WinterBear

I like this, especially the designs in the corners. Heh, might have to make one for work. Do optical mice do ok on leather? I know they hate some mouse mats.

Absolutely beautiful!

I have to agree with everyone else--sign up for and watch the paper and email flyers--a recent paper flyer had the stamps for half off, and Craftsman oak tooling sides for $60 for the whole thing (it pays to go early for leather, so you can pick through the pile). The flyer also usually has a coupon that is 50% off one item, or 25% off leather. The email flyers will often have different items than the mailing flyer. See if they have any over-runs, or a bit that was damaged (if you take in some pattern pieces cut from something you can see through, you can lay them out on a hide or shoulder to see if you can work around any bad spots before you buy), and take a rummage through the scrap bins-- I have found some fantastic stuff that way. Additionally, each individual store will have a special here and there--the local Tandy here usually has shoulders for sale on Saturday mornings when the tooling classes are in session.

That might be something--How deeply did you groove? I did not groove deeply and wound up with an impression of stitches before. Maybe if the groove is too deep, the wheel can't get set down deeply enough to mold the top of the groove against the "scoop" of the wheel, or the fleshy center can't mold as well as the upper layers?

Maybe your leather is too dry? Mine seems to make a pretty good stitch impression?

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=37349&pid=230915&st=0entry230915 This person posted today and seems to have what you want, I think.

Plastic file folders and envelopes, the piece of plastic in the bottom of those recycled tote bags they sell at the grocery stores, plexiglass, hardened leather, varnished heavy cardstock posterboard, you can also buy blank sheets of stencil plastic at hobby stores--my personal favorite. Smooth on one side, usually slightly pebbled on the other, semi-transparent, and can be obtained fairly easily in pieces up to page sized to about 18" by 24". The stencil blanks can be cut on a sheet of glass with a "stencil tip" in a woodburning tool, so you can even make slots and holes for marking where rivets or major features will go, and since you can see through it, it is handy for cutting around scars, holes, scratches, and brands.

Ok, for starters, try Ganoksin. There are some nationally- and world-renowned jewelers who will write tutorials and may even answer digest posts. They don't have a typical forum (Orchid forum archive: http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/index.htm), but the weekly threads can be emailed to you as a digest. The Ganoksin PMC library is here: http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/directory/library/subject/53

You can find plain small brass upholstery pins from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MZWZ1K/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1YXB0GPXJ9QQ8), or Hardware and Tools.com (http://www.hardwareandtools.com/Stanley-N279-141-National-Brass-Small-Round-Head-Upholstery-Nails-038613279148.html). Both the Stanley and the National pins are around 1/4 or 5/16" in diameter, I believe. Or, maybe try brass Escutcheon pins? Even smaller, and probably carried by the local hardware or big box store.

Maybe very thin veg-tan lining leather, like a calf, goat, or pig, no thicker than 2oz? It could probably be turned into tuck ruffles.

Well, if you're interested in the PMC and other metal clays, give me a few days to sort out a few articles I have on the clays, and some information on a digest-based jeweler's forum I know of that has discussions about the stuff. There are a few "dead tree" magazines that showcase jewelery made with the clays and sometimes have how-to's for the simpler ones. I'll try to winnow through and pick out some of the best. Before you head out to rummage through search engines and websites, I'll give you a warning though. The clay jewelry and art pieces run the gamut of skill, style, and taste--and some items are in very poor taste and not suitable for viewing at work.

