Johanna

Class schedule so far Oct 2007 Johanna

Dale and Clay M. - can we have a report and pics please? Please oh please oh please? Johanna

hosted by Lonestar, Ft. Worth TX. Soft Gusset Bag Rene Berends 4 Day Pre-Show Workshop Monday thru Thursday October 15 -18, 2007 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Location: Hide Crafters Leather $390.00 per person Class Description: In this seminar the student will make a shoulder bag with a soft leather gusset and a carved historical decoration on the front. The bag will beclosed with a draw string and 2 snap fasteners and has two pockets for smaller items, one on the inside and one on the back. The historical decoration on the front will be carved, tooled, embossed and modelled, with emphasis on details and a properly executed background. The following techniques will be taught: design, pattern drawing and cutting the leather parts, skiving, carving, embossing, different colouring techniques, finishing edges, lacing and finishing, with some new ideas on how to make different closures and attachments. Materials Provided: Materials Needed: Drawing materials Pattern board and Tracing film Leather (2-2.5 mm, 4-6 oz) Upholstery leather (1.5 mm) Leather Lace, 20 m Waxed thread 2 Durable dot press studs Cotton Cloth Contact cement Choice of dyes and antique stains Super Shene or Satin Shene Tools Needed: Metal straight edge Cutting knife Cutting Board Skiving knife Wing dividers Rotary punch Hole punches (2.5 mm & 5 mm) Edge Beveler No 1 or 2 Marble pounding slab Mallet or Maul Overstitch wheel Awl & saddlers needles Durable Dot setter Stylus for tracing Swivel knife, extra blades (fine detail blade) Various modelers, ball (for embossing) spoon (small for details) Stamping tools F902, F941, F890, F891, F895, F896, P208, Choice of chequered bevellers, pear shaders, backgrounders and matters Lacing needle Scratch awl Paintbrushes, Daubers and sponge Class Size Minimum: 8 students Maximum: 20 To be Announced 2 Day Workshop Chuck Smith Tuesday and Wednesday October 16 and 17, 2007 9:00 A – 6:00 P Location: Al Stohlman Museum, The Leather Factory Class Description: Materials Provided: Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Class Size 15 Carve A Desert Scene Robert Beard 1 Day Pre-Show Workshop Thursday, October 18, 2007- 9:00AM to 5:00 PM Location: Hide Crafters Leather $ 90 per person Class Description: This is a basic pictorial carving of a desert scene. In carving this Southwest pattern, the primary use of figure bevellers will be emphasized, demonstrated and practiced. Students will be surprised what can be achieved with one basic tool. Materials Provided: Leather, pattern, stamping surface and bowl with sponge Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Mallet Swivel knife with 1/4" blade either straight or angled Stylus with spoon on one end Tandy Tools: Figure bevelers - small sizes will be needed - F-890, F-891 larger sizes can be used as Matters -- F-895, F-896, F-897 Triangle beveler F-941 Pointed Beveler F-902 Your favorite backgrounder, like A-104 Any tool with lines on it like a checkered matting tool beveler OR Pro-Series tools: Figure Bevelers B-1, B-2, B-3 and B-4 or B-4.25 Flat type Figure Bevelers BF-4, BF-6, FB-8 Matters like MB-3.5 or MB-4 Triangle Beelers SP-2 or SP-3 Pointed Bevelers SP-1 Checkered backgrounder like BG-3 Other Checkered Matting Tools Note: Many tools can be substituted for the ones listed above Class Size 15 How to Carve 3D Rope, Barn Wood & Other Tricks Roz Short Kaohn (The Dragon Lady) 1 Day Pre-Show Workshop Thursday, October 18, 2007 - 9:00AM to 5:00 PM Location: Hide Crafter $125.00 per person Class Description: Carving 3D rope and combine it with a barn wood, you can create a variety of different projects. Just use your imagination. Here, we will make a picture frame using barn wood and 3D rope. We will, also, add corner pieces. Come join the fun and create a frame like you never made before Materials Provided: Worksheets Leather Frames Patterns Materials Needed: Craftsman Cement (White Glue) Spray Bottle (for water) Shelf Paper (Self adhesive) Tracing film and pencil Delta Creamcoat Acrylic Paint: White Black Red Yellow Green Brown Blue Sponge (no soap) Paint Brushes (large and small) Tools Needed: Caving knife with curved blades Swivel knife #5 Roz’s Hair blade #3 Edge beveller F910 Six basic tools Mallet Poundo Board Marble Class Size 15 Layout, Carve & Stamp – Sheridan Flowers, Leaves and Stems, etc Barry King 4 hour Pre-Show Workshop Thursday, October 18, 2007 9:00 A – 1:00 P Location: Hide Crafters $ 45 per person Class Description: Barry will speak and demonstrate the basic layout of Sheridan floral designs. Students willthen practice drawing the layout, carve and stamp it. Note: Barry will be glad to lend assistance in showing how to apply your tools as you practice in class Materials Provided: Tracing paper Assorted patterns Leather Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Stylus Pencil and Paper Leather stamping tools (as many as you wish) Carve & Tool Sheridan Style Chan Geer 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 45 per person Class Description: Students will carve and tool a Sheridan Style billfold pattern. Chan will teach the techniques he uses in his Sheridan Style carvings. Materials Provided: Leather Sheridan Style pattern Sponge and water bowl Materials Needed: