Nighthawk

I've been thinking about doing something like that with a kilt belt and a Celtic border. That looks great! Any advice on how to keep the border so straight? It looks fantastic!

Oh why the hell didn't I think of that? Red would have looked KILLER on the knotwork inside the cross!! Next time I guess...

Playing with my airbrush, trying to make colors match with this tartan! What do you all think?

Yep! Myself, I like about 2.25 inches. For my sword, I like 1.25. We're all different...

There were two of those things on the railroad. I remember watching them as a kid! They were noisy and amazing, throwing plumes of snow what looked to me like hundreds of feet in the air! And thank you for the compliment- I'm not particularly pleased with the tooling- I know I can do better- but the color! I love the color! I was really pleased with that! Lovely place, isn't it? I try to go visit every summer. In a way, I miss living there.

My dad is an old railroad man, and is partial to the days of steam. He used to work on a railroad in Colorado called the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. He used to help maintain and fire the snow plows, so I made him a flask with a graphic likeness of the one that nearly killed him!! I filled it with a nice Speyside for him.

Here's a link to strap locks on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Schaller-Guitar-Strap-Buttons-Nickel/dp/B000960KNW/ref=sr_1_15?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1298837295&sr=1-15 I have a set of those on my bass. They are excellent!! So- UKRay- thanks for posting this. I've been planning a strap for my sons bass, and haven't yet started on it. Did you hand stitch your white thread, or is it machine done? I have shied away from doing this kind of project because I don't have a machine, and hand stitching it would take such a long time!

You know... I've always been a bit disturbed by full mask sporrans... I think it's the eyes- and the face! Reminds too much of my kitty. But the workmanship looks great! I love the cantle, as well. Mind telling us where you got it?

Well, there as another thread showing off a cell phone case. It was also asked if the maker could post his pattern. He used a copy protected pattern and didn't feel comfortable with it, so I thought I would post mine! Here's what the finished product looks like: You can get the latched at Tandy or from Hardware Elf. And here's the pattern that I use: I use a stitching groover to cut a groove along the edge, and then I use an overstitch wheel to set the gaps, an awl to punch the holes, and then I saddle stitch the whole thing together. Hope you folks find this useful!

Love the basket weave! That looks really good. ***EDIT*** I have my own cell phone case pattern that I designed, which is not copywrited. I'll make a separate post with it, since there is some interest.

I imagine they could be sealing using bee's wax. I make mugs that way. So- that's beautiful! I may have to... ahem... borrow the idea and make one for myself!

I was asked by a Baptist on the east coast to make him a hunting sporran. It came out great! So I should show it off. And the very satisfied gentleman wearing it! It was designed so that the cantle can be put on or taken off at will, which is why some of the pictures show chicago screws as well as rivets. What do you all think?

Love the dye work on that! Very nice!!

Nice!! I always get a kick out of the fantasy stuff. I'm so entrenched in the reenactment scene, which doesn't allow for that level of freedom and creativity, and I sometimes get a little jealous of you fantasy folks. I get stuck with doing one of two things- historical reproductions or modern pieces. I really like doing the fantasy stuff... My dragon scale bracers were loads of fun to do and look great at Renaissance festivals!

You see my dress sporran? I must have put 4 yards of lace into that thing! That kind of lacing takes a lot of time to do, and it takes a ton of lace!! That lacing looks great- nice and tight. The whole thing overall is excellent. I made a new strap for my mothers purse... It will outlast the purse itself! Funny how that happens, ain't it?

Well, it only cost $18, so how much can you really expect? It's not like a high-dollar cantle. However, for the price, you really can't beat it! It is a really nice cantel. The metal isn't really thin. It's nicer than the ones that come on their premade sporrans. The detail is sharper, for sure. For a nice economy cantel, I would recommend it! I totally plan to upgrade as funds become available, but for now, it's perfect. And thanks for the compliment. I've been wanting to do something like this for a while. Actually, I just did a quick search and found cantles in 2 price ranges- <$300 and $25- 30. I found a really cool looking antique brass one in the $30 range that I may have to go for some point after Christmas!

As you all know, my parent's 40th anniversary vow renewal is this weekend. I wanted to make myself a dress sporran, anyway, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity! I made it in the color scheme of my parent's party- partly because it's getting worn tomorrow, but mainly because I like the colors! I got the cantel from Stillwater kits. The tassels are horsehair tassels from Tandy Leather. So- Here are some pictures:

Har har har.

Very nice!! I was actually asked to do a guitar strap a few days ago, so it's great that you posted these. I haven't made one yet, and I haven't had a chance to look into it. So this was a very helpful thread- gives me some good ideas!

Thanks! You know... I was thinking about dying the border knots green... The more I look at it, the more I wish I had. Oh well. As I've said- live and learn! Oh yeah- and Kings X, I meant to tell you that I use the rolling pin for the edges after I burnish them. I have a burnishing wheel attached to a power drill, and while that setup gets a really smooth edge, it also builds up a little bit of a lip that can fray once it dries. I just give it a quick roll with the pin and that pushes it back down. The pump spray bottle is actually for two things- to keep my leather damp when I'm tooling it, and to chase away my kids and my cats! One of my cats has spilled not one, but two (2!!) bottles of USMC black! Darned cat...

Yeah, it's funny that my foot got in that picture! You see, the screen on my camera is busted, so while others use point and shoot cameras, I use a point and hope! I usually tool barefoot, and I did it shortly after I got up this morning, so I just wrapped my feet up in my fleece for warmth. My Scottish friends call me Redshanks. So- onto your critique! I like how they project through the glass too, especially on the smaller ones! I LOVE how the glass distorts part of the knotwork, and not the rest. That was an unexpected and pleasant surprise. However, with the bigger bowl... I think I may get a little easel, a mirror, and stand the mat up on the easel behind the bowl and let the light from the candle play on the cross. I haven't decided... That was an idea tossed out to me from someone on another board. And by the way- Doug Pinnick is a prog bass MONSTER!!

My parents are celebrating their 40th on the 21st of this month. They are having a second wedding, and asked me to "take care of" the centerpieces for the reception. This is what I came up with: mat and coasters for the candle holders Detail of the coaster The candle holders, hand painted by my friend and business partner Jaime Manlett. Detail of how the knotwork will show through the bowl. The bowl gets filled with water, with 2 floating heart shaped candles in it- one red, one white. (A note- I'm sure the critique I will recieve is that I should have made the big mat diamond shaped to flow better with the smaller candle holders. I thought of that after I put the whole thing together... Live and learn, I guess!) Hope they like it!! I'm pretty proud of it. I love the way the cross turned out!! EDIT- The red is Feibings Ox Blood, at the suggestion of bud4766. Thanks, man! I love it!!

Damn!! What white did you use? I can't get white that's worth a damn! I hate trying to get white, and I hate paints- they rub off so easily!