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I think the whole SEO concept is a false trail. I know for a fact, that the amount of time you need to spend on the internet promoting yourself, will actually leave you little time to make anything. It's a buyer/seller world. Buy cheap, mass advertise, sell little bits everywhere. That's what google does. Pennies they make all over the place adds up. But guess what, a craftsman cannot do that. If he hangs on a forum, he gets a little business, then he has to go make it. Two days later, he's fishing again...sheesh The real money is the phone ringing off the hook. The real money is your customers returning for more goods. The real money is finding your niche, be it saddles, or toolrolls, or chaps, etc. You can even be a jack of all trades. That was what the neighborhood cobbler was. He fixed your shoes, sewed your jackets, and that's what made him valuable. The good thing about the economy now, is that we might just have work again. But instead of high ticket items, people will need repairs, and little things they can't find. I think I'm on the verge of ranting now, so I'll just close and say that if you want to make a living with this craft, all you have to do is keep making things. The rest will work itself out.

I like where this thread is going now. Nobody has to be told how to sell. There are some very successful leatherworkers out there, and they are members of this Forum. They know all the ins and outs to selling on the internet, and we see their knowledge right here. A lot of people have banners. They have them for a reason. The more hits the better ...more higher google ratings equals the chance for more work. They are members to all sorts of Boards...knife, sheath, motorcycle, design, fashion, music. Their banners are everywhere. But, I'm a firm believer in the fact that, if you make good stuff, they will find you. This Forum helps all of us to make a better leather product, which tells me that the more we stay together the stronger we all become. The more you participate here, the more you learn. The more you learn, the better you become. The better you become, the more people will want to find you. Simple. I learned a long time ago, you don't have to be a jerk to run a business. Keep it clean and honest, if nothing else, you'll be able to sleep nights. With a little karma, you'll be able to make a living.

Happy Thanksgiving Denise!! Stay away from the poutine! Hate to say it, but the global warming has the whole earth's engine in a funk. Pretty soon we'll all be moving to Canada for temperate weather.

I'll just have mine neat. Three parts Jameson's

Really good job for the first pancake. Much better than my first feeble attempt.

tonyc1...that is SOOOOO funny, speaking of the price of bacon in Tasmania....You have to love this forum. So many people from so many places, all just for the smell of leather. It sure is a wonderful place.

You are getting to be the Jack of all trades Jordan. Good on you!. Nice job, and it looks like you are mastering that new machine of you. Seems to lay down a good stitch.

Just some pix of my backyard to warm ClayB and Jordan up. High 70's today (hmmm that seems to go together). Trash - done curtain rods - done sunday family calls -done floors washed -done target down - not yet, I might still need it...lol clean shop...dunno, maybe a nap first. leather related - there may be quite a few guitar straps in the near future, but at a steep price to me. I may have to finally learn how to line dance, so I can network with the potential customers at the Country Western club... sheesh, and me with six left feet, and a Yankee accent. The things I get myself into.

It is only meant for repairs, and not very good ones. It does not create a lockstitch. It's a chainstitch. Cut one side, and it all falls apart. Spend the time, and shed a few drops of blood to learn the saddle stitch. There is nothing superior in strength and looks. Your work will look 500 times better, and your customers will appreciate it. Of course, affording it is another question, altogether.

It wasn't the word "fag" that threw me. I do not hold myself better than anyone. Love 'em all. No it was the Swan that threw me, until I realized it was a Trade name for matches. Yep, 1972, Chicken and chips on newspaper...Earl's Court. Lovely Place...The old Troubador club. It's probably all an ethically different place now, perhaps Indian. Things change, even in Old Merry. Blackadder...forgot that one., funniest man on earth today...SWABS?? I think. The oldtimer's disease get's in the way of remembering TR's name sometimes. But enough for me now, I'm sure there's people with more recent memories of GB than mine from 40 years ago. Although I hold them dear.

Oh No!!! Jordan it's too soon...brrrr, but it looks wonderful, just glad to be in NC, though, shoveling sux. I do miss tramping through the woods in a light flurry though.

