Bob Blea

CW, As far as I can tell Bob is just selling it himself right now, but he's a member here and you could PM him about it. I got the book from him in Sheridan and I'm still going through it, but I think it's excellent. He explains things very well and I am really understanding his approach to design, and I finally feel like I'm ready to design patterns that will be worth looking at. I recommend it highly. Bob

Hey Jon, Just to throw in a couple of other historical interests that are close by: Yellowstone is just a few hours west of Sheridan and the Black Hills (Mt. Rushmore, etc.) a few hours to the east. Yellowstone usually has just opened the east entrance by the time of the Sheridan show, but a lot depends on the amount of snow they received the previous winter. Just an FYI. Bob

I really like these, especially the first one. I've wanted to make one of these but I run into the same problems Jayjay runs into. Yours look great. Bob

I saw the Don King tools too. I'm not a collector, though it would be cool to have a tool made by him I just can't justify that price. However, I did buy a few figure carving tools from Robert Beard at the show. I have a specific use for them and I can justify that price, though they weren't as much as the Don King ones. I got a couple of Wayne Jeuschke geometric stamps too, and he does make some big baskets and geometrics that sell in the $120+ price range new. They are all great tools and if you have a good use for them and can justify the price, it doesn't seem like so much to pay. It's all in how you look at it. Bob

I don't know about applying a coating or treatment that would stiffen the leather, though it does seem that applying an acrylic like Resolene and putting it on thick enough would make the leather feel stiff. It would also give that side a very shiny plastic look. I've never tried doing it, so I can't say for sure. Is it possible to put an insert into the wallet? I know people will sometimes add a thin plastic liner inside a cover of an item if it needs sitffening. Bob

I've had my Grey Ghost maker's stamp for about a year now and it works perfectly and I've had no trouble with it. It's been great and I recommend them highly. Bob

Welcome to the forum from another Coloradoan. Don't let anyone put your work down. You've got talent for someone just starting off, and you should keep at. Bob

It looks nice. Is it sewn around the back? Bob

Wow, thanks for the information Chuck. I can't imagine putting in the amount of work to do that by hand. I'm amazed they make one of those belts in just a week. I'll stick to carving and stamping my leather. Bob

Welcome KayW, What sort of pattern are you looking for? I don't know of anyone who has made a figure carving pattern for a train themed item, though I have seen some belts with train designs on them. You could carve a profile view of the kind of trains he runs. It could even be an inverted carving, which would give a nice silhoette look and wouldn't require a great deal of artistic ability to look good. Still, finding artwork for a starting point may be tough. I have two little kids who are really into trains, and I've found that there are a lot of childrens books with images of the trains from the side, as they are heading down the track, that might adapt well to a belt. Or, you might be able to find pictures of a train from the side that you could adapt too, especially if you are just looking for a silhoette look. These are just some ideas. Good luck, and let us see what you come up with. Bob

I'll be there all week. I managed to get into Bob Park's carving class on Monday and Tuesday. Can't wait! Bob

Wow! That is impressive! Bob

I like it, it looks good! Bob

Thanks, these are pretty cool. Bob

Ditto on the book. You will learn about a lot of tools you didn't even realize you needed.... For my slab, I put a small layer of newspapers underneath it, just because it's sitting on the dining room table and I don't want to mar the surface. I've wanted to put some of the non-slip rubber padding material they make to attach to carpets under the stone. I think that will deaden the noise a bit and still cushion the tooling stone, but haven't tried it yet. You can get the non-slip rubber stuff at any home inprovement store. For lighting, I have a desk lamp light that clips to the edge of the table plus the lights on the ceiling. My ceiling light is often good enough but when stamping basket weaves or geometrics, I add the desk light for better visibility and making sure everything lines up well. Bob

I can't wait. I've ordered a burnisher for my drill press and it should arrive any day now. You've got me thinking I need to order a maul now too. Bob

For the bevelers, it depends on your carving. I was taught that generally if you are going to antique a piece, you want to have the checkering because it will capture the antique and highlight your carving more. Same with the pear shader or thumbprint. However, if you are not antiquing there probably isn't a good reason for it. If you are doing a more realistic floral carving or if you want the tools for figure carving, it makes sense for the beveler to be smooth in most cases, and I actually have a smooth Sheridan style beveler from BK too. I prefer the checkering because most of what I do is antiqued and I like the effect. It probably boils down to simple personal preference. For the flower center, I personally have the 24 seed centers. Tandy doesn't make anything like them as far as the impression goes. The 12 seed ones do look good, and I'm considering getting one this year for variety. When you look at carvings by the pros where they have multiple flowers, they often have different styles of centers even if the flowers are very similar. Probably more important than the number of seeds is the size of the stamp. On Barry's site, if you click on the pictures of the flower center it will bring up a different picture that shows them in relation to a ruler. It shows you exactly how big each one is. You should pick something that is the right size for the size of the flowers you will most often carve. I think mine are what he calls #2's. When it comes to the pear shaders, the Tandy ones can be a problem sometimes (IMHO). I have some smooth ones that work very well, but lined ones I have purchased recently have too sharp of an edge so I don't get a smooth transition in the leather at the edges and the tool leaves edge marks. With a lot of practice I could probably make the tool shade an area smoothly, but with the BK thumprint I have it's pretty easy to walk the tool and shade an area. Hence, why I plan of buying a bigger thumprint this year. With Tandy I like to always try the tool first and then buy, but if you don't have a store nearby that's probably not an option for you. Hope this helps, Bob

Hello Chavez, Most of the tools I use for floral are Barry King, but I don't even have the complete recommended set. I have a small and medium sized checkered beveller, a couple of his veiners and a thumbprint, plus 3 and 5 hole small bargrounders and a small and medium undershot beveler. Also, I do love his center shader and leaf liner. The rest of my tools (like the mulefoot) are still Crafttool. I do plan on getting a larger thumbprint and a concave beveler ( I can really see the need for those now) and maybe a larger size of bargrounder, but at least for my needs the 'basic' tool set is a bit more than I need. However, one thing I will highly recommend having are his flower centers. When I go to the Sheridan show I always buy some of his tools, and will probably get another flower center. Bob

I think it looks great! A very unique idea. Bob

Really like you work, it looks great. I have an IPod that I keep in a silicon case. It protects it well but doesn't have a belt clip. I've been meaning to make something like this to put it in so I can wear it. You may have finally inspired me to get off my behind and get to making. Thanks for sharing.... Bob

Some very innovative features on this purse. I never would have thought to put bullet loops on a purse. Bob

I've seen computer driven embroidery machines that could probably do this. We used to have a kiosk in the mall here that would custom embroider anything you wanted onto a coat, hat, shirt, etc. Their system would take your artwork and break it down into an embroidered pattern and stich it almost while you waited. I don't see any reason one of these systems couldn't handle leather if it was thin enough. That said, it's probably not the way the craftsmen in Mexico are making these. They probably do it by hand. Bob

I think it looks great. I love your artwork on it. I'll bet your friend will be thrilled by it. Bob

Beautiful work. Very inspiring. Bob