Johanna

I'm trying to figure it out, Dale. When you hover the mouse, do you even see the arrow? I have FF 1.0.4 (guess I need to update it, huh?) and it works okay. I'm going to check on the kids' computer as soon as I get them off for the night. (Theirs is up-to-date, or closer, anyway) Does the little box appear on a hover? Thanks, Dale! Johanna

Mark, your original offer was more than generous. The black machine is an "imprinter" and works great with the 3-D and alphabet stamps from Tandy. The red machine is a setter, I think, for rivets and snaps. They retail at more than $100 each after tax. The buckles are worth at least $3 each, maybe more. The hardware is clean and neatly organized- looks like a good $50 worth or more from the pics, and the strap cutter is brand new, still in the bag. ($12) Someone would get quite a deal with your latest offer! Good luck with it- and are you sure we can't talk you into an entertaining hobby? Johanna

Are you volunteering to teach Wade to lay out patterns and sew? I don't think you have enough room or light in your basement yet, but if you want to clear out a spot upstairs...at least the machine would get used! (It's hard living with packrats, isn't it?) Seriously, he asked me to keep it so he could sew on it. In his spare time, right, sure. Johanna

Monkey, don't be so grumpy! Here you go, Alex, a choice! Default skin enabled, by request! Johanna

We have a confirmed glitch with AOL, and I'm reading IPB's help documentation right now to try to find a workaround. All but one user has been restored with simply resetting the password salt, so far. If anyone is having problems logging in, staying logged in, or seeing the drop downs, please let me know. We would like to get it corrected ASAP. Johanna

Michael Sheldon, No one else seems to be having problems with the drop down menus, and I can't seem to duplicate the problem Perhaps you could try clearing your temp files? Dsenette: oops, sorry. But ain't it pretty? Johanna

If you click "add reply" (not fast reply) and "post new topic" you should see the spell checker on the right at the top of the window where you compose the message, along with the tools to center align etc. It says "abc" and has a checkmark. All of the new icons have a hover feature that makes them identify themselves when you pass your cursor over top. One of the new features is that the old "contacts" have been replaced with "friends" which also serves as the "auto-complete" for Private Messages. I colored the "upload" button bright green, and if you are having any difficulty posting attachments, let me know. If you haven't done so, please fill out the information in your profile so that people can learn a little about you, and the work you do. Please add your websites to your profile and/or signature, and take advantage of any extra publicity that the board generates. Let us know if something isn't working right, or we can do a better job. If I can't fix it, I can call in the swat team. Thanks, everyone, for the feedback. You folks are great. Johanna

Yep, Freak, I got bold today and finally got the update done. I think I have straightened out the inevitable glitches, but please, everyone, let me know if something isn't working right so that I can look into it. We have new and improved spam control, new features for our profiles and topics, and a spell checker! Whoo-hoo! If anyone has any problems, just holler. Johanna

story here: Dallas News The boots were recovered: Story of the recovery

It's not going to be a terribly long list. The Journal is pretty much it, unless you count Shop Talk, which is geared for people on the business end of leatherwork, rather than construction techniques. The lack of materials to read is another reason this site, leatherworker.net was born. What kind of information are you specifically looking for? Johanna

Marilyn- take it back to the Tandy store and ask for an exchange. You could maybe work around the sun spot, but why? Chances are that the area where the sun has darkened the leather is not going to accept any finish like the rest of the piece. Johanna

Hi, Pip! That's nice of you to want to thank people who have been helpful! In comparison with the giant Internet, leatherworkers are kind of a small community, and I haven't added a ratings function because many of us know each other in real life anyway. When we set up the board, we figured that people would be able to browse the posts and figure out who had the respect of their peers, and who didn't, without us putting a tag on anyone. So far, it's working just fine. We have some talented helpful people participating here, and I'm glad you have found some of the advice helpful. That's what it's all about! Johanna