Marble for stamping Tools Needed: Swivel knife Strop Mallet Normal tooling and stamping tools if you do not have Sheridan Style tools Class Size 20 Two and Three Tone Lacing Using The Double Loop Stitch Allan Scheiderer 4 hour workshop Friday, October 18, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P Saturday, October 19, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 40 per person Class Description: You will learn to lace the two-tone color and three-tone color lace using the double loop. NOTE: Students mush have knowledge of how to lace the double loop stitch Materials Provided: Leather backs and lace Materials Needed: Beeswax Tools Needed: 5- lacing needles Lacing fid Scissors Lacing pliers Class Size 8 Hinge & Lock Bracelet Gerda Van der Stroom 4 Hour Workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00P Saturday, October 20, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $50.00 per person Class Description: We are going to make a bracelet with a Hinge as a lock to close the bracelet with. We will decorate the bracelet with decoration stamps. Materials Provided: Materials Needed: are two or three pieces of leather about 10 inches long and 4/5 OZ thick and about 1_ “ wide Contact-cement/ cement Lining leather the same measures. A poly board (to cut and pound on) Tools Needed: Utility knife Skiver /skiving knife/ scalpel Mallet Some decoration /border stamps Ruler Bone folder Tracing tool or stylus Class Size Minimum: 4 students Maximum: 12 students Lone Star Knot Tom Hall 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 30 per person Class Description: This class may be a little advanced for the raw beginner, but I am hopeful we can lead a beginner through a Lone Star knot. For people that can already tie Pineapple Knots and Herringbone Knots this class will give them another dimension of diversity. Most braiders tie 4 Bight and 6 Bight foundation knots. There are not a lot of braiders that use a 5 Bight foundation knot, which is the foundation for a Lone Star Knot. I have braided romal reins that had every knot on them as a Lone Star Knot and the people from Texas that saw them absolutely loved them. Since this year's IFoLG show is in Texas and put on by the Lone Star Leather Guild I felt like this was the perfect opportunity for this class. In Bruce Grant’s Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding he shows how to tie the Lone Star Knot from a 6 Part 5 Bight Turk’s Head Knot. We will tie a version of that knot and show other knots that can be tied as a Lone Star Knot. These knots will all show a pattern of the Lone Star in the end of the knot. Materials Provided: All material supplied Materials Needed: None Tools Needed: none Class Size 5 Mexican 4-Braid Leather Bourbon Basket - Round Charles Crenshaw 4 hour workshop $ 70 per person Friday, October 19, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P Class Description: Students will learn the Mexican basket weave/Mexican Round Braid and double loop stitch on this beautiful basket. Measurements: 6" Diameter x9" Tall Materials Provided: Leather Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Leather scissors Class Size 12 Northwest Style of Carving Jesse Smith 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 45 per person Class Description: Jess explains the distinctions of the Northwest Style. He then demonstrates pattern layout followed by carving and stamping the pattern.Students then practice the layout, carving and stamping on sample pieces of leather. Materials Provided: 9-10 and 10-11 ounce leather Stamping surface Water bowl and sponge Materials Needed: Pencil Notebook Tools Needed: Stamping tools of your choice (including the basic stamping tools) Mallet Swivel Knife with blade Class Size 20 Carve, Stamp – Blend of Al Stohlman, Sheridan, California Styles Jeff Mosby 4 hour workshop $ 45 per person Friday, October 19, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00P Class Description: A new design will be taught, which is a blend of Al Stohlman, Sheridan and California styles. Emphasis is on depth of stamping and backgrounding. Materials Provided: Leather Stamping Surface Bowl With Sponge Patterns Poster Board Barge Cement Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Basic set of stamping tools Swivel knife Strop Wing Dividers Maxiumum Class: 15 Practical Pictorial Carving Jim Linnell 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $ 25 per person Class Description: Participants in this workshop will learn the use many of the figure carving tools featured in Al Stohlman’s Pictorial Carving Finesse book as they carve a picture. The picture will include features such as rocks, trees,grass, bushes, mountains and more. Special emphasis will be spent on carving pine trees of various sizes. Jim has developed his own techniques in using these tools and his results have been seen on the covers of the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal as well as the Tandy Leather Factory catalog. Materials Provided: Leather Pattern Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Basic carving equipment F927 F896 Modeling spoon F924 F898 Stylus F989 F899 F872 F912L F900 F871 F912R A98 F926 F976 A99 F925 F910 F917 F941 F933 F890 F916 F891 F918 F895 Class Size 20 Carving Texas Floral – Contemporary Style Carey Blanchard 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 $ 45 