Sounds like you need to poke around in some of the jewelery and lapidary supply. Either cabochon bolo tie backs (clasps) or a modified jewelry cab or frame attached to the bolo back might work. Try looking for bolo components and coin mounts, frame pendants, frame components, focal frame, and cabochon frame mountings at your local hobby stores in the beading departments or try these websites or similar places: Eloxite's stuff is probably closest to what you want as far as function and appearance, but it is plated common metals (usually plated brass or nickle). The plating can come off if the setting is abused, such as where the cords are pulled through the clasp repeatedly. http://www.eloxite.com/store/category.php?id_category=110 Fire Mountain has some focal frames that might work if they are epoxied or otherwise attached to a bolo back. They have plated and pewter frames, but I don't think they have much else. http://www.firemountaingems.com Rio Grande requires a login/registration to view prices, and they are primarily wholesale only. The minimums vary, but can be steep. They do have sterling and pewter jewelery components, but can be expensive compared to other jewelry supply stores. Sterling prices will fluctuate based on the daily market prices. Silver is currently running around $32 per troy oz. https://www.riogrande.com Another, more complicated option might be to see if anyone in your area works with Precious Metal Clay (PMC) or other metal art clays and have a frame custom made. Jewelers and lampwork glass bead artists are your best bets. Some universities may have jewelry departments that work with these clays, so check with art students too. These clays consist of a binder and ground metals. The "clay" can be shaped and then fired in a kiln, which burns off the binders--some shrinkage can occur, depending on the material, so best to find someone who is experienced enough to account for this, or your frame might be too small. Items made from these clays are generally not as strong as pieces fabricated from sheet or bar stock, and tend to be porous on a micro-level, so they are not always able to allow for delicate features, and because of the pores and the residual carbon in the pores, they are not usually able to take a high-gloss polished finish. Available metals, depending on the artist and your budget can include 22k gold, sterling silver, copper, bronze, steel. The gold, silver, and copper clays may cost more or less depending on spot market prices, so if you go this route, make sure what you are paying is based on the commodities market for the day you commissioned it, not a week later when the item was finally ordered and the spot price went up 10% since the previous week!!

That's really nice, and a clever front. Love the bookcase with the stacked books. I have an older model Kindle my sister gave me when she upgraded, and I hate the case. The first cases they made are not very good at holding the Kindle securely. You've inspired me to make my own case!

Pretty! I have got to get better so I can make things like this.

Happy to hear that then, I thought it might potentially be the same person, so even happier to hear that it is not. And after reading your post, I agree, you and Gary are how honest folks due business--similar products developed on your own, but approached from different angles, and you each have your own styles and have developed your own clientele independently of each other and each other's products. By the way, I meant to ask you about the burnishers I got from you. Do I need to condition the wood ever? It's dry here, really dry. Or will they pick up enough oils from the leather to not need it?

I'd talk to Bruce Johnson on this forum as far as makers/brands, time periods, and piecemeal vs. sets. He sells nice old Gomph, Rose, and Osborne tools in good condition, clean, and sharp. http://brucejohnsonl...tools_for_sale/ -- he has two galleries of wooden-handled tools right now, plus some other tools. I've been very happy with the things I've bought from him. You can also watch the "for sale" forum in the marketplace, I've obtained a few good tools from other people on this forum from there.

I've got to mention, I think the same guy is selling on etsy too.

Hello fellow learner. A lot of the people here modify their tools, and not just stamping tools. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=3935 http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=30155 http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=29124

Woah! Wait a minute here. This is a discussion forum, isn't it? With open access to those who make leather goods and all of those who want to learn more about it? Heck, I love learning about saddles. Doesn't mean I'll ever make one. But if I ask a question about how to do something on a saddle to help a friend make their saddle that they plan to sell, someone here will be more than happy to talk to me about it, and I value that helpfulness. Every question I've had on this forum has been answered by people who didn't have to do so, but were willing to assist my completely twitty and admittedly bumbling self. It's a nice community feeling, and I'm willing to return the favor to anyone, regardless if they know anything about what I know or do, if I can help or give them some idea of where to start. Personally, was my post valuable? Maybe, but she could have found what I gave her herself if she poked around enough or found a G&F agent willing to yak it up a bit over a gallon or two of coffee. What I gave her is neither proprietary nor a derivative work of mine. All I gave here is somewhere to start, and some suggestions. She still has to take that and work on it--verify, refine, research more, see if her idea is feasible based on those sources. I see my posts as nothing more than the information I would give a Boy Scout working on his Ev.Sci. Merit Badge, a student looking for resources on a biology paper, or a friend wondering why I wouldn't let them pick up and keep the flicker feather he saw in the park. Besides, some of her readers might get intrigued by leather and maybe wander this way? (not a contributing member yet, but I'm working on it)

YEah, Murphy is always hanging around, and he's got a real mean sense of humor. Let's just say you'll probably want to know if there is someone nearby who can fix the timing, or where to send it if it jams, and you'll want to know it before your machine does jam up. The good news is, as you become more familiar with your machine, timing issues are usually less of a problem.

