Admin

Dave, c'mon...please...post some more pictures... You are teasing us! Dave is an expert braider, stitcher, maker etc. and I'm really glad he's here. I would love to sit at his elbow and learn to do some of the things he does! He's rather modest, but I'd try to coax him into showing off somehow. AT- good to see you, too! If anyone is in the market for a quality knife, check with AT first. It's your own fault if your knife is ugly. (I'm still carrying my Billy Downs oosik knife.) I have no idea how the other mothers get by without a decent pocket knife, or why I am the only mom who carries one? Jay, I hope you saw the addition to the board I made at your suggestion. I'm looking forward to your post there! I am tickled to see you guys here. C'mon, Dave, show us more... Johanna

International Federation of Leather Guilds Umbrella Organization for worldwide Leather Guilds Smoke & Fire has info for LARP, Pow Wows, Civil War, Buckskinning, reenactors and history buffs Shop Talk! A "must read" for any leatherworker in business LeatherCrafters & Saddlers Journal Bill & Dot Reis publish a bi monthly subscription only magazine. Full of how-tos and ads, also Leather Guild info Society for Creative Anachronism You folks know who you are! PSLAC puget sound leather artists co op Their newsletter, published by Bob Stelmack, is an informative delightful read. One of the most comprehensive sources of information is found on the IILG site, the LKB, or Leather Knowledge base. LKB To do a specific search click "Search" at the bottom of the page. Pour a cup of coffee and get settled before venturing into this database, leatherworkers have been known to lose track of time. The search makes a quick answer to a question when you are in a hurry, too. Kudos to the IILG for maintaining such a wealth of information online! EDIT MAY 2007 The LKB is no longer available to the public. Thumbs down to the IILG for hiding what was once freely shared! Anyone interested in old topics please email admin@leatherworker.net for more information. Johanna

The International Federation of Leather Guilds (IFoLG) is an organization of member leather guilds from around the world. This year the show is being co-hosted by the Pitt Pounders and the International Internet Leathercrafters' Guild (IILG) and you can find more information and download show packets on both websites. If you have never been to an IFoLG show before, here's what to expect: Each guild sets up a display table of fabulous leatherwork, and there are tables and tables of work that has been entered in the competitions. There are leather & tool vendors with areas to demonstrate and sell. During the whole show workshops are scheduled, and there is usually a swap event after the awards Saturday night. There are a group who, ahem, always seem to stay up all night talking and carving and goofing off not that I've ever been one of them! The show is about seeing new and old friends, the love of leathercraft and sparking your creativity back to life when you see all the things other people thought to do since last year. You will meet people in jeans and people in suits, but they all have common interests, and will talk and laugh with each other as soon as they read each other's nametags. It's an opportunity to put faces to the names we read about. At my very first IFoLG show a man pulled in with a van full of stuff and said "Is this where the leather show is?" and we nodded, making introductions. He was Joe Barth, an upholsterer from New England. Once, at an award dinner, I sat next to Robb Barr, and I will always remember him as a charming gentleman. I met Billy 2 shews at the only show he ever went to. He got most of the awards, and on a side trip to Hobby Lobby, found the tshirt transfer medium that gave birth to his color transfer technique. I always look for The Dragon Lady's work (Roz Short Kaohn) because you have to see it to believe it. Those of you who have seen her creations know exactly what I mean. She is a real person, with an infectious laugh and an easy smile. At the IFoLG show you get to see awesome leatherwork, and meet the artists who create it, and set the bar for the rest of us. Pittsburgh is within 600 miles of most of the population of the east coast, and if you get a chance to go to the show, don't miss it. See your friends and make new ones. That's what it's all about. Johanna

C.S. Osborne & Co. Fiebing Company, Inc. HideCrafter Leathercraft The Leather Factory Leather, Suede, Skins, Inc. Ohio Travel Bag Siegel of California Smith & Co. Tandy Leather Company Direct Texas Wholesale Leather, Inc. Springfield Leather Kevin can find anything, full line of leather and supplies Crazy Crow beads and regalia supplies, lots of hard to find items, and novelties Brettuns Village Leather sign up for the newsletter, even if you never buy a thing here.

I'm with Jim- the nose makes the bear look real. Clay, you have a marvelous talent. Will you please post some of your saddle pics in the saddle section to kick things off? I'm trying to get Verlane in here, but AOL and her Mac are not cooperating, yet. Cowcutter is helping her. Johanna

Welcome to Leatherworker.net! I hope you folks drive this board hard...I need to see what works and what doesn't. Please post, add attachments and let me know if the email notifications are configured correctly. Thank you! Admin Leatherworker.net