per person 1:00 P – 5:00 P Class Description: Learn to stamp the Contemporary Style Texas floral pattern as seen on modern saddles. Materials Provided: Tracing Paper/ Frosted Mylar Flower Pattern Leather Materials Needed: Pencil Paper Tools Needed: Stamping tools Class Size 15 Tooling and Carving an Eagle Head – Part 1 Bill Gomer 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $ 40 per person Class Description: During this class, you will learn to carve an tool a new style Eagle Head with Bill Gomer Materials Provided: Leather (mounted) Paints Glue Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Mallet Swivel knife and strop Stylus Modeling tool Small and Medium figure/smooth bevelers Small and Medium checked bevelers Matting tools (899) Pebble Tool #2 and #3 sable brush Marble Slab Stitching Awl Class Size 20 Gold and Silver Decorations Akiko Okada 4 hour workshop Friday, October 19, 2007 $ 38 per person 1:00 P – 5:00 P Class Description: Another interesting method for your tooled/embossed leather designs. Learn how to color the patterned leathers with spirit dyes. Then how to apply either gold or silver foil papers or combination of both to the leather to enhance your designs. You should create at least 2 samples. Materials Provided: Leather Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Class Size 15 ABC’s of Design David Genadek 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 60 per person Class Description: This class will focus on the fundamentals of design. You will explore the natural proportions in the world and learn how they relate to your leather work. The focus will be on giving you the basic building blocks you need to develop your own style or styles. We will explore the three methods of lay out and explore the limitations of each. The main focus of the class will be on the free form method used by Bob Brown. Each participant will be asked to bring a project they would like to draw a design for. The class will begin by showing you the fundamental concepts behind floral design then we will work on developing the techniques you need to draw your own patterns by applying the concepts to your project. Note: This is primarily a drawing class Materials Provided: Pencils Paper Scrap Leather Materials Needed: Space you want to fill (check book, billfold, rifle sling, etc). Tools Needed: Any tools you want to carve the sample of your drawing Class Size 15 Elements of Designing with Stamping Tools Paul Burnett 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 40 per person Class Description: Learn the elements of design by tooling a 10” strip of Paul Burnett’s most popular stamp design for 1-1/2” belts. Learn how to properly layout for a complex stamping design and how to keep your tooling balanced and in symmetry. Learn how to use decorative cuts to enhance stamping designs. Learn block dying and resist method for coloring and proper finishing of a belt strip. Materials Provided: Leather Finishes Materials Needed: Tooling surface Hand towel #5 Round paint brush (Lowe-Cornell 7500 series or Royal RG250 series preferred, Available at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby etc.) Tools Needed: Mallet or maul Swivel knife and strop #2 edge beveler Stamping tools: V413, D606, C454, V708, G602, (Available at Hide- Crafters) S625, H908 and U848 Class Size 12 Swivel Knife Control & Exercise with a Bird Design Chan Geer 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 8:00 A -12:00 P $ 45 per person Class Description: Chan will begin with a short session on the different types of swivel knife blades available and sharpening techniques (explanation only – no demonstration). The second session will consist of students participating in an exercise in “Swivel Knife Work.” Students will receive instruction in swivel knife control (cutting depth, fading, smooth curves, flows, etc.) and then practice on leather using a bird-design pattern Materials Provided: Leather Pattern Sponge and water bowl Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Your favorite swivel knife (with your favorite and very sharp swivel knife blade) Strop Pencil Class Size 15 Mexican 4-Braid Leather Bourbon Basket - Oval Charles Crenshaw 4 hour workshop $ 75 per person Saturday, October 20, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P Class Description: Students will learn the Mexican basket weave/Mexican Round Braid and double loop stitch on this beautiful basket. Measurement: 6” x9”x11” Materials Provided: All tools provided Leather Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Leather Scissors Class Size 12 Youth Leathercrafting Workshop Jim Linnell and Tony & Kay Laier 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ free per person Class Description: Hands-on leathercraft will be taught with demonstration and individual help. The students will do stamping on leather – receive lecture – style information – and take home any leather piece on which that have worked. Guild members/parents are welcome to attend and learn how to instruct young people in leathercrafting. Materials Provided: All material supplied Materials Needed: None Tools Needed: Swivel knife Stamping tools Mallet Class Size unlimited The Making and Coloring of Gum Leaves Peter Main 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $ 50 per person Class Description: ….here we will be making realistic gum leaves that