Howdy
I am a 52 year old german with lots of love and dedication to the United States, especially their Western heritage.
Since I met my first American about 40 years ago, he was/is a pure bred Texan, I am completely lost to everything which means America.
In 2007 I visited my dear friends John&Alys, Bootmakers of St Jo,TX. They hooked me up for a trip to Sheridan,WY, where they participated at the Rocky Mountain Leather Show.
Wow - I never would have believed what I got to see. Leather, Leather, Leather in all possible variations. All those artists like Jan Schoonover, C.T. Chappel and many others.
It was like standing in front of a Christmastree. Hundreds of pictures are still on various Data Sticks.
Back in St.Jo, John tought me how to get along with leather and I started and finished my fisrt belt. Not a real good one but enough to get infected.
Back home again, I started to built up my own little craft shop in my appartement and whenever I have time I am working with leather. A few belts, knife sheats, dog collars braided) and some other little things are the results so far. I am way a beginner and truely hope that once upon a day I may reach, with a lot of practice, just the "foothills" of the real artists as they are here in this forum.
The main problem is the time factor. Most of my time I spend on duty as a Security Officer at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US Military Hospital outside the United States. Also the Hospital where Americas Warriors came trough after they get injured or sick down range. Additionally I am the German Representative of Bugles Across America, an all volunteer Organisation to provide life Taps for Americas Heroes.
Training Dogs is the other main part of my life.
Well, I hope this may help you a little bit to get along with me. Just feel free to ask if you have any more questions.
God bless yawl