wildrose

Spence, I'm really thankful for your reply. I think it'll be an easier method than what I had planned. Am going to start the project next week.

Well, he IS quite experienced...at being an idiot! LOL.

I made this combination to go on a recorder case (the flute-like instrument, that is). Thought I'd share it in case anyone else is interested.

I may have added this in a side message, but I also bring things for kids/adults to stamp, or I'll stamp for them - usually bookmarks. They go for 2.00/each and sell very well.

Here's an old shot of my cat Shmoo "helping" me cut suede.

THAT is a great idea. I'd use it, then just do a little cut for the stem; or maybe use the tip of a stylus.

Former classmate of my hubby's wants a collar for her young German Shepherd named Elvis. She wants it as flashy as one of Presley's belts. She wants people to think Elvis right upon seeing it (but NOT, as she put it, "gay" - LOL!) It's going to be 1-1/4" x 26". I've ordered the glitz and a star concho she wanted, and it'll arrive soon. Initially, I was going to set it into a belt strap cut down. Then I realized alot of the synthetic sparkly rivets aren't going to go through something that thick. So I chatted with some friends and came up with doing it "double layered" in 4/5 oz. I'm going to cut two straps in 26" and go from there. So my question is: do I run the extra piece/liner all the way down to the tip where the holes are? I already know what I'm going to do on the buckle end (not bring it as far as the buckle, but double the buckle part over and match it up) Does this make sense? Any suggestions? This will be the fanciest collar I've made yet.

The only one I've ever seen was for 4H, and of course it had Hs on the leaves, so that wouldn't help you any. It'd be tough to carve one that small anyhow, I feel for you!

Peter Main makes a great modeling tool. I think it was 35.00 or so when I bought it. I love it.

I'm totally LOL at your tale (tail?) of woe. I don't know if shutting them out is an option? I don't currently have a dog - but my parents do, and she gets into everything, so I feel your pain there. I DO have a cat, and sometimes smaller is not easier: every cat I've had has liked to be right in the center of whatever I'm doing. I have a sliding door to my shop, but this one shoves it open with his paw and makes himself at home.

I love Sharpies too ! Mystery braids are something I learned through Tandy. They have/had an instruction sheet on them. I've attached pics of one made and un-made. This one was cut and snaps set by Ann McGrath - a friend of mine from PA. It's suede. I usually use veggie tan, around 4/5 oz. and stain it. (I also don't usually set the snaps this close to the edges.) I've even done them where each strip was a different color - neat effect. I'll see if I have the instruction sheet and pm it to you. I don't think I should post it here for copyright reasons. I found Ann's sold REALLY well at a recent festival because of the color variety, the softness of the suede, and because she had smaller sizes for the kids.

At one point, I had an order from a fraternity for about 50 bands with the house logo on them. I did them with one set of snaps on one end, and three on the other. While this is an unbalanced use of snaps, it allowed for fit on any of the guys. All the bands were 9" long. Snaps were set 1/2" from the end, then about 1/2" apart from that point on. Now, when I make bands for fairs, I do something similar. I make almost all bands 9" long (sometimes I will do some longer and some shorter). Almost all of them are set with one snap on the one end and two at the other. This, again, allows for some adjustability. Hope this helps! By the way, I sell LOTS of wristbands, mostly mystery braids, and I price them at 5.00 each. They're a hot seller. I could probably sell them at 10.00, but they might not move as well.

I'd be proud to have that myself! Nice work.

Love it!

Celtic Classic ROCKS!!!!! Don't miss it if you have the chance to go. I used to live in Bethlehem (for 10 years) and went several times. It is totally incredible. Did I mention it's great? LOL.

No worries - I hadn't thought you'd made it sound like junk at all. She weighs less than 110 lbs, and rides an Arabian. The saddle would be used for trail riding, and that's all. She and Dad frequently take two of their horses by trailer to local trails and go from there. She needed something lightweight and fairly durable.

Thanks! That's perfect for what she's looking for. I think I was spoiled by all the fine saddles I've seen on this board; so that when I saw this one I was a bit taken aback. As long as it's a nice basic saddle that will serve her well, it's all she needs. I mostly wanted to know that it wasn't poor quality, because she was willing to send it back if so.

Thank you! I was starting to wonder if anyone would reply. Your answer helps me understand what I was looking at better (it being factory made)

My mom, who is a petite 5', bought herself a new western saddle via mail order. She needed a 15" seat, and rides Arabians. She got a Simco Longhorn, after a lot of research, because it offered a good price. The tag says it's from Tennessee. She asked me to look over the saddle tonight on my way to work. While I'm not a saddle maker, and I rode hunter/jumpers myself, I told her I'd take a look. I must say I was NOT impressed. She told me it has a ralide tree, and I know nothing about that one way or the other, but the saddle as a whole seemed poorly put together. It is very plain (untooled), which is fine - she doesn't need fancy for a saddle that's going to be used most every day for trail riding and kept in a barn tack room. The thing will "go through the wringer" on their farm, no doubt. So it needed to be serviceable but durable. I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with Simco and can give me some feedback. I promised her I'd ask the group.

It's a little faster for me today as well.

Bear, I have to say I'm feeling the same way. I heard using Firefox as a browser makes it faster; but I've yet to try it.

"View New Content" is still not working for me. I have to scroll through each of the subforums to see if there's anything I want to be following; and it takes forever to load.

I appreciate the feedback! I've been passing it along to Mom; especially after she scared me by saying she was just going to wash it (i.e. put it in a washing machine kind of deal)!!!!

My mother called me today and I promised her I'd post this question. She has a martingale that has seen years of use. She knows she's the guilty party in not keeping it cleaned regularly. Aside from the use of Lexol, is there something you'd recommend for cleaning sweaty horse and such off it?

Thanks for the info :-) I really like the design on the invite - will try to scan it and post it - but felt something similar rather than identical might be nice.