Jazznow

I Like it very much, including the big backgrounded areas. The normal floral carving, which let's almost no room for background always looks so overloaded (Maybe i just don't have enough knowledge, that are just my thoughts) So in my view it's a wonderful piece. Greetings, Jazznow

Hi Ray, i allready heared some prejudices about english food, but if i have to eat leather conditioner when i visit Ludlow next summer, i have to think about it once more Seriously: Thank you, for your fast reply. I will give it a try, when i can get skidmores somewhere in germany (otherwise i will get some in summer, the leather is not able to run away anymore :D ) Greetings, Jonathan

Hi theres folks, i have the opportunity to get some home tanned sheep (exactly: German heath) skin, which is beautiful soft and thin, so i thought about use it for linings. But there is one problem: It stinks of sheep. It has that smell, that is only a little bit too much to be good. So how can i get rid of that smell? Using Conditioners? If yes, which one? Hope you can help me. GReetings and merry xmas Jazznow

there is a similar thing in germany, just called silver pen, i tried it and it works well. sadly i quickly found out that the featoue "eraseable" only is right if you dont try to erase it after some days. look at: http://www.lederhaus.de/lederwerkzeug/lochzange.php Greetings, Jazznow

camera cases you'll find in vol. 2 of Making Leather Cases by stohlman. Did't try them for myself until now. But it's on my to do list. Do you know it, when the ideas in youre heaad are in the rabbit mode, which means, they reproduce as fast as rabbits? :D Many Greetings from Germany, Jazznow

Hi there, i just found a book some days ago, which i considered to be interesting. It's a bit exoensive for me (i'm still a studen^^), so i didnt buy it. The books name is Simple Sandalmaking. I think it's written by Tim Skyrme. You can purchase it here: http://www.shoemakingbook.com/sandalmaking%20book.htm Many Greetings and good luck, Jazz P.S. tell us if you have any results

Hi my Girlfriend just bought an ipad and i want to make her a cover. Could you maybe make some more photos (off the back and off the inside)? It would help me a lot. Most interesting to me is, how you fix the ipad in the cover. Many Greetings, Jazznow

hi, i saw an card case on an garage sale some weeks ago. It was a little bit like a book cover, so the top the bottom and the left side were one piece of leather. the three other side were closed by a zipper that closed the case. Very simple but i liked the idea and you sounded like wanting something simple but beautiful Greetings Jazznow

Hi everybody, i just wanted to tell you, how happy i am. Here is, what happened this weekend: My grandma celebrated her 75's birthday and many people came together, that i usually never meet. One of this guy was a grand-nephew of my grandma. He still lives on the little island (Föhr in the german northern sea) where this part of the family originates in. He heared about my hobby and brought some tools he found in the cellar. They are from my grandgrandfather Knudt Kloburg, who was the shoemaker and doll repairer of the little island from about 1890 to 1960. I got two knifes and an awl, which even has an iron inlay with his initials. I already sharpened the blades and cutted into my finger (can't do any leatherwork for the next few day :D ) they work just as if they where new. The Guy who gave me the tools told me, that he has got the old Adler sewing machine, too. I can get it when i organize the shipping. Im so happy and if there is a heaven, where he can look down, i will make my grandgrandpa proud of me greetings, jazznow

Thank you for that hint. I did not know that Homepage before and will take a look. Maybe some other guys around have some useful ideas Greetings, Jazznow

Hello folks, I'm currently looking for a special kind of leatherworking-course and hope one of you is able to help me or knows somebody who does. I'm 25 know and doing leatherwork for 3 years. I learned everything I know by book, by the internet or by experimenting around. I think I am able to do the most common things with leather (sewing, carving, dyeing and so on), but I don't have an idea whether I'm doing all these things right. So I want to learn it in a course, a workshop or anything like this. Alas, in Germany it is not easy to find something like this. Let me tell you what I want: - It should be a long time course about 2-4 weeks. As I know the basics I'm looking for an opportunity to learn the tipps and tricks of the craft. This is why I think that 3-5-day-courses will not fit my needs. - I don't need to realize a specific project in that time and the tutor to look after me all the time. Instead of that, I would like to assist an experienced craftsman, who is doing his day-to-day business. I want to watch him, ask a lot of questions, maybe help him a little. When I do things by myself, I want him to take an occasional look to make sure I am doing everything right. - Another possibility would be a normal well-structured course about two or more weeks where I am together with other students and where we work on one big or some smaller projects and learn everything important. - Since I am from Germany, I would prefer a workshop in Europe (always wanted to visit UK or Ireland btw^^), but I would fly to the United States, too, if I think that it would be the right thing for me. I need a location which I can reach with public transports. - I think, I would need some cheap opportunity to sleep, like a motel, a little apartment or a single room I can rent. - I think, adequate payment is something to talk about in PNs... I know, that are some special interests I have, so I can only hope that someone is here at the forum, who says: hey, I always wanted someone I can order around, who gets me my coffee, who cleans the workshop, while I'm drinking my closing time beer I would take a course as a shoemaker, too. But I have no experience in that domain. Greetings, Jazznow