will appear paper thin. These will be colored with spirit dyes, and can be arranged so that they can be worn as decoration by the attachment of a pin Materials Provided: Spirit dyes Super sheen Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Modeling tools #5 Sable brush #3 Scapel with #11 blade cutting mat Class Size 15 Coloring the Eagle Head – Part 2 Bill Gomer 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $ 40 per person Class Description: During this class, you will learn to color the Eagle Head you tooled and carved in Part 1 of this class. Note: Must have taken Part 1 of class Materials Provided: Leather (mounted) Paints Glue Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Mallet Swivel knife and strop Stylus Modeling tool Small and Medium figure/smooth bevelers Small and Medium checked bevelers Matting tools (899) Pebble Tool #2 and #3 sable brush Class Size 20 Embossed Christmas Ornaments and Christmas Card Andy Stasiak 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $ 25 per person Class Description: Learn to make embossed Christmas ornaments and cards that you can hang on a tree or send to your friends and family. Materials Provided: Leather Materials Needed: None Tools Needed: Sheers Scalpel Ball Modeler Tools for floral and pictoral carving Swivel knives Class Size No limit Wet and Dry- Brush Color Shading Workshop Tony Laier 4 hour workshop Saturday, October 20, 2007 1:00 P – 5:00 P $ 45 per person Class Description: Class will include an in depth demonstration of wet and dry brush color shading using Alcohol Based and the new Tandy Eco-Flo Water Based Leather Dyes. Samples of this type of coloring can be seen on the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal Covers for the March/April 2006 issue, the 10th Anniversary issue and the Sept/October 2004 issue. The same coloring technique is shown on the Tandy Leather Factory 2006 Catalog Cover and the majority of samples shown in all Tandy Leather Factory flyers and catalogs. The class will also include many other methods of applying dyes, stains, antiques and finishes. Questions will be welcomed. Students attending the workshop will be invited to try their hand at wet and dry bush color shading during the last part of the workshop. Materials Provided: All materials and pre-tooled leather will be provided including a pamphlet showing step by step detailed instructions for this technique. Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Class Size 20 Victorian Style Carving Paul Burnett 4 hour workshop Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 40 per person Class Description: Victorian leather decoration is the bases for floral carving. Learning this more realistic style of floral decoration will give you a greater understanding of all types of western floral designs. You will learn how Paul’s realistic leather carving techniques apply to floral decorations. Increase you skill and knowledge of proper swivel knife techniques. Learn to cut of tooling, form and space. Learn how to build artist depth into your design by balancing the concave and convex shapes, and how to tool them convincingly. Leather will be furnished, but you may need to have a few scrap pieces handy to practice some new swivel knife techniques for which you may not be familiar. Materials Provided: Leather Materials Needed: Hand Towel Tooling surface Tools Needed: Mallet Swivel knife and strop Tools: Bevelers B936, B198 or B702. Undercut bevelers B60 (med) & B892 (small). Pointed bevelers: F976, F902 and Figure Carving beveler: F895. Pear Shaders: P363, P216 and P234. Stops: H907, H907S and H908. Fine-Checked Matters, F898F and F899F. 8036 modeling spoon preferred but others can be used. If you have comparable tools that are of higher quality i.e. Robert Beard’s Pro-Line Series all the better. Class Size 12 Carving Texas Floral – Traditional Style Carey Blanchard 4 hour workshop Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 45 per person Class Description: Learn to stamp the traditional Texas floral pattern of the 50s and 60s as seen on older saddles. Materials Provided: Tracing Paper/ Frosted Mylar Flower Pattern Leather Materials Needed: Pencil Paper Tools Needed: Stamping tools Class Size 15 The Main Techniques Peter Main 4 hour workshop Sunday, October 20, 2007 8:00A – 12:00 P $ 50 per person Class Description: Spend a workshop with Peter…. No tools required. This will be a friendly get together where you will see the tools in use that Peter uses. He will demonstrate and discuss his method of working with leather and answer questions where everyone can learn from the answers given. Bring your notepad. Materials Provided: Materials Needed: Tools Needed: Class Size 12 8 Strand Flat Braiding Tom Hall 4 hour workshop Sunday, October 21, 2007 8:00 A – 12:00 P $ 30 per person Class Description: In all of the shows we have done we have never shown how to braid a flat braid. In this class we will show three different types of 8 Strand Flat Braids and we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of braiding flat braids with leather. We will then braid a project using one of the flat braids, make the transition from the flat braid to an 8 Strand Square Braid and finish it off with double rosebud knots. Materials Provided: All material supplied Materials Needed: None Tools Needed: none Class Size 15 More info coming soon...stay tuned

