I'm in a book

Great news, my designs and photography have been included in this fantastic book. my work is on page 100-106  available from amazon and all good book shops.
many thanks to Sam and Graffito books

http://www.graffbooks.co.uk/publications

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steampunk-fashion-samuel-ratcliffe/1110923460?ean=9780956028440

http://www.amazon.com/Steampunk-Fashion-Spurgeon-Vaughn-Ratcliffe/dp/0956028446/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1354709221&sr=8-3&keywords=steampunk+fashion

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steampunk-Fashion-Spurgeon-Vaugn-Ratcliffe/dp/0956028446/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354709257&sr=8-1

new images

POW!

POW POW POW!!  is this what girls are supposed to dress like?

www.etsy.com/shop/vontoon

Skirts

So things have been going well, our designs and artwork have been featured in a book, going to be in a magazine and a music video....so its all work work work at vontoon towers.

RS

say what?

Shoulder holsters are sexy I tells ya and available from

www.etsy.com/shop/vontoon

wasted

Faffing around with some pics

Workage

I have been putting some pictures up but I was thinking it was about time to say something a little more personal about myself. I live and work in Dundee Scotland which is on the coast allowing me to surf ,yes,its cold but I have been surfing here 20 years and although I would say I was used to the cold,I am not. I have always lead an outdoor lifestyle and managed to stay relativity healthy. Dundee isn't the best place in the world to be a leather designer.Its too big to have a small town feel and too small to have a proper city dynamic so it can be very stagnant here. Thank whoever for the internet, i have no idea how i survived or found like minded people before that. My artistic career has gone through many guises from a pro photographer in the 90s travelling around Europe shooting angry people, also a qualified audio engineer and session musician. I make short films and am always open to any new ways to express my artistic desires. My leather designs come from my outdoor life, i want to make something practical yet of course looks good.  I will never make two pieces exactly the same, I feel I would be disregarding the buyers need for something just for them.Making something from templates would be boring for me and if you look at my work you will see that no two items match although similar.The only time I will measure an item is when it is made to order.
this is just part one of my ramblings to give you an idea of why I make what I do.

the pic below is the amazing Taz wearing one of my garters and boot garter.

RS

life

life is good

holstery

New shoulder holsters are up on etsy and artfire, they will go quick so hurry up to get yourself a very cool way to carry your phone.These new holsters have leather pockets in place of the usual canvas and are no more expensive

RS

holstery goodness

Although there are many varied designs on vontoon at the moment I am focusing on shoulder holsters are they are proving to be very popular and we are basically selling as quick as I can make them. We also want to offer custom work within the shoulder holster range, so if you want a specific colour of leather or pocket then just give us a shout and we will see if we can help.

www.etsy.com/shop/vontoon
www.msvontoon.co.uk



RS

Lots of Leather

Going to be working on some of these vests soon and some will have custom art work over the back panels. They are great for any costume but have been really popular with belly dancers.

RS

The phone is burning

Been dealing with suppliers today, we are going to be doing a range of our items leather free. There have been so many requests for this but its only no we are in the position to go ahead with these designs. Its all exciting and new but we hope that our customers will appreciate the new garments.

Below is a corset vest, these are made to order.

www.msvontoon.co.uk

RS

better

These leather brace sets are looking better all the time i swear

RS

Boots

made some boot garters today, some with shotgun shell containers and some with canvas or leather pockets.
Its a beautiful Sunday and I shouldn't be in the works shop but hey ho, I better at least to pretend to work.

You dress like that for work?........cool

Leather braces are not just for the office! 

Been a busy day of making shoulder holsters with leather pockets, will be online very soon.

RS

Morning work

Now have thick leather silver shoulder holsters made and when I say silver this stuff is like a mirror and all that is needed is pockets added but still choosing the right fabric for that. These will be fantastic for festivals where you need to keep phone cash and tickets close but still want that bit of glam. They will be available very soon keep checking www.msvontoon.co.uk

Website updates

we have just updated our main website and now you get a choice of where to buy products from (Etsy or Artfire) please note that both sites have different items so have a wander through both.Plus there are a few more cool things on the site. We will have galleries coming soon so keep checking back. New items added all the time.

RS

www.msvontoon.co.uk

wet

Rained out,going location hunting tomorrow. so to make everyone happier some of my garter designs.

is that deep

couple of pics from some of my favourite places to take pictures.Going location hunting today and bleh its pouring down rain. But that wont stop me, accompanied by Captain Sana we are hoping to discover something new for our next set of photos. I also have to finish some shoulder holsters and make a full thigh set. busy busy busy.

Taking the hint...

This is a picture of me from earlier this year that's not very steampunky but it has my new haircut :-)
Just thought I should introduce myself... call me, Captain Sana...

I am one of those sky captains by day and dancers by night.
check it...

who the hell is that?