hi think they are great, too. And i want to point out, that i like the white of the skull. It does look very naturally (Just my oppinion). Greetings Jazznow

Hi Chris, thanks for your advice. I will see, if i can get some of the mentioned woods from a knife maker or so. These guys usually have some exotic woods for the handle. Greetings Jazznow

Hi there, im using simple cotton fabric, too. My Girlfriend gots some spare pieces from sewing. I used some regular leather contact cement for glueing. worked well for me Greetings Jazznow

Hi folks, First: Many thinks for that little How To. I made an edge burnisher myself yesterday, but am not really happy with the burnishing of the little wheel. The edge stays a little rough/raw. Maybe i used the wrong wood. I've got only beech at hand, so i used that. I then brushed some gum tragacant on the edge anad burnished it, first carefully and the experimented a little bit with pressure and speed of the dremel. The only result, that i would call burnished, was when i used much pressure and then it was something like burned. So maybe u have some hints, what i'm doing wrong. Greetings, Jazznow

wow thank you for your fast response. I like the How-To and will probably give it a try, when i have more leather. At the moment i'm running out of leather Thank you agian, you gave me some great inspiration. Greetings Jazznow

No Problem, everything will be ok, unless you would click "Yes" with youre belt buckle made of a mouse, when your wallet asks: "Do you really want to delete AllMyMoney.doc?"

could you maybe post a how to? I would like to know if you used any other reinforcement than the mentioned suede. How can i make the brim (hope this is the rigt word) curved that way? Greetings Jazznow

Thank you all. You helped me a lot. I Will give a try on the Balm and will also try the Aussie Wax. Another little question: When i use this acrylic finishes like resolene: Does it block out care products/maintenance products like shoepolish or leather fat? I would think so, because the surface seems to be sealed. Am i wrong? If not, how can i take care for my leather products? Greetings, Jazznow P.S. please excuse, if i use some wrong words. If you dont understand something i will try to explain better.

Hello Guys, I have a little question about finishing products. Until now, i always used Resolene or similar products after dyeing and/or antiquing my leather products. I always feared, that especially the Antiques coulded be harmed by water (rain) or rubbed off by frequent use. i dont know exactly what Resolene and Co consists of, but after the use the leather seems to feel more "plastic" (i think this describes it well). So maybe you know products, that protect as well from water and rubbing off but are more natural. I read some time ago, that Fiebings Leather Balm with atom wax can be used to finish leather products. Would it match my needs? I'm of course interested in any other products you may recommend. Many Greetings, Jazznow

Hiho friend of the celtic art I have a little hint for you. I am carving celtic knots too, and designed some of my knotworks with KnotsBag, a vector based Computer program. It has many many possibilities for desiging a lot of different Knots. So maybe u wanna take a look at http://hypatiasoft.pagesperso-orange.fr/ I just print them on normal paper and trave them directly to the leather, which needs a bit of practice, because the paper becomes wet and wavy (hope that is the right word). Greets Jazznow P.S. please be lenient toward me, my english is not so good

i like your bag very much. It'svery good and looks much better than my first bag. Could you describe, how exactly u applied the Fiebing Antique Paste? I always get grey streaks. Greetings Jazznow

so im looking for an alternative, that is not as expensive as neatoil, which is a little bit expensive here in Germany What do i have to take in account, when looking for a suitable oil? I found some leatheroil with beeswax for a good price, could that work? Greets Jazznow

would be interested in it, too

I am very interested, too. Maybe i could look up some books in our university liberary, where i am studying History, but can't promise, when i'll have time for that. Because of exams, it could last until april or so. I recommend looking for some paintings, architecture, book illustrations for inspiration, which would not be historically accurate but very inspiring. I love the Art of the Book of Kells, for exxample. Just google it. Realy beautiful and someone, who is more skilled than me, could maybe bring that beauty to leather. Many Greets, Jazznow