Cecil

A friend of mine received this saddle as part of an estate settlement. Could please help estimate the fair market value. The saddle do9es show some wear.

A friend of mine received a longhorn saddle from an estate. We know nothing about saddles. Could you help estimate the fair market value. The leather needs some oiling but shows no sign of wear. Here are some pictures.

Thanks - Great for anyone who wants to improve drawing skills.

I like that Karl. Excellent work.

I would like to finish some projects with lacing in two colors using a Mexican basket weave can anyone give me some advice or help?

Nice work. Did you burn them or carve stamp and dye them?

Thanks for the compliments. This is actually a bribe. Hope he sends us some steak.

My brother in law raises purebred black Angus. I made this for him. The nickle in the lower right was added to give a sense of size. I finished it with one coat of Super Sheen and two coats of Neat-Lac.

David: The back cover of Al Stohlman's Figure Carving Finesse has Bear and other animal Paw prints on it. I have used these to put animal tracks on projects in the past.

What kind of fishing boat? Which forum did you find the paterns on? There are some at: http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/olhscleat...amp;m=t&o=5

I am looking for Craftool Figure Stamps F995 & 996 which are out of production. I would appreciate any help finding them. Thank you.

Thanks David, that helps a lot. Now the trick is applying it.

David - After rereading Some of Al's material and some of my old drawing books, I think this can be summarized by saying the thinner the leather the more your work has to be like a drawing and rely more heavily on techniques derived from drawing. As you move into the heavier leathers you can still use this technique or have the option of increasing the depth of the cuts and the amount of sculpting you do as you tool the leather.

David: Thank you for the feedback. I have many of Stohlman's books. This topic is like a subtle undertone and is not clearly identified except in a few places. You have given me a sense of what to look for when rereading his books. I will also folllow up with your other sugestions. Thanks again.

This belt is beautiful. What type of lacing did you use that allowed you to use two different colors?

Is there a good reference that addresses how to create the illusion of depth? Specifically how you draw, carve, and tool the lines. The references I have seen don't address this from the aspect of carving and tooling except in general terms. The shading is addressed in the books and sections covering coloring and dying. Is there anything you should do during tooling, before coloring like burnishing, to influence the shading of the work?

This is the best way because belt size does not correspond to the waist size of the pants. It depends on how the person wears the pants, on the hips, waist or belly. When the belt is a gift I am often only given the waist size and do not have access to a belt used by the person until after I have completed the belt. The measurements in the table were to allow me to determine the Length of the belt so I can cut the belt to proper length. To cut the belt , I put the buckle on the belt and then, based on the measurements in the table measure from where the buckle tang will catch the belt to the tip of the belt. Then I make and finish the belt. When I deliver the belt I cut the holes based a belt the person now wears or measurements taken from them for the way they wear there pants.

I had the same question so I went to a store and measured the belts. These measurements are from the tip of the belt to the front inside surface of the belt buckle. Where the belt buckle prong fastens to the belt. Waist-- Belt Size ---Length 32 -----38 7/8 34 -----41 1/8 36 -----42 1/4 38 -----44 7/8 40 -----47 42 -----48 1/8 Hope this is useful.

Is Baird's book still available? I am interested.

Ken: The vest is beautiful.

Very nice work. Sign me up for lessons as well.

This is a link to the page where you can order Al's book. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?dept=63 Inverted Carving Book 6046-00 Al Stohlman's introduction to the art of silhouette and inverted carving. Learn the fundamentals of roughout carving. 48 large pages.

Nice work KEN. I am sure your daughter will love it.

This is a link to wildrose's pay it forward gift to me. Check it out. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...st=0#entry41340

This is the pay it forward gift I received from wildrose. I am using it to store some of my leather working tools and supplies in. It is beautiful work.