pepin1948

For having just started so recently, you're doing a very nice job!

You asked what one would charge for such a piece, and I'd say AT LEAST 100.00. And that's a low end amount.

People will likely recommend businesses such as Weaver or Wickett and Craig or Siegel. I've been having a really positive experience with our newly opened Tandy, in Allentown, PA. I don't know where you're located, but if you give Jeff - the manager - a call, I bet he could help you. He's recently moved to PA from TX. The number there is 610-437-3424

I'm laughing at the replies You've all made me feel better already - esp. Clay with the red dye story. That made me think of when I dropped a large jar of purple tempura paint on the brown carpet in our hall when I was a teen....my folks never did replace that rug 'til after I moved out! I'm going to try the orange stuff and a scrubbing sponge. So far I just went with water and paper towels. There isn't enough ventilation for NeatLac inside there... The black is on the washing machine, and spattered on the floor. The benefit to this whole thing is that it IS in my workroom, so Tim really doesn't have a leg to stand on to complain - I mean, really at least I'm not like Clay doing this stuff in the kitchen!

Had a bit of a disaster on my staining surface and surrounding area. The piece I was dying is fine, and I had a cloth laid out under it. But the area around it got spattered pretty bad. The main problem with this is not my own it's my husband! The area that got hit is the top of our washer and the linoleum floor around it. Suggestions on how to get the dye off?

I tapped them on a bookmarker scrap, singly and in border form. I'm still practicing with them, but I like them quite a lot. They are small - about 1/4" in height - but that has actually worked out better than I expected. I recommend them without reservation.

I wrote him suggesting some color on the sword (i.e. silver and something) but I like your idea too

My thanks to those in the pattern section who sent me links for pictures of Medieval style swords. Here is the work in progress. I'm not 100% thrilled with it, but I think when all is said and done, the customer will be happy. I also used one of the new Celtic border stamps from Tandy. The customer wants it black (boo! Hide all that tooling!) So I figured I'd better send some pics out now so you can see a little more detail.

Boy are they learning to cater to us Celtic nuts The minute I saw the latest Tandy email, I knew I had to call the local store and get the set they just put out of Celtic border stamps. And they are terrific! There is a corner, a round edge, and two straight borders. The email showed a variety of ways they can be used. I put them to use right away on a guitar strap project, which you can see under the "Show Off" section. Thanks Tandy for knowing what customers are after!

A belt for my toddler's "girlfriend" and a tv remote/Bible caddy for her daddy. The caddy is going to get wall mounted, I'm hoping it'll hold up. I put four holes in the back.

Funny how those things disappear been there too! I really like your work on this one, can't wait to see the finished project!

You might want to drop Johanna a line and see if she can give you some advice.

I am currently working with two groups: a new Leathcrafters Club that I started out of our church, and a 4H Leathercrafters Club. While I personally have bought about 5 of everything, the 4H group boasts over 10 kids (hooray! more youth in the craft!!) and tonight I found myself overwhelmed trying to give them a basic carving/tooling a rose lesson (on rounders). If you or someone you know have the basic beveler (textured or plain), pear shader (ditto) or backgrounders, I could sure put them to good use. I have more than enough wood mallets, but would welcome some poly mallets. We are also fairly well stocked with swivel knives. I have a local man donating marble pieces, which has been a real Godsend. We also could make use of basic kits if you have any sitting around you'll not be using. So there's my "beg" for the time being Thanks for the patience in reading it!

Those are some serious nooks and crannies! Man, you really know how to make maximum use out of minimum space.

I believe the reference is to Aussie Wax. I use it all the time, and it's a good waterproofer. It's kind of like a Vaseline consistency. I take globs of it on my fingers (with or without gloves), spread it over the project, and use a clean rag to wipe it in and get off the excess. I've also used a hair dryer on low setting to help warm/melt the wax to make it easier to rub. You can get it from Tandy too.

Here is the finished product, with my husband lending his arm to the modeling ... I never did get a good clear pic of the buckstitching, but it was good advice from Jeff, manager of our new Tandy, to do that instead of rivets for decoration. And it was something new for me to learn to do. I found out buckstitching is not as easy as it looks. He also sold me the Stohlman book on it, which wasn't hard since it also has some great designs in it, and I'm a sucker for new things to carve. I also learned I ought to have been more careful to get the stain down into the slots where the buckle strap weaves in and out. I didn't notice this problem 'til I put the strap through. I'll try to fix that before I ship it...

It's not the same, but here's a Green Man I have.

Thanks for all the hard work I would like to suggest an area for teachers to go to request donations (i.e. tools or money). While our Christian Ed committee at church has funded the purchase of 3 marbles, and another member is getting them cut in half for me, I think we will still be in need of basic tools and swivel knives for the new Leathercrafters club that is starting up tomorrow (which I am leading). I have to see how many kids turn out, but I'm hoping for 5-10. It'll be a monthly club.

One of my friends found a beautiful pitcher for .50 at a yard sale. After deciding she just didn't have room for it, she intended to throw it out. I saw it and commented that I liked it so now it is home with me! As I was scrubbing it off, I noticed the bottom, which is not glazed/colored, has pinkish and black spots on it. Is it possible for pottery to mold? If so, what should I clean it with? I'd like to put some fake flowers in it and put it in our guest room. Pics added:

I'm laughing at the saliva comment - because I thought I was the only one who'd done this! It does work, and well...Usually I just wet the edges with water, and I've never used Gum T. at all.

I found Knightly Endeavors on line too, they have a reasonably priced selection. What I REALLY love to do is get a length of my family's tartan (MacLaren) and make him a kilt.

That's terrific! Thanks

Here's the "paint job" - pretty basic, just a wash of black and silver acrylics - but it adds a nice highlight to the piece. Next it's on to the stitching...

Thanks for those great sites! I found some too on a yahoo search.

I made a vest with pocket for my hubby a while back, and I did a simple flat (i.e. running) stitch on it.