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Everything posted by cowgirlrae
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Thnak you all for the encouragement. I have a blog now to show case my portfolio. Check back often as I'll be posting lot's of projects. I completed another leather covered tele, my own personal guitar. Burgundy Rose. Check it out. http://glenmoultonleather.wordpress.com/
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Thankyou AndyH
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Thankyou Solofalcon. It was a fun project. I currently have a leather pickguard on my Tele but am almost finished my leather cover which has white roses on a burgandy background. Will post pictures of it when finished. Glen
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This is the latest project I undertook for a friend. https://www.facebook...=1&l=e7bbe1a16d
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Looking For An Old Tandy Pattern "western Classic Handbag"
cowgirlrae replied to Sonnie's topic in Old/Sold
I've been searching tandy site for an hour for these pattern down loads I knew it was there but darned if i could find the purse patterns., sheesh I had to come here to search for a chance to find it. Thanks for the archive. On an aside does anyone have the classic purse pattern ? Tandy Handbag pattern pac # 6453 I'm looking for the "tourist" -
Thankyou all for kind comments. The lacing took about 8 hours as far as I recall.
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DH= Dear Husband.... he made custom belts for many years, tooled, filigree and cut away backgrounds. Lots of lacing on those too. Thanks for the kind words
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My DH has started back into leathercraft, he just finished himself a guitar strap. Tooled with basket weave, lined with velvety soft lining leather, antiqued finish and laced on all edges with natural leather lace. He said it's the first thing he has done in about 25 years. I think its beautiful and he was glad for the practice and getting back in the groove. He makes nice things. I'm so proud of him.
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Hi all, My husband is working on a pair of chinks for himself. He is wondering on "best" ideas and options before he decides on a final design. His chinks will have 3 leg buckles (roller buckles already purchased). What is the favored way to attach the straps and buckles? He is planning on 3 conchos on a shield down the leg. Is it better to have the straps on the inside or the outside? Sewn, riveted or laced somehow? Any little tips would help him out. Pictures of the inside/attachments would be most appreciated. Thanks so much.... I hope he creates an account and displays what he is doing, he used to do LOTS of leather work and is just getting back into it. In the works, chinks, guitar strap, purse (for me!) and maybe spur leathers (for me!).... and more . I'm a lucky girl
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I can't imagine how a saddle and any measurements would translate into some sort of measurements to fit another creature. For example there are saddles for camels and saddles for horses, obviously a camel back is radically differnt than a horse. A camel can't be ridden bareback. There is also the consideration of the rider, a human needs a saddle to fit their seat and legs that is appropriate and proportionate to the way the saddle fits the animal. For a saddle to fit an animal it must have a tree (the interior wooden frame) that accommodates the unique anatomy and physical limits of the animal. Think a barrel shaped creature vs an A frame shape, a creature that walks on its hind legs like a T-Rex or a ostrich, gravity would be a serious factor. "Saddle" is a broad field, english saddle, western saddle, army saddle, side saddle, jockey saddle with many many subcategories for each kind, roping, cutting, racing, jumping, dressage. etc etc Ad infinitum. You may need to google some of those terms. Overall saddles conform to humans with a 14'' to 17" inch seat. Stirrup length corresponds to inseam. Hope that helps
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As a customer I appreciate a nice card, I believe in first impressions, if the card itself is the introduction then later they see the great product then the card was the intro to the goods, if the goods are lacking all the fancy cards are wasted. I produced 4H and commercial hogs, about 1/3 were show pigs to 4H and FFA kids they were all born in the late winter and I needed to market for them the season prior, in addition to the year before sales, shows and fairs I only had business cards and fliers showing the potential of the pigs to come, I can only sell pigs for the following season based on the clients perception that I had in the past produced quality pigs and the literature and business cards helped promote that expectation that the pigs to come were indeed as nice as had been produced in the past. I also ran a horse boarding and training barn, most folks first impression is only my word and the literature I give them, I made it as nice as I could. I found nice quality cards helpful to catch prospective clients, later as they saw the hogs and the facilities the quality cards were a reminder and well as an introduction to the type of product we offered. Besides in the scheme of things the total expense of cards was minimal compared to other forms of promotion. I did on occasion have card made up the same as the best cards using cheaper paper and flat ink for mass distribution, but they still were much nicer than home made and NEVER those perforated DIY types on the home printer. I have been reading this fellows articles, while he is focused on the horse industry the principles can easily be applied to any business. Many inexpensive and common things can be done to boost exposure. Convert Prospects Into Clients The Profitable Horseman JMO
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Dyeing A Saddle
cowgirlrae replied to gentlemanfarmer's topic in Saddle Identification, Restoration & Repair
I have ridden English saddles lots, usually the cheaper leather rubbs off and gets lighter. I have had good luck with dark brown paste wax like for shoes, kiwi is one brand, rub it in good with a tooth brush and let it sit a little while, then rub out and buff. The problem with dye is that the previous oils and waxes on the leather will not allow it to evenly penetrate leaving it splotchy. there is probably no harm in trying a diluted dye like with alcohol, providing it is alcohol based to start with, then waxing and conditioning the entire saddle. Its not going to hurt the leather, and may camoflauge the faded areas to make the whole thing look fresher. I wouldnt try black unless you were willing to live with the likelihood of it always looking like a brown saddle someone tried to dye black. Not pretty. Lower end english saddles are notorious for thick, stiff and poorly finished leather making it hard to maintain and keep looking nice. Quality english saddle leather is beautiful, supple and soft, it only improves with soaping, conditioning and waxing. I had a Stubben high end saddle I bought it used and 15 years later sold it for more than I paid for it, the leather was fantastic, broke in and had a life and comfort to it that you couldnt believe. -
