pete

well- here 'tis folks. Better foto outside(ni, it's not pink pigskin) again- front was LCJ cover from last month with modifications here and there and the back are my creations. enjoy and critique please pete

nice work. How did you finish the edges? pete

I'de say that Montana Pitch Blend is what you want. Easy to apply and really waterproofs. It's pitch and beeswax and nothing else. pete

where did you get the pattern? DON"T TELL ME THAT YOU DREW THAT TOO!!!!!! (ok Hilly- here's the part of the show where YOU post something like...."OH!- thank you all for your glowing reviews! I had no idea that I was a sheridan savant!!"" thank you, thank you one and all......)

Beautiful work. You look as though you have been doing it for years. BRAVO! pete

absolutely love mine. I have a Henley and actually prefer the ceramic for most work. Get a 1/4" angle for most all work though. pete

If anyone has one of those vacum sealers for food- try it on your next piece of leather to case it. I put warm water on the piece and vacum seal it for about 10 minutes. I can't believe how it draws the water into the leather and keeps it cased longer than before- I don't even have to wet the back as much on big projects. Has anyone tried this too? pete

a cloud went by as I took the picture. Actually the leather is quite a bit darker than that and is a rich brown/mahogany. Thanks for the kudos. I think that it turned out well too!! pete

do yourself a favor and get the Al Stohlman belt book at TLF. It's cheap and answers that and many more questions regarding belts. Good tips on layout and tooling, skiving, etc. Made a lot of belts over the years and still refer to it from time to time. pete

the flowers on the left are mine- the right side is the LWJ cover last month with some re-do's on the buds and scrolls

here's the finished project FOR ME. I keep my drawing paper in one side and tracing paper on the other. Esantoro- this was really light leather- one pass of Bick's and chocolate as we discussed. Don- Our logos are almost the same!! Great minds........ pete

really nice tooling! where did you get the flower center?????? pete ps- you are really a closet sheridan tooler- don't kid yourself! I'll bet you do skirts and fenders on scrap when you are bored.

mix Bick's #4 with the tan, stir or mix well and apply in a circular motion with a t shirt scrap or very dry but soft sponge. It is the only way that I have found to apply dye and overcome the sections of leather that absorb and don't absorb so well. How much? well, start with 1 plastic cup(3 tsp) of dye to about 5 full plastic( nyquil, robitussin, etc ) plastic cups. I think that they hold about 3 tsp. pour a good amount onto the shirt scrap and squeeze it a little so as to penetrate it with no standing liquid and just rub it all over until you start to run out. Don't just start in the middle or at one corner and wipe across as you might with a dauber.

I was going to make some a year or so ago but when I went the stationary store and tried to get paper(inserts) my friend told me that he doesn't order them anymore- no one uses day planners anymore. And he's not had requests for 6 ring paper in over 2 years. Just thought you'de like to know- that is unless you have customers already! pete

I believe that's "squaw tits- not squawk"

I don't follow you Oscar. What's missing?

thanks so much for your comments!I saw the cover last month and immediately wanted to re-create it with a darker antique. Now I can carry this anywhere and sketch when I want to. By the way- for you out there that like to create....on the left side I put in a pad of drawing paper. The first few pages are 1 1/2 to 2" lines from top to bottom- these are belt templates. The next few pages are templates for wallets and checkbooks. Now I can take this anywhere and simply lay a piece of tracing paper over it and I have the dimentions I need to draw over and over. Plus I can show a client what a 1 1/2 inch belt looks like with or without a border and can do a pattern on the spot. Thanks again- it's nice to be appreciated by an artist. pete

I need to stitch it now

here is a portfolio that I made for myself. I have been on a drawing tear and wanted something to put a pad of paper on one side and a pad of tracing paper on the other. The flowers on the back are my designs- the front cover is the latest Leatherworkers Journal cover with a few changes to the buds and swirls. Neats/chocolate dye, then RTC then med brown antique paste. I used my logo for the flower center on the top right. Hope that you like it. pete

here is a portfolio that I made for myself. I have been on a drawing tear and wanted something to put a pad of paper on one side and a pad of tracing paper on the other. The flowers on the back are my designs- the front cover is the latest Leatherworkers Journal cover with a few changes to the buds and swirls. Neats/chocolate dye, then RTC then med brown antique paste. I used my logo for the flower center on the top right. Hope that you like it. pete

Myriam- when you antiqued and rubbed it- use a shirt or paper towel and rub it off the top in all directions. Then take a sheep scrap and go over it lightly in a circular motion to get the thick gunk out of the grooves. I said lightly but I rub hard enough to get the amount I want left in the cracks. You;ll be amazed on how good it looks to get almost all of it off leaving nice dark pockets(thumbprints) and decorative cuts filled and nothing else.. Then take a paper towel and rub the heck out of it for a beautiful shoe shine like finish. Then use KIWI neutral shoe polish and you're done. ps- I wait for 5 minutes tops(because I'm impatient by then) after the initial rubbing, then the sheepskin and have never had antique rub off pete

for starters check out the free patterns on the TLF web page. Lots there and you can resize if needed pete

A great idea! I just had a thought- how about sending out patterns? I've been on a belt tear lately and would love to get some belt-purse patterns from some of you. Lot's of us have trouble with drawing patterns and could really learn from them as well as seeing the finished product. Plus- we could share with more folks if they were patterns Just a thought..... pete

phil If the leather was"warm" then it was too dry! It should feel slightly cool but not wet. If you are going to case it you have to do more than "spray and tool". Either really wet both sides and wait for it to return to color(BUT STILL COOL TO YOUR CHEEK) or you can take a sponge to the grain and keep slopping on the water until it won't take anymore. Don't wring out the sponge-either before applying OR ONTO THE LEATHER.Just get it wet and keep applying it. Some folks lay the leather on folded towels to catch the run-off. That's how much you need to wet it initially. pete