pete

sure is. Bick's #4 won't darken the leather, will protect it, and mixes with dye wonderfully. Almost everything that I make is Bick's and chocolate or walnut dye. I have an 8 oz bottle and pour in the Fiebing's directly until I get the color I want. Sponge it on and rub in until it gets smooth. About 20 seconds. It's like putting on a leather balm- soaks in and leaves it smooth and flexible. I don't even use neats anymore as the Bick's seems to fully restore the moisture after I tool and dry. pete

in the last frame it appears that you have done all of the backgrounding . what did you use and how are you going to finish it pete

baby powder where the leather meet leather. It has natural oils in it too. pete

You might try using a Sharpie. It is pretty permanent- I have never had one bleed, and it's easy to run the side of it down the edge without touching the liner. Plus- it comes in a lot of colors so you can edge to match the design. pete

Here's my first attempt at painting a piece. It's a Tandy Countess purse kit.What do you think? I'de really like know what Tina thinks... better yet, I'de like to know what Tina REALLY thinks!

Very nice job! In the future you might want to make the pattern larger than the finished size. Mark hole at the 4 corners when you lay out the pattern. Tape the back to prevent stretch and when you're done, lay out a ruler and cut from hole to hole. That way you have a good chance of having it come out real square and "plumb" That makes everything easier to finish-take a divider to make your borders- then you have a really square BOX in which to do you basketweave, tooling etc pete

Absolutely fantastic! I just have to ask- do you trace the fingercuts,just start freehand, what? And where do you start. I KNOW that there are literally HUNDREDS here that would LOVE a 2,3,4 or more panel tutorial on the fingercuts. Maybe if you showed a small scrap, where you begin, the next couple of cuts, etc BRAVO!!! pete

really good question! I find that I use a #2 first but don't know if I should use a 3 or 4! Exactly how much edge do you need to take off to get a good result when burnishing!!!?? If it was just knocking off the corners then wouldn't a #1 even work for 16 oz.? Maybe some saddle makers could respond please pete

I went to the "DOLLAR STORE" 3 years ago and bought a package of French Curves. Best $1.00 investment I have ever made for leather tools. pete

I posted a few pictures of the 21,000 bulbs that we planted. A friend came by yesterday and took some digital fotos. Here's what I got- great for tracing patterns. Hope that you enjoy- pete

keyboards, synth,fiddle, 5 string elec. mandolin, and acoustic mandolin. Highlights? Got to play with Haggard, the Wheel, Johnny Paycheck, and opened for Ernest Tubb at his last gig before he passed.

chocolate- mixed with Bick's

ask your doctor for a cauterizing instrument. They get them free from the reps. It looks like a big sharpie with a little wire loop. push button, instant on, cools immediately, Had one for 11 years and haven't used up the (non replaceable) battery power yet!

trace the pattern onto "vellum" available at any stationary store r tandy, Hidecrafter, etc. If you use reg tracing paper on wet/cased leather it will stick, pucker, etc all the things you don't want! Use a ball point pen that is out of ink, a stylus, anything that is a fine point but not sharp if you don't have many tools yet. After you case the leather it doesn't take much pressure to get a nice tracing on the leather- then carve away! pete

one of my feeble original patterns! But I'm getting better!!!!

just finish the belt completely, then glue on an over-wide liner and trim. then sew. what don't I get? pete

the pencil holder is excellent! The nicest compliment that I can give is..." is that CHAN'S OR YOURS!?" I can't tell the difference!!!! pete ps- neats or Bee Natural oil, and med brown antique!???

those are REALLY neat!! What is the main part? Leather dyed black or some other material? That will be my next project! pete

done, pete

I say the originator of the idea should make it.....wouldn't want to Bogart on his idea would we?? HEY! You voted for the guy(ain't you glad he's delivering what he promised and then more.......a trillion more!) If you read the original post- I WAS RANTING. Wasn't offering to make something- if I had I would have just done it and kept it to myself. YOU should be the one to apologize to the queen. Does he do his homework when traveling? Didn't SOMEONE tell michelle that you curtsey and you don't hug the queen!!! Talk about a home boy out of his element!!! ! If I could only get him to pop some gum while he gives his press conferences -yo yo yo.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Finally some common sense put forth in a MATURE manner. (I stole your quote, Whinewine, for one of my people. ) Thanks Jordan pete

WE (i.e. AMERICANS) are responsible for this calamity that has come upon us....WE have made stupid decisions with our own money... I admit that there were those who took advantage of the system but the VAST majority of americans didn't think that they were cheating the system. They should have been REFUSED the loans by those offering them(BUT WERE TOLD TO DO SO BY BARNEY FRANK, CRIS DODD, ETC) Also...i postulate that if mccain had won (or anyone else who ran)....that your portfolio would be in the exact same state that it is now....this economic failure was coming no matter who's at the wheel...it's coincidence that YOUR portfolio started tanking during the current presidency...but i can assure you that's just because it takes a while for things that effect the large scale to filter down to the small scale I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR A SECOND. WOULD WE BE IN TROUBLE NOW? Yes, but the remedies that McCain would have proposed would have been methodical, slow to present, and more transparent. I've never met the man but I know in my heart that he loves this country and puts her first. It's his nature and needs no defending.

I'm sorry if I offended anyone or placed an unsuitable post here but I am just SO #@)*&^)# MAD to see our country go to hell and for no reason. I spent a lot of time and money putting together a portfolio for my family, learned to manage it, and have watched it plummet since you know who took office. I am no expert when it comes to the economy but I know a LOT of people who are and they all agree that this bail out/rescue nonsense is just that- NONSENSE. Even the pulitzer award winner , the father of Modern Portfolio Theory says that this is all just a waste of time trying to make this into what may become a socialist experiment to change an entire nation. Again- sorry... but he's not MY president. clinging to my gun(s), family and bible. pete ps-JOHANNA_ please let this remain for a little while to allow those offended to accept or at least read my apology before you whack me. pete

I don't expect any responses here- I just have to see it written. After Obama's totally tasteless, thoughtless and meaningless gift ( Walmart I-pod) to the queen.... wouldn't it be neat if we or some other handcraft forum took up a collection and sent her something that showed the ability and workmanship of the american people. Wouldn't have to be expensive or ornate- but I know that if I was a world leader I would LOVE to have an album by Hidepounder, a relief of Clay's, a miniature saddle or a purse/picture by Tina. thanks for indulging me- I'm SO PISSED at this guy- he's a puppet that 's in WAY over his head. pete

you didn't do anything wrong. The leather was really light when you started and by putting on the resist you merely "blocked" the leather from taking on any color. I would have put on a nice coat of neats or my favorite, Bick's and chocolate dye mix. After you got the leather that color that you wanted THEN put on the resist. The Sherdian brown is NOT a very dark color and you sure can't expect it to color the overall project- THAT"S WHY you out the resist on! It's SUPPOSED to color the impressions and cuts- that;s all Looks nice anyway and good color choice on the lacing. pete