Its me! I hate getting my picture taken, I look like a spud. Taken at the Panopticon Glasgow which is the worlds oldest surving music hall and the place where a 16 year old Stanley Laurel made his debut. It is an amazing place and I totally loved it there, full of great mad people.No matter wheat event they have on, get yourself along and have a brilliant day.  http://www.britanniapanopticon.org

RS

makin' stuff up

I was wanting to write something about how I get my ideas for designs and then realised I haven't really defined it in my own head so I really have no idea what to write. So everything that follows is a mix ideas, inspirations and lies.
One thing that is a truth of sorts is that everything I make for the ladies I have one thing in mind "Keep it sexy stupid" I never want to over do designs,you will find no brass robots arms on our site. I also want all my garments to be able to be worn everyday,ok that may not apply to a garter with a spud gun but the braces,brace sets, belts etc. I have had customers who wear braces sets for a wedding, to work everyday and as a part of a belly dance costume. Simplicity is the key to my designs, as few working parts as possible and always flattering to the figure.
I have always tried to avoid things such as cogs, broken watches and a million rivets as they don't fall into the practical part of the design.
Anyway, that's a very brief outline of how I have my own restrictions on my work and how I approach designing.

RS

               Pic below is our brace set being used for a quite fashionable statement while preparing for world domination.       Please note when purchasing brace set, army,tanks nor dictatorship are included.               

Yeah, it looks good

Full heavy duty leather brace set looks good does it not?.....yeah it looks good.

we have a few full brace sets for sale on etsy and artfire, halter style also available.

Tomorrow I will be out on my bike riding about for new locations to shoot our new range of leather sexiness.

There are a few places in and around Dundee I can think of but I will see if I can find anywhere new. 

This evenings soundtrack is Hifana 24H

Sitting in front of the computer is easier when listening to good tunes although I am happier in the workshop.

RS

All the tools I use to make my leather creations are traditional, not for any poncy reason but just because that's the best way to do it without destroying your hands and for the best finish on the leather.

When I was starting to work with leather I bought all the newest fancy tools and all without exception broke quickly or just didn't do the job they were intended for. So I finally found myself using old school tools."Keep it simple stupid" and I rarely have any problems with these tools and trust me they are used pretty intensively. The knife I use for cutting isn't in the pictures but is a utility knife. I finally rested on this kind of knife as they are cheap and easily replaceable and there are so many different kinds of blades there will always be something for what kind of cut you need to make. They are not for everyone but do offer a cheap and efficient way to cut leather. The shotgun shells in the picture are actually containers which we include in a loads of garments, belts,garters,holsters and we sell them on there own. Due to problems with international post we only offers these containers to UK customers. The most important tools I find are quality hole punches. They make for great cuts and last for ages.

VONTOON GIRLS

Here is a site we run in conjunction with www.msvontoon.co.uk Its free to join and use and you can just log in with your Facebook account. Its a great place to meet all the best girls in the steampunk world.

You can chat, video chat, upload images and much more.

hope to see you there

www.vontoongirls.co.uk

Its life Jim!

How to adjust our very cool thick leather halter neck brace set. More instructional videos to come.

check out my leather creations for sale here

www.etsy.com/shop/vontoon

and for even more designs

www.vontoon.artfire.com

or contact us through 

www.msvontoon.co.uk

Now I better get back to work, but its so easy to sit here as it is freezing in the workshop.

RS

I took this picture while the amazingly gorgeous Captain Sana during a shoot for some leather wear.

Will put up more of her when I get the chance.

RS

Shoulder holster sexiness

Look how cool my shoulder holster looks. I can custom make these in bright green,pink,baby pink,white,brown,tan,dark brown, black and various embossed leathers. If you have any ideas just get in touch and I will see how I can help you.

RS

Silver

Today I am making mirror silver leather,yes you heard me, shoulder holsters made specifically for festivals like burning man. So not only will you able to carry your personal belongings around with you but you can be bright sparkly and colourful too. Pictures will follow in a few days as I am not sure what colour the pockets will be yet. I will also be making florescent green and punk leather shoulder holsters if my eyes can hold out.

RS

Just putting up some images of my past creations. There are about 100 items for sale at the moment between etsy.com/shop/vontoon and vontoon.artfire.com so there are similar items to these and loads more.
I am tired and trying to do this, so I will return tomorrow with more nonsense frame with pictures of a girl in leather so it wont all be bed.

I thinketh too much

Now, I have designed leather garters for keeping your dirigible money in and full brace sets for that once in a life time yeti hunting trip, I have no made some serious leather corsets. The design hasn't be finalized yet but they will be for sale soon here www.msvontoon.co.uk . Anyhoo a little about myself. My name is Ronald and I am the designer of the leather madness you will find on our site. I only use traditional leather working tools which means my fingers and now as tough as the leather I use but I still cry like a baby when I nick my fingers which I do all too often. If you read this and would like me to consider some custom work then just get in touch through the website and I will see what I can do. All prices are kept as low as possible and items are made as promptly as possible. So drop me a line and see if I can help you.
At the moment I am working on leather and canvas shoulder holsters for carrying phones,money and whatever you can think of.

RS