Johanna
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Posts posted by Johanna
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I've seen Bob's "Ruins" picture, and it is striking with detail and depth. I can imagine a person would learn a lot from Bob. He is a great teacher, and never hesitates to show somebody how to do something on the spot, if asked a question. Thanks for sharing the pictures, Clay!
Johanna
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Best of Show LoneStar Leathercrafters, Ft. Worth Texas
IFoLG member Guild diplays:
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Jim & Pat Hay, IILG & Pitt Pounder members, gave me permission to crosspost the following show reports:
Many view working in the competition room at an IFoLG event as serving as judges and scribes. I have served as a judge in past shows. The show at Butler presented me with another perspective of working in the competition room.
Upon an entry being submitted, the data was entered into a computer (Maria Haddock). We did check to see that all entries were entered into the proper division/category, all though IFoLG rules state this is the contestants responsibility. In the event the information is not correct it will be disqualified by the judges at the time an item is to be judged.
A large number of incorrect entry forms were submitted at Butler. Time was taken to bring the error to the attention of the contestant and corrections were made as needed. The greater portion of the errors were discovered in the Advance and Master divisions. In most cases an Open category prefix had been entered upon the form.
Upon completion of the entry registration, the item was taken down a hallway and placed in its proper division/category The 239 entries required over 12 miles of walking from the time they were entered until they were resting in their proper place in the competition room.
The taking of entries was all but non-stop from the mornings opening until the last entry was recorded at 5:29 PM. Maria , assisted by Anita Neilson and Jim Wilkes spent nearly 8 hours in front of a computer entering the contestant information. Maria's day did not end at 5:29 as she then was required to spend additional time with the IFoLG officials in supplying them with the data obtained for the competition entries.
The competition room is only one portion of the onsite work required for conducting an IFoLG event. The raffle table requires an even greater amount of time. Not to be forgotten are the ones working at the show registration desk and the vendor room. I did not hear a single complaint as to any of the above. Several of the vendors did comment to me as to how Dave Briggs had the vendor room so well organized prior to their arrival. Each vendors area was neatly labeled prior to their arrival and prevented confusion as has sometimes occurred at past shows. Dave is not a member of the IILG, but is a member of Pitt Pounders. I mention him by name as he was one Pitt Pounder who performed his task in an outstanding manner.
I wish to extend my deepest gratitude to each of the ones worked such long hours at the above tasks. It was these individuals who implemented the prior planning in an effort to ensure a successful event.
An oddity did occur with the taking of competition entries. At 5:20 PM, Chris Kearns, Show Co-Chair, came to the entry desk and asked what was the time posted in the show program for closing of entries. The answer was supplied- 5:30 PM.
Chris then asked if someone came in late would the entry be accepted? The answer , No, as it would open the door for well-justified complaints from other competitors, should a late entry be taken and then win an award, such as Best of Show.
I then asked Chris why he was asking these questions. He stated two men had telephoned and stated they were running late, were only minutes away from the show.and feared not making the deadline. I requested Chris to telephone them and obtain the required information for the entries. The proper forms were then filled out.
At 5:29 PM, the two arrived and one of the men paid his entry fee for the three items.
The oddity--- the three items were submitted by Bill Brown and yep, one of these items did win the Best of Show.
I have now attended four IFoLG shows.
Do I consider our show a success? Yes.
Was the show without problems ? No. However, these were with the hotel and not the show itself.. On Thursday afternoon, they required guests with confirmed room reservations to wait from 1 to 3 hours until they were assured of a room and the room became available. No provisions were made for the handicapped (several in attendance). Yes, several of the handicapped also endured the long wait in the lobby to register into the hotel..
Last on my list and some may choose to term it as minor, the list of events on the hotel bulletin board had the show listed as Pitt Pounders and the buffet menus were headed Pitt Pounders Buffet menu. Numerous requests from IILG members (other than mine) were made of the hotel to make a correction to read Pitt Pounders/IILG or IFoLG 2006 Show. These requests were ignored by the hotel staff.
