u/LorataAtelier

I've always thought I'd come up with a better and quicker way than sanding by hand, but I always end up coming back to it. It's not quick, but the results are worth it.

Looks really awesome!

These photos are so awesome! I love how they mix dark vibes with the chemistry between the two.

Ah, got you! Glad you like it, thank you :)

Good point! I’ll have to keep the perspective in mind next time. This angle makes the ring look about half the size of the collar. It’s smaller than that, but still chunky.

Happy to! If you’d like, I can send you some in a DM. Send me a chat request first, as Reddit isn’t letting me message your account.

Thank you! I’ve also photographed it on a model in my home studio. For this post, I wanted to show a closer look at the leather and tooling :)

Thanks! So happy to hear that!

Will do! Thanks for understanding, I’ll be in touch when I’m ready.

Thank you! Yes, I’d be interested :) I’ve just launched Lorata, so I need a little time to catch my breath, but I’m hoping to start taking custom commissions through Etsy in a month or two. I want to make sure I have enough time to give each custom piece the attention it needs.

If you’d like, I can message you when I’m ready to take commissions.

Thanks so much! Happy you like it! :)

Thank you! Yes, these are indeed Chicago screws (with Loctite to prevent them from coming loose). I've also tried double-cap rivets, but during my tests, when applying very strong pulling forces (sharp jerks while holding the leash and collar in my hands), the double-cap rivets started to deform slightly after several repetitions, whereas the Chicago screws held up perfectly without any issues.

Of course, I don't expect the collar to be subjected to that kind of force in normal use, but I also make cuffs, so I wanted to make sure the hardware could withstand more extreme conditions.

Adorable! :)

Thank you for the feedback! Good idea, next time I share some of my work, I’ll include more angles as you suggest :)

Thank you! Really glad you like it :)

Yes, both after dyeing and after applying resolene (let resolene dry for several hours and test on scraps first, antique likes to go through it if not dry enough).

That was why I almost gave up on that pattern…

I was using Fiebing’s Antique Paste, and I had two problems: it would come off when wiped with a damp cloth, and it wouldn’t stay evenly inside the pattern. Then I switched to Eco-Flo Antique Gel, which solved the first problem.

After hours of working on that pattern, I learned how deep the impressions needed to be for the antique to stay evenly inside (finally!). Besides the depth, you also need to get a feel for how much pressure to apply when wiping off the excess with a paper towel.

So, lots of trial and error, but I hope this helps a bit :)

Metal ruler :)

Looks crisp! The strap must be made with thin leather. Did you tool the leather and apply an antique finish, or use some other technique?