Sylvia

Looks good to me Renee. For those who need help with up-sizing the pics to see them Just click on the thumbnail then hold down CTRL and repeatedly press [ + ] until it's max. When done viewing hold down CTRL and Press zero [ 0 ].

You are over thinking it. Just mark it if you are proud of it.

Why not just email Artifactbags and ask?

Yes, he was a wonderful person with a generous soul. I have a few things he made that he traded with me for and a couple he just gave me. I cherish these pieces and think of Gary each time I use them.

It would have to be strong enough to destroy the floors too. I would get a couple types and dilute then test on some scrap leather. If all else fails you can clean your floors. LOL

Natalie: Do you know if you have an acrylic wax based floor cleaner there? We have something called "mop & glo" One of our members (Katsass)swears by it and he uses it all the time, thinned... I think. to 50/50 water to cleaner. If you could get something like that locally you would save yourself a lot of time... and shipping and import issues. Also, Sometimes I use use permanent markers to color leather rather than dyes and a brush. I find the markers give more control and are less likely to rub off. Sharpies and Bic both have sets with good selections of colors. I like to let them "set" for a few days before I put any other type of finish on them. BTW... Patience, patience, patience. Most disasters come from trying to move on to the next step too quickly. As far as testing before hand.... I've had mixed results with that. It needs to be a piece of leather from the same leather and area of hide that you made the project from.

From a Marketing standpoint a companies Logo is ideally simple and no more than 2 colors. Think "IBM" and "Apple" Even Team logos are rarely more than 2 colors and are simple images. The tattoo is lovely but the cost of materials such as letter head, signage, business cards, labels would be entirely too expensive. Keep the original.

Awesome! Thank you so much.

Quilter's use something that might work for your purpose. It's called a mini-iron. http://www.amazon.com/Clover-MCI900-Mini-Iron/dp/B001CE73F8

LOL First, if a man treats his women thus... he is no gentleman and deserves his "injuries." Clearly he has a history of being disloyal. We don't know what with the topic of the convo with the "other woman." but it's likely it wasn't an innocent one. Let this be a warning to those who think they will get away with their indiscretions... a woman scorned will make you pay... one way or another. BTW... XXXX beaver hats fit nicely inside a toilet seat. lol

While I believe in "Do one thing and do it well,"... I think it's good to stretch your skills. After the first of the year perhaps you can participate in some of the challenges. I started leather work in Junior High. Did it for a couple years and then the death of my both my parents by the time I was 18 lead me down a path of self destruction for a while. I left leather alone for a long time, until about 6 years ago when I went half crazy and bought a bunch of tools and leather projects on Ebay. I "attempted" one small project and the others sat in a closet until about a year ago when my husband's belt broke and we had no money to buy him a new one. I dug out the belt blanks I had an did a simple border design. Then I re-did a wallet that the previous owner of the tools attempted. Then a checkbook case... and a dasher bag from the things I had. I was off an running. I found LW.net and have learned a lot. Long story, shortened. I own several guitars. While in a chat with other guitarists.... someone asked me what I had been doing lately. I showed a picture of a practice piece and simply said. "I think I'm going to make myself a guitar strap." The next thing I new I had an order for a guitar strap. Eureka! lol I'm still doing guitar straps (and pick pouches) but still haven't made one for myself, yet. I think I am ready to branch out a little too. So, I guess my advice is to look toward another hobby you may have your "focus" may lay in that field. For instance, an athlete might find a leather gym bag a good project. A bowler might want a leather bowling bag. An archery enthusiast, a quiver, etc.

I would guess this machine was made in the late 1800s. I would contact cobra steve with measurements on the needles see if he can match one for you.

