Johanna

Just testing out the new blogging system...Thanks everyone for their patience today. The board threw a few errors now and then when I tried not to break it. I don't see anything wrong- let me know if you do. You can start your own blog by clicking your name, top right, choose "my settings" and look for the blog tab. It's easy. You can always edit your blog as you like. You can link your blog to an external blog, if you want. More directions coming soon- still working on the clean-up. What do you think of the new features? Does LW rock or what?

Backing up your address book is easy- search for a .wab file In OE, click file then Export to save your emails. You will have to restore them onto a Windows Outlook Express or Windows Mail program using the import function. There is no other way to read emails archived this way. Truly important emails should be saved to the hard drive (save as) and they will show up as messagename.eml or sent to an online email account like Google. Johanna

If you click your name, top right hand corner of any page, you will see a drop down menu. All your controls for your profile, your messenger and your gallery are right there. If I have misunderstood, the question, let me know. Welcome to LW! Johanna

Bikerd69- I know you were trying to be helpful by sharing those patterns, but they are the property of Tandy Leather Factory and we can't post them w/o permission. Even if they gave them away for free on their website, we can't post them here on LW w/o permission. I removed your attachments pending approval. Thank you for understanding. Johanna

Who is going to Wickenburg? Any suggestions for a first-timer? Johanna

I wish I had a pic of Billy 2 shews' tools with their mangled peened tops. He uses a regular carpenters hammer, and not only is the metal on metal sound loud, it kills the tools fast. I wonder how one of the better quality tools would hold up to that kind of abuse? I just happened to think about his messed up tools making beautiful art while reading this discussion. Johanna

Pete asked me to say hello to everyone and let you know what he's been up to. These are his Hawaiian Saddles: The Christmas newsletter explains what he is doing in Hawaii (being warm!) I love the carving at the top that he did. Pete is a friend, and a respected saddlemaker and author. If you are interested in getting any of his books, click here for details. Johanna HawaiianSaddles.pdf GorrellXmas09.pdf

I see a bunch of flaws in that board. Finish it and send it to Ohio. One of the things I've always admired about Kate's work is that she can jazz it up without losing the elegance of the original design. That will be a board you can display hand-carved, ridiculously expensive chess pieces on and dare the cat to walk on it. Johanna

Just for the record, that wasn't Art bragging "sewing machine expert". I wrote that under his name. Jim Beaton and Barra are also very experienced and geographically closer to you. They may have info more pertinent to your situation, Allan. I can say, having used several leather sewing machines, that there is no such thing as a "one size fits all". Most shops have two or three machines, and they use them for different purposes. There may be a machine that will do most of what you want it to, and the best way to find out is to talk to the dealers and ask, take notes and do your homework. Besides the price and what the machine will do, consider the after-sale service you can expect, the availability of spare parts, and the quality of the machine itself. Since you have been a saddler for 40 years, you know what you want and what you expect to do with a new machine- and that will be a big help to the dealers when they answer your questions. Johanna

If I can't find the pattern, I'll trace you the back part of my belt. It's just a piece of leather attached to two skinny straps to buckle in the front. I wish I had a dollar for everytime someone wanted to know how I got it in the loops. LOL Johanna

"Earnest Franklin" tried to scam one of our regulars a few weeks ago. Remember folks, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Johanna