bluesman1951

Thanks for your words and thoughts . I am in agreement with you . For me its all about choice : To see Or not to see . I would enjoy them all in one place and out of sight . When the thought comes lets go shopping comes to mind one click and there they all are to view at once . I had a very effictive ad block program running so I surfed with no adds at all ever anywhere . One day it stopped working and I was buried in ads like a ticker tape parade . Made me nuts just could not make them stop every screen every site flooded with stuff . There is no doubt that the vendors are giving good service and quality products . Funny thing I never saw the ads here till my ad block stopped working . They were always there and I did not know it .LOL So chalk this up to one of those computer overload days . You are 100% correct in your thoughts . Thanks . Bill

Thanks for sharing your story,sounds like you had a great time . Did some business and avertiseing had all the base's covered looks like . Something to put in your good to know catagory : Direct sunlight kills leather finishes it bleaches them very fast and all your beautiful work suffers . Best to opt for shade when selling outside . Just saying shame to learn that the hard way ,it just sneaks up on you and your stuff is damaged before you know it . Congradulations now you have your feet wet and are a show veteran with many more to come . Well done and thanks for the pic and the story that's class keeping your word and sharing the story and pic . Thanks ! Bill

Very well done !!!!! Sweet work ,good as it gets . Thanks for showing this ! Bill

Sounds like you are a really nice person. I do mind "Targeted ADs" I dont want to be watched ,recorded ,or have my surfing monitered .The world fails to understand the concept of the word "MINE" ,if its mine leave it alone . Data mining is a creepy invasion of privacy . I have recived mail from me to me ,had my contact list hijacked ,had face book account hacked ,gotten thousands of Nigerian scam emails, I am glad life is giving you a enjoyable experience ,I have out in the weeds on the edges of cyber spce and its not wine and roses trust me . I guess what I am saying is I want CHOICE to be able to choose to see something or not . I guess I could never turn the computer on ,that would be a choice as well . Seems bad choices and no choices are the order of the day . For me its like having no front door on your house and the public comes and goes as it pleases . LOL If you are computer savy I suppose steps can be taken to stop all this mischief . When you arent smart enough you become every ones victiam ,a virtual punching bag for every one up to no good . So once again it appears "Its My Fault " I am not smart enough to stop them . LOL

I can see your point . Why give away the farm ? There are so many artists here in New Mexico that a new idea stands as much chance as a hunk of meat in a pool of Pirranahs . Its wholesale idea theft and people have shot each other over it . Imagine getting killed over a dreamcatcher . I do rember way back when I first started and was lost in the land of leather .Each knot and technique camd slowly some were gifts some trial and error some tons of study . Now after 25 years There is a nice pile of knowledge in my bag of tricks . I ask myself about sharing from time to time and still dont have a answer . If you learned it then give it away for nothing then you have placed a value of nothing on what you have learned . I dont really know what to say about sharing . I looked at your work sir and all I can say is you have payed your dues ,no doubt about it . I can see the hours spent at the bench each step from first to last . To say "Can I have all the patterns to make that for nothing " is just askin a bunch that no one is entitled too. With that said I am going to step back and walk away from this . Sir thats a mighty fine scabbard you made simply made to last good to ride the river with ,in my opinion its as good as it gets my compliments . I understand your position completely . Bill

Yes indeed thats the way its done ! I know a guy who does belts for 30 yrs and thats his procedure . How ever he uses a magic marker on the ends . Having the dye out creates a spill risk factor . If you dont have it out and open the spill risk is ZERO . I like that ! Risk nothing ,Lose nothing .Yes sir you will do just fine looks like a winner to me . Have fun take notes ,bring your camera , have more than one pen and pad handy hand out your contact stuff ,if its a good show youll work your butt off so bring a lunch because you arent likely to escape your booth . I would like to hear the details and see the pics so if you would sir please share the story . Good Luck Bill

Nice job ,those ought to work just fine at the show . Clean interesting work with good appeal . If you had my size and the price was right I would be buying a couple of those . Good luck at the show . Let us know how it goes at the show . All my best Bill

Thanks I tried down loading that and got a message about unsafe excuitable bit . It wont let it in says untrusted source any way I am going to have my computer guy look at it . Thanks if I ever get this to work i plan on making some great molds for wet forming leather for cell phone cases and hard leather projects . Bill

