Beaverslayer

Major, If she has a purse that she uses every day now, you can design it around that one. This way she will most likely use it. I know from experience that women are very particular about the purses they are willing to carry. Ken

Well, I'm glad you made it through safely. I'll have to wait yet another year.

Hi everyone, Somewhere on the forum I remember reading about Leatherworking as an "Art" form. The Calgary Stampede is about to start next week, and each year they have a "Western Art" show and auction. Also there is what they describe as "Artisans". I do believe this would be the catagory for much of the work I have seen by so many people here on the forum. This is what the Stampede defines as an "Artisan" ARTISANS Artisans work in diverse mediums such as wood, metals, leather, glass and ceramics, sometimes combining a number of these different elements to create exciting works of art. Unique, handcrafted Artisan work will be for sale during the 10 days of Stampede. Here's a list of the "Artisans" chosen to display and sell thier works this year: Returning from 2006: Michael Bryant – La Pine, Oregon - wood carving Barbara Clarke – Salt Spring Island, B.C. - hand cut and stitched leather handbags and clothing Miriam and Randy James –Tofield, AB - leather clothing, briefcases, purses, saddles and tack Linda Krisjansons – Eastend, SK - clay sculpture Franco LoPinto – Okotoks, AB. - sculptures and ceramics JoAnne Meeker - - Riverside, California - photography Karin Taylor – Calgary, AB. - North American wildlife hand-painted on wild turkey feathers Wanda Whaley – Bentley, AB. - slate and buffalo rawhide canvas Shawna Lee Whiteside – Didsbury, AB. - silver jewelry And joining us for 2007: Ken Hoehn – Airdire, AB. - photography David Kucer –Montreal QUE. - miniature guns Here is a link to the "Registration" web page for next years Stampede. http://www.westernshowcase.calgarystampede...egistration.htm I appologize that I never got this info out sooner, but for whoever is interested for next year, the Stampede is a "World Class" Rodeo and is billed as "The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth". Should you be so lucky as to be chosen to be an exhibitor for next years show, this would give you a "World Class" exposure for your work. Good Luck Ken

dsenette, Is it possible to get video footage of the "Events" that are most likely to take place this year? Being from "Passive" Canada, fireworks are basically outlawed here, and we don't get to see the effects of such displays you have mentioned. Ken

Ed, I would think that not only would it make your pattern that much more bigger, but your blade would must likely catch that as well. What I've done in most cases is just hold the blade at a bit of an angle away from the edge. It will take a bit of practice but it does work well. It's just a bit annoying when the blade does catch, thats all. Ken

Ed, I have had the same thing done for my vest patterns. The only problem I have had with the aluminium, is that when you use a knife to cut around the plate, the blade tends to catch the aluminium very easily. Other than that, it's one of the best investments into pattern material I've made. Ken

Myself, I wear one of my vest's that has my company name & logo tooled on the back like a bikers colors. It attracks a lot of attention and I get an extremely large ammount of my work just from wearing the vest. People are always asking where I got my vest at, and I tell them from this guy and hand them a business card....you would be surprised to know that probably 70% of my business comes from people I met at 7/11 getting coffee. I will also walk up to a biker or a person on a Harley and tell them I know of a guy that does custom leather for bikes, and hand them a card. In most cases I don't tell them it's me that does the work because then you get drawn into a long pricing debate in the parking lot of Home Depot or something, and it is very conterproductive. Once they come to see me, they say "Hey you're the guy" and I explain the reason behind my madness. With the bike seats, I have made to demo seats that I have posted here on the forum. With those, one is at one Harley shop, the other is a another. For every seat I sell through the shops I pay a commission to the salesman that sold it. I've instructed them to send their client to me with one of their business cards, that way I know who and where the referal came from. Also the Internet web site I have is starting to pay off a bit, and it is very cheap actually. I'm with Go Daddy.com and it's only about $45US per year for the website. The domain name cost me $10US per year as well. I use Google Ads to help pay for the cost of the website, which works out good. But if you really want to advertise....wear or carry something that you have made, or make something that just POPS and wear or carry it wherever you go, you will be amazed at how many people will ask "Where did you get that from" and just hand them a card.... Good Luck Ken

Hey John, Thanks for the compliment. I did the scales with a swivel knife with a 1/4" filigree blade. Ken

Welcome Valdez, I'm glad to hear you like it here, any questions you have there are some really helpful people here...just ask. Ken

Welcome Harlan, and glad to see you. I know you'll like all the great people here. Ken

Again David your work is Excelent, I am very impressed with your attention to the details. Just BEAUTIFUL.... Ken

Johanna, Yes I would be glad to do that for you and the others. I will put something together in the next little while and post it. As to the names of the stitches i use, the person that taught me didn't speak very good english, so in most cases i call them something other than what they really are. I will try to find out their real names first, that way if anyone purchases a lacing book they will know which ones I'm talking about. Bruce, BillyP & Jim, Thanks for the compliments, I as well like the way the finish turned out, it's just Saddle Tan Pro Dye, and it has 3 coats. Ken

Thanks Don & Wolven, I appreciate the compliments. Ken

Wolven, The main reason I laced before the tooling, is that I really wanted to see what it was going to look like, if I wasn't pleased I would have taken out the lacing and tried something different. I also wanted to be sure that, with the stretch of the leather with the tooling, that it didn't distort the shape of the lace pattern. In the past, I have punched holes for lacing, then tooled and found that some of the holes I had previously punched mysteriously moved to another location. So by lacing first it seems to help this phenominum a bit. Ken

Looks like a 22cal clip in the case.

Welcome ArtS. I as well really love the rose, the other stuff is great work as well though. Ken

Thanks guys, I appreciate that you like it. I am thinking though of airbrushing a darker brown along the edge lacing. Ken

Looks good Busted, does that one have the innertube cushioning as well? I'd really like to see what that tube looks like before you install it. Ken

Well it took a bit longer than I wanted...(Basement Flood and all) But here it is finished, I hope you like it. Ken

Rod, I know of them as well. Ihave puchased a few things in the past, mostly hardware, because they carry such a large selection of some very unique things... I do try to stay away from the store as much as possible though...cause it's like a kid in the candy store...gotta buy that!!!!! wow look at that!!!! LOL But yes I reccommend them as well. Ken

Man thats great work...it looks as good if not better than the one in the original pics a while back... Excelent job. Ken

Great work, and thanks for the pics. I know the feeling about floods, I'm still cleaning up the basement. Ken

Welcome aboard Dan. Great looking seat there, are you going to or have you dyed it yet? Ken

Looks real good Jim. Brings back memories when I worked the high steel. Ken

Hey Scott, welcome aboard. It's good to see the nieghbours coming by. You will love all the great work, and all the knowledge and experienced people here, all willing to help when needed. Ken