howardb

dirtclod - that looks a lot like a tubing flare jig. I wonder if you could find one at one of the discount tool houses (Harbor Freight, Homeier, etc.) cheep? wonder if it would work? Just pondering, no need to respond.

BUMP!! :sign23: Things that go bump in the night... Get registered if you haven't already!!! Just about everything is available online except the competition registration.

I'll toss in my tuppence. I've never been to Sheridan, so I really don't know what it's like, but it seems like (from postings here at LW, advertisements in LCSJ) Sheridan is made up of folks who make their living from leather, while IFOLG tends to be artisans who might or might not sell their stuff. IFOLG is all about promoting the art of leatherwork, and takes great efforts to teach newbies and bring them along. I only know of one person, across two guilds I am in, that is a full time leatherworker and earns an income from his work. everyone else has day jobs. How does that compare to Sheridan? I'm sure the Sheridan show would be a wonderous event to attend some time! I hope I can.

Hey kids, I'm not with Gateway (the hosts) but wanted to post the latest on the fall IFOLG show. Sounds like some neat stuff coming up. The official show website is http://www.ifolg2010show.org. Lots of info should be there in the coming months. For the first time, they will be taking paypal to pay preregistrations! Cool if you are a web denizen and have such a thing. I'm sure they still take old fashioned money too. Attached is the flyer Ben & Ali passed out at our spring show last week. Shaping up well! Brent scan0001.pdf scan0001.pdf

Shoot. I missed another LW person? Johanna, we have GOT to set up a meeting time for fall & gather for beverages.

A big thank you to everyone who came to the show! It was a great success! I may have been too mentally fragged to say hello to everyone, but it was a good time anyway. Thanks to folks who lent a hand when needed. Johanna, please thank your daughter for helping run awards on Sat. night. We missed her on Sunday running raffle stuff to folks! brent

Current Confirmed Vendor list: Artisans Tandy Bob Beard ProTools Tippman there are a couple of verbals that have not committed, but those above are for sure. Brent

Hey kids! If you are coming, you need to have your hotel res's in NOW! The deadline for the group block was Friday!!! I'm sure if you call, they will still honor the price, but now the room block is opened up for the general public. C'mon! Bust a move! Git-r-done! Oh, and send me those registration forms!! Brent Howard Show Chair

BUMP Anyone coming to our show? Anyone sending in entries from afar?

Alaska Pictorial.pdf http___maps.google.pdf The Tandy store in Merrillville, IN is hosting Bob Beard for a two day class. The subject will be an 8x10 Alaska pictorial. Get your reservation in to Jason at the Tandy store ASAP to reserve your space for the class. It's already starting to fill up! The flyer is attached and a map of the area with local hotels noted. If you are planning on coming to the Midwest Spring Leather Show in Michigan City this year, these two events run back-to-back for your convenience. The show hotel at Michigan City is only about 45 minutes (excluding traffic), so that could be an additional hotel possibility. Hope to see you all at the show and at Bob's class! Alaska Pictorial.pdf http___maps.google.pdf

Clay & everyone - Dates are October 14 - 17. If the Gateway folks don't get something up this summer when the packets come out, I will defintely post it up here.

Vendors? Could there possibly be anyone who wants to be a vendor that we haven't contacted? If so, PM me and I will get a vendor contract out to you! Brent

Toolers of the Cowibbean show packet! PDF of the show packet is attached. Please get this out to your leather friends & family who aren't here at LW. Thank you! Brent Howard Show Chairman 2010 CALG spring show packet.pdf 2010 CALG spring show packet.pdf

Beauty Kate! What can you get for one of those? If it's not rude to ask... I imagine quite a nice price. So far this one is gorgeous.

Travis, Great idea! I think the inside parts should be thinner, possibly garment or similar with finished edges. My opinion anyway. Great design idea! Tooling on paperboard might give you some deeper impressions in the thin leather. Otherwise, it's really cool. Are the 6-guns a pattern or did you freelance it? nice! Brent

Closed. Buying the new one at Tandy. It's a match. Thanks all!

Elliot - No idea. I inherited hundreds of them and the first time I sorted through them a couple years ago, I noted several of them were an amber color instead of clear. a couple months ago I went through them looking for an idea and noticed this one was shattered, and it is this odd amber color. I'm going to guess that it hung near a front window of a Tandy store and the UV rays destabilized the plastic. Just my guess from working with plastics for 15 years. Rose - it has acorns & curled oak leaves in two widths (a belt craftaid). I will check the current tandy offering as Elliot suggested, but would like an "original" one if someone tripped across it. Thanks to both! Brent

I had one and it yellowed and fell apart. I need a replacement. I even have the nice color sheet that goes with it, just need the craftaid itself. PM me if you have one! Thank you. Brent

2010 Midwest spring leather show will again be hosted by the Calumet Area Leathercrafters. This is an OPEN show, so you do not have to be a guild or IFOLG member to attend. We do use the IFOLG judging categories, so it's not just willy-nilly! Mailed entries will be accepted, but we would prefer YOU to attend! The Merrillville Tandy store will also be hosting a class by Bob Beard either just before, or just after our show. I will also post details of that when it is finalized. I will post more details in the coming months including a registration packet. date: April 23rd thru 25th, 2010 Location: Michigan City, Indiana Hotel: Clarion Hotel Michigan City http://www.clarionhotel.com/hotel-michigan_city-indiana-IN323 This is actually the same hotel as before, but Clarion bought it from Holiday Inn. Hope to see you there!

Paul, To learn, join one of the guilds in the area. I'm currently president of the Calumet Area Leathercrafters. We meet in Highland, IN... in "da reeegin" (gary, hammond, merrilville, etc). We would love to have you at a meeting! PM me if you would like directions. Prarie States Leather Guild meets a bit further to the west in Downers Grove, IL (link to Prarie States). They're nice folks too. Brent

Keith, Good luck with your class & mega-sale! Thanks for training up Jason for us. He's a hoot! Oh, and a pretty good manager too. Brent

"TOOLERS OF THE COWIBBEAN" Mark your calendars! April 23rd through the 25th is the annual Midwest spring leather show. This year it's back with the Calumet Area Leathercrafters, and will be held at the Clarion in Michigan City, IN. This is the same hotel that used to be the Holiday Inn at the 2008 show. Same place, new owners. I will put up a show flyer soon, registration information, etc. Competition will be open to all, but we will follow the IFOLG classes & guidelines for the most part. Guild membership is not required for any aspect of this show! Bring leather friends who aren't in guilds! Bring the neighbors! Bring the whole block! We have asked Bob Beard to come as a vendor, and the Tandy store in Merrillville, IN (not too far away) is also trying to schedule Bob to do a class in the days before the show. I got verbal commitments from Tippman Industrial and Leather Wrangler's (Paul Zelesak) and I'm not even on the committee! I'm hoping Jim Linnell can come teach the beginners class. Leather pirates, Bob Beard, Paul Zelesak, Jim Linnell, competition... It just doesn't get any better than this! [Gee, now that I've dropped his name a few times, I hope he can still come!] Now if that's not a reason to come we don't know what is!! Brent Howard President CALG, 2010 spring show chairman