A Batch Of Fig Leaf Codpieces From Last Month, Done In Black Leather And Hardware. Id Originally Designed

A batch of fig leaf codpieces from last month, done in black leather and hardware. I’d originally designed this as a bit of a joke, and I’d just about given up on them, then someone asked for this set for a group of their friends who were going to a Pride event. So these went to a group of satyrs in bondage harnesses.

The client asked for black hardware to match the harnesses they’d be wearing, so that was the tricky thing about this order. I had to source the hardware from a couple different places, but they ended up matching pretty well. And now I know a couple more suppliers that had some good stuff.

I don’t think I’ll have the black hardware up as a regular option, since keeping more hardware in stock eats into my space and materials investment budget. (Also the rivets were sufficiently differently sized from my regular ones that they were A Pain.) But I could get them again for the right project.

The regular version of these codpieces is available on my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/702512626/fig-leaf-codpiece

Finally was able to rivet this together! I decided that I’d keep this copy for myself (it turns out I have very few personal pieces, basically everything is in the “sell me” box), so I just went for a color combo that I wanted. Light green around the face, dark green jaw, and silver nose and horns. I also tried a new leather finish that I just got. Normally I go for a matte acrylic, but this was a fairly shiny acrylic-based one. I think it worked well for the robot feel, though it discolored the light green a bit.

I’ll need to get nice photos in the next couple days and post the design up for ordering, then I’ll probably start hacking this particular copy to bits and adding things. I need to figure out how to add in a forehead strap for better fit, and I want to try a funky thing at the chin for support there. See if I can extend it down the neck a bit, possibly with an integrated collar.

Overall, while I’d spent a bunch of time on the 3D shaping of the design, it did kinda end up being mostly cone/cheese wedge shaped. That is, there’s not much detail in the shape of the face. But for this sort of design, that worked pretty well. The nose and horns were the parts where the surface gets some real 3D curvature to it, and those came out pretty solid. And overall the shape is very true to the design, so it worked out.

Oh right, one of the big successes with this design is, it fits comfortably over my glasses! You basically can’t tell, but I promise they’re there.

Here’s some progress shots for a faceless robot-drone dragon mask I designed in the last couple days. Wasn’t trying to mimic any particular character/species, but I definitely did look at a bunch of Hacony/Qundium’s stuff when I was thinking about what sorts of shapes would work well in leather.

For a while I’ve wanted to try to do something along these lines but with a one-way mirror visor. But doing that requires heat-bending acrylic sheets after cutting them, and that’s really tricky to do right.

So instead I made a leather screen perforated with like 500 holes so you can see through it. (I was actually really happy with the pattern I worked out, I’ll have to get some photos to show that off when it’s done.) It looks like a sealed up gas mask, but the screen means it’s actually really breezy inside.

Next steps will be figuring out exactly where the straps will attach, then taking it apart and staining the tan leather. I’m thinking silver for most of it, with something contrasting for the horns and nose. These riveted leather masks always look super steampunk when they’re still tan, and sometimes that’s fun, but I think I’m gonna keep pushing the robot vibe here.

Here’s some progress shots for a faceless robot-drone dragon mask I designed in the last couple days. Wasn’t trying to mimic any particular character/species, but I definitely did look at a bunch of Hacony/Qundium’s stuff when I was thinking about what sorts of shapes would work well in leather.

For a while I’ve wanted to try to do something along these lines but with a one-way mirror visor. But doing that requires heat-bending acrylic sheets after cutting them, and that’s really tricky to do right.

So instead I made a leather screen perforated with like 500 holes so you can see through it. (I was actually really happy with the pattern I worked out, I’ll have to get some photos to show that off when it’s done.) It looks like a sealed up gas mask, but the screen means it’s actually really breezy inside.

Next steps will be figuring out exactly where the straps will attach, then taking it apart and staining the tan leather. I’m thinking silver for most of it, with something contrasting for the horns and nose. These riveted leather masks always look super steampunk when they’re still tan, and sometimes that’s fun, but I think I’m gonna keep pushing the robot vibe here.

Been working on this panther/tiger/cat hood for the last week or two.

Here we’ve got the final 3D model in Rhino, then the individual pieces laid out and laser-cut out of the pre-finished black leather I’ve been using for various projects, and partial assembly photos. None of the rivets are set yet, I’m holding off on that until all the parts are put together and I know everything will work right.

A pair of scale mail bracelets that I shipped out today. The one on top is bronze, the one below is stainless steel. Both are woven with stainless steel rings.

Available on my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/76309439/base-metal-scale-maille-bracelet

Chainmail choke collar prototype. I had the idea, so I had to make it. The only way to put this one on was to close the last few rings it in place with pliers. That was tricky, but I got it. (It’s really hard to manipulate pliers up by your neck, trying to guide yourself by looking in a mirror.) Then it wouldn't come off without wire cutters.

Options for making this for other people would be to (1) make it big enough to slip over the head, which would defeat the point for some, or (2) use an open-able O-ring (which I did find a source for), or (3) throw another closure in there like a lobster clasp or a small lock, or (4) I dunno I’d have to start going to more conventions and just spend my time there weaving non-removable chainmail onto people’s necks.

Half-Persian 4-in-1 weave, made in stainless steel. The O-rings are nickel-plated steel. This weave is good for these sorts of weighty-but-not-too-imposing chains.