When I first moved to Macon, a store in the same shopping center as the Tandy went out of business, and they threw away carpeted risers they used for display purposes. Jon retrieved one from the dumpster, hammers 6 two-by-fours in for legs and was delighted that his tools wouldn't nick when he threw them on the bench. We built it in the room that was our shop, and ended up leaving it there (wouldn't go through the door!) I kept my cutting table and dye bench, though. A few years ago my dad gave me his workbench that he built when I was a little girl for his woodworking. There is no give or bounce on this bench because of these legs: This is the dye bench (yeah, I know, the shop is a mess!) and most of the rest of the shop: Johanna PS that black "rubber-looking" stuff on the marble is a piece of Poundo

My friend Annie came over for coffee this morning, and I had to take a pic of the back of her shirt: ("I didn't climb to the top of the food chain to become a vegetarian!") God bless cows who give us dairy products, hides to pound on and steak for supper. Johanna PETA "People Eating Tasty Animals"

"For an additional expense, custom tooling is available. Select from one of our designs, or give us one of your own! All of our leatherwork is done by hand, with top quality materials, and no two items are the same." "We can provide custom artwork, hand carved and stamped, to add value and style to your item. Our master leather carver can duplicate a design of your choice, or you may select from one of his original drawings. Make your item personal! Additional fees apply." Like that, Billy? Johanna

