ArtS

Thanks Ray! ArtS

Wow, those are really nice! Someday I hope I can afford a pair like that. I'll be too old to ride by the time I could learn to make a pair. ArtS

Thanks. Great tutorial. Another good item to protect the blades when not in use are the plastic ends for bolts that you can buy at Home Depot or the hardware store. They're in the bolt section and come in different sizes. They work great. ArtS

Attached are the patterns for the adult size. The strap for the adult size from the yoke to yoke (including the ring) is 41" with about 3" hanging through the buckle. The kids purse does not have a pocket. Too small for that. The kids purse is a total of 12 1/2 inches from top to the tip of the fringe. On the backside it's 10 " from the top to the bottom of the back piece and 6 1/2 inches from side to side not counting the fringe. The yoke is 9" from side to side. The strap is about 31" plus 3 hanging out the buckle. First I cut all the pieces out. Then I tool the yokes and finish the edges. Then I cut the fringe on the front piece with a roller blade. Then I glue on the pocket on the back piece then sew it and then put a rivet in each of the top corners of the pocket. Then I glue and sew on the yokes to the front and back pieces. Then I attach the conchos on the front with the strings. Then I put a little glue around the edges of the two pieces up to the yokes and glue them together. This is mostly to hold them in place while I sew them which I do after the glue dries. Then on the adult purse I use two rivets to rivet the straps in between the yokes. Then I put one rivet in the front tip. Then I punch out two holes for the back concho and put that on. For the kids purse I just use the saddle string to hold on the back strap and one rivet to hold the front on. Then I attach the straps to the rings. You're done.

No cramps! Actually less because of the part that goes into the crock of my hand between my thumb and first finger. It gives me something else to push with. I don't have to hold my hand as tight as I would without it. It works great so far. The notches are for when I do fine cuts and want a little different control I can put my thumb there. Like in this picture attached here. It gives me a different option for controlling the blade and I like it. ArtS

Thanks for sharing! Nicely done. ArtS

Wow, it sure did come out great! Really good depth to it. ArtS

Good job. I like the way that you colored it. Nice lacing too. ArtS

It does take up less room (not much less) except that you have to keep a chair around that is the right height so now the chair takes up room too. I bought this and my first tools together. I saw it and when I was looking at it the guy came up and said that this goes with it. He then pulled out a tackle box full of tools, a box of leather scraps and some already cut for spur straps and some books. I got him down to $75 for all of it. There was probably $150 to $200 worth of tools in the tackle box! Thats how I got started in leather working. I had been looking but I thought I couldn't afford the tools that I saw in the catalogs. The good Lord was watching out for me. ArtS

A while back Duke posted a note about a friend of his that was making head knives. I sent him a design that I had in mind and he made me one. I really like the feel of it. Here are some shots of it. It has a soapstone handle. ArtS

Yes. His name is Jeff Mosby. http://greyghostgraphics.com/

I have one that I bought at a flea market. It doesn't have back legs but rather made to sit on a chair in the back. When I get around to it I'm going to make some back legs for it so I don't have to mess with a chair every time. I don't use it very often so it's not on the top of my list. ArtS

I didn't put a pocket in the little ones. They are too small plus I figured the little girls wouldn't need the pocket as much. The pocket is sewn to the back with rivets on the corners to make them stronger. ArtS

Grey Ghost made mine and he was great to work with and did a great job. ArtS

Welcome Wolf! I look forward to seeing some more of your work. This is a great bunch of people with lots to share. ArtS

Here are a few more chap purses that I finished today. I made one for a friends grand daughter (the white one with Victoria on it), the blue one was for a friends daughter (says Gabbi on it). These two are smaller than the others that I make. The others would be too big for a small child. Then I made one to donate to the Georgia Equine Rescue League (GERL). I donate items to them twice a year for their auctions to raise money to help horses. I haven't figured out yet who I'll give the other purse to. Maybe my sister if she'll use it. My wife is fussing at me to sell something and quit giving it away but I like to give them away. That way it's not work but fun. ArtS

Most of what I make I give away. The few I have sold were requested items. So I've never had a booth - yet. I just had to layoff a guy last Friday at work. I'm sure more are coming before the end of the year - maybe me. I figure I better start getting ready to sell items and making them faster. Thats why all the questions. What does it usually cost to have a table at a craft fair etc.? Thanks, ArtS

Good observation. When I let him drink I will disconnect the top straps from the saddle. I found even when I lengthened them I thought it was too constricting for drinking so I just unhook the clips. ArtS

Thats a really nice one. Great job Marlon. ArtS

Another option for an anvil is getting a bench vise. They usually have a flat suface that can be used to pound on. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=32115 ArtS

I'm curious if yawl setup a certain way to help prevent theft. Is people stealing items even an issue with anyone? ArtS

For some things I make I will wax my edges and then slick them down. The wax melts into the edge and slicks up really nice. I either use a block of clear wax that I have or a plain white candle. ArtS

Looks great. ArtS

Beautiful horse and saddle Alan. Here is the pulling collar that I made and use now. ArtS

I have a question on breast collars. I made myself an old fashion style pulling collar for my saddle and have made a few for other people since. To me these make good sense since they allow the full motion of movement for the horse. I trail ride so I'm interested in why these aren't used by more people in other western riding disciplines. I used to use several other kinds but looking back at them they both seem to rub on the horses shoulders. I see a lot of the poing cowboys using breast collars that would seem to impair the horses movement in the front. I need some more education on this from you real cowboys. Here are some that I've used. ArtS