Sylvia

Brilliant idea. Wish I had something like that which only cost $7.

I made myself one of those "map weights" today and boy does that make a difference. It's about a foot long and maybe 4 inches wide and filled with aquarium rock. Weighs about 3lbs. I just finished it with satin sheen to seal it as I didn't want to have any color or oil transfer to my projects. It works great. I've not bought from Springfield yet. I found their prices prohibitive. I may give them another look before too long though... I really need a proper awl. I'm glad you are getting the hang of that beveler... be careful though I've "whanged" my stuff a few times with mine slipping out of the groove.

I new a great upholsterer who used just paper patterns. Every time I tried doing that I had trouble with the paper unless I used lots of straight pins to hold it in place. Once I learned the duct tape casting technique I found my patterns worked a lot better. I've duct taped my body over a Tshirt to make a body double, and I've cast my feet this way too for mocs.

I did this following Bruce's instructions.... It's not that great because I don't have a proper piercing awl and the photo is rather blurry. I think when you go about doing this stitch it's important that when you go back and up one stitch, you have to do the same thing every time for it to look right. Also I think larger thread or lace would improve the look. Otherwise the distance between stitches should be closer than I have here. Anyway... the picture

I got this set in one of my first orders from Tandy. It was on sale. I've not used it but to test it out and this challenge. I have the hardest time aligning stamps that form a weave or meander... or pattern. Something always goes awry. I must be cockeyed. lol

LOL yep... I wish everyone was on Island time... The good thing is I finally figured out something to do with those cross meander stamps.

This is a leap year! Today if Feb. 29. LOL I didn't want to let you down so here's mine.

Have you thought about contacting Chuck Smith and asking him if he recognizes it as one of his Old Smoothie models?

I see. So you are looking for 2 or 3 pieces, one for the face of the seat and 1 or 2 for the sides. It's not that hard to extrapolate and make a pattern. If you have not already taken the seat upholstery off and apart. Take duct tape (the good kind) and tape off the face of the seat right over the upholstery being mindful of the apex of the sides and face. So just tape the top making sure the tape overlaps by a good 1/2 inch. Then take do the sides ignoring where it goes under and riveted area for now. Mark the edge of the top with black sharpie, finding and marking center front and back and locating the seat edge and drawing a line along it. Make sure you make several reference lines in a different color for the sides. I would probably do these in excessively where the seat curves. remove the taped upholstery from it's frame work. You now have a 3d cast of your seat. At center front and back on the sides make straight cuts up to the seat top line you made. Then carefully cut along your seat top line. You should end up with 3 pieces. lay these out on your pattern paper. Trace around them with a sharpie then add a seam allowance, say 1/4 to 1/2 inch, to all the pieces and allow for the extra where it was riveted to the seat frame. Make sure you transfer your reference lines to the pattern. Now.... before you cut or do anything with the project leather you need to make up a prototype to test fit and how it will go together. I would use scrap or crappy leather for this or even old cut up blue jeans. Make the prototype and test fit. Adjust the pattern as needed. Hope that helps.

Condolences on the loss of a colleague. I just love a man that wears a Kilt! I've always said "Plaid is my favorite color" I think you've done a fabulous job, but did you take measures to keep the tartan on the sporran from fraying with wear? And i gotta know.... what clan is that tartan?

Are you asking how to take a pattern from the existing seat cover?

That is absolute perfection.

Ah.... that's kind of like the difference between Ceramic Stoneware firing and Raku firing. Still, it couldn't hurt to ask them if they would consider it.

Yes, I just read that. (Google is my very good friend.) Still I think if they have a foundry for pewter... couldn't they do brass as well? Or would that require more heat?

I suppose we can ask. They may not have thought about it before and if they perceive a market they might tool up to do it for us. I know that I prefer brass and nickle to pewter... but if we can get them started perhaps it might be worth our while. I watched their video and it certainly looks like they have the equipment.

I've been making guitar straps that are 3 inches wide out of 9-10 oz leather. The extra width and stiffness seems to distribute the weight across the shoulder and negates the need for padding, (unless you want padding) Hope that helps.

Search online for EIN info for your state. Beware of websites which claim they can help you get one for a fee. You should be able to get the applications online at your State's website. I believe a 1099 means you are a subcontractor and you are responsible for paying taxes on the monies earned. Get help from a tax pro like H&R block. From now on save 1/3 of your "wage" for taxes, I think you are supposed to pay that quarterly but it's been a while since I've studied this stuff. You can also get lots of help free from the small business administration and SCORE. http://www.sba.gov/ http://www.score.org/

found these Concho's made in USA. http://www.ospreyconchos.com/store/c/6-Pewter-Conchos.html

The amount of tools you'll gather is never ending. I've absconded with a good portion of my hubby's tools :D I still want about another $500 worth of hand tools but it will have to wait. If you have sewing machine oil, it will work for your stone in a pinch.

oooooo you just reminded me... I need to make some leather map weights. (2 coasters, sew them 3/4 the way around, fill with aquarium rocks or lead shot, finish sewing = 1 map weight) 2 or 3 of those help hold things like maps, plans, patterns, slippery leathers. I suppose one could make it from scrap pieces cut square too.

and with less hand cramping. LOL

Very nice. I would be proud to hang that on my Tree or in my Window.

I got tired of tipping mine and got out my jeweler's files and sent to town and made it a steeper angle. I like it much better now. You are right though... hard to get this wide tip in a narrow spot... good idea on buying extras to shape as you need. To the original poster, you need a good cut in order to get a good bevel. That may be harder to do on your 3/4 oz leather. I tend to use a thicker leather too. The nice thing about these things is you can bevel... then go back and bevel again to make it deeper and or more burnished.