bluesman1951

Oh boy where does one start ,a come along is little more than a fence stretcher unless you move into the very heavy duty kind . Being a veteran of Texas oilfields I would rather nave a chain fall with a multiplier maybe two to share the weight . Then again whats wrong with a frame mounted winch ? Oh boy where does one start ,a come along is little more than a fence stretcher unless you move into the very heavy duty kind . Being a veteran of Texas oilfields I would rather nave a chain fall with a multiplier maybe two to share the weight . Then again whats wrong with a frame mounted winch ?

Omg Cant imagine not losing ones fingers with this technique . Not near enough shoulder to keep a sharp knife on track . 3/16 pexi glass in lengths from 14 " 24 '36" 60" 4" wide with the paper on one side . 600 grit wet dry paper on a sanding block to take the square off the edges . I have used this for 20 years with no mishaps or complaints ,cuts straight and true each time never moves . Using the leading edge as the indexer it cuts uniform strings every time . This allows making perfect fringe or braiding strings in any length . For a cutting tool I use a 60mm round razor from Olfa costs about 30.00 dollars . Each to their own and if works for you change nothing . Sounds scary to me a metal ruler . Bluesman1951

I use a piece of pexiglass 3/16 of a inch thick in a variety lengths to fit the size of my leather . The width is 4 inches ,when pressure is applied its just wide enough to keep it from moving the thickness keeps a blade from riding up and over . leaving the paper on also helps with the not moving . I use a 60 mm round cutting tool from olfa about 30.00 . Works on all leathers and thickness . With this pexiglass straight edge I can cut fringe in deer skin 11 strings to a inch straight from end to end no movement at all . Hope this helps . Bluesman1951

Wow! Super clean work ! Very nice ,well done .

You can have custom stamps made at Indian Jewellery Supply in Albuquerque new Mexico. There is a pawn shop in Grants new Mexico that has a huge collection of used stamps for sale . Grants is a real small town unlikely there is two pawn shops ,so a goggle search should make short work of this . Also in Gallup new Mexico there is a great many more pawn shops most should be on line and have a huge collection of stamps for sale . Artists around here get to drinking and the tools are the first to go ,sad state of affairs but true . Good Luck . Bluesman1951

Tony at "City Electric Shoe Shop" Gallup New Mexico has a belt factory on the premise . Custom cutting is available ,belt blanks by the thousands . Full service shop ,I have know Tony for twenty years great guy and you can expect first class service every time . Bluesman1951

Welcome ,There is room for all in this craft . I would like very much to see your work at a future date . Glad to have you here and feel free to jump right in . Bluesman1951

This is sad ,sorry to read this story . How to use your machine ; Leave the thread out of the machine and put some leather in the machine and learn the pressure foot control until you can sew as you wish fast or slow with control . Learn to write your name or make simple flowers what ever pleases you . Never quit or surrender until you have tried not once but many times. These machines dont come many times in a life time unless you are rich . Think like a conductor ,if you cant play hire some one who can to make your ideas come to life . Lots of artists would gladly trade a few hours of use of your machine for the sewing of your projects . There is always more than one solution to most problems . Keep the machine in house and all work happens there . About the worst thing you can do to the machine at this time is to break a needle or put it out of time ,needles cost near nothing and resetting the timing is about 50.00 service call . What is the harm in trying ? Bluesman1951

I dont know a thing about making saddles. My first impression when viewing this was "This is super clean work " I like not going overboard on frills and extras . Simple and clean ,this work just shines sewing is very fine ,I like it a lot . Very well done ,it will give many years of great service .Things get a patina with age and I would enjoy seeing this after it has some years of age on it . I suspect it will age well . My compliments ,a job well done . Bluesman1951

Not sure if I have what you wish for . If you will send me a email Ill send you some pictures . bluesman1951@hotmail.com

Hi before you start let me show you one I just had made . Size limits will not let me post the picture here . Send me a email at : bluesman1951@hotmail.com and Ill send you some pictures of the one I just had custom made . This one will outlast me by 100 years and be fought over when I am gone . Its a last a life time tool . If you are interested send me a email and I will send you a bunch of pictures . Bluesman1951

Send me a email and Ill show you a comfortable stitching horse I just had made for me . Bluesman1951@hotmail.com .This horse is going to out last me by a 100 years . yes they are for sale . Bill

I like these very much . Job well done ,very professional and totaly marketable . Should have no problem selling these . My most sincere compliments on a fine job . Bluesman1951

That may be a issue or at least part of one . My leather guy claims China is buying raw skins in such huge quanties that buying any large amount of raw skins is very hard . With the closing of tanneries due to EPA regulations the only way to get stuff tanned is to send it out of the country Canada and Mexico . Buying from Brazil is a bad move now as the dollar exchange rate is horrible . China can buy tons of raw skins and sails to international waters tans the skins with no EPA looking at them .Converts it to finished goods and sails back into the port of Los Angles and unloads finished goods .How do we compete with that ?You have not lived until you have seen the merchandise Mart in LA.One building covering a whole city block and just story upon story high with thousands of stores whole floors dedicated to just one kind of merchandise . The only way to stay in business is to increase your talent to a level where buying 10.00 per square foot leather does not matter. Or quit all together and buy China stuff and sell like WalMart . I have been looking for a way to quit for years ,give this up and make canvas bags where they sell material by the yard and not by the foot . LOL I dont have a crystal ball so predicting any thing is just wishful thinking . I can tell you this there are people here with million dollar piles of stuff struggling to stay afloat with no customers and rents in the 30,000 per month range . Been bad here money wise for 12 years . Our economy just sucks ,should be on life support . Bluesman1951 C

Please look at www.shipwreckbeads.com before you spend bunches of time playing with wood . Bluesman1951