I think in my whole leather working time I have made a project with customer input maybe twice , LOL I simply make what I want or think people will find useful. I do listen to customers for what their needs are beyond that it dont much matter . I have gotten rid of everything thats a headache in this business . Funny thing is I run a business and almost no one knows how to get a hold of me . My time is spent creating what ever I can dream up and when I have a big enough pile of interesting things I go cash it in . Pretty simple . there are no piles of things that did not sell shelf is empty and its time to start about 6 new things with patterns and drawings . I have the ability to look at something and see it 6 different ways and each of those a couple of different ways each . Maybe some of my projects are "CHILIE " projects . Put a bunch of stuff (Techniques) in a pot and stir . Hope it tastes good . So far it all works out making a marriage of a little of each from a dozen different things Ive seen . Like shuffling cards and seeing what kind of hand you get ,each hand is a new bag . The cards are all the techniques you have in your head to use . I enjoy my freedom a lot unless I get one of those old folks memory problems dont look like Ill be running out of ideas any time soon . Thanks for understanding my comments ,that means a lot . Bill

I like this bag a lot . The workmanship is flawless . I expect you want a honest feed back on this . I looked at it a bunch of times from end to end and my eyes keep sticking on the braided flap . I asked myself :why ?what is wrong with it ? The answer I got is : Nothing ,but it just dont seem to fit some how . Its done right nothing wrong with that . It dont have any flaws ,but for me it makes the eye snag there . It interfers with the harmony of the whole if you understand that . I was taken with the detail on the bottom and though that it should be continued some how with the flap . I like that "Flavour" its smooth like the rest of the bag . I hope you understand all that , and no I havent been drinking ! Its just a very well done combination of materials and shapes with enough braiding techniques to draw the eye smoothly from fine detail to another . They say if you look then look again from one detail to another just cruising around with your eye its well done . Cant be digested with one look . I can see this shelf ready in any fine Gallery in Santa Fe . Never know how your work stacks up till you put it on a shelf in a nice store next to the competition and ask yourself "Does it Belong "? My answer with your bag is a resounding YES ! My compliments ,well done ! Bill

Wow ,How has this slipped through the cracks for so long . Just is not fair to not get a answer your questions certainly were clear enough . I can help with the bench : I have used a solid core door cut down and just put leggs on it . Worked fine with a Tandy converor belt top then put your granite on top of that . Most people who have bought cheap tools seem to regret it ,so I would maybe save up and get 3 really good tools and start there . Just no subisitute for quality . Rather than buy a bunch of books why not spend some time at the library and see what they offer . Next you cant go wrong with getting a subscription to " Leather Crafters And Saddlers Journal " Maybe get some back issues hard to go wrong with these . Bruce Grants book on braiding is a must . I am truely sorry that your inquiry and request has sat for so long here . Please dont give up on leather because of that . Welcome and please try again . Bill

HMMMMMMMMM Every post helps someone in some way ,a picture inspires ,shows a attachment or new to me technique of some kind. I do understand the "used" feeling that sucks for sure . Arriving like a tornado setting up shop with a for sale sign and leaving with out a by your leave is tacky at best. We are dealing with HUMANS and they are a bit tacky by nature with a whole host of bad manners . Until we get some off planet leather workers seems we are stuck with what we have . Good order is always nice ,that I support whole heartly . I have wondered many times why we dont work together . I am okay with giving a man a idea that puts food on his table. One day I am hoping the favor will be returned when I am in need . We will never live long enough to make everything there is to be made . Man once told me : A pie given to you by a friend will always be a bit sweeter than one you buy in the store . So it is with knowledge I believe . Coming here and planting a flag like claiming a foriegn land to set up a business is just plain funny .After doing a thousand flea markets do you think there is a new brand of human animal that I have not encountered ? The mean,desperate,greedy ,selfish ,arrogant, rude ,self absorbed , they are all out there . Capitalism is by its very nature is canniableistic so why the surprise ? At the end of the day does it really matter ? There are lots of really great people here making the leather journey like one long pilgrimage . My advise is to keep eyes and ears open take notes as good teachers arent into repeating themselves . All my best Bill

Big surprise for me the ads were always there . My ad block has apparently stopped working . For those who have always seen those 4 ads at the top of the page ,please understand I saw them for the first time two days ago when my ad block apparently quit working . No wonder every one thought I was NUTS ! Seems the auto spell check here has ceased to work for me as well . Nothing but frustration with this computer stuff. Had not considered the white out ,but a hammer and duc tape has crossed my mind . Time to see the computer doctor I guess . I just realised its possible one day I am going to click on a button who's function I dont understand and end up deleting myself . Scarey !! Bill

Yes it easy to down load however click on the icon and see how many filters you have . Without the filters it does nothing to block any thing . Iam yet to figure out how to install the filters . Time for me to get some help . Bill

Wow this is nice ! Great work ! I am from the old school of use what you have leather and thread keeping it simple . Your stitching is perfect razor sharp ,very clean ! If it was me I would have sewed the belt fastners on and let the chicago screws stay on the bench . Thats only a personal opinion and I hope you see it that way . I am inspired by your project and the quality of your work . Thank you very much for showing us this fine project .

