joet

I have decided to get off my backside and get busy doing leather. I found a picture I'm going to do, it was on the floor in a stack of other things. This will be my first major project in a while, and I think it will be interesting. It's a still life with pumpkins, apples, and other fruit, all sitting on a rustic table. I don't think I'm going to hurry on this one and if it turns out nice, I might dye it.While I was in the mood to do leather work I hunted around for some scrap leather and found a fairly large piece that did the trick. I then measured out a half back pattern and cut a stencil out of some cardboard. Using this I cut several pieces, enough for my 4Her's first three projects and set this off to one side. There is still enough of the scrap leather to use for practice pieces for the kids to try out their new tools, especially the swivel knife. These I'll take with me to my next meeting near the end of the month. I need to go to the next general meeting to find out if the project books have come in yet, so I can get these to the kids. This will be next week.Something the "Yak Lady" did has sparked my interest. She posted in the forum a practice piece that she was working on, that was the heads of two fighting horses. After thinking about it, I think this would be a great project to do, if nothing more than to hone my skills; and boy do they need some work.While I was taking my afternoon rest, I was thinking about other projects I can work on and realized that I promised a museum some leather items that they can sell in their gift shop. They don't need it until May, but I still need to do some nice small items as time will get by me before I know it.Where I am located at, we are not being affected by the storm that is hitting the East Coast, but we are expected to get something over the weekend. So, I did my good turn and filled the bird feeder in the backyard. I know that's not leather releated, but it is something that I do and that's to help feed our feathered friends. Maybe some day I'll do up a small picture of some of the birds that feed there. We get mostly finches and sparrows, but once in awhile we get a blue jay.I'm glad to see that the blog section of Leatherworker.net is slowly becoming active. I just wish that some of the people who started something will continue posting. I do remember it took some time for LW to get popular and I think this blog section will be the same way. Until I can come up with better titles to my blog, later............

Sitting at my computer reading postings in Face Book and Leatherworker.net, I thought back on all the leather projects I didn't do in January. I had great plans for whipping out several pictures, maybe a business card case or two and even clean my work bench. So much for all of my plans. Since the beginning of December when I finished the last of a series of coasters, and taught a class to my local 4H, I haven't done a thing. With February coming up tomorrow I think I'll get my pounding stone out and onto the kitchen counter and see about working on something. Even if it's a practice piece that gets me to using my new swivel knife I bought from Leather Wranglers back in September of last year. My son and I were discussing things for me to do and he recommend that I post some of my plans here in the blog. It's been a few days since I lasted posted, so I thought that that might be something to at least write about. I have, sitting either on the floor in a pile of stuff, or on my easy chair, in a pile of stuff, a drawing that I felt would look nice in leather. I think it's on the floor. Anyway, it is a still life picture of a couple of pumpkins sitting on a table along with some other fruit. It's not a busy piece of work, so it shouldn't be all that hard to do, but I've seen a few pumpkins that Peter Main did, and I wonder if I can do just as good a job on my pumpkin as he did on his. At least it's a start and it'll be something to take to my next 4H class and show off so the kids can see that there is more to leather craft besides billfolds.Another little project I want to do is a picture from a book by Jill Irish on Fairies. I need to practice doing faces and this would be one way to do it. There won't be much detail in the face, as they will be quite small, but I think I can add a little more detail to the nose and eyes than what is shown in the picture. There is another book I got for Christmas a couple of years ago that have drawings of deer and elk. The last time I did a deer it turned out to look more like a dog than a deer, so maybe by using these books I can at least show more structure in the face than other books I have. My local (40 miles away) leather guild wants to start making some items to be sold at a flea market. So that will be something else I can get involved with and make a small phone case or something. We plan on just making a bunch of little things and sell them. One of the other members has been going there for several weeks now and though he never sells everything he makes, he is doing quite well at it. It'll be at least something to do and keep me out of trouble. Now I just hope my back pain stays low key so I can at least do some of these things.Then there is IFoLG and the making of something for competition at the next show. On top of that there will be the Colorado State Fair that I'll be making another picture and wallet to be judged. So far there has been little competition as the fair is not that active as far as leathercrafting is concerned. I think there are a total of six or seven items turned in every year by local artists and the only one who has beaten me is a shoe maker. It's been awhile since I've gotten Best of Show at the fair. Lots of blue ribbons, but no B.o.S for a couple of years. Looks like I'll have to make a purse or something for this years show.As you can see, I have lots of plans for this year. Now I just have to get it all done and if I do, I'll be one happy person.

