DoubleC

I won't turn them away, LOL. Thanks Syl.

Oh well if you don't have any tools it does make it harder, LMAO. OK, drag your feet toward the fire!!!! Cheryl

Brian, I had one given to me way before I know what it was for, and have no idea where it is. I've never used one. Actually until this weekend I used a marble cutting board :-) But in my new apartment they left a ton of 'stuff' and some of that stuff was BIG marble pavers. So I have seven of those and used one this weekend. Don't get too caught up in the 'stuff' and just do it. Trust me I know how scary that sounds because I feel that way every time I start a new project still but seriously just do it. OK, tonight, I want to see SOMETHING you did on your granite, a copied and carved design, forget beveling. Or a copied and beveled design, forget carving. Jump in Brian the water is so nice. Cheryl

Hey, you're 1/2 done with your first project and don't even know it Brian :-) Cheryl

I didn't get my stuff in until the last minute but have already had traffic to my website and etsy shop from there. Has anyone else tried this for some free national advertising? Cheryl

That I didn't find out about until 3 days before it ended. I was stressed to the max trying to produce some new products for it, or decide on products I already had. I did one new one, reworked one, and entered two I've sold. They are going to have a people's choice award along with the contest finalists. I am not really thinking I can win but thought it would be great free marketing. I'd love anyone's support who so chooses, the people's choice voting starts Sept. 7th. Thanks guys. My link....... http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/cheryl-crossan-3028

You are very kind David. I forgot I had written this but I am doing better now. Good and bad days. And you didn't sound preachy at all. Cheryl

Very true Sooper

Following up on Cyber's suggestion, I carve things I like, sometimes with a pattern, sometimes freehand. Then bevel, mat, whatever I want to do. Usually mine are a combo of patterns and freehand like the this shown below I did for a contest on here. The dragon is a combo of paint and dye and the Mare Staring is dye, resolene and then antiquing.

I use my antique Singer 15-91 for everything from silk to 1/4" leather. Anything that goes under the foot it will sew and handles up to #69 thread but I've yet to need it. I don't know a lot about the Juki's but it's hard to get one of the bigger machines that will do the light and heavy work too. People here will be pleased to know I don't even have a 15-91 for sale, last one I had was mailed today, LOL. But will continue to recommend these little beasts to everyone that asks. Cheryl

Yeah but mine don't stink any worse than anyone else, ROFL.

I'm not trying to argue with anyone. I just have a different opinion and I respect the views of all, well, dag all the OP on this thread which are the same. My opinion is just different but I'm not saying it's right or left or wrong. It's just an opinion.

I know Gun, I guess I am humanizing them to a point. But they mate for life, few animals do that. And just like deer hunting where people are always proudest of getting a buck, the does are still teaching their young how to survive. Yes coyotes affect the deer population, but where I'm from because of this 'open season' on coyotes they keep upping the amount of deer you are allowed to kill because THEY are now the nuisance. I've sat many a night and watched a herd of does and young walk through downtown going from where they've been grazing to the river for a drink. The natural order has been upset. I saw one coyote my entire life there and probably 1000s of deer. I think deer are beautiful graceful animals and to this day seeing one still tickles me, but since my sister was personally involved in a wreck with one, which is just one of dozens that happen in our county in Ohio during mating season, and because the people depend on the meat, I have no qualms about people killing them. But I do about spotlighters that do it for sport and the racks. I do believe if humans were removed from the earth it would heal itself, but I'm not advocating open season on people either.

I'm not humanizing them Ken. Just using the correct term. If you want steaks on the table you slaughter a cow. Raise a pig and want pork? You don't harvest your pig you harvest your garden. I never said you did it for sport, I said you slaughtered them. I'm a misplaced leather worker I guess. I love working with leather but I wouldn't slaughter a cow simply for its hide. An animal advocate that works with dead animals, sigh. Cheryl

Well wolves have breed with dogs forever so I don't get your point? Why are wolves cool and coyotes scum? And evolution could account for some of the fact they are getting bigger. Are you telling me there are numerous, I mean a lot, I mean a statistically significant number of coyote litters that are now actually feral dogs instead because of the bitches breeding with dogs. That many mates killed? Because I think it's the poor bitches that killed more often trying tol feed her pups. You harvest corn, green beans, roses. You slaughter coyotes, they are thinking, feeling animals tied to families. And ken even then did you kill a 'pack' of coyotes?

Kill them, which makes the remaining coyotes stronger, top of the food chain. No natural selection. More food to go around. Bigger litters. Makes sense to me. Humans 1 Coyotes 1 :-)

I live in VT and haven't heard a thing about this. I don't know why coyotes are considered a scourge but if you shot a wolf you'd have a pack of conservationists on your back. I think I'm the only person in the world that happens to recognize these are mammals with families they're trying to feed and they aren't the problem, we are. And they never take down anything bigger than a calf. With the state farming is in I know even that is too much but to bait them and use assault rifles seems cruel and unnatural, just sport. I, like Art have never seen more than one at a time. I'd be more willing to think it's feral dogs doing all the damage and what you did was bait in several at the same time, not a pack. I'd take my chances against a coyote anytime instead of a feral dog, especially a disowned feral dog. They've been taught too much by humans. I'm sorry but I don't think shooting an animal for sport is a good thing. Deer, elk, whatever you intend to eat makes sense, but not simply an animal trying to survive. Cheryl

I was never in the Navy but I can certainly sound like a sailor at times, ROFL. Cheryl

It was an honest comment Brian, your braiding is renown on this site. I had a friend recommend I look at a lot of your things when I was trying to learn. No I'm not satanic, LOL but I do wonder what the neighbors think of the regularly appearing wounds, OR some of the words they hear through the walls when the wounds happen, LOL. I'm not satanic but sometimes not too ladylike in my responses to pain :-) Cheryl Oh I didn't respond to the maul/mallet thing because I have a wonderful poly mallet that was loaned me by a friend so haven't had a need to check out the others so far.

So many Brian I believe my neighbors think I' m satanic :-) Cheryl

Brian I was going to say the same thing as Wareagle. If you have the basic 7 you have everything you need to carve, the rest just make it easier. The way you braid and the beautiful work you do with that, I don't think you'll have any problem with a little practice. Cheryl

One guy here at a children's camp was having trouble with his leather molding being stored in a shed. I would store it inside if you have the room. Or just order what you need soon until you see how's it's going to work. I can't say for sure because mines always been inside. You might want to post that in 'how do I do that' and get more responses. And thanks. Cheryl

Thanks Mike and Mike. The carpet is a good Idea. I didn't think of that. I was just too excited to finally get my stuff over here. Cheryl

Chavez, I was using my bedroom in the other place, and had to take a running jump to get in bed, LOL. I really am so lucky though, I wish I could give everyone my landlord, and people ducking out of an apartment leaving that kind of stuff behind. And looking at your stuff, it sure looks like you have more room because it's so nice. Cheryl LOL, Greystone, I am way savoring it. I need to get things put away at least before I think of where to expand to :-) Cheryl

Do I sound a little excited? LOL