AlcoveShop

Anyone seen where I can get ahold of such a beast, or similar? Any help would be appreciated...

Funny enough, I'm perfectly content where Im at in NW Michigan; the people/friends/customers (all one in the same actually) have been the reason Ive staying in the industry so long. If I had a pipe dream to follow though, I'd travel everywhere and stay for a few weeks to meet everyone!

Veg Tan Tooling Leather - Various Oz. Weights (2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 6/7, 7/8, 8/9, 9/10) $2.99 Square Foot. I managed to get another batch of this leather, thanks to the response so quick, I was able to get it at .40 cents a square foot cheaper this time around... and willing to pass the savings on to folks here. Like the previous lot, these are all very clean (see below) and tool/dye excellent. Despite my personal preference for domestic leather, I'm impressed with these. To save PM'ing response times, just give me a call at my store (link in signature). - No minimum required. (I'll cut double shoulders to singles and sides in 1/2 as always in my store. Some craft cuts are always available) - Folk on LWN get free shipping (Continental US) on orders over $100. - Roughly 550+- square feet available (as of this posting, I'll update the footages when nessecary) #2 and #1 grades, All #2's (for comparison's sake) are looking better than the Big T's #1's. Double Shoulders, Some Sides; Some trimmed (Took off those nasty runaway leg bits for practice pieces) and footage recalculated. DS's are averaging 14 square, and sides are averaging 24; Not as many sides this time around.

Sold out of all of it, but I'm hoping to get a similar deal up and going, just waiting on a phone call. What weights are you interested in? (By the way, thanks to all who responded, I'm happy to get ya'll some good deals and will continue to do so when I can)

This by far is one of the best looking saddles Ive ever seen. I dont know what else to say except it made me stop my class and drag everyone over to see it... 20 people and all of them gasped. :jump:

I get embossing plates made for most of my customers requesting them; weve done pieces as big as 24". You can probably contact local shops that deal in offset printing. Im currently setting up patterns for armor and horse barding/tack in this fashion myself...

***Update*** 300+- sqare feet left... Mostly Double Shoulders and a few sides (lighter weights)

***Update*** 400+- sqare feet left... (Thanks for the response folks, I'm glad to offer this while I got it!)

***Update*** 530 square feet left...

Judging by the looks and temper, import and (some) domestic- the hides are very clean and Ive already used some of it in my store for classes, dyes and tools really well. ***Update*** 700 square feet left...

I've always told customers to "Dip the Tip" in Honing Oil from time to time. Olive oil is a good idea too!

Veg Tan Tooling Leather - Various Oz. Weights (2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 6/7, 7/8, 8/9, 9/10) $3.49 Square Foot. - No minimum required. - Folk on LWN get free shipping (Continental US) on orders over $100. - Roughly 1000 square feet available (as of this posting, I'll update the footages when nessecary) #2 and #1 grades, All #2's (for comparison's sake) are looking better than the Big T's #1's. Double Shoulders, Some Sides; Some trimmed (Took off those nasty runaway leg bits for practice pieces) and footage recalculated. PM me if interested.

I'll chime in on this one too; its the import stuff they sell; Start digging into the term "corrected" and contemplate the fact that these leathers come from a place that "don't have th' oak trees" and you'll probably want to start going domestic. I dropped the whole import line and went that way, and never had a problem since. (Dont belive the propaganda that domestic leather is outrageously priced compared to import; its not if you buy it from the right places.) The hardest thing for me selling the import stuff was the nauseating feeling that I couldnt stand behind the leather leaving the door, and praying that I wouldnt get that phone inquiry why the stuff looked so bloody crappy or inconsistent. Try Wickett & Craig or Hermann Oak- youll never go back. Keep in mind these were sent to a show for impressions sake. You can find domestics for $5 or less a square foot- and the more folk support the domestic places, the more often youll see those prices.

Just dont get anything you used the eco on wet- ever. We tested these when they came out under various conditions and rated them "Not Finished Yet". They blend well, but again, dont accidently drop your wallet in the slush- I'll stick with the Fiebings dyes; as for color choice, we *used* to make our own...