I appreciate that explanantion, for several years I worked in a tack and saddle western store, we sold TexTan, Circle Y Crates, we sold the high mid and bottom end including some synthetics, and a few production saddles from a local saddle maker. I learned how to do basic repair and lots about the saddle industry. Daily, folks would come in and scoff at the 'factory' saddles and be wanting a 'hand made' saddle, we then explained that every saddle was 'hand made' even in a factory they are hand made, even nylon and plastic saddles are hand made.... there is no machine that makes a saddle. A little education was frequently necessary. Quite frankly I would have bought (and have ) the high end circle Y and Textan long before I would have even considered the "hand made" rigs made by the local guy. His workmanship and hardware simply were not as good, and having something fully tooled and nicely finished was out of the question. He was no more than a parts hanger. But we sold a bunch of the local guys saddles too because he made people believe that because he cut and hung the parts they were "better" handmade you know, crafted and custom....... not churned out of a factory..... bah Thank you for saying it well
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Picasa by google is free, download for the picture editor lives on your computer no need to upload to edit, has a watermark feature, just point and click. One option Unfortunately a crop an easily eliminate a edge or side watermark and across the image sort of defeats the purpose of nice images of ones work. I think diligent pursuing and addressing thieves is the best course, I think a clean and beautiful set of images is worth the smaller risk of someone abusing that, Its too bad it happens.
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WTM L & H I have dealt with L&H they make our freeze irons they can craft anything
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Vintage Pack Saddle Back Enginneered In Pic + 12
cowgirlrae replied to DEADEYE's topic in Saddle Construction
Before you strip off the green paint it may be worthwhile to so some research. Its possible this is old forest service and the paint would have been original to the manufacture, removing the paint would destroy any historical value. I have seen old forest service mule sawbucks and they were green. Just an idea -
It would be helpful to put a link or access to the dvd and patterns you mentioned, I wasn't able to locate it. Thanks
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He might be a saddle maker But"I'll bet you $50 he dosent make THOSE saddles. Ebay is full of stuff like that, No twist on the stirrup leathers, the rigging is wrong..... the leather is stiff. I'd be very careful. Did you email him and ask if he makes them or does he buy and resell them?
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Sorry I can't help there, perhaps there is a fabric and craft store, maybe ask them about alternatives?, maybe a yarn and wool shop or club would have dye options?, maybe you can pool with someone and share the dye? most all the dye solution will be wasted after one project, with plenty for many other garments and projects. Maybe you can dye everything you own???? Do you have access to craigslist in the UK?, maybe worthy of a crafters wanted post. Maybe you can buy a matching shirt at the thrift store and have a new brown outfit? You can try the dye powder, for your project it should work as well, may be cheaper. I'd be willing to go ahead with the powder for a project like yours. Just make sure it us strong enough.
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I used to dye show chaps all the time, I often bought excellent and very expensive custom chaps that were no longer fashionable color wise or stained and sold for a huge discount, I washed and dyed them and resold them for a good profit. Liquid rit dye is the dye I used, sometimes I dyed to the same color family, pink to burgundy, or sky blue to navy, and sometimes just went black. For black I used 2 bottles and the amount of water for one bottle, place article in a large tub of luke warm water, I never used the washer method, but agitated them in a large tub, or plastic trashcan, something that holds 20 gallons or so, and a paddle from a fence slat. Drying is important and don't rush it, using the dryer on cold tumble is helpful to keep them soft too, sometimes I used the fabric softener, sometimes I didnt and sometimes it didnt seem to make a difference , it can be variable. I'm sure you will be satisfied, part of the secret is to make sure they are fully rinsed and any exces dye is removed. Worse case will be dye rubbing onto your skin. DYE will stain.... I only state the obvious because my girlfriend absentmindedly pulled out a pair of chaps from dying with her hands, she thought she could immediately rinse her hands off and would be OK..... well, the following weekend 4 days later she had lovely blue hands...... read more here, dye chaps 1 dye chaps 2,
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very beautiful, I had a question, in this design conchos are not part of the design of the tooling. I know they are 'functional' as it were. (I see lots of taps around her and most are downright utilitarian. ) with a screw or conchos to hold the taps in place on the stirrup. In keeping with the style does it matter if the leather is carved around the conchos incorporating them into the design or, like you did, just having the conchos as their own adornment on top of the carved leather. How do you decide which way to do?
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Can you guess the age?
cowgirlrae replied to Curbstrap2's topic in Saddle Identification, Restoration & Repair
aluminum alloy dees are after the 50's, stainless steel laced rope edge would be after the mid 70's. no buckstitching, I would say after the 70's. The general style is late 70's thru 80's. The fact the dees are aluminum alloy would lead me to lean toward the 70's, I would think a later saddler would use stainless. Although he may have used old stock. Is the lacing stainless or sterling? Thats the deductions of my theory, based on the picture.