Beaverslayer

That is a beautiful saddle, I especially like those silver humingbirds, they add so much to the look. I too would be interested in knowing just how long it takes to make a saddle like this. Beautiful work. Ken

What I, and some others here have done, is go to a granite counter top store. Yjey always have a scrap pile out back, and they will usually let you rummage through it to find a piece of granite that they are just going to throw away. I got a real nice piece for 2 cups of coffee and some donuts, which is pretty cheap. You can even check at the place that makes headstones, as they too will have scrap piles out back. Granite is the better way to go, as marble is stromg but not as durable as granite. Ken

Very nice Storm, is there a liner on the back? Ken

Yes taht is really cool. The inovation of leatherworkers is amazing. Thanks for sharing. Ken

Thanks Roo, this one took 47 hours in all, it really is a labour of love. Ken

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...amp;#entry36163 Well here is the finished vest that I made doing the turorial on vest making. Take 1/2 a cow, 1 pig. some nylon mesh, and a bit of glue. Punch 2040 holes on the leather, dab some glue here and there, and run 530 feet of lace through all those holes 2 times, and this is what you come out with. Hope you all like it. Ken

I like your style Smokin, my hats off to you. Ken

Don, thanks for the compliment, and I really used 530 feet of lace. Ken

I think I counted 271 photos, and I used 2 batteries...LOL This vest took 47 hours in all to make, that doesn't include the pictures and typing. Just a basic vest without the tooled shoulder and the extra lace takes about 40 hours. Thanks for the compliments guys, greatly appreciated. Ken

Roo, that is an amazing site you found, just awesome work and detail. Makes you wonder if they washed thier hands or left it on for a few days or weeks. Thanks for sharing this. Ken

Welcome to the forum DENEKEN, it's good to have you here. You will find us all very friendly and always willing to help out where we can. Ken

Helen, good to see you back here. Real nice looking mask as always. I myself think the Kingfisher Blue. As to the detail you want to put on your mask, I'm thinking for Dragon scales or feathers, just use your swivel knife after you've formed it as you have here on this mask. You can get some real good detail using diferent blades in your knife. Good luck. Ken

I've bought and sold with very good success. Only once have I had a problem and it was settled apropriately. I did recieve a newsletter yesterday from Ebay, they are changing a fair amount of things for people that are NOT Powersellers. The final value fees are increasing, and the way feedback is done is all changing. They are trying to cater more to the Powersellers thatn the average Joe, because that's where the BIG BUCKS are, the companies that list 1000's of items a day. My 2 cents, they are getting to big for thier britches and are leaving the people that made them as big as they are behind. Ken

I was at a loss also, I did a search on Ghillies, and came up with the camouflage outfit for hunting. Ken

Really nicely done, very vibrant colors. Ken

Welcome Storm. You are going to find lots of people here that are not only friendly, but also very helpful. Enjoy. Ken

For your first you've done a real good job. Funny, my first seat was a two-up as well. Almost quite doing them after that one...LOL Looks real good. Ken

That's going to be a sweet seat when your done, great job so far. Ken

Well everyone, if you take 1/2 a cow, 1 pig, a bit of nylon mesh. Punch 2040 holes in it all, dab some glue onto it here and there, then run 530 feet of lace through each of those holes 2 times, this is what you should have when you're done. Simple as that...LOL I hope that you've all enjoyed this tutorial, and that it has and will be helpful to someone. Thanks Ken

To lace the inside section of the gusset, run your lace under about 3 loops of the outer edge lace, from the top of the run. Then run it through the first hole closest to the grommets. On the backside, run it back through to the front, using the hole that is best in line on the outer edge lace, as shown here in the picture. When you get back to the second stitch on the backside, do the same as you just did, by going through the hole of the outer edge lacing. Now carry on lacing until you reach the end of the run. When you do, you want to finish it the same way you started, by using the holes that are on the outer edge lacing. This will hold the two pieces together at the joint and prevent them from curling out. Here's what the inside should look like.

Once you've laced all the edges of the shoulder piece, you have to go back and finish off where you started. Put yoyr needle on the tail that you left when you started. Then your first lace will go UNDER the first loop. Then OVER the second loop, and through the thrid hole. On the back side, you go OVER the second, and UNDER the first. Then over to the front, and OVER the first and through the second hole. Follow the next three pictures to see just how to bring the lace back to the front, so that you can hide the tail under the weaved lace. And here's waht it should look like when your done.

When you reach the end of the shoulder section and have the tail left to hide, the best way is to run it up under the weave that is on the front yolk. You can now continue on and lace the other side of the shoulder piece, and also all around the inside neck area. Finish the ends off as neatly as you can and hide the tails. Again remember that if your lace is getting a bit worn as you pull it through all the holes, splice it, we'd rather waste a bit of lace than to have a funny looking product.

When it's time to make your splice. Run the lace OVER and BACK towards the edge that you started on. As shown in the picture, run your lace under the last 2 loops, and come out under the tightest section of the third back lace. Pull this tight and snip it off. Now with your new lace, run it under the second last loop as shown. Pull it all the way through, until the end of the lace is just under the loop. You can tuck any tail that shows with your fid. Now, run your lace under as shown in this picture, and through the third last hole, and your off lacing again.

Well I'll bet a bunch of you have been waiting for this to be updated and the rest of the tutorial uploaded. I've been a busy Beaver, but here it is at last. When your lacing this section, keep your lace to a minimum length, no longer than an arms length. If you notice that the lace is wearing a bit too much before you've reached the end and splice. The splice it now, you do not want it to get too thin as it will show. To start the lacing that goes around the edge of the shoulder piece, you will start in the first hole of the lace that goes down the side of the outer edge of the back. You can see in the picture. Run your lace though and leave about a 10" tail, this will be used to finish the beginning of this a bit later. Now, run the lace OVER the shoulder piece, and through the forth hole, start your count at the hole you just pulled the lace through. Now go OVER the shoulder again, and back up through the second hole. Now go OVER the shoulder again, and through the fifth hole. Go OVER the shoulder, and OVER the first lace and UNDER the second, as shown here. Then run your lace throught the third hole. Now go UNDER then OVER tha laces, then OVER the shoulder and through th sixth hole. From here you carry on by going back OVER, then UNDER the second lace, through the hole and so forth until it's time to splice.

Spider, I really really like that Skull, veru cool. Looks real good on the vest. But now you have to make your own vest....LOL Instructions are here on the forum. Ken