Once again, my thank you to all who worked to make the show a success.
Jim Hay
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Jim, Blanche Byrne and I arrived at Butler Day’s Inn around 1:30 pm on Thursday and were greeted in the lobby by the smiling face of Dale Grabowski. After having problems getting checked in, we finally got to our rooms and headed out to the show rooms.
Jim and I started setting up the show display table while Blanche got busy on the raffle table. Chris and the Pitt Pounder members had everything there for us so we got an early start.
Thanks to Dale Grabowski, Jim Wilkes and Bill Miles for helping us setup and take down the display table, couldn’t have done it without you. They also helped us get the items packed on Sunday to ship back to the people that could not be at the show.
I then went to help Blanche open and put the items on the 8 tables we had reserved for the raffle. This took until around 1 a.m. and we had to add 2 more tables. We did not finish Thursday night but had to get some sleep. Think it was around 1 a.m. when we finally closed up shop.
Ed Lucas and his crew were putting up the competition pegboard display and were even later getting them done. They were still there when we left. Thanks to all of them, they worked hard and long hours!
Friday morning started a little after 7 for me (I never even saw the breakfast buffet the whole time there). As soon as Maria arrived and was setting up, people were lining up to get their competition pieces registered and this went on all day as Jim has commented in his report. Special thanks to Maria for all her hard work getting the computer setup with all the IFoLG guilds members to make this process go faster and to Anita Nelson, Jim Wilkes, Bill Miles and my Jim for helping Maria.
Also, a big thanks to Bea Wayman for all her help setting up the items in the competition room after they were registered and the people that were working with her.
Ann McGrath and her lovely daughter, Margret, took over the tool/book raffle sales and gave our members their meal vouchers on Friday for most of the afternoon in the vendor’s room. Thanks so much to you both.
All day Friday and Saturday until around 2 a.m., Blanche was receiving items for the raffle table. Our “Gimmie Gal†Blanche outdid herself considering she took charge of the raffle table in late February 2006! We had over 300 items on the table and they were loaded with quality items for everyone. This was the largest raffle table I know of at any IFoLG show.
A special thanks to Bill Miles, Al Runser (who joined the IILG at the show), Maria Haddock and Anita Nelson for helping with the raffle ticket sales. You made it possible for us to take turns with this and it was much appreciated.
Joe and Mary Jane Talbot did an excellent job at the registration table with only a short break for lunch where Chris Kearns and Jim Wilkes took over. They started about 8 on Friday morning and finally left around 6 that night. Thanks to you both.
Jim, Blanche and I did have a little “lounge†time on Friday night. After we moved next door to the restaurant area to get away from the loud music (?), the tables filled up fast with old friends and new ones. I gave up around 1 a.m. and Jim a hr. or so later.
The competition items were picked up between 4 and 5:30 pm on Saturday and the room was cleared for the social and awards program which the Pitt Pounders put together. The food was very good and the program went very well.
After the social and awards presentations, the flea market started and the guild displays were taken down as many of them take more than 2 hours to dismantle. This worked very well as they were packed and ready to go by Sunday morning. When I left the area, there were still people tooling, talking and finishing the baskets at 2 a.m.
Sunday was another early morning. We were still selling raffle tickets up to the announcement the raffle was going to start at 9 a.m. Blanche conducted the raffle in record time and we finished by 11:30 a.m. Many smiling faces left with “my†items I wanted…I won nothing
I know of 46 IILG members that attended the show. Most of them I got to meet but I missed some. It was great to see old friends and meet members and put a face to their names.
From what I’ve heard from the vendors, most were happy with their sales and the room was setup well thanks to Dave Briggs of Pitt Pounders. He was always there in the vendor room and ready to help if needed. You did a great job Dave!
Gary Draper of Pitt Pounders took over 300 pictures of the show and is suppose to supply us with them to put on the website. Thanks Draper! Several of our members also took pictures so you all should be able to see a lot when we get them all together.
