Sylvia

I sure wish Sheridan Leather Outfitters (and others) would either finish their website or just not have a web presence. I hate it when I go to a site and they have "pictures" but you can't buy... or worse... has a big ol long list of "things" but nothing is linked to a picture. It's enough to make a person kind of cranky. It kind of reminds me of going through a shop door to buy something only to find everything inside is behind a Black wall. Terrible Marketing tactic.

LOL I got them back when I had "extra" money at a local sew shop. A boutique like place that over priced everything. They came with a nice tin and everything. They are supposed to be the best and most sharp shears ... ha I guess I'm not supposed to be cutting thick leather with them.

OUCH!! Thats almost as good as my dropping a swivel knife on my bare foot. I didn't get cut though. I hear great things about CS Osborne tools. I know they have some good awls but not the kind you see with the bobbin. I don't think you are supposed to stab and push with those cheap awls, I think they are meant to travel through a pre-punched hole. Hope your hand heals soon.

Be aware that magnets will erase your credit cards. Perhaps that is why this maker is no longer doing this design.

I agree! Maybe PD's makers mark should be a clown? nah... clowns are scary.

Yeah, dang it these $100 pair of shears... cutting 9oz leather. Just a chunk, mind you a cut about a foot long and when done they wouldn't close. Big nick on one of the blades... and one of the blades was bent. What the heck? Hubby came home and "un-tweeked them but he sharpened them like you would normal scissors. (Thank you, Dear. ) Now I have to find a tutorial on how to sharpen knife edge scissors. Or just send them in to Gingher and have them done for $7 plus shipping. Now... were is that Alaskan Ulu knife I used to have... that would cut this leather!

I don't know anything about this machine... but anything called Feitsew (pronounced Fight-Sew) I would be wary of. LOL Good deal though. You do need a walking foot machine, according to the experts here.

It all began with an iPhone... March was when our son celebrated his 17th birthday, and we got him an iPhone. He just loved it. Who wouldn't? I celebrated my birthday in July, and my wife made me very happy when she bought me an iPad: Our daughter's birthday was in August so we got her an iPod Touch: My wife celebrated her birthday in September so I got her an iRon. It was around then that the fight started. What my wife failedto recognize is that the iRon can be integrated into the home network with the iWash, iCook and iClean. This, of course, activates the iNag reminder service......... .....I should be out of the hospital next week!! iHurt!!!

LOL I"m the one who does that here. Especially if it is glass with a good lid. Though I like to re-purpose plastic things too. I just discovered that I had a silverware drawer insert thing that didn't have the shape of the spoons. It's only long compartments. That thing holds dye bottles perfectly... it's also a great place to put wet applicators. Btw Phatdaddy... you could be my step-son's twin. and If I extrapolate data from your picture I think you may have the same fun loving personality. Every time I see your posts, I think... there he is "Chad's Twin" lol

Yes, I noticed that too about the addresses and meant to say something about it. It would be different if you had a brick and morter shop, but from your homes... probably not a good idea. One never knows who's watching. I know that you can get a street address and post box as some of the UPS stores. That may be the thing to do. That and a Telephone number to a V-mail box. Just remember to check it often. Oh yes, Ha ha ha.. that Aroma you speak of is called the smell of money. I call it "eau d' Barnyard" lol Have fun. I think I just tweeked my dress makers shears... argh. The blades won't shut now.

Thanks Cheryl: (I like the improvements you've made on your website btw.) Well, It's dyed, but I don't think I did a very good job of it. It was my first time working with EcoFlo hi light over Super Sheen. I think I need to learn to be more patient. LOL I'll probably have to go over it again. I know I want the letters darker and the background behind the leaves. Has anyone noticed that the Super Sheen smells like Elmer's White Glue? So does the Tandy Leather Weld for that matter. I'm thinking about trying to use some of my Fiber Reactive dyes mixed into the super sheen to see what that does. Maybe some pearl pigments would add some excitement. hmmm... LOL helps if you add the photo. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6674206881_042c5fddb2.jpg

I always try to acknowledge good people and random acts of kindness when ever I see it in action..... especially when it occurs online. RMB's site is in his signature line. www.rmbcustomleather.com I think that is the one he wants to fix up. Though, it sounds as if he's looking at other options at the moment. Sylvia

Well, you can't complain about that too much. I say you book yourself a week in April for a quick vacation somewhere fun.