Today is the first day that I've felt good in two weeks. I blame part of that on the weather as we've had high winds most of that time; but I can't blame all of it there. Some of the blame goes to a back back problem that has bothered me for over 20 years. I have my good days, and I have my bad and when I have my good days I get a lot of leather worked on. So what am I doing? I'm sitting in my cluttered office typing remarks into my blog. Later, when my wife gets home from work I'll get her to carry my block of granite into the kitchen and put it on the counter so I can at least get something started today. I have several projects in mind to do, and in a bit I'll start looking through the many piles of junk and papers that are on the floor to the office and find my next design to draw up. I'd work in my workshop in the basement, but the table is in worse shape than the floor to the office, what with piles of stuff on it. I keep telling myself that I need to clear off the work bench so I can work, but so far I haven't gotten it done.While I am on my blog I would like to thank the "Yak Lady" with the many ideas that I can use for working with the 4H club in my area. She is just full of ideas and has one heck of a lot more experience than I do. She is also someone with whom I can call a friend and has helped my local guild out with classes, and when we are at the fair giving demo's, she is there, when she can make it, to help out. One of these days I hope to try one of her world famous yak burgers.I just received some bad news. Another weather frontal system is expected to hit my area in a couple of days, so I better get my leather pounding done while I can enjoy it. Living along the Front Range of the Rockies has it's bad points. I just wish that we could get some moisture along with the storms so we'll have some green grass for next summer, but all we get here is the wind.

I survived my first meeting last night teaching a small group of kids the art of leather crafting. Four had signed on, but only three showed up, the fourth one being the star player on her team that played last night. Two of the kids have high hopes of learning all they can about leather and last night was their introduction into the leather world. One boy wants to eventually make a gun case for his father and the other boy wants to learn everything so he can make a fur coat out of fox skin. It's sure surprising what high hopes these kids have, I just hope I can keep up with them. Last nights session was learning the history of leather crafting and where leather comes from. Next session we get down and dirty with the pounding and learning what the tools do. Hope this blog entry doesn't bore everyone, but, oh well.

I should check my calendar more often, because I found out that the appointment for next weekend to sell some items on consignment is today. I quickly gathered up a few small things that I had laying around the house and got ready to go down to my local Heritage Center to meet with the director. Turns out that I had to wait for about 20 minutes due to a board meeting that everyone was involved in. The director finally met me and she already knew about my work ahead of time. We talked for a bit, she told me what they were interested in having for their gift shop and I think I can handle that without any trouble. They don't want anything until about May, when the tourist season starts around here, so I'll have time to make up items. I showed them some coin purses I had made, but what they were really interested in was my business card case. It looks like I'll make up a few of them with different logo's on them for the railroad and some Southwest designs and see what sells. I am usually not inclined to sell things on consignment due to some problems in the past, but I think I'll do this for a bit and see how things work out.

Last night I survived another general meeting of my local 4H group. Next week I will start my first class teaching leather crafting to them and if it works out, I'll continue with it. It should be a lot of fun, but right now we are having trouble getting books for them, but I'll use an older version as a guide and will start them off with a boring session of what they need to do and a little of the history of leather.I have four kids signed up, ranging in age from 10 to 16. From what I understand there hasn't been a leather crafting instructor for many years and the kids and parents are excited that I volunteered to do this. I was talking with some of the parents last night and they were able to purchase tools from Tandy at a discount, as the store was having a sale when they called and they got some really good deals. I just hope that I can keep the butterflies in my stomach under control to get me through this first session.Next week will be a busy time for me as far as leather working is concerned. Wednesday I will teach how to carve a leaf to my local leather guild - should be easy enough. Thursday is the 4H class and then on Saturday I have an appointment to meet with the supervisor of a historical group, to see about putting some of my leather things on sale in thier giftshop on consignment. This last thing was sort of pushed onto me by someone who really likes my work and thought that she would help me out by getting me some exposure.As far as this blog thing is concerned, I really like the idea that we leather crafters have a place to voice ourselves. I just hope it catches on just as quickly as the LW.net forum has.

I call my self a hobbiest when it comes to leather crafting. I started out by making everything that Tandy put out until I ran out of friends and family to give hand made items to. A job took me away from leather for a few years, but when I retired I wanted to get back into it again, which I did. I switched from making belts (which I found out that I hate to make) and billfolds, to pictorials. I've interred many items into the IFoLG shows and won several ribbons, which helps my ego a little. Lately I've signed up with 4H to be a leather craft instructor and my first class, with 4 kids, will be next week. I'm looking forward to teaching this class and I've been to several general meetings and am very impressed with what I see.I've always wanted to start a blog, to just do what this opportunity has given me, and I want to thank Johanna for giving me and others like me the chance to just ramble when we want to. I don't know how many times I'll post here, but it will be one site I'll keep coming back to. I hope many of you take advantage of what Johanna offers, so far I can't complain about the coffee, but the donuts are always gone when I come here. Until next time......

