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Great job, Leathercat! Keep up the good work! Alex

That's a real work of art! I'm curious... Will the customer wear this belt? IMO, it would be a shame to let it sit around and collect dust...

Hey, Jim -- thanks for the kudos. The notepad is hand-stitched, and I'm really not sure what the secret is to doing a clean saddle stitch. One thing I do differently from the recommended way is that I lay my project down on the table and punch all of the holes ahead of time. I never was able to figure out how to juggle two needles and an awl! That seems to help me control things, although it's a good bit slower... Thanks, L.C. That's nice of you to say.

Thanks again for the nice comments! You're too kind...

Beautiful work, Jim. Two thumbs way up! Alex

Reprinted from what I received in the mail this weekend: Leather Carving Class Presented by K C Leatherwerks Robert Beard Master leather carver and tool maker Al Stohlman Award Recipient 9:00 AM Sunday, April 6, 2008 Desert Scene and Scroll Checkbook Class Supplies and Information Available at: K C Leatherwerks 7127 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 (865) 584-0011 OR (800) 932-9782 Fee $100 Family discounts available Registration Deadline March 31, 2008

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Much appreciated. Spider, I use Tandy's waxed nylon thread -- the color you see here is "natural" (1205-04).

I've wanted to build a small notepad for some time now. Seeing other folks recently post some really nice examples just got me more interested! So, here's what I came up with. It holds a small 3x5" pad and sports two pockets and a slot for business cards. Thanks for looking! Alex ^_^

Wow. Those pics are one heck of an introduction! Glad you found us, and I'm looking forward to seeing more. Alex

These are wonderful masks. I love the textures and colors of each one. They're all so smooth and polished, they almost seem ceramic!

That's some beautiful work right there. The colors used really combine nicely, and the "Got Cow?" gusset is a nice touch! Looking forward to seeing more! Alex

David, I remember your post some time back complaining about how boring these stock seats were. It looks like you've figured out ways to maintain the consistent look of a stock seat, while adding your own unique artistic touch. Congrats -- beautiful work! Alex

WOW in capital letters. That's one fine briefcase!

Wonderful web site. Congrats to you and Johanna! I think Barra said it all -- it's easy to navigate, tells a bit about yourself (without being too wordy) and focuses on the end product, with lots of detailed pics to highlight your work. Beautiful job! Two thumbs way up! Alex

Happy birthday, Beez! May this coming year bring you health, happiness and lots of orders for black motorcycle seats! ^_^ He, he... Best, Alex

Peter, it's good to have you here -- welcome! Looking forward to seeing some pics. Alex

That's some of the cleanest backgrounding I've ever seen. Wow! Great job. Alex

Leatheroo, Bill has given you a good overview of the different dyes, but I don't agree with the above statement. I've worked with Satin Shene for five years now, using it on a whole lot of products, and I've always been able to condition them later with Lexol or neatsfoot oil. None of these projects have become hard, inflexible, or begun to "rot". I'm not saying that Bill is wrong, it's just that my experience differs. I think you'll find that every leatherworker has their own preferences when it comes to dyes and finishes. My favorite combination is Eco-Flo Leather Dye and Satin Shene, but I think you'll find plenty of people here that prefer something else. Alex

I don't think acrylic finishes completely seal the leather. I've used Satin Shene for five years now, and I've never had a problem conditioning the leather later, whether using Lexol or neatsfoot oil or something similar. A good test is to take an oiled rag and run it across a piece of leather finished with acrylic. After a minute or so, you should see that the oil has absorbed -- i.e. it's not still on the surface making the item slick. I assume there are products out there that can completely seal the leather, but I guess they would be some sort of lacquer that would sit on top of the leather forming a hard barrier. As you're aware, acrylic products mostly absorb into the leather (not sit on top of it), and this allows them to breathe. Someone else here may offer a different opinion, but my experience leads me to believe that acrylic finishes are breathable and conditionable ones. Alex

Mariano, I can't help you identify your mystery tool, but I did want to take the opportunity to welcome you to Leatherworker.net. There are lots of very helpful people here to assist you as you get started with leathercraft. As an aside, I'll be travelling to Buenos Aires later this year, and really look forward to visiting your wonderful city. In addition to being a beautiful place to see, it has quite a tradition in leatherwork, as well! ¡Un saludo y bienvenido! Alex

I think that's pretty fantastic for only the second thing you've ever made! Congrats on a beautiful project. Alex

Dude, believe me, no technique whatsoever goes into my dye jobs! ^_^ I noticed the marbling show up when I started using Eco-Flo dyes with Tandy leather (4-5 oz. double shoulders, to be exact). Since I don't prep my surface at all, my guess is that the variations in color are caused by some surface residue that might be left over from the tanning process. Most folks who are really concerned about an even tone want to get that stuff off before dyeing. Others of us kind of like the rustic effect. Here's a darker wallet where the marbling is less pronounced. Also, you might want to check out Luke and Christine's site at SojournerLeather.com. I think they use Eco-Flo on Tandy leather, too, and produce some beautiful dye jobs! Good luck! Alex

These are my most "orangey" projects. The wallet was done with Eco-Flo Ranger Tan dye (2600-07) straight out of the bottle, applied with a dauber. The wristband was done with Fiebing's Medium Brown Leather Dye (2100-04) mixed with Lexol (to lighten the color and reduce streaking). The checkbook cover was done with Eco-Flo Acorn Brown All-In-One Stain (2605-03) straight out of the bottle, applied with a piece of cotton T-shirt. If I were looking for a true orange, I'd start with the Eco-Flo leather dyes, probably Canyon Tan (2600-06), and mix with water if necessary to get the right shade. Keep in mind when you apply it, you'll want to get it a shade darker than desired, because when the leather dries, water-based dyes lighten somewhat. Bill's comments about different results for different leathers is good, too, so be sure to test on scrap to see how your results show up. Good luck! Alex

Several people have recently been interested in where to get fabric in cool prints, like what Kevin King uses on his wallet interiors. I just wanted to share that I saw the following supplier mentioned in the latest issue of Craft Magazine: http://www.fabricparadise.com/ I did a quick search for "skulls" and found 60 prints very similar to what's been shown in these forums. I figured I'd share in case anyone was looking for a supplier. Alex

Hope you have a great one, Clay! Alex