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Johanna

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Posts posted by Johanna

  1. Posted · Report reply

    I didn't want to color anyone's opinion, so I responded to Jack by PM:

    My "inexperienced" eye preferred the one on the left because it doesn't have the notches all over the scrolls, and the swivel knife decorative cuts are natural and freehand. The center of the flower on the right looks awkward with its perfect circle, while the one on the left has a more realistic appearance with its stack of seeder taps. Both artists got the depth of their carving to show, and raised the flower petals well. If I had to guess, I'd say the one on the left is an original, and the one on the right is someone's attempt to improve it. But then, my opinion and $2 might buy a cup of coffee. I'll let the experts say their piece and learn from them.

    Johanna

  3. Posted · Report reply

    I admire the swirl of the scrolls, and the beaten down backgrounding. The depth of the carving probably doesn't show in the pics as well as in person.

    Thank you very much for sharing this with us, Bruce. If you had to name the top 5 or 6 leather carvers (who have passed on or no longer carve), who would be on your list? I'm curious because I'm seen only a little west coast work compared to what you have.

    Johanna

  4. Posted · Report reply

    Hmmm...which hand do you prefer to eat with? Call that your dominant hand? Everybody is ambidextrous to some degree, some more than others. Were you inclined to write with your right hand or did your teachers insist? My little sister, a lefty, used to come home crying because they wouldn't let her color or write with her left hand at school. Then they told her that her papers were messy.

    Johanna

  6. Posted · Report reply

    flowers1__Medium_.jpgflowers2__Medium_.jpgpoinsettias__Medium_.jpg

    The poinsettias were made by Jerry Woody of Cochran, Georgia. You would be surprised how many people feel a need to touch them to see if they are real or not, and then can't get over that they are made with leather.

    P2110046__Medium_.JPG

    My mom picked up this hair barrette for me in Hawaii during a vacation and she said it was very inexpensive. It was carefully put together of leather, too. I would love to know who made it, and how they could sell it at that price.

    Johanna

    post-5-1174106984_thumb.jpg

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  7. Posted · Report reply

    ClayB, Holly (Wildrose), Alex (abn), Mike (Wolvie), Carl (cjbleather) so far. Well, me and dsenette, too. Anyone have any other suggestions? Clay, maybe ask Bruce Johnson? Kate? Maybe Silva? I would ask her if you didn't want to. Tell Bob Beard to register, we need him for head judge. LOL I guess we'd better first define what we're doing, and I think we want to keep the first project very simple. I will come up with some prizes. Let's figure out something- I love the enthusiasm, and I thank you all for agreeing to work on this. The Live Chat feature might come in handy. (Carl, you can do this!) You folks are the best!

    :notworthy::thankyou:

    Johanna

    :cow:

  8. Posted · Report reply

    If leather didn't have some grain and some marks, it would look like plastic. Some plastic vinyl even imitates the "look" of leather, like we might carve a wood texture in a hide. But there is no fooling what they call the "hand" of leather. It's the way it feels, smells, drapes, breathes. earns its reputation. From upholstery leather to veggie tanned, and everything in between, you can't synthetically imitate real leather. I think Kate demonstrated how what some might consider a "flaw" can actually be an integral part of the character of a piece.

    I remember Little Jon haggling to buy double shoulders and sides that looked ratty. Once he flipped them over and was sure the back was okay, he knew his carving would cover up or work around any marks, holes or flaws that other people would find objectionable. He got a few deals from retailers who figured they might as well break even. I had a customer who asked me to set aside any 8/9 oz hide that came in with a brand. He made designs around the brands.

    Regis, that piece looks normal to me. As long as it's not mushy when you wet it, and it's the same thickness as the rest, it's ordinary markings. Play up on them. That section might mold just a little better than the "clean" part, too. After awhile your hands will tell you more about a hide than your eyes ever could. ;)

    Johanna

  11. Posted · Report reply

    Ibuprofen, rest and ice packs. It comes and goes, but I know if I overdo, it's gonna hurt for days. It was so bad 15 years ago I went to see a specialist, and he gave me HUGE ibuprofen pills (back then they were still prescription) and mostly that just upset my stomach. Resting the sore spot is the key. Like that's possible being a mom. LOL

    Johanna

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Clay, Holly, Kate, (Oh, how I love lists!) So far. If you know leatherworkers who are lefties that are not on this list, post names here. Please vote.

    Carpel tunnel and other injuries kind of go with the leatherworker lifestyle. I smashed all the little bones in my right (dominant hand) wrist a few years ago, and it has forced me to learn to do things new ways, since my right hand does not work like it used to.

    Johanna

  13. Posted · Report reply

    So much of that depends on the type of sewing you intend to do, and the style/brand of the machine you are using. I highly recommend learning on leather you don't care about, and taking your time. Always observe safety precautions. No one wants to have to ask to be driven to the ER so the docs can laugh as they carefully cut the threads you just neatly sewed into your other hand, and the leather you were working on.

    Be more specific with your question, Oscar, and you'll get more exact feedback. There are probably guys here who have modified the wife's home machine with an old engine they pulled from a Datsun and can sew leather or lace.

    Johanna

  14. Posted · Report reply

    I'm a member of PSLAC, and I gladly link to their site at the bottom of every page of this forum (Rawhide Gazette is their newsletter). It is worth the $10 membership fee to browse through the members only files they have collected, and you can even buy the older newsletters on cd for a reasonable price. PSLAC started out as a buying cooperative, I believe. Bob Stelmack has devoted a lot of time to making sure the art isn't lost.

    The IFoLG show for 2008 will be here in Ohio, about two hours from my house. (We will have to have a party next year for weary travelers!)

