut it at an angle and the thickest part was thru the nail so it could not be reattached :'( On top of that I now have nerve damage. I can still move it but it does the complete opposite of what I want. Sticking up when I try to make a fist and curling under when I try to straighten it. Not sure what will be the out-come when it's fully healed....

And Fourth.... All projects have been put on hold (esply leather work) until my finger has healed. However I do have a few new projects in the planning stages. One includes Kat from Halo

 

Should be a fun project build. I plan on using EVA foam to make it.

 

And here's a sample pic of a few projects I have on the burner for after Christmas...these will be available for purchase once they are finished....yes I know the top pic is jumbled, but I'm taking no chances with thieves anymore.

 



 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read :) Will post more very soon

 

Kat <3

Altair's Throwing Knife Sheath

A Basic Leather Working Tutorial

 

Ok, here's what we'll be making today:

 

Altair's throwing knife sheath from Assassin's Creed.

What you need to get started:

                                                   small piece of tooling leather

                                                   ink pen

                                                   hobby knife

                                                   overstitch tool

                                                   seeder tool

                                                   mallet

                                                   awl 

                                                   sinew or wax coated thread

                                                   sponge

 

1.  Choose your leather. For this project it doesn't have to be high quality.  Hide scraps from shoulders or bellies will work well. Thickness depends on your preferences. I like using thicker leather (7-9 oz) as it holds form better when wet molding. The thinner the leather the more 'flimsy' your piece will be.

 

2.  Trace your pattern shapes on the rough side of the leather (don't forget to mirror your original patterns) labeling the front and back pieces. Cut out with sharp scissors or a hobby knife. I use a hobby knife with removable box-cutter type blades as the leather quickly dulls them.

 

 

 

3.  Dampen the leather with the sponge dipped in warm water. Not too hot as it could cook the leather and cause it to become brittle. Now using the over stitch tool transfer all markings.

 

 

 

4.  On this sheath I decided to tool the center line details rather than just using a simple stitching line. I used the seeder tool and a mallet to "tool" the leather. Keep the leather damp but not soaked as you work. This makes tooling easier as you do not have to strike the leather hard to leave an impression.

 



 



 

5.  Using the over stitch tool add the stitching lines and start sewing!

 

 

 

6.  Sewing is not hard at all (even tho most seem to think it is lol). On this project we will be making a basic running stitch using a leather awl. You already have your guide-lines from the over stitch tool, soo push the needle thru both layers of leather. Grab the sinew or wax coated thread and pull the loose end thru both layers. Holding the loose thread, pull the needle back thru the hole. Now you should have two pieces of leather with a single thread running thru them.

 

 

 

Moving on to the next hole, push the needle thru both layers of leather. Then pull the needle back slightly to leave a small "loop" in the thread.

 

 

 

Slip the loose end of the thread thru the loop. Pull the needle back thru the leather and pull both ends of the thread tight.

 

 

 

Congrats! You've made your first stitch  Now repeat down both sides of the leather sheath, following your over stitch guide. If the leather becomes too tough to push the needle thru, dampen it again with the warm water.  What you end up with should look like this...

 

 

 

I hope this helps anyone wanting to start working with leather. Any questions? Please feel free to ask

 

Kat xx





Asajj Ventress (take two)

Hey guys,

Just a quick entry for now. I finished my Ventress cossie!!  Took a quick test pic and I know how rough I look lol. Two weeks with no sleep and a cold will do that to ya tho   Anyway here's the pic. Hope y'all like the cossie

 

 

kat xx

Mold Making

Hey guys,

Well, I've been doing a bit of experimenting. Never made a mold before so I decided to give it a go and try molding the TR 2013 pendant I had sculpted.

I ended up sculpting two different pendants. This was the first sculpted from crayola air dry clay. I don't recommend this. Since it's water based clay, the mold maker eats it away even if it is sealed.

The second pendant was sculpted using sculpty modeling clay, baked in the oven and sealed.

My sources for Mold making is a bit limited where I live :(  I didn't want to invest a lot of money up front incase this was something I couldn't do, so I bought a simple kit from Hobby Lobby called Insta Mold. It came with NO instructions except to mix it 1 to 1....one part powder to one part warm water. The first time I tried it, it looked like lumpy oatmeal and the mold came to pieces while trying to remove the sculpt.  Finally after three attempts, I figured out the "secret" to mixing. Put the desired amount of water into a glass or metal mixing bowl, quickly whisp in small amounts of the powder mix until it begins to thicken and look like jello.

Suspend the model or sculpt into the mix and leave in a warm place to firm up.  I left it in place for about 10 hours before trying to remove the sculpt. Here's what I had at that time.

 

 

 

For the resin I used another Hobby Lobby kit. A low odor two part resin called EasyCast.  Simple to use, mixed equal amounts added green pigment and poured into the mold.

 

 

 

Then I waited til the next morning , a little over 12 hours and carefully removed it from the mold. It was still a bit "gummy" but a friend told me that was normal until it had time to fully cure.

 

 

I promise it does look better than the above photo LOL. I'm now waiting for it to fully cure, than I will clean up the edges a bit and take better photos.

 

 

Thanks again for reading and I hope this was a little useful ^_^

 

 

kat xx

 

 

If anyone is interested in one of these (or two or three lol) I will be offering these for sale.