Basically Bob

Wow! Great job! Much respect, Sir.

Thank you! Yes, I have known the luthier for at least 20 years. Most everyone who walks into his shop is a serious “player” and some of them are spending thousands of dollars on a hand built guitar. Normally, he would only have one person in the shop at a time so the sign is more of a conversation starter.

Thanks!

Thank you!

The rectangular portion is 9” X 13”. Good point about having a phone # so that someone could take a pic of it. If I was doing it again, I would probably put my phone # on it. Thanks for the input.

I have business cards there as well and a couple of straps. I also give the luthier a small finder’s fee for any orders I get.

… made this to hang at a local guitar maker’s shop.

Beautiful work!

Man that is beautiful! Great work! (and a nice bass, too!)

Really, really nice!

Looks great!

Congratulations … a nice write-up. It is something to be proud of, for sure!

Beautiful!

Wow! Great work!

Looks great!

A lot of work went into that! Great job!

Wow! Good job!

Looks great!

Nice work!

Great work! Thanks for sharing!

Looks great! Thanks for sharing!

... an interesting discussion, for sure. Reflecting on my own leatherworking experience, I find it fascinating, how, when I first started to construct things, (following the projects in Valerie Michael’s book) I poked myself with the awl, frequently. The most frustrating thing about that was not the “pain”, but rather that the project was often ruined from the blood that dripped on it. It didn’t take long to learn that as soon as I felt the “poke” to quickly get my finger away from the project. What I find fascinating, is that I eventually learned how not to poke myself with the awl. I have no idea when it happened, it just happened ... with experience. Like learning to ride a bike, I suppose. I often use Stohlman’s case making books as a reference. I know that if I follow his methods that my project will be functional and “technically correct”. That being said, the professionalism of the finished project is determined by how well I have learned and applied a collection of basic skills, that improve with practice and experience, like cutting, stitching, skiving and edge finishing.

Sweet!

A big reason for this problem, I believe, is that we tend to put pressure against the ruler with the cutting edge and also that the blade is on an angle. I have been very intentional when coming to the end of a cut to try to hold the knife perpendicular to the surface rather than on an angle. And also paying attention, so that the knife continues straight at the end of the cut. This has helped a lot.

Looks great! Thanks for sharing!