bluesman1951

This project is of interest to me . Please send details and expectations so we may open a dialogue . Bill

Very nice work ,my compliments on a well done project. Stitching looks perfect dimensions are spot on . Over all your project has a warm friendly inviting look that simply says "buy me " Congradulations these are first class. Time well spent ! Bill

I would like to have the patterns as well : bluesman1951@hotmail.com is the address . Thank you for your help with this . Bill

Hello ,and welcome ,what a plesant introduction about yourself. Its nice that you are enjoying your learning and your teacher . I have a small journey for you to take if you are up for it . So here goes : www.twistedfringe.com this site belongs to friends of mine . In my part of the world they are famous. The retail price of these bags exceeds 1,000 us dollars in some of the upscale shops in Santa Fe . Hope you enjoyed looking at the work . I look forward to seeing some of your work posted here . Bill

Very well planed and excuted. Flawless design ,good dimensions . Zipper details are perfect . The way you attached the carry handle was superb craftsmanship . I believe this is shelf ready for any fine upscale luggage store . The excellance in craftsmanship and attention to detail is superb . My compliments and a standing ovation is in order here . You do honour to this craft . My compliments ,and thank you for showing us your work . Bill

Wow ! These are really nice ! The black one is razor sharp ! Very well done . Bill

Nice job with the booth . Glad you are having fun . Each show teaches something . You need more stuff on the table . The sign says you are thinking ahead and planning ,good effort . Bill

Hi Johnny , Welcome to leather . I cant comment on the tooling thats not my area of expertise . Just a couple of no big deal items with your stitching when making your holes you use a pricking punch . 5 points shaped like diamonds ,the one you used is for lacing . Happens to us all . Your edges need some slicking ,more rubbing and some elbow grease. You can leave them natural or dye them your choice . Point is needs just a bit more work . For a first project its just great ,it will work and wear well and you learned something . Each one gets better as time goes on . Thanks for sharing your work and I wish you good luck with your future projects . All my best Bill

A project is the sum of all the steps it took to create it. From the first cut to the last stitch . As the pile of perfect steps grows so does the risk . This is perfectly excuted from start to finish every step a syphony of perfection . Well composed , well planned and just plain well done. My compliments on a wonderful project . I greatly enjoyed seeing this and would like to thank you for showing this fine work . In my opinion there is nothing like hand sewing each stitch is a tiny bit of class in a project . No subisitute for that . Hand sewing gives you time to think about life and the things you enjoy add to that some great music ,call it therapy and consider it time well spent . I would give a big standing ovation for this project !! You do honour to the craft my compliments . Bill

Congradulations ! This leatther work at its finest,simply as good as it gets . This is one fine piece of work . Well done ! Bill

To answer your question : I dont have a shop ,I dont take orders unless its from a established customer I am 100% wholesale . I have a well established client base and my job is to bring them a well made product at a fair price . I make my regular stuff and am always creating new stuff . I have a idea what will sell and try to make my customer a sucess. Only a few have my phone number ,none of them know where I live except the city . When I show up its best to take all I have what ever it is because honestly I never know when I am coming back . In 25 years of this leather business only a few times has a customer come over . That did not work out well so now thats over . If some one wants to be rembered and seen first with new stuff my advice is buy it all next time I ll and give you first option . Usually a sales call consists of "what do you have ,add it up ,get a check be social and I am gone maybe 10 minutes total. I like it this way . If I had this the way I wanted I would sell twice a year and go find me a great cabin with a hot tub and hang out till the pile was big enough to make a road trip . I have no idea what every one else is doing or how they conduct their business . I decided long ago if I did not like it or enjoy it then it was not going to happen . Am I rich NO not by a long shot ,its a battle some days . No one gets close enough to screw with my happiness or my time . I am old enough now I no longer care nothing to prove the stuff I make sells and when it dont Ill create something else . Good karma is what matters these days ,the saying : As you give so shall you recive " is not just a nice saying ,in a sucessful business its the law . It makes things work . So I hope this answers your question sir . All my best ,Good luck . Bill