Well, I guess it's called "Protecto Board" now...hmmm... http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/product...?number=3461-03 Maybe one of the guys has a better source or can point you to a better product. I've not used this "Protecto", but it looks like a brown "Poundo". Johanna

Yep, you're gonna fit in here just fine. We have some pretty leather and great people. ClayB is in charge of the doughnuts, I just make the coffee. Shoot me a PM if you want access to the adult area. Welcome to the board, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work (I love fancy lacing!) Johanna

You want a workbench that is sturdy with no give. If it has four legs, build two more in the center. If you have to pound on the edge (where the leg is) and can't use the center because of the bounce, it's not good enough. Go to a monument company and ask for a scrap piece of marble (they will have a pile that chipped, cracked or had a mistake, and often they will give it to you if you can carry it) and buy a piece of Poundo for the other end of the bench. It will save you from looking for a scrap every time you want to punch a hole or slot. Lighting is more of an issue with me now than it used to be 20 years ago. I got some overhead shop lights on sale, but I like having a gooseneck lamp I can focus so I don't work in a shadow. You also need a radio or cd player and a coffeepot, and you should be good to go. Johanna

That looks sharp, Ed. Is it big enough to tote a laptop and a bunch of cords and chargers? If I had velcro closures instead of the buckles, no shoulder pad (I have one! )and a zipper under the flap, what would it cost me, and how long would it take to get it? (You can PM me if you want!) I could see putting Clay's shoulder pad on a fine looking case like that, instead of the mass produced nylon bag I haul around. My hubby really screwed up this week (and it's Mother's Day to boot!) and I want some new leather! Anyone have Shawn's (The Major) phone number, too, while we're at it? Johanna

I wouldn't worry about posting something like that on the forum. If Disney would notice, they'd look at the situation in context. Now if you lined up 50 Harley Davidson seats with wings, you might want to refrain from posting that! Traditionally, most companies have not bothered to copyright police leatherworkers unless there is mass production and sales involved (like some people began doing w/ HD) Making a Bugs Bunny keychain or a Tigger wallet as a gift is small potatoes, and isn't going to attract the attention of any lawyers. Johanna

I've been playing, and this is no where near done, but have a look and see what you think so far... http://leatherworker.net/teasers/index.htm I needed to clean up the links page to get the gallery in order, and I had to check links and sites...so I threw a pic from most of the sites into a folder...here are 60 pics so far Johanna

Well, my name is Johanna, and I am working on a special "Gallery" section for the front page. http://leatherworker.net I have ClayB, Dale Hietala, Dan Hammons, and Xavier just about ready to upload. I need permission from more of you guys and gals looking for work to make you a page, if you want one, and some contact info and extra pics and/or copy to brag on you would be helpful, too. I wish I could post beautiful pictures of my leatherwork, but I'm just a tech, and I only play in the shop these days. However, the reason I am here is to help you folks get to know each other, see what others are doing and with luck, help you get some work. Put your link in your profile and/or your signature, and drive some extra traffic to your site while you enjoy entertaining and educational conversation with peers and mentors. Hey, use this board! Google and the other search engines love us. A big welcome to all you new folks, and hugs to my old friends. Now, it's back to work. You folks are keeping my busy and I LOVE IT!!! Johanna