Sounds like a tailor's measuring tape maybe? They come with and without eyelets on one end, are canvas cloth or a fiberglass cloth, and run from a foot to about 108 inches (9ft) long. If so, try places that sell sewing notions (quilt and fabric stores, some hobby stores) and places that do alterations (especially for menswear, prom dresses, and wedding dresses and tuxes), and there are a lot of choices online.

Hehe, sorry. I deal with some aspects of this pretty much daily, so I have a lot of information about it (and yet, I seem to have nowhere near enough time to understand it all, so have to look at just portions of it at a time to try and figure it out). All of that was just the "broad splatter-brush". The hat is a bit of a headache actually. I wonder if the group who wanted to make it are now thinking they should have started out with something a little less complicated...like coyote or bison.

Check out the USFWS website for press releases and the US Justice Department press releases for information on those that have been busted for smuggling. Smuggling of cat hides especially (tiger, leopard, etc.), but they tend to be furred pelts or rugs than dehaired leather goods. In the US, with native species, it's usually lynx. Lynx are protected in most of the US, either on the federal or state level, and the hides can look very similar to bobcat hides. Some states prohibit or restrict hunting and trapping of bobcats to prevent "take" of lynx. Otter, wolf, wolverine, grizzly etc. hides are also problematic to legally have in some states, even if they were legally taken in another state or country, and may require interstate game tags at the least to being illegal to possess in the state, period. For example, otters and the state of Wyoming. Otters are not legal to take in Wyoming, but can be purchased from Washington. If I buy an otter hide from Washington to make a hat, It will need to have a tag from the Washington Game and Fish affixed to it, usually through an eyehole, the tip of the tail, or a foot, depending on if it is a whole or partial hide. I will then have to take it to the Wyoming G&F and get an interstate tag affixed (about $8 and some paperwork). The tags must accompany the skin until the hat is made and may be required to be affixed to the finished hat. While still in hide state, there are some states I may not take the hide to, even with the WA tag and the interstate tag attached. Once made into a hat, there should be no problems, but it would still be a good idea to keep the tags with the hat while transporting. Acts that you may find of use (generalized overview in parentheses): Lacey Act (http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ovuslaceyact.htm) Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stus16usc668.htm) Endangered Species Act (http://www.animallaw.info/topics/tabbed%20topic%20page/spusesa.htm) Migratory Bird Protection Act (http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusmba.htm) US Department of Justice: http://www.justice.gov Press releases on wildlife: http://searchjustice.usdoj.gov/search?q=wildlife&search.x=0&search.y=0&q=inurl%3A%2Fopa%2Fpr&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=iso-8859-1&oe=UTF-8&client=default_frontend&proxystylesheet=default_frontend&site=default_collection USFWS: http://www.fws.gov/ Press releases: http://us.vocuspr.com/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=fws&Entity=PRAsset&PublishType=Press+Release&XSL=PressReleases&Title=Recent+Releases&PageSize=0&MaximumResults=10&Cache=&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetUDF_UDF20582_EQ=%28R9%29+Headquarters+%28Region+9%29 (will need to select region for best effect on search engine) ECOS: http://ecos.fws.gov/ecos/indexPublic.do# Bobcat, no federal protection beyond Lacey Act, but may have state protections (search NatureServe--link below--for list of states): http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A0HX Lynx, showing differences in status across range: http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A073 You might also poke around on the ICUN and NatureServe websites: NatureServe: http://natureserve.org/; NatureServe search engine: http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?init=Species ICUN: http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Ok, brain overload, right? Once you narrow it down somewhat as far as what species you want to talk about, where it is coming from, and where it is going, I can probably offer more specific help.

Nice work, and I like your logo too. What is it a case for? What will it hold?