Being new to making my own blog I'm sure I'll make mistakes, like forming two blogs of which only one will be active.

I've been thinking about starting a blog, but I was unsure of how to go about it. So now it looks like I'll get my wish and make up a blog in a few days. Thank you Johanna for making this possible.

You might also try using F915 or F971. Like Kevin said though, it depends on what kind of trees you want. So far, all the tools mentioned give you distant conifers.

I can't find it. It's burried somewhere in the basement. I keep thinking about clearing it off and stop using the kitchen counter, but it's just easier to use the counter. Maybe it will be a New Year's promise.

You have been given some excellant advice, and I don't want to duplicate any of it, but you might try using a blender (not your wife's) and see how that would work. Hide Crafters in Texas sells bags of leather dust just for their Robb Barr patterns.

Do you know if the pattern pack will be available through Hide Crafter's? A lot of his patterns are, or were found there.

Sorry to hear about your dad being ill. Next month's meeting is election of new officers to the guild. That date will be on october 21st. The 14th and the 28th are workshop nights and several guild members show up there to work on projects. All start times are 6pm and run until we get tired of looking at each other. You are welcome to attend any of these meetings and hope your dad gets better.

Yes I do. There is a meeting tonight at 6:00 if you're interested.

Hi Rusty, I checked out your web site and it looked really nice. Welcome to the forum, I think you'll enjoy it here, just don't eat the donuts. I am not all that far from you as I live in Pueblo and get up to the Springs area about once a month for a leather guild meeting.

Along with the above you can add hair barrettes, which are a big seller at some fairs. Kids like a pendent to wear around their neck as well are cigar/cigarette cases.

I've used contact cement with no problems. I've never tried wood glue, but I'm sure that would work also, can any one else add to that?

I must be having trouble with my computer as no matter what I do, everything works. At first I didn't like anything about the new site, but the more I've gone through it, the more I like it. My only complaint so far is when I try to go to a topic, I have to double click on it. After that it's all single clicks like I'm used to. Jo, keep up the good work and I hope you get all the bugs worked out.

Leatherworker.net will soon be offering a series of special lessons on decorating leather that are authored by me, called “The Paul Burnett Free School of Leather Ornamentation”. Watch for the announcements. Paul Burnett Welcome Paul; I have been an advid admirer of your work and lessons, in fact I have collected anything and everything I could find that you have published. I regret not taking any of your classes when you were at the IFoLG shows, but the leather gods were not on my side. Looking forward to seeing more of your work and hope to be among the first to get any more information you may put out.

That's my story... what's yours? -Tac How did I get started, boy that's a story. My first leather project was from a set my folks bought me when I must have been 7 or 8. There was a billfold and a link belt which I never finished. The billfold I wore out. No leather for a long time until I was in my mid 20's and I asked a friend wo worked leather, to make a purse for me to give to my wife. I failed to ask him how much; he failed to tell me what he charged. After the heart attack and stroke I paid the bill. Not long after that I talked to my wife about me doing leather crafting as I felt that if my friend could do it, so could I and a lot cheaper too. Went to Tandy and bought their starter kit with the basic tools and swivel knife; several kit projects and some rounders. I read the manual, played with the tools and started with the rounders. First attempts were fair to poor, but I figured they were basically practice anyway. Another friend found out I was doing leather work and she asked me to make a series of belts for friends of hers. After each belt was sold (I was slowly getting better) I would take the money and go buy a couple of more tools to add to my small collection so I could make more kits which called for tools I didn't have. That's my story in a nut shell and that all happened (at least the second part) over 35 years ago. I am now winning prizes at my local State Fair; and I've won at least one blue ribbon at the IFoLG shows.

I've dealt with Siegel's in the past and had no problems. I'd order other things from them if I had a need, but at this time I don't. Great customer relations.

It was recommended to me many years ago to use model paint. That's the enamel paint found in most hobby stores. Let it dry several hours and it will help identify your tools. Some people use different colors for different tools: i.e. red for seedersl, yellow for bevelers, etc. Hope this helps, but the enamel is the way to go as the acyrilic rubs off over time. So does the enamel, but not as quickly.

Fire Mountain Gems may carry what you're looking for. Try http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.a...KWCRAFTBOLATIPS and see what you come up with.

I use the techlite almost all the time. I have a 7x, which is recommended by the owner. My wife also has one and tried using the 10x, but it was too strong for what she was doing. She had a 7x but the shaft broke on it and it we are now trying to replace it. Best of luck no matter what magnifier you get.