    Wolvie, your head is not on a chopping block. Wood dulls my knives. It's a great idea, only I've got too much going on right now. You seem like a good planner. See if you can talk Carl and Clay into judging, and I'll ask Bob Stelmack (of PSLAC) if he will help, too. You've got some good ideas. Now write them down instead of copying my post!

    :head_hurts_kr:

    Shawn, your guild, the Prairie States Leather Guild, is becoming another good online resource for leatherworkers. The South Central leather Guild is another. Both of these guilds recognize the benefit of sharing fellowship and fun, as well as taking strong educational roles and archiving information. Along with FLASAH, they have done the most this past year to further the art of leathercraft.

    The Central Indiana Leathercrafters are doing a show in Indianapolis in April, but it's not "IFoLG" recognized. I am planning to go. Anyone can enter in a show like that. The trick is to get a group of people who will sponsor it. There used to be The Midwest Federation of Leather Guilds (any guild within 600 miles of Chicago could join) and they held an annual show for years. I'm not sure what happened to the Midwest Federation, but some guilds reorganized, and I can't recall any recent shows. (Maybe Carl could fill us in, or Blanche)

    I don't know why a similar show couldn't be organized, and if guilds/groups work together. I would like to work for a combined online library shared by all. There are a few people dedicated to preserving what yesterday's masters wrote and said, and documenting the outstanding leather workers of today. Bob Stelmack (PSLAC) Joe Holman (PSLG) Dave Howell and Jerome Wharburton (SCLG) Verlane Desgrange (Do you look at the Siegels catalog?), Ruth Barkely, who has the tedious job of sorting through Yahoo lists for nuggets to add the the LKB and others that I'm momentarily forgetting. I'm trying to do my part. There are archived Pitt Pounders newsletters available, and pics of the 2006 IFoLG show on their site: Pitt Pounders.

    So Wolvie, don't feel bad. I'm a dreamer. too. But if enough people care, and are interested, anything is possible. The IFoLG is proof of that. People participate because they want to, not because of any economic incentive. (Oh, yeah, and we have a great time!)

    Johanna

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Well, ahem, there once upon a time was a company that considered "putting on the show" and establishing the world class standard. They invented the prestigious "Al Stohlman Award". Then there was a guild that grew so big that putting on an international show was discussed, but there was too much apathy to pursue it seriously. The Al Stohlman Award was turned over to the one magazine that caters to carvers, but is not available on your local newstand, so companies have trouble justifying the expense of the advertising. Leatherland is not very well organized, with the exception of the cooperation of the IFoLG member guilds.

    Part of it is economics. Even the big IFoLG shows are attended by vendors more out of courtesy and and the desire to see old friends, not any hope of making a profit or breaking even, after expenses. The teachers/instructors would say the same thing. The host of a show has to front some money to make it happen. To host a show like the IFoLG is known for- up front cost will be say between $4000-$8000, depending on what you can negotiate, and you hope to break even through the raffle, not the registrations, t-shirt sales or banquet tickets. Then, personal economics, scheduling and distance affect attendance. Can the average leatherworker afford to take few days off from work and drive or fly to the host city, stay in a hotel, eat out, rent a car and so forth? I am saving money to go to Texas because we have 4 kids, and rooms and restaurants...well, any family can do the math. It adds up. The IFoLG tries to alternate years where possible over the Mississippi River because people like me have never been to the western shows, and people like Clay seldom come east. That's the geographical problem.

    I think we could easily do contests or comparisons online with people voting for their favorites. I could ask around for donation prizes. I'd need a few of you to volunteer to judge so no one knows who did what until winners are announced. Wolvie, you're in charge of getting a few people to judge and suggest some ideas for patterns, guidelines, dates etc I'll set up an area where you guys can hash out the details privately, then you can announce it on the main board. If you're interested in leatherworker.net competitions, post here or PM Wolvie.

    Meanwhile, I need to get back to work on the member galleries. Don't forget to send me pictures and a bio so I can include your business, hobby or smiling face! gallery@leatherworker.net

    Johanna

    (still waiting for Dan's stuff! LOL)

  16. Posted · Report reply

    PSLAC is a respected resource, but I don't think they are members of the IFoLG (International Federation of Leather Guilds). When you enter in an IFoLG competition, you must belong to a member guild. Lonestar has members from all over the world, and the Pitt Pounders also have out of state members.

    http://www.leatherworker.net/leatherguilds.htm

    Also, you can belong to more than one guild. There is always good natured bantering when the masters decide which guild to put down for competition entries. ("Pick our guild!" "No, ours!") The Pitt Pounders do a monthly newsletter which can be read online (shameless plug- I think the world of those folks, and I do their site www.pittpounders.org ) and Lonestar is hosting the big show this year.

    Johanna

  17. Posted · Report reply

    And when they are older, and bored, you can keep their little hands busy and out of trouble by teaching them to braid, too. It saved my sanity a couple winters ago during an ice storm when the power wasn't on much.

    Holly, he is one handsome little boy! :)

    Johanna

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Patrice- email them to admin@leatherworker.net and I will put them up so they can be downloaded. The reason they didn't email to the Yahoo account is because they are too big. Guys, don't put your real email addy on the open forum, or you will get extra spam. Anyone can click on your name and send you an email or Private Message (if you allow that). Editing posts now.

    Johanna

  24. Posted · Report reply

    The safety beveler link that Wolvie posted is a better skiver than the Super Skiver, IMO. It is easier to control, blades are ordinary razor blades and not expensive of difficult to replace, and if you are needing to skive areas larger than the safety beveler can be expected to handle, you may want to consider buying hides of different weights to eliminate the need for skiving large areas. If you are just skiving folds, be gentle. Any skiving will weaken that point. For example, I skive a bit where I fold a belt for a buckle, but not too much in case they decide to hang a 10 lb. Texas special from it later on.

    Johanna

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