ClayB

Hi Pat, Verlane always gave Cliff Ketchum credit for being her mentor. She mentioned him a lot in her conversations. It's too bad you never got the chance to meet her. I bet you'd have had some great conversations. If you have some pictures of your father's work, I hope you'll consider posting them in the leather history section, along with any stories you'd care to share. I'm sure there are a lot of us that would love to hear more about him.

This must be something like the cobbler's kids not getting new shoes. I was cleaning junk off the computer desk this morning and saw a juice packet under some papers. I was going to throw it away when I realized it's a bunch of juice packets sewn together. What the heck? When I turned it over, it hold my daughters check book! Guess she did ask for a check book cover a while ago. Another thing to add to my list.

Maybe your mailman happened to be watching that day you disposed of the first Yak and he's just a little nervous about delivering your mail! He probably has to wait until he knows you are gone and wont be back anytime soon.

With your old leather, I'd suggest just trying to tool it and see if it works. If it's dried out, it might be hard to cut, or not take impressions well. If you bend it and it cracks, it's probably not going to be good for much. There are some leathers that will get harder to work with each time they are wet and let dry. Some leather doesn't seem to be affected by this as much. Once I wet my leather, I try to keep it damp and not let it dry out. If I cant finish working on it when I start, I will put it in a plastic bag until I have a chance to work on it again. If it's going to be some time before I can get back at it, I'll put the bag with the leather in it in the refrigerator. I have had some leather in the refrigerator for a couple weeks or longer and it hasn't seemed to hurt it.

Since the original attachments to this posts were lost in the crash, and didn't come back when the post was restored, I'm re-posting them here. You've not been forgotten Verlane! patterndrawing_ClayB_Verlane.pdf patterndrawing_ClayB_Verlane.pdf

If I remember right, WC from Standing Bears Trading Post has a really neat tattoo of one of his leather carvings on his arm. Wayne, you here? Can you show a pic??

The Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal is just the latest name. It started out as The Leather Craftsman in 1956. Then changed to The Craftsman in 1962. In 1972 the name changed to Make It with Leather. In 1985 they went back to The Leather Craftsman. I am not sure when they changed to the Leather Crafters Journal, somewehere around 1991 and then after a few years they went to Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal as it is now. The magazine has gone through several owners and a couple of bankruptcies in it's long history.

I sent you a PM with copies of my filled out grant application. I hope it gives you some idea of what to do. The guy that runs the program here in ND is very helpful. He had me email him my answers to all the questions and then pointed out any areas that needed clarification or more detail. That way everything was done right before the panel saw my application. I have heard that it isn't quite as good of an experience in other states. I wonder if the low population here in ND makes for less competition for these grants. If there is anything I can do to help anyone that wants to participate in one of these programs, let me know and I'll sure help if I can. It's a great program if you can get accepted.

Hi Tina, I'm impressed (again). That purse is definately going to attract some attention. I sure like it when you are busy cuz it's always fun to see what's going on in your head.

Last week was kind of like Christmas all over again here in ND. I got a very large package in the mail one day and the return address said "Billy 2-Shews c/o Wade and Johanna Schroer". Now I'm not very easily excitable, but I was pretty excited seeing this. Inside the box was a beautiful leather horse portrait done by Billy!! This is the first piece of Billy's work I have ever seen up close, and it is sure fun to study it. This piece is going to find a very special place on one of my walls. Thanks so much Billy for thinking of me!! And thanks Johanna for your part in this. A thank you doesn't seem like nearly enough for a gift like this, but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Clay B

Kinda funny the timing on this topic. I got a package in the mail last week from Clay Miller and in it were 3 tools he had made out of an antler. One is an embosser with a groove in the side for burnishing edges. The other two are bone folders. I got a chance to try them out for a few minutes yesterday and they work great! I dont think it'd be a good idea to steal a piece off your buddy's deer mount on the wall though.

It's seems like it's been awhile since you have posted pictures Gesa. I really like your carving too.

If that really works (liquid latex removes spirit dye) somebody could make a pile of money re-labeling it and selling it for that purpose. I've never found anything that would do that before so I'm going to have to get some of that and try it out.

Thanks Kani and ATX. Johanne, as soon as I here anything about the next Dimensions in Leather, I'll be sure to make an announcement, and add it to the calendar. I am pretty sure there is supposed to be one this year, maybe in July? You could send an email to Cheryl McIntyre. She is usually the one that heads up the conference so I am sure she could let you know more details. Sorry, I wont be at this one, but I sure hope to make one sometime in the future.