Hundreds of years ago, in Europe, tradespeople organized themselves into Guilds to protect their interests. Today's modern leather guild is not a closed society of people in business. Today's leather guilds are clubs of friends who enjoy the fellowship and educational efforts of their fellow guild members. Many of the US guilds belong to an umbrella organization called the International Federation of Leather Guilds, which sponsors an annual competition and show. Individuals do not belong to the IFoLG, only guilds. Show hosting is rotated among member guilds. You don't have to belong to a guild to enjoy a show, but you do need to belong to a member guild to enter a piece in competition. Be aware that the host guild sets the rules for the competition, not the IFoLG, so each year there are subtle variations on the theme. Many guilds accept members that can't attend the meetings, most have nominal dues, and some guilds have newsletters. Some guilds are focused on teaching and archiving information, and hire instructors when they can. (The Columbine guild just had a class taught by Jim Linnell.) Some guilds are friends that drink coffee and work on small projects. A person can belong to as many guilds as they want, but if a piece is entered into competition at the IFoLG, they have to "declare" a guild to enter it under. PSLAC is not a Federation Guild, but they are a dynamic group of people who have compiled some great online resources. (Click the "Rawhide Gazette" link at the bottom of this page for more info.) The South Central Leathercrafters Guild is applying for membership into the IFoLG this fall. Keep an eye on this guild, because like the Prairie States Guild, the dedication of the members is fantastic, and they are also gathering information to share online with leatherworkers who are interested. The Pitt Pounders publish a monthly newsletter online. The Lonestar Guild is hosting the 2007 IFoLG show. For more guilds, and contact info, click here. Please send me updates, corrections, omissions etc. so I can keep this listing as accurate as possible. Leatherworker.net is not a guild, and wishes to support any leather guild in any way possible. Guilds should feel free to use the Live Chat feature at their convenience. If your guild is doing something, let us know so that we can spread the word! If your guild does not have a website and wants one, please let me know. If your guild needs assistance with a website. please let me know. Leather guilds have the opportunity to represent themselves in their community as ambassadors of our craft, and with the collective effort of the group, everyone can learn something from someone else. The biggest advantage to joining a guild is the friendship of the other folks in it. As you can see from the board, leatherland is full of interesting, creative, helpful and genuinely wonderful people. And life is good. Johanna

Chester Hape Saddle 1985 Thanks, Ashley! Johanna

Well, you know this guy, and obviously you are confident the check will clear. But some customers (and you leatherworkers know who I mean!) just aren't worth it. It is better to smile sweetly and hand them a list of other leatherworkers who might be willing (or stupid enough) to do business with them. There are some jobs that it is actually more profitable to say, "No!" than to waste the time and energy trying to please the "no matter what you do, I'm gonna be unhappy" customer. Send them to WalMart! Johanna

I would use a white leather rather than try to dye a veggie tanned piece white. Yes, I know there is white leather dye, but it just never looks right in white. A piece of white latigo woul look good and wear well, or a white upholstery type leather (or a split or pigskin etc.) stitched to a heavier underlayer (like veggie tanned) would work, too. Acrylics are not a practical solution since a guitar strap has to flex in so many places. This is just my opinion...your mileage may vary. Maybe somebody else has had better luck with white dye, or has another idea. But white leather is better looking when it isn't vegetable tanned (the absorbent leather used for carving). Again, just my opinion. Johanna

I recently bought a wide screen monitor, and no matter what, my Explorer windows work their way to the left, too. Drives me crazy. Here is a temporary fix: Use the drag method to position the window the way you want it, then hold down the control key while you "X" out. Windows will remember the position for awhile (maybe the next 10 times?) I figure out how to lock them into opening where I want them, I'll let you know. (All the other applications and software I use remember where they are supposed to be, why can't Explorer?) Johanna

