ClayB

That looks really cool, both the knife, and the sheath!!!

Recycled or not, that's beautiful Peter!

I'm not sure. From reading this part "Complete entry section (below) with your full contact information and submit to Leather Wranglers with your carving." I assume you can mail the entry. I'm going to make sure Paul knows about this topic and hope he will answer any questions.

Josh, In my case, participation is pretty much none. That's the down side to being part of a far away guild. The Columbine guild gets together every month for a meeting, does some craft shows, teaches kids, just had a Christmas party etc. and I miss it all. Kathy (Yaklady) puts out a monthly newsletter. I was hoping to get to attend at least one of thier monthly meetings this year and maybe do a demo on something, but it just didn't work out. Basically, if you become a member like I am, you just pay your dues for the priveledge of being able to enter the IFLOG show. On Leatherworker's main page, there is a link to a page that will show you most of the IFLOG member guilds and most of them have either a website or an email to get in touch with someone. Here's a link to the page

Paul Zalesak at Leather Wranglers is sponsoring a contest! I posted the details to the calendar here on Leatherworker, but am posting it here too to give it more exposure. Click here to find out more.

I'm with Roo! That would be an awesome present to find under the tree. Everything about that looks great.

Josh, I have mailed entries to the last several shows. Like Randy mentioned, you need to watch the deadline dates, it's usually a week or two before the shows. It can get pretty expensive to mail things depending on what service you use. A couple years ago, I took some pictures to the UPS store figuring they could pack them up and mail them for me. Since it was considered art work, they packed them in a box, wrapped that box in bubble wrap, then put them in another box. They were pretty worried about them getting wrecked, or that the jar of pickles grandma was mailing to someone might break and leak on my package. By the time they were done packing, it was an oversize package and with insurance ended up costing $80 to mail, each way!! The next time I mailed something, I just packed it myself and mailed it through the post office. When the package got there, they called and said 3 of the corners of the picture frame had been chipped off. That time I had taken a chance and not put insurance on the package. When they mailed it back, they re-packed it in a different box, but it still looked like it had been dropped in the street and run over. There was a big hole in one side of the box. There aren't any local guilds around here either. I am a member of Columbine Leather Guild in Colorado. It's about 600 miles away. I know other people close to here that are members of Lonestar. I think most of the guilds would be happy to sign you up and they don't cost much for dues. The last few years there has been another show in the spring that basically follows IFOLG rules, but you dont have to be a member of a guild to enter. I am not sure if there is a show coming up this spring. Anybody know??

This sounds really interesting. I hope somebody can find a picture to show. I'd really like to see it done.

I dont have anything from Allan or Bert in my collection. Here I thought Bert and I were buddies but he sends you three pieces of his work, and me, I get......... nothing. I'm jelous!! But on an up note, I did recently add a holster from Tina and a stripped horse from Yaklady to my collection

Hidecrafter used to carry them in their pro line for around $10 to $15. I'm not sure if they still list them but you can check out thier online catalog.

And to confuse things even more, there are also chisels made to punch diamond shaped slits just for hand sewing.

I really like the design shown in the first picture. It's clean and simple and fun. You're off to a great start! Welcome to Leatherworker.

I think you're doing a great job too. I really like the floral pattern with the swivel knife accents. Keep going like you are and your seat is going to turn out really nice.

Most of Stohlman's figure carving books show how to carve clouds. When he carved them, he didn't cut the lines. They were just beveled with figure carving matters. Closer, bigger clouds matted more heavily (deeper), farther away clouds matted lighter. Attached are a couple pictures of some clouds I tried to carve several years ago. I wasn't real impressed at how they turned out, but they might give you a general idea.

Pushing 90 sounds pretty good to me. It's up 2 degrees now to -24F. Earlier they said the windchill was -54. I got to go out and shovel a snow bank right away this morning so the kids could get out of the yard and drive to school. I was pretty impressed when all the vehicles started, but when Jake tried to back up, his brakes were froze up tight. Yesterday when I tried to start the tractor, it went RrrRrRr click, click, click........... Guess I'll have to get those new batteries for it today. Snow's really pretty..... on a postcard!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone is staying warm.

Hi Bonnie, I think you did a nice job on the plane. For some reason I thought all you did was fix zippers and such I wanna see more of your carving!

Hey Caroline, I hope you have a really great birthday with lots of presents and cake and good friends!!!! We should have a party. Can all 3851 of us show up at your house? I'd probably want to stay a few months cuz I bet it's a little warmer there than it is here. (-25F right now, wind chill -54)

Not sure leather has stretch in a certain direction like fabric does, but there are parts of a hide that will stretch more than others. The top of the back and the rear of a hide will be the firmest, strongest leather. The neck and the belly will have more stretch. If you are cutting something like a strap, you want to cut it lengthwise from front to back (or back to front). If you cut it from top to bottom, one end will be firm, the other stretchy.

Crystal, When you showed me the pattern you were planning on using to cover this flask and I thought, "good luck lady!". It didn't look like anything I'd want to tackle, but you really did a great job on it!!!! The color really works too. From now on, I will have no doubt about your ability to carve any patten you pick (as long as it doesn't have hair on it, but we're gonna have to work on that too) Can't wait to see what you come up with for your next project.

Hey Tom, Happy birthday from me too!!!!!!

That's just so fun Tina! I never know what to expect when you post pictures of what you have been up to, but always know it's gonna be great. This is no exception.

When I have used glass to do this, it's the broken edge of a piece of glass. The sharp part from the broken edge is what scrapes the leather and evens up the edges.

Reminds me of "the swamp thing" or "the creature from the black lagoon". They might have been the same thing. Is that all one piece of leather Caroline? Another really cool mask!