Clay

Hmmmm interesting Neat idea Kate, this is something I think I could use when I stitch belts....I will think on this Thanks!!!! ClayM.

Hey you guys, Thanks I have to admit it is pritty cool!!! I keep singing the words to the "Cover of the Rolling Stone" ah ha ha I dont believe it... hey Ray, hey Sugar, tell em who we are) Well, we big rock singers, we got golden fingers, and were loved everywhere we go. (That sounds like us) We sing about beauty and we sing about truth at ten thousand dollars a show. We take all kind of pills to give us all kind of thrills but the thrill weve never known Is the thrill thatll getcha when you get your picture on the cover of the Leather Crafter and Saddlers Journal. Rolling Stone wanna see my picture on the cover- Stone- wanna buy 5 copies for my mother- Stone- wanna see my smilin face on the cover of the LC&SJ Thanks again everyone ClayM.

Thanks for sharing the pictures. I agree with ClayB. it does look like every one was enjoying the class. I also enjoy being able to get a glimps of other TLF stores, I am always curious how they look compared to mine. ClayM.

With the oil I would only put it on the grain side of the leather, the flesh side will absorb alot more causing there to be too much oil. ClayM.

Joe, I have not heard of that name around here, but I will ask some of the old timers that come into the store and see if I can get you some information. ClayM.

Hi every one, I have to say that I am sorry to you all, I had this challenge planned out and then I could not get my scanner to work then the pc went down so I am using VERY BAD pictures for this month's challenge. If any one can make a better pattern out of the mess I have that would be so great!!! So on with the challenge. It is a figure carving challenge. The pattern is of a coyote howling at the moon. It is aprox two and one half inches by three inches. Tool and color the coyote in your favorite way. As an added challenge to go along with this pattern try to describe how you tooled or colored the pattern when you post your pictures. Thank you for your patience and support of the challenges. Clay M.

Hey all, My sister commissioned this feather for a friend of hers who is a big time hunter. My sisters husband and the ranch they work were recently featured on a TV hunting show thanks to the friend, so my sis wanted to give the guy something special related to his love of turkey hunting. I have been working on it for several weeks I have done three of these before I got this one right. It is 2 oz tooling calf and it is painted with acrylics. I used part of a coat hanger glued to the back side to stiffen up the quill of the feather. ClayM.

Timbo, Great job on the new web site. very easy to navigate and loads fast. I have one suggestion for you. The pictures that have the big red tobacco sign really take a lot away from your products. It made it hard for my eyes to find your leatherwork as the sign kept drawing them away. I think the background of the log cabin by its self would work much better. Just my thoughts. ClayM.

Johanna, Just wantesd to say thanks again for building this great place!! ClayM.

Ernie, Thanks!! I agree this is one of the best issues ever, But I may be a little biased about that!!lol If any one does their own version of the pattern please post picts here that would be soo neat to see how other people interpret the design. If any one has any questions on the way I carved it I would be happy to answer via pm thanks BertM.

WC, Wow thank you for posting this. I am speachless!!! ClayM.

I just wanted to let every one know that we had a lot of fun watching ClayB. this weekend. he did a great job showing his tallents. We did not get as many people in as we had hoped for but it was still a good sale. Had a big semi truck parked in front of the store for a while that did not do us any good. I did manage to get a few pictures of Clay doing his demos and answering questions. If no one can tell ClayB is the one in the big hat...... THANK YOU ClayB for coming down to the store. ClayM.

Good job Frog and David I am enjoing all of the posts and the different points of view. keep them coming!!!! ClayM.

Ricky, Sure ask a good question to show everyone just exactly how much I didn't pay attention...lol Actually Ken said that it is how he perfers to do the welts. The fork cover went on fairly easily, but I don't think putting the welts on the front was a neccessity beacuse of the shape of the swells or to make it easier. I guess it is a personal taste thing. Ken, Bruce, Keith, some one jump in here and save me... ClayM

Everyone, Thanks for the complements. Being the flawed perfectionist that I am I only see the mistakes. I would love to become a saddle maker/teacher... gotta lot to learn, and more experience needed first! lol! Mike and Alex, I don't remember exactly how many hours it was, I started on it about two months ago and worked on it an hour in the mornings and two or three in the evenings and on my days off I would put in as much as I could. I think I remember Ken saying that a saddle with minimal stamping and carving takes him a little over 40 hours. It was weird it seemed so monumental a project that I would be working on for forever, then suddenly it was done. ClayM.

Hi I just wanted to share my first saddle. It is a Will James tree. I was lucky enough to get a chance to learn from fellow LW'er Ken Nelson of Dakota Territory Saddle shop. We worked together on this saddle in the early mornings before I had to open the store and in the late evenings when possible. Ken is a very patient and knowledgeable teacher. Some parts of this saddle he did because it was easier to show and do than tell and do, other things I did on my own. It was a lot of fun and about three times more details and steps than I had emagined. I will be doing another one soon!! ClayM.

You all have done a great job with this challenge. I thought I better put my finger cuts in as well. A BIG thank you to all the participants in this challenge and to the rest of you where is yours?????? ClayM.

You know the classic drawing of the two hands drawing each other ? I'd like to see that done but have them carving instead of drawing. Hmmm, That is a cool idea freak!!! ClayM. aka Bert

Come on yall!! We need some help here!!! I don't want Ernie to be sitting there with his mallet in hand and nothing to pound on!! Give us suggestions..... ClayM. aka Bert

Crystal OMy!!!! That is beautiful!! How in the world did you come up with that? WOW!! I wouldn't call that finger cuts, I would call that fine scroll work!! ClayM.

Hey every one, I just wanted to let every one know that ClayB. will be at the TLF in Rapid City, SD to demo his style of leather art on Friday Aug. 22 and Saturday Aug 23. He will be there to support our one year anniversary sale. We will be celebrating for 4 days starting on Wednesday the 20th. If you find your self nearby please stop by and have a free bad cupa coffee and enter our drawing. Here is the cool part that envolves all of you. ClayB. has been stumped for something to demo while he is at the store. So we are asking you all to come up with something for ClayB. to do. We reserve the right to say No Way!! so keep it clean and family friendly please. Also remember it has to be some thing that he can complete in two days with a minimal amount of tools. ClayB and I will look over your suggestions and pick out our fav ideas then we will let you all decide on wich one he will do. Please only reply to this topic to keep it easy to track. Thanks every one!! ClayM.

WC, Thanks for taking the challenge and posting your work. That is a great example of finger cuts for those who did not know. Ok everyone WC set the bar high on this but it is not as hard as you might think so give it a try and you will be surprised at what finger cuts can do to enhance your projects. ClayM.

The challenge for August is a finger cuts challenge. The challenge is on swivel knive cuts only. The pattern can be any that you choose based upon scroll work. Unfortunately I do not have a picture of finger cuts so if you are not sure what they are we will have to wait for some chalenge takers. I look forward to seing what every one comes up with. Thanks, ClayM.