montanadreams

I just purchased the Razor Tip, and am looking forward to working on some projects. I've practiced on some scrap leather, achieved a good burn, but then decided to dye over the design with a light tan Angelus Dye. The dye removed much of the shading/blackened areas that had been burned into the leather - losing definition and contrast. I have thought about dying the leather first, then burning, however I'm concerned about organic vapors. I bought a half face organic respirator with dual cartridges today that is rated for oil-free organic vapors, and for use with paints, lacquers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. Before go the toxic route, is there any way to dye a large piece of leather that has been burned with pyrography without losing some of the detail to the dye? Thank you. Olive

Hello Dwight, That is a great idea, and I don't know someone who can make that for me. Is that something you could possibly do and give me a quote on it? I can mail you a few barrette clips so you see exactly how it would have to fit. thank you, Olive

Dwight, the other side of the barrette looks like the photo when you click on the link in my first post. It shows you the underside of the barrette clip. The finished barrette in the picture above would not show you anything more, as I had to glue it to the clip.

It is because there are vertical supports to the clip very close to the hole. I can get a rivet in there, but I can't hold the rivet setter straight to get an even hit. Also, can't fit the anvil on the clip side, so I have to place the anvil on the top side.

Hi Kevin, Here is a image of the basic clips: https://www.etsy.com...t=barrette clip And my photo of how I want it to look when done. However in this photo, only the snaffle bit was riveted to my english bridle strip first, then I used E-6000 to glue to the barrette clip, which doesn't hold, because the rivet caps underneath interfere with the adhesion.

Has anyone ever found or used a riveting plier instead of a drive rivet set? I am trying to rivet leather to hair barrette clips, and don't have a direct line of drive because of the shape of the clip. Are there pliers out there with narrow jaws that will set double cap or even splash rivets? Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who has posted a reply.

Thank you for the replies. I have experimented in the past with zinc plates that were etched in acid, and also with carving linoleum blocks and running them through a roller press like you would use for embossing paper. Not a very crisp result, but it kind of worked. I know Jeff Mosby makes really great makers stamps, I'm looking for a bigger impression like the one I see posted by Embossing Die Company. Is this die of the deer stamped by use of a clicker or a press? Is there a way to make it more 3-D rather than 2D? Nice job by the way, I like the design.

Has anyone had a custom 3-D stamp or die made? I'm not looking for silhouettes, but a raised design of my own artwork. Who makes those? This stamp or die would probably work best with a press or clicker I think. Thanks, Olive

I was asked by Bill's son Don Gardner to pass along this obituary for anyone who knew his dad. Bill Gardner was one of the legendary saddlemakers in Sheridan, Wyoming. He co-authored the book on Sheridan Style carving along with Clinton Fay. Here is the announcement: William R. (Bill,Billy) Gardner, June 1, 1929 - July 15, 2011 died at Sheridan Manor with his wife and children present. Bill was born in Spokane, WA and spent his very early childhood living at the M&M ranch in Buffalo, WY. He grew up living at the Neponset Stud Farm west of Sheridan. He attended Beckton School and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1947. Bill spent a lot of his youth riding young polo pony prospects at the Neponset. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and was stationed at Laredo, TX and an Air Force refueling station in Greenland during the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1953. Bill married Jane A. Franklin on April 19, 1954 and he and Jane raised 5 children in Sheridan. At a young age, Bill learned leathercraft from Don King and working leather became his lifelong profession. Bill worked at a number of saddle shops including Porter's in Phoenix, AZ and in Sheridan at Rudy Mudra's, Ernst's and King's Saddlery and he later was self-employed. Bill was widely recognized as a master leather carver and saddle maker. During his career he made many saddles, countless belts, western tack and a variety of finely tooled leather items for people in the Sheridan area and beyond and many rodeo trophy saddles including several saddles for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Notably, he is the 2011 recipient of the Don King Award presented by the Academy of Western Artist for lifetime achievement in saddle making. He was member of the Kalif Shrine, the American Legion and the Elks. He was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Jewel Garder and by infant son, John Michael. He is survived by his wife Jane of Sheridan, daughter Catherine Beels (Paul) of Buffalo, WY, son Don (Deborah) of Corvallis, MT, daughter Peggy King (Dan) of College Station, TX, daughter Julie Gardner of Sheridan, son Ted of Gillette, sisters Nancy Miles of Parkman, WY and Linda Johnson of Casper and by 9 grandchildren (John, Christine and Grace King of College Station, Amelia and Nathan Gardner of Corvallis, MT, Will and Thomas Saffel of Sheridan and Taylor and Brynne Gardner of Sheridan). Jane will be forever grateful for the wonderful care provided to Bill and to Jane by the staffs at Westview and Sheridan Manor nursing homes. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be donated to the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library, Shriner's Children's Hospitals and Holy Name School.

