pepin1948

For me the reduction in leatherworking time came not from marriage but from having a child. I was under the naive impression that I'd do alot while he napped! HA HA HA! Yeah, what I did while he napped was NAP It's gotten better time wise as far as time I COULD do leatherwork, but I find myself often procrastinating. That's unfortunate to me, because I find when I AM do leatherwork, particularly the carving/tooling phase, I feel really good and relaxed, working with my hands to create something from plain veggie tan. It's a solitary time, yet leads to the fun of craft fairs and being with others. When I have an order, like the Bible cover I recently finished, I'll generally work on it at least 1-2 hrs/day. Otherwise I get probably less than 5 hrs/week in my shop. Holly

All right, I might as well chip in with my experiences. I work with two groups right now: 1. 4H Leathercraft Club. They have their own supplies, barring any I choose to buy and donate, and the kids pay a yearly fee to be members. I come to meetings and along with other adults, guide the kids with any questions they have. I am probably the most knowledgeable person there (not to brag) and sometimes I will do a "special lesson" topic, for example on how to use a strap cutter. The leaders, including myself are entirely volunteers. I know that I for one do it so the craft does not die out! 2. Leathercraft Club that I started myself at our church. I charge 5.00/kid/class. This covers mostly only the kit price for the week, and we do small things that they can complete in a 2 hr session. Recently the Christian Ed board decided to front me 3 months' worth of fees so the kids didn't have to pay anymore. Also, when I'm at craft fairs, I will bring small things with me, like bookmarkers, and teach the kids how to stamp or carve them, and I usually charge 2.00 each for those. While I'm not making much money off these endeavors, to me it is keeping the craft alive by teaching younger generations. If I had a one one one class with a person, I'd likely charge them the cost of materials plus a few bucks (2-3) for me. If I had to get a sitter for my son during the class though, and then had to pay that person, I'd likely charge the student more to cover it.

Thanks :biggrin: The wedding was beautiful except for one jerk on a balcony overlooking the courtyard where the wedding was held (enclosed hotel courtyard). He came out in a BATHROBE, we could see "everything he had" whenever he sat down, and twice when he stood up his robe flopped open entirely!!! He even had the nerve to go back in his room and come out with a camera!!!! Fortunately the bride and groom didn't see him from where they stood. My husband was ready to get up and yell "did you enjoy the view? Cuz we didn't!" I complained to management. I hope they spike his bill...but I doubt it.

Thanks! Mahogany antique, my favorite. I was going to go with saddle tan, but figured this would be a bit better.

Here is the finished product after several incarnations... Initially it was all one piece, to be sewn on one edge only. Then, I thought I'd carved one of the fleur de lis upside down, so I cut the panels up. To my dismay I discovered it'd been alright and I should've been more careful. Hence it needed to be sewn on all corners. I tried sewing it off the project, but the corners were too tight, so I ended up gluing it on and sewing it that way. Harder, but came out well. I wanted to color it, but was uncertain of the choices to make. Since the recipient is also a leather worker, I figured he could always add those touches himself as he wanted or not.

The chastity belt would be a REALLY funny idea...but I'm leaning toward the tissue box right now. I found an awesome site with all different kinds of fleur de lis, and I printed out 4 different ones - one for each side. My husband wanted me to go with the tissue box idea too...

I have a friend getting married next month who is really into the Faire scene. I mean REALLY. He makes all his own garb, and has for past dates too. He barely misses a weekend of any faire in the region. (He proposed to his fiancee at the finale in song at the PA Ren.Faire last year.) I know he likes the fleur de lis design, but I know next to nothing about his fiancee's tastes. I have either a square size tissue box cover or 6" square wooden box I can do a cover for. Thoughts? Or should I just go to Macy's and see if they're registered?

I think, and I could be remembering this wrongly, the directions say one coat only. Just popped into my local Tandy last week and bought a bunch of the new stains/dyes. They had given me a nice color chart pamphlet that describes each type of product and what to use it with/how to use it.

It is lovely - makes me think though of aliens...no insult intended, please!

Where I work, I see alot of scout groups through, and I always give the leaders my card when they're in this area; NO ONE has ever contacted me, even the group here in town. :scratchhead:

I think "from a teacher/camp counselor/scout" and "in prison" both need to be added... I learned at Camp Cherith, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, in 1983. I remember the date because I still have a rose carved coaster I'd made (have since lost the bookmarker). Camp Cherith was run by the Pioneer Girls, and I think is now called Mount Gilead. I wish to this day that I could track down my teacher and offer my sincere gratitude. At the time, she drove me nuts with her nitpicking over my swivel knive cuts (she used to make sure we did what she called "true cuts", and not just denting the surface of the leather.) I don't remember her name, just the year. I did nothing with leather again 'til I graduated college in 1989, but then I was talked into making a shoulder harness sheath for a broadsword. Because of that camp counselor's detail driven instruction, things came back to me surprisingly quickly. (Thanks also to ALOT of help from Tandy Leather in Allentown, PA) After that, the "itch" got into me and I've not looked back!