A special thanks to Frank Zaharek and Dale Grabowski for the “groundwork†they did on Tuesday and Wednesday before the rest of us arrived at the hotel.
A special thanks to Carol Higgins for all her work with the workshops. All the classes were well attended and everyone I talked to had a good time and learned a lot.
We had a good show and I hope everyone had a good time.
Pat Hay
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Claudia- where are in Georgia are you? Are you a Georgia Leathercrafter yet? They are some great people! Neil Cowan is the president now. If you need more contact info, let me know. I had the pleasure of living in Macon for five years, and with the Ohio winter setting in, I miss Georgia more than ever. Thanks for sharing pics of your work. Are you sure you are "new" at this? You certainly have an eye for leatherwork!
Johanna
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I never paid much attention to Bob's tools before this show- John Henry was the tool junkie, not me. If I were ever going to carve, I would want one of Bob's swivel knives. I have never held a better balanced precision instrument in 15+ years of leatherwork. It shifted into my hand like it was meant to be there, and cut through the leather clean and sweet.
Johanna
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Sunday morning we arrived at the delegate meeting and there was NO COFFEE. Chris, of course, acted like this was his fault. It wasn't. When they asked the IILG for a show report I said, "We would like to thank Chris and his guild for all their hard work and hospitality!" and began clapping. The entire room joined me. The meeting was uneventful, and they did bring doughnuts and coffee after a bit. I got to see Don Sinyard from Ga. at last, and was glad to hear he and his family have been enjoying his retirement. The raffle was about to start, and the room was crowded. Maybe someone else can report on how that went. I was too busy talking to pay attention, and I didn't even see where Billy's piece went. Probably Clay.
Holly, my husband did tell me you called, and had no idea where he put your cell phone number. I left in such a hurry I forgot to take it with me. I asked him 10 times why he didn't give you MY cell phone number, and the only thing I can think is that he doesn't know it. Sigh. Those pictures are just teasing, right? I missed the competition entries by like 30 minutes...please please please post some pics...I am sorry I missed you, Holly, but with the family funeral we had, I was pushing it to go at all, and I got there as soon as I could. I missed you and the competition entries...hint hint...post pics Holly post pics Holly post pics Holly
It was a good show. The next one is in Ft. Worth Texas www.2007ifolgshow.com Stay tuned for details. I need to update the PittPounder site, and don't know where to begin. Draper has a new lady friend, so it may be hard to get his attention right now. I do have the Guild diplay pics. I need to reduce their size, then I'll post them here, too. Pa. is beautiful, especially in the fall. It makes me almost want to go home for good. Almost. Johanna
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At this years Boot and Saddle Show in Wichita Falls, TX some items were stolen from Robert Beard, Pro-Series Tool Co. Among the items stolen was the Prototype Swivel Knife Original with slight engraving around the top of the barrel and the number 1 on the side of the barrel. Also taken all sizes of a weave type braid tool and other unknown prototypes that were going to be released in the future. There is a reward offered in relation to the recovery of some or all of the missing items. Needless to say Bob is extremely upset over the loss and would appreciate any information that will lead to the recovery of these items. Anyone with information may contact Bob directly or contact me and I'll see to it that Bob gets the information immediately.
Johanna
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I'm in Butler sitting in a freezing motel room...but what a show! What a day! I was later than I wanted to be, but we had a family funeral. I drove 300 miles in record time only to be amazed at the new ways Penn Dot has thought of to torture people. The last 50 miles took two hours. I didn't make it here until 6pm, and all the competition pieces were already packed away.