Camaroo... may I suggest the tutorial over at seamlyne? It's more of a boot... that you fit to your foot by making a duct tape casting. Here's the link. Prototype first with a sturdy fabric like canvas... then cut your leather. Also barge cement mixed with tire grindings (from a retread shop) make a great sturdy yet quiet outsole that is completely repairable. Anyway... here's the tutorial. http://www.seamlyne.com/design/costume/footwear/footwear_index.asp

I like Paleoplanet. People are willing to experiment over there. There's a great long tutorial on how to Tan deer hide veg-tan HAIR ON.

Paul Burnett, (RIP) wrote an article about the F926 and the struggles he had with replacing a lost one with a similar tool after Tandy switched from hand ground tools to Cast tools. The trouble was that the points and overall shape was different. The points were blunt and the heal was convex instead of concave, etc. He had a few people attempt a remake but was dissatisfied with the results. It took me ages but I finally got my hands on a Craftool USA F926 at a good price. Nice sharp points do make a difference.

Wow. My first instinct is to say get or borrow a guitar if you don't have one already. I'm not much into braiding or plaiting but I'll look through google books and see if I can find an old out of copyright book that might be helpful... something you can read online or print out I mean. Ok. Here's a free book on knots and splices. It's mostly for rope but from what I see there is some good info on some rather fancy knots like the monkey fist or crown knots. To download this, click the gear and click "Download PDF." Than save. http://books.google.com/books?id=9jVEAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Leather+craft+braids,+plaits+and+knots&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TwKtULzHMuaTiAKenIGoDg&ved=0CEMQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false

that's a good point leathersmith. I would think that the term "Professional" would assume you've been doing the work for a while already. But who knows what Tandy is thinking on that one. To the OP... the one time I went to the Boise Tandy for the "Open House, Everything's on Sale." I got hugged which was kind of cool. But more importantly, I was eyeballing the "Pro Set." And the Manager of the store said. You probably have everything that's in that already. I was stunned but looked at the contents and indeed... I did have most of it already. I agree with those who buy USED tools. Though a lot of times the bidders on Ebay just flat get nuts and bit them up way past where the price should be. So use caution (and an auction sniping tool) It took me a long while but I finally got my coveted vintage F926 for a fair price. ($5 shipped) where if I had purchased at some of the used tools shops it would have cost me $20 shipped. Pro tools can be very expensive. I figure if I have to save for more then 2-3 months for a tool, it's probably priced out of my price range and I should probably sent that money to Cobra Steve instead.

I always dye and slick the backs, then give them a spray of satin sheen or resolene. There is an acoustic 2.5" strap template online here at LW on the forum. I also recommend Black River Laser. Good product, fair price and fast ship.

LOL. Well it was a thought.

Good for use as tracing templates, maybe. Usually it's really thin inexpensive leather which in my opinion is harder to tool. I would prefer to see new people get scraps too... for a couple reasons. 1. If they start right in tooling projects without practice... they are too nervous and tense and freak out when they "screw up" a project piece. 2. It's important to learn to cut and design your own pieces from scrap. Since it is scrap there are less freak outs and it's "ok" if you screw up... it was only scrap. That said, if you want a selection of tools, albeit poor quality tools, and books and dyes, etc the kits are ok for getting enough to get started.... but know that you'll quickly outgrow the kit's tools and will start searching for quality instead.

Green light... schmeen-light. I say tell the Mrs. "Honey, I'm gonna go pick up your Christmas/Anniversary/Father's Day/Birthday present to me, See ya in a couple days."

Schreck. I would price out the pieces then make your decision. The shipping on this will be pretty high because of that slab of marble, so factor that in as well. (you can get a slab cheap or free at your local granite counter top place that will likely be a lot larger than this one) I like the Tandy Deluxe set, but the tools in these sets are cheaply made ones that tend to break or bend. In addition I would only buy it at their clearance sales after the new year. I think I got one last year at $69 and there is a $10 discount if you've not bought/ordered from them before.

Ash, those fliers you see in the mail? there's often a coupon for 1 free stamp. Sometimes it's one for $5 off leathercraft library ($10 for elite and businesses) . Never toss those flyers without looking really closely at them.