How Many Horses Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb? Thoroughbred: Who ME?? Do WHAT? I'm scared of light bulbs! I'm outta here! Arabian: I changed it an hour ago. C'mon you guys - catch up! Quarter Horse: Put all the bulbs in a pen and tell me which one you want. Standardbred: Oh for Pete's Sake, give me the darn bulb and let's be done with it. Shetland: Give it to me. I'll kill it and we won't have to worry about it anymore. Friesian: I would, but I can't see where I'm going from behind all this mane. Belgian: Put the Shetland on my back, maybe he can reach it then. Warmblood: Is the 2nd Level Instruction Packet in English? Doesn't anyone realize that I was sold for $75K as a yearling, but only because my hocks are bad, otherwise I would be worth $100K? I am NOT changing lightbulbs. Make the TB get back here and do it. Morgan: Me! Me! Me! Pleeease let me! I wanna do it! I'm gonna do it! I know how, really I do! Just watch! I'll rewire the barn after, too. Appaloosa: Ya'll are a bunch of losers. We don't need to change the lightbulb, I ain't scared of the dark. And someone make that darn Morgan stop jumping up and down before I double barrel him. Mustang: Lightbulb? Let's go on a trail ride, instead. And camp. Out in the open like REAL horses. Lipizzaner: Hah, amateurs. I will change the lightbulb. Not only that, but I will do it while standing on my hind legs and balancing it on my nose, after which I will perform seven flying lead changes in a row and a capriole. Can you do that? Huh? Huh? Didn't think so. Miniature: I bet you think I can't do it just cause I'm small. You know what that is? It's sizeism! Akhal Teke: I will only change it if it's my owner's lightbulb and no one else has ever touched it. Andalusian: I will delegate the changing of the lightbulb to my personal groom after he finishes shampooing my mane and cleaning my saddle, but only on the condition that it is changed for a soft blue or green bulb, which reflects better off my coat while I exhibit my astonishing gaits. Cleveland Bay: I'm busy. Make the whipper-in and the hounds do it. Saddlebred: My ears are up already, please, please get the lightbulb away from me! I'm ready to show, really, I promise I'll win! Paint: Put all the lightbulbs in a pen, tell me which one you want, and my owner will bet you twenty bucks I can get it before the quarter horse. POA: I'm not changing it. I'm the one who kicked the old one and broke it in the first place, remember? Now, excuse me, I have a grain room to break into. Haflinger: That thing I ate was a lightbulb? Grade Horse: Guys? Um, guys? I hope you don't mind, but I went ahead and changed it while you were all arguing.

I feel better already after reading that - I'm not a Harley fan either. I guess at least TWO of us are gonna get scolded...My Dad always had a Honda. Like you I prefer the "crotch rockets".

I like it Did you have any trouble with the British Tan? It's a favorite of mine, but I've found it's sometimes tough to apply evenly.

I like the badge idea Wish I was going, but I had to take a job and my schedule isn't very flexible now.

Cancelled from what? Lack of enrollment? Seems early to be cancelling since I know from experience what procrastinators folks are. Heck, people show up day of wanting to attend...

Reminds me of the old magazine rack kit Tandy used to sell. I made one of those, and I'd say this is sure a better use of the loops :biggrin:

I'd go with 6 myself, that's the weight I use most often. But you might use 4 on the straps.

Looks like Fiebings British Tan dye to me. Buckles look like ones I've seen in the Tandy catalog (or any standard supplier like that) Gonna go with rivets - you can get them from Tandy too, and you'll need the proper setters for 'em too. They look like they're nickel plated, but old. Don't know what the grey stuff is though...

Thanks My husband, the model :biggrin: The customer is in a LARP group, non-SCA. He provided me with the regs of his group, and I worked with that. If I had it to do again, I'd do the outside edge differently (setting it on with upholstery tacks was mostly a wasted effort and not much more than frustrating!)

I don't generally dye the backs of belts/wristbands/etc because of what others have mentioned about "bleeding" dyes. Sometimes, if I'm staining/dyeing the front, and it leaks over onto the back (for whatever reason, usually carelessness on my part), then I will do the back to and seal it best as I can. But I do prefer the backs to be "clean" (uncolored) As an aside, when I stain my wood boxes, which I top with leather, I rarely stain the interior. That way, if the customer wants it lined, or doesn't want to risk getting stain on their jewelry/whatever, there's no risk.

You're right about marble chipping, etc. I had a piece of the 12x12x1" Tandy used to sell, and it was leaning against the chair I was sitting on. It fell over, flat on the floor (linoleum) and split right in half!!! I should mention I'd had the marble for a few years, but still it was a bit of a surprise!

When I'm doing a project it's mess mess everywhere, but when it's done, I straighten up so I can find everything for the next time. Sometimes my cat gets in my workroom, but it's generally a no-zone for her (and when she's in there she usually just finds an empty box and crawls in). If, however, she were messy, shedding, and/or hacking, she wouldn't be allowed in there ever again. I love cats, but limits need to be imposed where valuable material is concerned. As to the humans making a mess, same principle - limits are needed. I've been to several seminars on the topic of "boundaries", and whether others like it or not, they are a necessary step to healthy relationships. Some people are just not used to being told "no", or "pick up after yourself or you're not coming back". But if you make a rule, FOLLOW IT. You're not helping any if you give in.

That is really gorgeous work, and I totally understand what you mean about loving Celtic work. I find it very hard to get interested in doing anything else!

About the only good thing I could say about the Eragon movie was the costuming