Draper promised me a set of his pics, and so did Frank Z. Sorry guys. Lots of vendors, classes went well, great guild displays and the biggest best raffle table I have ever seen at an IFoLG show. I rushed Billy's "Legacy" to Pat Hay, who immediately found a can and tag. I think I'm going to have to buy some tickets, even though I don't do leather any more! Blanche did a great job organizing everyone to make the raffle a success...well it will be. The raffle is tomorrow morning and everyone is excited. Clay will win more stuff, I'm sure...he won one of the tool gift certificates (I think I want him to pick my lottery numbers from now on!) The Award Ceremony began dramatically as Pat Goodman played his bagpipes, looking sharp. I saw Blanche checking under his kilt before the performance, but I forgot to ask what she did or didn't find. Pat is so good that when he plays I actually like bagpipes. I accidently whacked Bob Beard in the head with my purse, but he was very nice about it. He said I could bump him anytime. Hmmm... too bad I'm a married woman! LOL Bob was very proud of the professional way the judging was handled, and probably relieved, because he was the head judge. He commented on the quality of the work submitted (that I didn't get to see! ) He sure makes some nice tools, too. Jeff Mosby and Little John of Warhorse Leather were there, and are now official Masters. I admire their work tremendously. I missed seeing Holly, but I'm hoping to see her tomorrow. Chris and Jennifer were there, of course, and I love Chris. I met him when I was a green Tandy manager, and his guild, the Pitt Pounders, is the guild that spawned the Ga Leathercrafters, when Dave Adams, (then me) got transferred to the Macon Tandy store, and later, John Henry came too. We tried to model the new guild after The Pitt Pounders because they have always been a group of friends, and they have been wonderful to work with over the years. I have to track down a computer copy of the awards yet, but I will post them here and on the PittPounders site when I do. Gesa won quite a few awards tonight, too. I got to meet Ann McGrath in person at last, and her sweet daughter, Margret. I got a necklace for my daughter from "Da Bead Lady", and Jane will be tickled when I give it to her. Karla Van Horne couldn't attend, and the Dragon Lady, Roz Short Kaohn couldn't either. I didn't see Silva Fox- and Gerry Woody is too ill to travel. I will call Jerri when I get home. I was really hoping they would be able to make it this year. Karla & Jim Linnell received special recognitions tonight. Lonestar won the traveling trophy again for the best guild display, and George Hurst invited us to Texas next year. Even George is going to have to work hard to top this show (I went to the one Lonestar hosted in 1997.) The swap meet and carving will go on for a long time tonight. It is great to see people from all walks of life in fellowship, the leatherwork is outstanding, and a good time is being had by all here at the show. I did get pictures of all the guild displays, but I'll post them when I get home. I have to be at the delegate meeting at 7am. Most of the people will be up all night anyway- and Ernie Wayman told us to just take a shower and show up for the meeting. I need a shower, and a nap. I have never been to a short delegate meeting, but you never know! Ernie did promise us coffee and doughnuts. I'm going to need gallons of coffee. After the clean up tomorrow, I am going to my other mother-in-laws, then driving home. Goodnight all, and God bless.Johanna
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My father did a nifty flower using only a camo tool... maybe 12 or 16 strokes... image resolution can be adjusted after the fact if it is too big a file...but what are the steps ... I assume jpeg is ok for the original ?
why could we not put a stationary camera above a flower in the process of being made... then accumulate them to a GIF file ?I misunderstood. But I think it would be great to have videos of leatherworkers in action available on the site. Pictures do say a thousand words. Avatars are too small to do a project like that justice.
Johanna
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i do however agree that if admin could find a "stock avatar pack" that at least remotely resembled leather working...that would be neat...but that's pretty difficult to find...The avatar packs on this board are the standard IPB ones, however, any picture can be uploaded as an avatar. Irfanview is a free graphics editor if you need to crop or shrink a picture. You can't demonstrate leather carving in an avatar- too many constraints. However, the monkey posseses great Photoshop skill, and I'm sure you could get a cool custom avatar from him. But if you want someone to see you work, the avatar spot isn't the place to do it, and moving (animated) avatars are so annoying to some people that the board even has an option to disable them. If you want to do a demonstration, Greg, let's just film it, upload it with it's own link and do it right. In fact, if anyone wants to do any tutorials, I'll set up a library dedicated to archiving. Hey, dsenette, if you happen to see any good leatherworking avatar packs on the 'net, snag them for me, please? The closest I came was carpentry.
