electrathon

I am confused, are these minatures of the actual saddles that eh was making in his shop?

I am glad to see you here. I like your work! Seems like we should talk about more of the masters of leather here. Maybe they will all show up one by one!

Marlon, First off, if this is the first Sheriden pattern you have drawn, it looks great. I struggle trememdously to draw and create. I am much better at copying others. As far as critique: The main thing I see is that you started in the bottom left corner (I am assuming that it is rotated because of where you signed it) very tight. So tight in that the leaves were clipped over the edge, That is OK, but no where else in the pic does it overhang the edge. I would say that you should have continued with the overhanging leaves or not had the first ones. You then continued up and to the left more than to the right, it gives the pattern a top heavy appearance. Possibly if the leaf closest to the signature was rotated a little more down and there was a turnback stem (like on the left near the top) it would have ballanced more. There is also a couple spots where the stems turn into lines. You show great promise in your work of becoming a master at this artform.

I am impressed. Very nice work. Aaron

I didn't see this post origionally (just the other one), now I see what you are trying to do. The thickness of the two layers of leather are going to prevent the wallet from either staying open or staying closed automaticly. It is more comfortable for a wallet to stay closed when you are carrying it so that is how they are usually made. As stated in the other post, the center of the lining was cut out of Corters wallet, so it will bend easier. In the one you are making, the double layer of leather is going to cause issues. What I would do is fold the main piece and then fold the outter section over it (wet form it). Then contact the two togeather and start sewing. Aaron

Pics?

The inside piece needs to be shorter than the outside. The differance depends on the leather thickness, but the best way I have found is to fold the inner piece, then fold the outter piece over it and mark it, then trim to length. Aaron

What would work well is a screwdriver. It would make perfect indentations. If a tool was made for this, it would look exactly like a tip of a #2 phillips. Use a tube around the shaft and you will have a perfect screw shape.

That would be backwards...

I have not found any guilds, clubs, groups here. I think this area is leather challanged.

I make a lot of knife sheaths. The cardboard from cerial/food boxes is great for a first template. Then transfer it to the leather once the size and shape is determined. Aaron

I think something is broke. No matter what I do, I can not smell them...

I think you are pretty

The trouble is that you are using the wrong printer. Inkjet ink does not stay well on transparancies. I do this all the time, but I use a laser printer. I have great success. I rarely use any other way of tracing since I was told how to do this. Aaron

Here are two that I made. I have a few more started, just two finished so far. Aaron

Please post here in the open things that you need/could use. I think there are a few here who would be willing to send things your way. Listing your FPO would be good too, so everyone does not have to PM you separatly. Aaron

I took a class from Pete Gorrell a few months ago. What he had us do was case the leather as we normally would. Then put lexol on half of it. Then had us cut lines accross the cased and cased with lexol areas. When you hit the area with lexol it definatly cut/glided easier through it. A simple demonstration that was easy to see and understand. I have been using it most of the time since he showed us and I do feel that it is easier to carve (in general, I have always used pro-carve alone). Aaron

I grew up in Alaska. I now live in Oregon where it is warm! People laugh at me all the time here when I tell them I moved to oregon for the warm weather. Aaron

Clay, I am now confused. This was posted in the other challenge thread about the couger: Are both both supposed to be for February? I have started on the other one (which is tough since I have never done an animal before). I will move on to this one if it is going to be the current one. Aaron

Very nice! His friends are all going to want you to make them one too.

I like the stiching. Like the background pattern. Very nice tooling. Needs decorative cuts. Aaron

I think Tandy is the Wal-Mart of the leather world.

Didn't that coupon expire on the 12th? Unless possibly differant parts of the country get differant fliers. Aaron

Welcome. I am across the river in Portland, boardering Gresham. Aaron

How did you get the wrinkles to smooth out? Was the piece wet or did you put it on dry?