Drive carefully Johanna, and enjoy the views that just keep getting bigger west of the Mississippi!

Hi Everyone, I have been busy in my shop getting ready to go to the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show in Sheridan this Thursday. I am looking forward to meeting new friends and learning about new tools and techniques. I will be teaching a class on making leather earrings on Saturday and Sunday. My website is Montana Leather Designs . Hope to see you there! Olive

Hey Clay, I visited your website and am very impressed with your work. Beautiful! Olive

Hi Clay, I have some old photographs of one of Kat's pieces titled Spring in the Beartooths - a fantastic picture of a dead grizzley and mountain man with a little snow partly covering them. I'd have to hunt for it and see if I could scan it. Thank you for your comments, I still have a long ways to go to be near as good as Kat was. Olive [Hi Kaci, No I'm in the Montana tropic zone. It is plus 5 degrees right now. Please bundle up. Olive

Hi Kimber, The bags look great! Nice job on the fairies. Are they tooled? If so, what product did you use to dye/ color the background of the bags - the pink color? thanks, Olive

Hi Tracy, I've lived in Nebraska too, and I do prefer western Montana. The climate is milder and the scenery is spectacular. I live south of Stevensville. How did you end up in Nebraska? I still like parts of Nebraska, I lived in the NE corner of the state, and that is where I learned to carve leather. Olive

Hello Gary, Your bracelets are really cool too. I hope to make a few more soon, and wish I knew how to do the silverwork. Is there a stiffener inside your cuff, stitched bracelets besides a filler piece? I'd like to make some tooled bracelets that have a metal core that could be formed into the wrist shape after tooling. Have you done that? What type of metal core do you think would work best? Thank you for your comments. Olive

Thank you for the ideas. That is what I had in mind too Hilly, just haven't attempted it before. thank you Jazz too.

Thank you for the warm welcome folks! I'm glad to have found the site. Harvey, you are right... I was getting tired of the "other" site and feel the level of work on here is much improved and will inspire me more! Hope to see you in Sheridan! Olive

My name is Olive. I have been tooling leather for quite some time, but am not an expert by any means. I was fortunate to have lived near an active guild - Prairie States Leather Guild in Illinois for many years. During that time I learned a lot about leatherwork, and was able to take classes from, or seek advice from some great leather carvers, namely Bob Beard, Paul Burnett, Robb Barr, Kat Kuszak, and others. Some are since deceased, but I am still impressed by their artistic ability. I hope to continue improving my work, and am looking forward to hearing from you if you have suggestions or ideas for me. I will attach a photo of an unfinished bracelet. A silversmith is making a solid sterling cuff that this piece will be inlaid into. The image of the bear, wolf and turtle represent the three clans of the Oneida Nation in upstate NY. Thanks for listening.

You could try patterns made for fabric and make adjustments for sewing the style of seam you will use, or you could have a professional pattern maker design something original for your new line. Alternatively, you could experiment with your own paper patterns, and make a sample using inexpensive fabric like muslin or denim to see how the piece fits and drapes. Good luck, Olive

I'm looking for suggestions on making a presentation portfolio that holds 9 X 12 " photos of my work. This is larger than a standard 3 ring binder. I would prefer a slim style of portfolio. Any ideas?