Johanna
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The instructor would need a simple webcam and and a microphone, no other hardware required.
Johanna
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If we have the volunteers to serve as instructors, and students who are willing to learn, I can handle the technical end of it. And would be thrilled to do so.
Johanna
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Hey, Greg, sweet thought, but there isn't much about me that's "dainty". I'm one of those women who can drive stick shift big trucks in high heels, though. ;-)
Johanna
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I cut an inch and a half wide 8/9 oz strap, no airplane cable necessary. This strap could support my weight, and my clumsiness will drop my 'puter before the strap will fail. The only thing I need to stitch is a back to the shoulder pad, which will slide on the strap as needed. No, I didn't sew the hardware on- I "cheated" and used the triangular rivet pattern after the fold. All told, the strap will be better quality than the cheap nylon case, and should easily hold <15 lbs.
Johanna
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At the shows, no one is supposed to sign their work, and sometimes the Host Guilds will use masking tape if someone forgets, to eliminate any favoritism. After you've been to a few shows, and have seen the work year after year, you can walk up to the table and say "That's so and so, that one is Mr. Smith's, that one is Mrs. Jones." with relative ease. Each carver has their own style. I know I will know Clay's work before the ribbons are announced. I predict ribbons.
Now, I need to get my butt into the shop and do some work- I need a back piece with a slot and I think I'll lace it, well, just because. It was finished in oil and Neat Lac, and I really like the natural look- it looks like leather! I made the replacement strap out of a piece of black Latigo that I had, so it's got to go. The new strap needs to be natural, too- maybe some Antique? Suggestions, anyone? My eight year old is about to get a new black belt! (I need the hardware back! LOL) My daughter wants me to paint/dye the initials, for emphasis. Not sure I want to do that. All I know is that I've got less than a week to make time to do this right, and I'll be nervous that I'll screw it up intil I'm done. It's been a long time since I worked with leather every day. By the way, Clay, everyone who has seen it has loved the smell...lol There is nothing quite like that in the world, now is there? I'll take pics of your ribbons and fire them to you on my laptop at the show, Clay- you'll be one of the first to know. ;-)
Johanna
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Up until yesterday, I was okay with my nylon laptop case. It has a zillion pockets, but I had to replace the cheap plastic clips (is plastic really "hardware"?) that held the shoulder strap, and, of course, I just made a new (leather) strap while I was at it. Who wants cut frayed nylon? I made the new strap a little wider than the original for comfort, smoothed the sides...and started eying the nylon case with disdain. Then the package from Clay Banyai arrived with the piece I will be using for the shoulder pad. Now I cheerfully hate the whole nylon ensemble, and I would be even scared to use the beautiful piece Clay made, just in case it became damaged, except I've had and used enough leather to know it will be perfectly fine, and just look better and better as time goes on...while smartly performing its intended function- sparing my shoulder from pain, in style, by distributing the weight of the case evenly. Some of you know that I've been breaking bones like a rodeo rider lately, and since I shattered my right wrist a few years ago, taking notes at meetings is easier for me with my laptop than with a pen, and then after a dozen rib fractures this summer, even a lightweight laptop gets heavy on my shoulder because I do carry it around. (Oh, wait a minute- that might also have something to do with the fact that my purse is full of real leather, and weighs as much as a bowling ball...My husband jokes that if the mugger wants my purse, I should swing it like a deadly weapon, but I'm getting off track.)