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Being a maker of goods for a dozen or more wholesalers with a global collection of stores each in the thousands ,what do I say ? I visited a site the other day :www.skytoptrading.com When I see a portfolio or cover of some kind in my mind I am expecting what I see on Sky Top . I would offer for you a visit to You Tube : check out a video called :Dunhill Traditional . I cant put this into words ,please know I am only offering these things to inspire not in any way to compare .One more gift for you :www.twisted fringe .com Not a single word is required here I hope you enjoy . A finished product is the sum of all its notes just as in music . I wish you the best of luck with your store and all things in leather . Please know all information given here is my way of saying climb higher in the tree practice more . Bluesman1951

Well done . First impression was "Very Clean " As a maker of things for the wholesale market and stores all over I can say this is shelf ready at any store . Job well done !!!! Bluesman1951

Beautiful work ! Well Done !!!

I am speechless!!!!!! Amazing work ,am not easily impressed,but in your case I am in awe . Maybe in a couple of days I can pick my jaw up off the floor. I have never seen better work . New to leather work and you start at the very top ???? My hats off to you sir !!!! If you need a student I'll work for bread and water LOL !!!! In regards to your comment looking for a niche : I would contact www.sunwestsilver.com Then I would send photos to Cowboy and Indians magazine and arrange a photo shoot . I am shooting myself in the foot here ,you are going to be so busy Ill never be able to afford one of your bags . I have resolved to go without eating and save every dime until I can afford a whole bunch of your bags . I looked at your entire website and was just awestruck simply cant say enough good things about your work . I was in a slump with my work now I have a raging fire in me to create something beautiful ! Thanks for the inspiration Sir !!!![ Bluesman1951 quote name=theleatherdog' timestamp='1325903884' post='227900] Hay there folks, r bags . http://www.skytoptrading.com/ I am new to this site and somewhat new to the leather working art. Here is what I make from the finest U.S.A. leather from Kentucky. I have only been doing this for about three years now and need some help with finding the right market for these items. Doin also the big trade show circut with small success, just have not found that niche market yet. Any help would be great. Our website Skytop Trading Company Just google it!!!!!!!!!!!!! or click the link below http://www.skytoptrading.com/

Hi Woodcraft Supply has a bag frame made for the journeyman carpenters tool bag very heavy duty . Saw one in my travels some time back maybe they still make them . Another place to look is Klien Tools the make line man stuff and its all heavy duty . One more place is Grangier tools they have a huge industrial Catalogue. Next place is in Santa Fe New Mexico there is always a blacksmith there making custom things at the mountain man event . The dates for this can be had by taping into the Mountain man events and calendar on line . Just look on line for a old style blacksmith and you will get what you want . Word to the wise make more than one if you can afford it . Bluesman1951

I have a small journey for you to take . In goggle type :Joe and LeJune Chaves art work images . They are from Santo Domingo Pueblo I have know them for many years . Perhaps you will enjoy the work ,they are at the top of their game and very famous as well . Many times their work is in Cow Boys and Indians magazine . They are premier artists very well known in the south west . Hope you enjoy ! Bill

I hardly know what to say , if the work is under-priced and worth more, then the proper thing to do is hold ones tounge and buy all you can sell in a different market until the supply goes away . Then find another talented person and buy their work . If its about money then thats what you do ,make money . As a observer and participant for many years I can say that more talent means more money and there are buyers at all levels . For some 50.00 sales are everything and for others 500.00 sales are common . Its not the same for all of us and thats evident by the threads here . I cant put years of wholesale experience into a few words here simply no way to explain that . Friend told me once : what ever denomination of money you think in is the denomination you will make . If you think tens and twenty s then that will be your lot ,if you think 500.00 is the normal course of things then that will be your lot as well . Final thought on money : When the outgoing exceeds the incoming then your up keep becomes your down fall . (Pastor Butch Paul) Wish there was a way to make it better for all . Bluesman1951

I am in total agreement with your thinking .I dont do shows as it goes against my grain to pay someone for selling my work . In 25 years other than a flea market I have never payed show fees . Selling to wholesalers gets your profit and principle in one stroke . Most days I sell every thing I take every time I go . I could never survive selling items one at a time . You have a love of the work and a joy in doing it and in many ways thats a great reward . Helps also to have some money when in line at Smiths to buy groceries . I wish you continued success with your work . Bluesman1951

I have been making things for many years and selling in a tough wholesale market here in New Mexico. I can see your point ,then there is reality . The only thing that matters is at what point does the customer say yes I want that and reach for his wallet. Every thing else is just a load of wind . Here artists are famous for being less than great salesman simple as that .We all wish our work brought more ,in the end the public sets the prices by saying yes or no to our work . You can sell work any where in this country ,until you have sold in Santa Fe its hard to understand pricing . No one wishes to work for free ,in the end we all strive to do the best we can . I never count the time ,I average 3 times cost of material and shoot for 5 times most days . New Mexico pricing is like this : Lets say I sell a bag for 10.00 to a wholesaler ,he then adds 20 to 25 % the store owner buys and expects to triple his cost so now when the bag hits the shelf it must be believable to the retail customer at 40.00 . Jewellery is worse as the mark up is 7 times money thats how 50% off sales are possible . A Santa Fe store paying 30,000 a month plus all the extras simply cant stay in business just doubling the money . You are staying afloat at 7 times money ,brutal sounding but its a fact . Lots of empty stores to prove it ,people try and realise when the rents due they arent making it . There are more artists here than any where in the country the competition is fierce . Rember this is where a good piece of pottery will sell for 10,000 and its not a rare event just every day stuff . Think I am kidding Goggle "Robert Rivera Gourds Prices " and see for yourself . Bluesman1951