Today is the first time I have seen the 4 banner ads ,so it was a big surprise . I guess my ad block was working up to now.Apparently as Beverslayer said my ad block settings have changed somehow that will be looked into and corrected . I dont respond well when I do not have a choice to see or not to see . When I cant make something go away or be out of sight my frustration level goes through the roof . Bill

Yes something has changed with my add blocker settings and it looks like a trip to visit the computer guy is in order . As to the trash emails its up to about 100 a day between 5 seperate email accounts . Getting real ticked off about it . I know changing the email will solve this ,but my position is : Its my email I happen to like it ,I have it on my cards for my business and I have no intention of bowing to crooks and change it . I will some how get enough computer skills to melt their key boards if they are stupid enough to send me a scam email . People have no respect for privacy any more and there is no punishment . Did you see where some foriegn crooks breeched a IRS computer some how and had complete access for more than a week and stole identiy informaton on every one who payed taxes in that state . In short they robbed an entire state each and every person who filed taxes is now well on their way to having their ID's mis used . The theives accomplished this without leaveing home sitting in a easy chair simply boggles the mind . Dont appear any punishment is on the way for them either. Makes me sick with all the mischeif going on on line . Bill

Nope ,not those little boxes at all . Its the 4 banner adds of which I speak . Those adds appeared for me for the first time today .Seems everyone has had them for a long time . Wonder why ? No wonder everyone thinks I am nuts . Never saw those 4 banner adds before today so something I had in use to block them has stopped working ,have to look into that . Thanks for your response . All my best Bill

Yes the patterns are done ,the hard copies turned out well . Now I just copy onto the graph paper and fill in the details (measurements and notes ) and mail them . Wish there was a way to copy them at one of those copy places ,but they want 7.00 per foot to do that making the one big sheet cost 42.00 that makes no sense at all . So to answer your question YES the patterns are done . Next step is take some pictures of the patterns with the notes and measurements and see if they will be sendable by email . That way they will be available by all very fast with out the use of regular mail . Be a shame if those over seas could not get these plans because of mail problems .Let me know when you are ready . Bill

Good to know . So far after 3 years its been trouble free ,no need for the shop . For that I am grateful . Thanks for your response . Any opinions on "Qcad " or "Blender" looking for a 3d cad program for pattern and mold making for wet forming leather . Bill

Thanks for your response . I also use fire fox and linux as a platform . Have every filter going possible and I am burried in garbage every day 100's of mails to delete every day . Life is a constant barrage of people trying to sell you things ,thats funny because I sell things too . Must make me a hypocrite huh! Bill

Thanks ,for the most part Linux is free of infections . Pretty tough to get in any thing unsafe sets off all kinds of alarms .Have you noticed the new banner popup ads on this site ? It is of those I spoke of , in your face advertiseing with no choice to view or not . My thinking is give me a choice by putting all the vendors in one spot and if I am searching for something I can go there and see all of them at once . My thinking is please dont force me to view something I have no intrest in . When there is no place to retreat or no choice or only bad choices Iam upset thats pretty simple . Let me have a good choice . Where does one go when there is no pace to go ? Thanks for your response . Bill

My computer is just fine ,I have ad block installed and for the most part it works . I am speaking of the new pop up banner adds on this site . Its in your face advertiseing and your only choice is not to vist this site any longer or put up with them . I am against having no choice or just having a bad choice . At the moment just fed up with junk ,I have 5 email accounts and so far today I have deleted more than 100 pieces of stuff from the spam folders combined . Thats a daily chore and I have reached my overload moment . Thanks Bill

I have not got a single piece of mail in years ,gave up mail box stuff long ago . No need to call the post office . Thanks Bill

I am against ads of all kinds . When I look at my computer screen and see something I did not invite to be there its a unwanted intrusion . My computer screen is my private domain and people selling things are not invited it dont matter who they are or what they sell . Just because some one has harvested my email address does not give them the right to send me things . The time I spend throwing away their GARBAGE is time taken from my life that can not be replaced ,day after day 40/50 pieces of garbage every day to sweep and delete . Enough !!!!!!! If I wish to puchase something I will do a search and seek it out other than that I never need to see a ad . Pop up ads are in the same catagory and class as the AFRICAN scam emails . This I promise : I do not care what you sell if you put a pop up ad on my screen univited I will never buy any thing from you EVER !!!!! This is my personal opinion and my opinion alone . Some things just irritate me beyond my ability to endure and this is one of them . I have ad block installed and wonder why it does not filter these ads out ,rest assured a call is into my computer guy now this intrusion will be dealt with . Bill