Clay sent me a little piece he must have done "playing" (carvers do that!) which he obviously had fun doing, and probably doesn't think a thing of, because he can make dozens more, but I will always treasure his "doodle", and am already trying to figure out how to hang it (In a hoop maybe?) Take a good look at it- I know the picture doesn't do it justice, but Clay "gets" undercutting. The leaves have more than a texture- they are lifted with skill to appear to be sculpted leaves laying on leather. I've seen leather work from all over the world, and I've been lucky enough to see some of the finest leather carvings by the masters in the world. I want to tell you folks, Clay can carve like that, too. Notice how easily he walked the beveler, and how sure the swivel knife cuts are. Now Clay would say the carving is the easiest part, and he makes saddles, so he should know, but to me, it's awesome what you folks can coax out of leather. I ruin good hides every time I decide to try to get on the horse again and carve something really simple, with a craftaid, and a six foot Al Stohlman poster right in front of me, but Clay can just whip out works of art whenever he can find the time to get into the shop. My first husband, Little Jon, was like that. At the first IFoLG show we went to people kept telling me if I used the leather I had, it couldn't be entered into competition. It mystified me- Jon could always make more- like Clay, the carving was the fun part, and the construction was work. I have come to appreciate the difference between real carving and Mexican chicken scratch or embossed mass produced garbage, which isn't much different from my inexpensive nylon laptop case that I'm eyeing...wondering if it's worth it to make a new one, cover that one, look on the net for at least a real leather one, even if it has to be imported and mass produced, or sell a car or two or maybe all my jewelry and get "The Ultimate Laptop Case"...I'm a housewife in Ohio, and I can't imagine being able to getting on the list for commissions from people like Verlane, WC, Paul Krause, Jeff Mosby, Rod & Denise Stanger, Deidre la Blanc, Dave Anderson, Kate Dubiel, Roz Kaohn, oh, good grief, this could be a long list. I can think of a dozen or more leatherworkers I would be pleased just to have a discarded scrap off their floor... and Clay gave me this sweet piece as casually as I might take a casserole to a neighbor. I love your work, Clay, and I'm one of your biggest fans.
Check this out, folks...ain't I a lucky girl? Pictures can't do his work justice.Johanna
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I think I fixed that, Clay. Maybe it will help when people can see who is on the board and/or in live chat. It was timing out after 5 minutes, now it should expire naturally. Ummm means when the user clicks out.
Johanna
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I do not like Super Shene/ Satin Sheen, especially on any item that needs to flex. During the lifetime care of the item, it seems that the Super Shene prevents the preservative oils we use from absorbing properly, too. Somewhere I remember hearing that it was developed as a non-toxic, non-flammable alternative for Neat Lac, like the Institutional Dyes were, but I could be wrong. I like Neat Lac better, but do not suggest you ever even open the can without good ventilation. Toluene is a carcinogenic, and the headache from breathing the fumes is awful.
Johanna
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What weight leathers are you sewing, and how well do you sharpen your awl? Do you have a stitching pony or something you use to free up your hands? What kind of awl do you prefer, and are you able to pierce the leather on at least one side in one smooth move? Hey, I don't have any answers, but there are lots of folks here who do. Give them something to work with!
Welcome to leatherworker.net, there are some great people here, and we hope you enjoy yourself.
Johanna
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I have always been told never to use vegetable or olive oil on leather, not even in a pinch. Maybe somebody else can post exactly why not?
Johanna
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Johanna
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The trick is to let the leather pull the dye from the brush. Dip your brush in the dye, touch it to the side of the container (so there is no big drip) then touch it to the area to be died. If you are able, use gravity- for example, if you need the dye to go down, hold the work at a slight angle.) As the bristles get near the leather, the leather will pull the dye off the brush. There is no resist that I know of that works with spirit dye or oil dye- the only way to use a resist is with Antique (which is water based). Hoyden, I loved that line about table bumpers- my house has an infestation of kids and dogs, and you know how that goes!
Johanna
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sometimes I would just glue a liner leather (like you would use for inside a wallet) to the backside, or charge more and stitch it.Never turn down a chance to extract more money for "extras". If you can charge an extra $20 to stitch it, and it takes you 20 minutes... gotta love the math!
Johanna
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The detail in the scabbard is striking! Thanks for sharing!
Johanna
Show report
in Special Events, Contests and Classes
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The list of competition winners is posted on the IILG website.
Johanna