Hey, Shawn, this isn't directed at you, because you've been in the business long enough to need to rant occasionally... But, sometimes "Do what you want!" is the biggest compliment a leatherworker can receive. You do nice work, he knows it, and trusts you to make the best decision because he knows he hasn't got the faintest idea what to ask for, and he's too embarrassed to ask his wife, who knows. (Sometimes it's easier just to talk to her.) But on those jobs where big or little things like buckles aren't agreed on, you draw up a plan and a itemized bill, have him sign it and collect a deposit. That way, if later he hates the buckles you chose, or has some other issue, he won't be back to complain, and if he does, you have a piece of paper showing you did what you said you would, down to the leather and hardware used and the dates you agreed on the job and delivered it. For every 100 good customers, you will get a knothead or two. It's inevitable. CYA and do the paperwork, and get it signed. (Hey, Shawn, put in there purple and pink and see if he picks up on it! LOL) Johanna

I have no idea what actual difference there is going to be in power consumption, but the things that eat up electricity are appliances that create heat or cold. Refrigerators, freezers, ovens, dehumidifiers, air conditioners etc. I once figured out the network power consumption of the network at church (20+ computers and a server) and it was less than the kitchen used. Just out of curiosity, are you making your briefcases in an assembly line fashion, or one-at-a time? Have you calculated out cost of materials and rate of time per unit? Most leatherworkers figure out a "shop rate", money they need to generate to pay rent, utilities, insurance, advertising etc (expenses divided by hours worked) and add that into the price. As an example: Price of materials+shop rate= actual base cost + either your profit % margin or your rate of pay per hour= wholesale price. Is that as clear as mud? Bruce, where are you? Johanna

I don't think it's fair to hold the SCA responsible for this- it's impractical for them to run background checks and ascertain the legitimacy of every visitor and participant. Besides, we are talking about people who develop alternative personas and enjoy hitting each other with swords and sticks! (SCA humor- no one get offended, please!) Like Whinewine pointed out, it's people we "trust" that get away with molesting children, and it's statistically usually someone the child knows. It is our job, as parents, to diligently be aware of our kids' friends and activities, and to pay attention to the environments and people our children are around. Sure, even a careful parent can miss a clue, but this man assualted eleven children over four years. I can't help but wonder why someone didn't catch on, and why the children weren't taught to tell a trusted adult immediately when the sexual activity began? My seven and eight year old kids know that certain parts of their bodies are private, and that anyone interested in an area a bathing suit covers isn't anyone's business without mom and dad's okay (like at the doctor's office). It bothers me that these kids didn't tell, or, if they did, they were ignored. Off my soapbox now. Johanna

Do NOT cease and desist. I love seeing your work, and anyone who doesn't want to see it can skip the click. David, thank you for sharing! It's folks like you that make this a fun place to hang out. Johanna

Mary Kamai (817) 516-8789 This is the lady in charge of IFoLG classes for the Lonestar IFoLG show in October 2007, Ft. Worth Texas. If anyone gets a confirmed list, please post it.Official Show site Johanna

I used to really enjoy doing the beadwork on Regalia. It was an honor to be asked. This site is fun to play with, and lets you make your own beading patterns for free on your screen. It's easier to use than graph paper! Enjoy! http://www.nativetech.org/beadwork/beadgraph/index.html Johanna

Romey made a very good point- and I hope we can all get on with discussing the subject rather than ridiculing each other. I don't know much about horses and saddles, but many of you do. Please, guys, teach me and all the others here, what you know, and why you chose to do things the way you do. Everyone in this thread has valuable experience to share, so please quit fighting and start explaining, so that newbies like me can understand, and everyone else can learn a thing or two. I don't expect anyone to agree, but we're not helping any horses if we all throw our suckers in the sand and stomp off of the playground. Johanna