Try Febreeze - Saved more than one smelly hide. No charge

Without going into too much detail, "them" isnt Tandy anymore; leave it at that. The craft can be built by anyone- While I have my own vision, someone else does Im sure. The problem with relying on one or two companys to dictate (used loosely mind you) the materials we use, the methods we utilize, and other facets (of any business really) you find eventually the old adage comes into play: "Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely". In order for true progression to take place, you must have competition, you must see power changing hands- this inspires creativity. To answer your question at the end directly, I, as well as other managers have been suggesting for years some of these systems/methods, and its usually not until the stock drops or the economy takes a crap that some things get put into play, and by then its a stagnant, shoddy "fix it quick" methodology that comes into the final work. I can get pretty ugly and know too much about whats going on these days to allow myself to care about it anymore; instead I'm doing what everyone else should be doing; enjoying the craft, and offering up what *I* want to leave with a mark, not be intimidated or dictated to as far as direction, product or execution of my time while enjoying the craft.

Its really dependant on the leather you use; crappy leather will give you a hard time no matter what dye you use. "If its burnish'd, throw it in the furnace!" <---inside joke. You can get good results with just misting the leather with a spray bottle (water) 10 minutes or so prior to dying. Some folk swear by the carving concentrates. Always test on scraps of the leather you use. (No guarantees, since "ahem" corrected leathers can dye splotchy on one inch and not on another) Best thing to do if its an option is make sure the leather is of good quality; its usually the culprit, not the dyes.

Tandy (many years ago) had a "drop in the lap" program so teachers could incorporate leatherwork into the system- I used that system (I had alot of that reference material) to redesign my own (bringing it up to date and removing the need for "company" specific materials/tools.) <-- Since I no longer manage for them. I feel my system is better tailored to specific market groups because the "other" way leaves suggested materials/themes up to someone "down south" who may not have a grasp on regional "tastes". I set up plans for elementary through high school- these are full semester curriculums so all they need do is say "yes". Key points (for me) during this pitch has been emphasis on domestic materials, local pride (in my case state, since Im already travelling from one side of the state to the other and its not even February yet!) and my knowedge of the industry, and tenure for teaching for so many years. Lastly, another notch for you is to be prepared to go to these schools and do a few freebies- I just did a demo at a regional teachers conference that got me in touch with 8 counties and all thier schools systems in one fell swoop. I'm also working on a up to date program for hospital rehabilitation; my next door neighbor is on the state board of directors so I'll let you know how that one turns out!

If you think about it, Fiebings already has the process down pat; if you cant buy them directly, seek out a distributor (as some have mentioned). Problems of this nature tied to the finicky nature of some "ahem" leathers made me dump that line completely, and just distribute for Fiebings and Dyo. Fiebings has a water based line as well if you really need it.

Good call! We tried for quite sometime to re-establish a program within the schools- at one time they had full curriculums that could be dropped into the laps of administrators; shining times for results. Since leaving the corporate hog Ive devoted considerable time to redoing this on my own (Of course I cant cover the whole US, but I'm making an impact regionally here) Any of you small shops can do this as well; in your region(s) most administrative systems would much rather keep the $ local. (distinct advantage for you too, trust me) All you need to do is make sure you approach them with a program that takes almost all of the planning and design into consideration; the easier you make it for them the easier it will be to secure that business. In other words, lay it out so all they need to do is call you for materials, and provide training for the teachers (I do it for free, and even had to recruit a few other instructor level folk to help out because of high response) and leave them with just having to fill out a pre designed order. I also provide classes to military for free (as an advertising hook) and emphasize on domestic natured materials (a BIG issue with alot of those folk). On another note, this works well with the schools too! Glad someone brought that up!

Thank god for the internet! Influences and controls ebb and flow with certainty

If you knew the gross profits being made on some of this stuff you might think twice. It all comes down to (for me anyways) what I call "an honest buck", or a "fair trade/value" where buyer and seller are getting equal return. Food for thought, dont want to derail the poll.

The picture doesn't do OC's work justice- he brought it into my store, and the colors and detail are top notch!

Those are some beautiful hides! If you ever want to part with any, let me know, Im in Michigan and always looking for individuals to get supplies from! (Seeing those made me cry a little, I grew up running my own trap lines!)

I guess its a matter of what method you use; hand setting would find me charging a bit more ($45 a spot heh ) but in all seriousness, BJ's take seems about right, despite never really calculating it myself. (I have this quote mojo that seems to pluck it in at his figure without realizing it, wierd) I do alot of snap/spot setting for free though (less the spot cost) if its a small number, or a replacement)