Johanna

Ummmm...the way you get the word out to your target market is to advertise here on leatherworker.net! I'll be happy to set up an account with you that matches needs to budget. Why do people think of the magazines first when we get over 50,000 unique visitors a week? We're not even in the same ballpark, and we have (I am repeating myself) your target market, right here. Best advertising value for the buck Johanna

I'm proud to be part of this crowd. Johanna

I can't wait to read your book, Bobby. You can tell how electric lighting changed your work hours, and how business changed when they installed the telephone! Seriously, I want to clarify that there is nothing wrong with the case making books by Al Stohlman. The explanations of the various techniques makes it possible for you to do your own fabrication. I have seen the original pages of those books at the museums-Al LABORED over each page. He did not have a computer for cut and paste. He had to draw illustrations and squeeze his text in. He carved many a leather piece for pictures and illustrations. Clearly, his whole series of books was a labor of love, and I'm sure Tandy feels they made a good investment. Al got to live in peace in BC and Tandy has been teaching with those books forever. Fabrication is what is becoming a lost art of leatherwork. This is a subject I get on my soapbox about. if the purse doesn't close or the gun doesn't fit, i don't care how pretty it is, it's junk. I've seen outstanding leather art hanging on the walls at shows. I have more admiration for the items that serve a purpose and do work, and Al's books will teach you the principles of making boxes, cases, and so forth with leather. So for the time being, buy all three books, if you can. And get Al's Tool book, too. Out of all of the leather books for sale right now, those 4 will get you going if you want to MAKE things, not necessarily decorate them. Johanna

You are forgiven. You have suffered enough, and it took courage to come here and admit that you sunk so low. Stop beating yourself up and go pound on some real leather, and thanks for giving me a good laugh today. It's been a rough one! Johanna

It just hit me that those Al Stohlman "How to make Cases" books have to be 50-60 years old. If someone wants to write and illustrate a modren one book that covers the basics, I'll be glad to publish it. An old leatherworker I knew said, "Al wasn't the greatest carver or maker, but he's the "father of leathercraft" because he took the time to write the books!" Johanna