Dave, go sit in the corner. Only a geek would read that as "hard drive". * sigh I've told you over and over that these folks have sharp knives and big hammers, and will use them. Don't start a riot- people will be mailing me floggers with your name on them. Harleys have more to do with attitude than anything else, which is why they are so much fun for us leatherworkers. Many of us looked at the bike and mentally superimposed the leather Kevin would want for himself, his old lady and the bike. We all processed a picture of Kevin, armed to the teeth, on a Harley, with the wind in his hair, and sighed because we are driving the family SUV today, and there is no wild party for us tonight by the bonfire with Bob Seger, Allman Bros. & Lynyrd Skynyrd in the background. I'll skip the crotch rockets. Someone pass the aspirin. Johanna

No, but my husband likes it now, and I can't convince him that we need to get rid of it. Sigh. Johanna

In the Tandy stores the straps are cut with a regular strap cutter, and it's easier to place an old strap in it to set to measure, than to try to use the measuring marks provided. Straps are cut short a 1/16th because the because the buckles are usually true, and the blanks won't fit otherwise. If you got some that were over, it was probably an oversight by the employeee that cut the straps, nothing else. At least you can always make something narrower- I would rather sell someone a strap that was a little over than a little short. Johanna

I watched an old man charge a customer $10 to set a rivet one day in Macon, and he never missed a beat. After the customer left, I asked him how he could justify that kind of money, and he said, "You don't argue with the plumber, do you? They are paying me for what I know, not what I do." He had to turn his attention to the customer, and he figured setting down his tools for a few minutes to set the rivet was worth ten bucks. A 10 minute visit in the doctor's office costs me $80, so the old man was probably right on target. That laptop is selling for that price because of the service agreement it's bundled with, but the leather is a nice touch. They will come to your house to fix it! Nomi's right, though. There are people who don't care what the price is. If you don't expect the right prices from the right customers, you won't get enough to cover costs. Johanna

I am sooo wishing I were going, too! Have fun! Johanna (favorite zz top album: tres hombres)

Hiloboy! It's not every day I get a phone call from Hawaii (I think that was my very first one!) Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. There's lots of folks here who can help you get started on the right foot in leatherworking. We are always glad to see new faces around the table! Johanna

Ahhhh... 67 degrees here in Ohio this morning. The heat has been unusually steady this summer, and we are something like 20 inches under normal rainfall here in the Miami Valley. There was NO sweet corn this year. The local farmers seem to think we are in for a harsh winter, and I'm not going to contradict them, just prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. Hope everyone gets a cool breeze and some rain soon, if you need it. Johanna

Have you tried skiving the center of the book where it folds? Skiving is like using a vegetable peeler to take off a layer or two of leather, only you have to use a sharper knife. I like the little $4 "super skiver" from Tandy (takes regular razor blades) for skiving like this. By getting the leather slightly thinner at the fold, nothing bunches up or wrinkles. The kind of work you are doing is not called "engraving" in the US. I would describe it as "filigree". The intricate detail of your designs looks beautiful, and I can only imagine how many hours of love go into a project! One slip of the knife and, back to the bench! Thank you for sharing, Vera. Your work is inspiring and unique. Johanna

Hello, Vandy! Glad you are here! Please don't feel shy about talking about your business. If you can offer someone what they are looking for, please speak up. No one is going to look down on you for spamming, because you aren't. You are a retailer/supplier who cares enough about your customers to participate in the forum, and you are very welcome to do so. Why don't you post your store telephone number or website so people can check out Sheridan Leather? Do you offer catalogs or swatches? Let everyone know! I'm really glad to "meet" you. You have a reputation as one of the stellar leather suppliers in the US, and I can see why. I wish you continued success, and look forward to your input around here. Welcome to leatherworker.net !! Johanna

I saw the D rings, and wondered, too. Then I saw the second picture, hit myself upside the head and said, "Brilliant!" A briefcase like that will hold your laptop, a change of clothes and everything one needs for a day or so. It looks like it belongs on the First Class section of the train, too. Take a look at the 5th pic, where it is being used a backpack. Johanna

What I like about that briefcase is the fact that it is the perfect traveling companion, and has every detail, down to a way to catch an umbrella and jacket in the straps. Oh, yeah, and it looks good, too. Nice, Ed! Keep pounding, you're turning out some really fine work. Do you need a website yet? Johanna

Hello, Kevin! You should win a prize for having the most original item! Glad that you are here, and looking forward to seeing more of your work. A thanks to your sis, "Pegleg" for modeling! Johanna

http://gasharpshop.com Johanna