Nice bit of re-purposing and recycling you did there. Bravo! I had these plastic roll around things similar to a file cabinet with 3 drawers. Bigger stuff goes in there and tools and tool sets go in a small desktop one I had. It's a bit of a pain because the plastic drawers are sometimes difficult to open and close but at least it keeps things contained.

Bravo for your generosity, USGun.

Hey Spinner: Have you recovered yet? Sylvia

I recently came across this advert in an old leather magazine. The Golden Autograph apparently was a gold leafing machine. I was wondering if anyone has ever seen or used one of these things. It looked a lot like a large book stapler but apparently the leather and the gold leaf were loaded then the lever pulled. I imagine that the person's makers stamp was loaded, perhaps heated, and the combination of pressure and heat transferred the gold to the leather.

Thanks Kevin! I'm not sure yet if I'm happy with it. The kit's instructions didn't have a border so I didn't create one between the leaves and the holes. Besides I think I got it a little too close to the edge I went over that back-grounding a few times, so it's pretty mashed down. Could you do me a favor and tell JohnJ how you do the undercut and lifts? I'm not sure I got it covered in my explanation.

It's hard to see because the leather is so thin and it's not dyed yet. But basically it's cutting under the edge of the leaf a little ways, then lifting the leaf up to give the piece more dimension. I learned the process here from Paul Burnett and Hidepounder. I'll look for the tutorials for you. Sylvia Well, I can't find the tutorial just now. I'll keep looking, it might be on a pdf. I do know that some use special "undercut" bevelers others have created their own by modifying screw drivers. I just used a very sharply pointed modeling tool (similar to a dental tool) and pushed poked and prodded my way under the edge of the leaves. Then used the spoon end of the tool to push under and open a small pocket. I think I need to go back in a while and lift a bit more before I dye it.

Man I have sore hands! Ok so here is my first attempt at oak leaves. I even tried to undercut and lift the edges and let me tell you that isn't easy on 3oz wallet leather! I kept thinking that I would break through any moment. Please be gentle but all comments and suggestions are welcome.

That is what I like. I am working on a kit wallet and attempted to put my name in a straight line. LOL Let's just say it turned out a bit more "abstract" than I would have liked. This is a brilliant I need to have one made for me if I do more drill press stamping. Syl

"cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine" Amazing what one suddenly remembers when confronted with such art. Very cool. How did your friend's son like the belt?

Uhmmm I've never made any mittens but what I would do is wrap my hand in seran wrap then have someone carefully duct tape my hand. Then Mark the duct tape around the base of the thumb, allowing for the full thumb muscle. Make some reference marks so you know how to line up the pieces. Then cut the duct tape mitten off from the pinky finger side around to the index finger. That will give you a cast of YOUR hand. From there you would cut out the thumb portion and and split it up the inside of the thumb section (like where the web of the thumb meets the hand. Then lay out the hand portion on butcher wrap or paper bags working it to make it as flat as possible. Trace that. then do same with the thumb portion, trace that. Now you add "ease" and sewing allowances. I would do this buy adding at least a 1/4 inch for stitching and a smidge more for ease. Label your pieces "left hand thumb, left hand palm" Then cut out a denim version as a prototype. use a bit of old sock or something to simulate the fur. Make one mitten and check fit. Make any pattern adjustments (retrace if necessary) Then make yet another prototype. If all goes well you'll have a perfect pattern for YOU in a day or so. I wouldn't use a whip stitch, I would use a two needle saddle stitch.

Bah, that's darn good work. Once you complete the finishing processes and edges. I think you've got a winner. And if ANYONE laughs at your work... take a page from kindergarten. Kick 'em in the shins.