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Nice look to it. I kinda like that "pebblegrain" background. Looks like the peg holes are upside down.

I think you framed the fish perfectly between the floral pattern. Good job

I've done that to my finger once or twice, only the picture had a bit more red in it...lol Welcome, and we can't wait for more pix of your work.

Thanx Mike. I will post more, as I make stuff. I can't afford other kinds of leather yet, so I have to keep making straps and belts that sell until then.

The BW was a "half-quicky". I use Zack Whites Belt Hides. They are more like what I used to buy in the 70's in Boston. The backs are pretty smooth, and they take stamps well. I think they are 7/8 oz. I used a wood edge-bevel tool to make the line. Usually I will swivel cut and with a stamp bevel down the line, then BW in between. I always make my lines first, before I edge bevel. The square edge is easier to line things. On commission stuff, I spend a loooong time doing the edge. I use a common TLC wood edge beveler, both sides. Then I wet the edge, then slick once. Then I edge dye, and slick once more. Then I rub beeswax down the edge, and a final slick. I can feel the wax melting into the edge while I slick. That's when I stop, unless I'm going for perfect. Perfection requires a second Samuel Adams!.... Some edges come out better than others, I think it depends on my mood...lol.

Thanx ! The owner wanted a 53" from hole to hole.

I've been just making a few guitar straps and belts. Simple, no sewing, etc. I kinda like they way they look, and because there just isn't enough pictures on this site, I figured to throw some on here. The "meander" strap I did in a nice walnut color, but it just won't photograph right for me, so Ill just post the lighter color. I got this lighter color by mixing pure neatsfoot oil with part light brown feibings dye...then after drying, a light brown antique over it. The other strap was just a basket weave, but I added the "starburst" effect to match the guy's guitar. He only wanted a solid one size strap. It really matched well.

Those are excellent, Beaverslayer!

That's pretty funny corter, I started up again doing leather, so I could earn enough to start building guitars...so, we're even....lol The dreadnought kit was $450 dollars from stewmac. I figured that would be a good start.

Classy looking! Can't see how you end your foldback around the buckle. Is the keeper stitched into the belt, or sewed around, if you get what I mean?

My uncle was a country lawyer. He often took trades in lieu of payment. He once got a steer as payment. He called him "Sir", as in Sirloin.

I like the card holder, with the sweep on the cut. That shows you have design abilities, no doubt. That's a good thing, since you're in Design school....lol Welcome. I'm sure you'll pick things up quick. Ps. I hail out of Salem, Ma., living in NC now.

Sorry about that Crafstman, but It has nothing to do with this forum. Your causes could be many. When an unexpected action occurs like that, you have to hunt down from a list what could be wrong; corrupt dll, virus, trojan, too little memory, to many processes, an update gone wrong, etc., etc. My experience leans towards not enough memory left. The cause could be a virus or some such, or too many processes at boot. Firefox, if you are using that, can use a lot of cache memory on some machines. Anyways...try a reboot to gain memory back, and see if the simple solution works. You never know. After that run your virus checks, do a control/alt/delete and check your processes running. Hope it's the easy route.

It looks ready to ride!.. Every human has a worth.

I was never really mad at the customer. As a final result, he paid, and he is happy. I was more mad at myself for doing things I knew better than doing. On one hand I agree with all the posters here, as to the proper way to do business. You, as I, have experienced these things before, and have a right to be angry, tighten business practices, and sharpen our acumen. On the other hand, my head sometimes clicks back to the sixties, and remembers how powerful a little faith in humankind can be. OWWW! My head hurts....lol

UPDATE: I wish I could edit the main diary with this update, but this will have to do. Unbelievably, and out of the blue, the customer has come back, and deposited into Paypal. It's a sale! Sort of restores my faith in the old hippy ways of doing business...but it was not a nice feeling for awhile. So...did we learn anything? If I had been strict about half down, or more, could I have convinced an International customer to send money to an unknown leatherworker in the States? The email pix I sent him during the process, just whetted his appetite, it looks like, and convinced him of the sale. Why he went away for awhile, I'll never now, or understand...... But I'm not sure I want to go through this again.....lol. Thanks everyone for the commiseration!

I think it looks good. Your awl work is pretty even for such a fine line so close to an edge on thin leather. All of the above is good advice, but to me, the simple way to make it look even better is 2 things: 1. Tension practice. After pulling your needles through, try practicing the tension set to be consistent before pushing the needle through the next hole. Find the Goldilock set. 2. It looks like you are pushing the needle through the other thread every once in awhile, so the thickness of the threadline looks inconsistent.

"THAT HAS NEVER HAPPEND AGAIN...." That's the idea, it's okay to make a mistake, just don't make the same one twice! Too bad Leather work doesn't have spell check....lol

Congratulations. I loved working in NY City, especially at Christmas time. The displays in the windows are just beautiful. There is a whole Clique of set designers for the windows, specialists in their trade, many who are as respected for their work, as major designers. An in with them could lead to all kinds of things. Good luck, but in the internet forum world, nothing ever happened unless there are PIX!...lol

"you can always be glad you didn't build him a saddle!" Thanx Mike...You made me laugh real hard!

Thanks. Good Idea! I wonder if Chris Rock plays....lol

This lesson, I have learned before. I haven't neeeded to remember in a very long time, as I place most of my trust in a handshake. My word is good, and until proven otherwise, so is yours. A fellow contacted me, and wanted a guitar strap with a buckle, and a design. We worked up what it was exactly he wanted, design, shape, length, etc through a series of emails. I showed him pictures all along the way through creation. His excitement was infectious. We agreed on a price of $80, plus shipping. ($80 shipping using UPS...or $25 using USPS...guess which one we agreed upon?) He asked for Initials, and I threw those in. I figured a total of 4 hours at $15, plus $10 material, since I'm not in it for the money so much, as rebuilding my skills. Actual time ended up around 6 hrs, but what the hell. At completion, I sent him a photo, and a Paypal request for payment. He backed out completely, even while he was delighted with the strap. I was played the whole way, for whatever reason. Lessons I already knew, but being the "free spirit" kinda guy I am: 1. I have ALWAYS asked for a deposit, but in my own excitement to be back working with leather, I let it ride, based on his enthusiam, and where the contact came from. 2. Never put Initials on something you haven't been paid for. In the end I have adjusted to the situation. My whole point in the project was a chance to practice the carving of celtic knots. This I did get to do, so, that's okay. My carving is a very very very long way from any of the saddlers skills, or some of the master craftsman here in the forum, but I think it's getting better, so, I'll take that. The overall look of the strap. I think I achieved, but finding someone with the initials will be impossible I guess. I'll hang the strap in the shop as a reminder, that ART is a business too!

I like the Rant, and the Chaps! Welcome!

I better go to bed early...It's an hour drive...sheesh!

Thanx everyone!