I have known Garland for twenty years ,just got off the phone with him and he said go ahead and put his phone number up here . So guys for saddle trees and jockey saddles whips and stuff here is his number 505-235-2369 . i was out to see him and his buddy Bruce another old timer both of them guys are close to 75 years old now . Together they know about leather than 3 of the best books . Garland is never going to get on a computer he spends all his time flirting with the girls at the bus stop . After that its saddles and whips and a cloud of glue in his little shop . Great guy ,good friend ,listen close and you'll understand what he says . His work is fantastic and his word is good . Bill

Just a hint here :It helps if the punched hole is small enough to make a real tight fit when you slide the post through the leather . keeps from rolling that post off center . Bill

I wonder what Judge Judy would say in regard to the contact and prepayment. If you have honored your end I would refund nothing . I dont deal with fools and in my world there is no such thing as a refund . Bill

I am going to reply here only to the point of your question . No You cant buy toggled leather . No you dont boil it . Use hot water straight from the shower with no cold water on .Thats hot enough .The purpose of this is to take the strech out of the leather period nothing else. This is not rocket science . Take most of the water out of the hide then put it on a sheet of plywood staple one side then pull it tight and staple the other side . This is nearly impossible to screw up .If you leave it outside to dry a bird may poop on your project thats about the worst thing that can happen. I do not understand being afraid of the hide or the cost its just leather . Try a piece of small stuff to see how your hide reacts to your local tap water if the mineral content is high that may change the game a bit . This is a simple process and no big deal at all . Your hide a big bucket ,stapler, hot water ,big piece of wood is all thats needed and of course your willingness to do some work .

I would suggest deer skin . Make a big bucket of very hot water throw the skins in and soak . After a bit remove wring out the water and put them on a sheet of plywood and staple it down streching it tight as you work your way around the edges . Make it tight like a drum . After its dry you can condition it to soften it a bit . Now all the strech is gone and it will hold its shape while remaining soft and supple. Work the hide a bit to take the stiff out of it . Now its ready to use . Hope this helps a bit . Bill

These pictures are not my work . They are from my library of things I enjoyed . They are meant for inspriation . I had hope you would enjoy and be inspired . These are just a stepping off point for your leather journey . Bill

lucky man indeed those look like some fine machines . Spotless well cared for .As they make there journey through time any one can see they are in good custody . Bill

Neither off nor odd ,maybe its my age and my eyes.Your lacing is just fine .First class work . Bill

Wow ! I am speechless . I have been to biker parties ,Brazillian samba parties ,biker birthday pool parties that lasted 3 days ,and I cant imagine what a party would be like with these hats . Ill bet that would be an eye opener for sure . Just guessing I bet you dont have many boring days . I have always had a big respect for imigination ,and with these hats the ball has gone out of the park for sure . Thanks for showing us your work and I did enjoy very much seeing this . I went to that site and enjoyed it as well . Thanks all around for making this interesting . Bill

Hi Bob, Wow very nice !! I really like this a lot and I have only one small comment when rounding the cornors with your braid my opinion is perhaps a double pass would have been better in three holes instead of just two . Whats your opinion ? I would buy one of these in a heart beat . Got that wonderful old look to it . My compliments on a very fine project . Well done . Thanks for posting this ,I really enjoyed seeing it . I am impressed ! Bill

The love that went in to this shines so very bright ,imperfections will hardly be noticed . Well done ! I enjoyed seeing this . Thanks for this post ,you did a fine job here . There is a you tube video that explains the finish on this double loop braid ,I'll see if I can find that link for you . Bill

Scarey comes to mind here . I am seriously out of my element with this . However I'll comment to this extent : The lines are straight and even ,spots and rivets are uniform and straight ,spacing looks good every where symetrical . Looks like quality work ,just very different for me . I'll go now and leave this to be commented on by others more qualified . Thank you very much for showing us this work . Bill

This is very nice ,you have thought of every thing including keeping ones hands warm . My impression is it wiil give great service for many years . Well done ! Bill