Seems a bit anti-American topic here, but since we whipped your a%#$@s once, we can do it again...ROFL Seriously though, there are no two nations more close, in all the world, and will continue until the ends of time, I'm sure. The language part is amusing though. When I first heard in London, "Have you a Swan for my fag?", I was a tad confused, but I smoked it out right quick. Chicken and Chips, on newspaper, of all things, was another one. (I still like Steak and Kidney pie) I think we sold partial rights to the letter "u", to help with our deficit, but that's a horse of a different colour. Freeways are for autos only...no trucks allowed ( sort of redefines "free", doesn't it?). Highways=Motorways. And Expressways are for traffic jams, or temporary parking lots...lol. "Are You being Served" was about the funniest thing on the telly. And that one with all the crazy hippies in one apartment (can't remember the name of that one). Of course. Fawlty Towers remains iconic. I do like the one where the guy goes around digging holes all over England with a backhoe, , and calling it archealogy, but he was better in the "Worst jobs of all time" series. London really reminds me of a big Boston. You would feel at home there. The pubs are the way they are supposed to be..family, children, and on every corner. This should be a fun Topic to watch.

Oh Yeh!. I remember that one. It deserved to be on stage.

Muzzle loaders sure have come a long way...a scope!!!? Dan'l Boone would be hornswaggled.

UPDATE: Since the Sunday Open Thread seems to be continuing beyond it's limited life, I've just renamed it to "OPEN THREAD". If it gets too bulky, We'll start another new one. If that continues, we'll do some merges. Have Fun. dunno, to me it seems the Topic threads are starting to spread out from the original intents. Everyone is looking to chat about all sorts of things, maybe it's time for a good old "anything goes thread". Got something new...post it. Want to discuss the price of Bacon in Tasmania...go right ahead. Found an old sewing machine nobody's ever heard of..please let us know. For me, today, I have to hang curtain rods, take down the targets I have left up on the yard since last weekends "Get Rid of Old Ammo Day", and make a trash run. After the "Honey Do" list, I'm cleaning the shop. It'll probably be a "second shift" day in the shop afterwards to try and catch up. How 'bout You.

just a simple thing that has a belt loop, and holds your hammer

way cool...a star is born! ...but let's see a better pic of the strap

Those are sweet Timbo!

I make a quicky very similar to the Tandy, Sometimes I put a heavy belt clip, sometimes a light one, but my little change is that I use earth magnets, hand sewn in place. The bikers like them cause the velcro and such fly off in the wind, or the standard magnets you buy at leather suppliers is too bulky, and not strong enough. I also use screws instead of rivets. Not much, but I'll show 'em here for you...

On any item, it ain't a matter of better, I like seeing all the different thought processes of creation. I like yours. I assume they have a belt loop on the back not a clip. It's fun when you get a whole bunch of little things together. Small things always take more time it seems. I'm making some small hammer hocks for a MC around here and they are very labor intensive for what they are. Each one is taking about 45 min to complete, and it's only two pieces of molded and sewn leather in vinegaroon. I can make a fully stamped belt in that time...go figger. I'll see if they will allow me to show them someday, not sure. It's kind of a special thing to the Club.

They look good. The keepers have a nice block to them. The edges in the pix seem not as finished as they could be. Do a search here for burnishing, or edge treatment, there'll be plenty of info to absorb. There's quite a few leather suppliers up there, but I have not used any of them. I'll leave that to our Canadian members, who will be sure to jump in at some point.

They both look good raftert. Of course, I'm partial to the basketweave, but I like the use of the center ring on the simpler one.

Welcome badger. Sounds like an interesting day job. Well, if you've come here for the leather, you have found the right place. Join in the discussions, we're about the nicest people on the net. Hope to see some of your work soon.

I'll put the 18th on my calendar. Let me know what time. There's a few on this board from the carolinas, maybe they'll see this and be able to jump in. There are no guilds in this neck of the woods, that I know of. There are a lot of reenactor groups, etc, but I haven't hooked up with them yet. Tim at Zacks probably knows them and how to get in touch. There is a Tandy in Raleigh you might consider approaching.

Hey It's great you found us here. We'll be looking out for your coming projects. There are some terrific braiders here, that I'm sure will be helping you out. What were your previous projects that needed braid/knotwork?