wood

Thanks again for the compliments.

Thanks for the compliments. This was a fun one to do. RW

It's been a while since I showed anything off. I want to thank Bob Park and Cary Schwarz for their time putting out design and layout books and videos. I have been spending more time in my sketchbook than on leather lately and I liked bringing this one to life. Critique and comments always welcome to make things better. Take care, RW

Cary's video about layout talks quite a bit about the 7 to 5 ratio. It is very appealing for sure. Good job. That's the fun isn't it, about the time you think you're getting things figured out, here comes something that makes it look that much better. RW

Beyond awesome Bruce. I really like the showcase of local leatherworkers/saddlemakers, that was a nice touch. The wall with repair prices is a great piece of history. Great job. RW

Very nice. The story behind it makes it even better and the auction thing is a great idea to keep family close. Great job! RW

Looks really good. Make sure to let us see when it's all finished. RW

Barry is a great guy. Great tools. I bought an edger from him not knowing if it would work for what I was looking for. He told me if it didn't work, get it back to him and we'd try out different ones until I found what I was looking for. Of course the first one was perfect, but the help and offer for continued help was awesome. RW

Excellent job. I like that color combo. Maybe I'll see you in Colorado for the Art of the Cowboy Makers. RW

Very nice. And that is what a heel is supposed to look like. I wear them like that. Not great for walking the mall or concrete, but in the pasture or on a horse, they can't be beat. I would have to agree with the balance under the heel statement. I seem more upright and balanced in an underslung heel and they walk better than a roper style heel. I have always noticed that a roper style heel will wear around the back and if you have them long enough, they will turn into an underslung heel:) . Great job. Great color also. RW

I picked up a Bob Douglas one this year at the Wichita Falls show, it is amazing. Barry Kings are nice too, but like Bruce said whatever you get, look a the thickness. I'm trying to find a good one now for doing thinner leather around tight curves. I bought a "tight spot" edger (like a super bent over bissonette) and I can't get it to stay steady because the edge of the tool drags the table and not the leather.

Amazing. Really debating on selling all my tools and taking up birdwatching or something.

Thanks John, That's how I had been doing it, just wondering if that's how everybody did. Thanks for the info, RW

I somehow missed this on the first go around. Very nice. Also wondering where y'all get your inserts from for photo albums and day planners and such. I have bought ones together and ripped them apart to get my "guts" but I figured there has to be a supplier to get the rings and pages from???? Again nice work as always. Take care, Randy

Looks good. I know what you mean about the first works. I took my first photo album I ever tooled into a guy I knew for him to sew it on his machine. He said he'd do it, but that my tooling looked like a cabbage patch threw up on it. I was proud of it and I didn't think it was that bad. He was brutally honest and over the years has shown me quite a bit. The other day I came across that album and I thought to myself, kinda looks like a cabbage patch threw up on it. It's good to look back at how far you've come from time to time.

Congrats, those were good looking boots.

Great work as always. Repeat customers are the best!! Congrats.

Looks really good for starting out. Looking at the second piece, like was stated above, play with your lifters, they are meant to add depth but try not to push down the stems or background behind where you are lifting. Also, don't be afraid to run the mulesfoot down more than just one hit in some places. Keep at it, they're looking good. RW

Ramrod, This one was 8-9oz with 4oz gusset. I think next time I may go with a little thinner gullet but I would probably stick with the 8-9oz outside. May go a little deeper with the zipper so it can lay open a little more, but not too much because I wouldn't want everything falling out. Good luck with yours, RW

John, I did hand sew the bag. I was shooting for kind of a buckstitched look but with thread. After finishing, I wish I had made the stitches a little closer. I looked at your gallery, you do great work. May I ask what kind of sewing machine you have? Thanks for the comments, RW

Missed this one the first go around I guess. Very clean saddle, The string braid was a nice touch. Keep it up, RW

Thanks for the comments. I think the leg idea is a definite for the next one. I used around 4oz tooling leather for the gusset I think. I liked using the tooling leather for it because I decorative cut it with my Dad's initials in it. His main critique on it was that it doesn't open up enough to dig around in, I told him it may break in but who knows. Maybe I'll go with a thinner gusset or a deeper cut for the zipper next time. Thanks again for the ideas. Later, RW

Hadn't been doing much but I always wanted to try this pattern for a shave kit bag. Doesn't really work as well as I'd like, next time I think I'll go to the drawing board to make the top easier to open. Maybe chap leather around the top and thicker, tooling leather to strengthen a base. I don't know. Let me know y'all's experience with these kind of bags or any patterns that are better. This is the one out of Al's cases book.. Thanks for any comment or critique. Later, RW

Amazing, as always.

Excellent as always. Beautiful layout and design. Thanks for sharing.