wildrose

I'm going to add my rave for the Barry King maul and mallet. I have one of each (yeah, I'm low key on the quantity!) and I love them.

In years past, I would shop with them for things I couldn't find with Tandy. But their "reorganization" has dragged on and on with little real progress in my view. (I'm sure there has been some in truth!) Tandy's been getting all my money now!

My mom was a bit against a "home made" gift idea (thanks for the support, Mom!) However, when I was at the bridal shower this weekend, I talked to the bride-to-be (my cousin) and her mom (my aunt) and found out that she would love and truly appreciate something hand made. Another cousin knitted her a beautiful afghan, and she went on about how much she loves hand made things. So that sealed it for me. Her colors are even easy: chocolate brown and blue (have to find out what shade of blue). So right now I'm leaning toward the album. I like the can idea, esp. with a lid they could use for cards; but I'd be afraid I couldn't do it justice since I've not done anything like that before.

Looks like you've made progress already with the horsehead over the cross piece. Nice! Keep it up, and welcome :-)

I don't remember who first steered me to Krylon on leather, but it works pretty well...the colors as well as the clear coats.

I'm a BIG fan of Aussie Wax, to be honest with you. I use it over acrylics, and the only time I've had trouble was over Aleen's gold, where the wax rubbed it off partially. So I just touched it up after. As to the Krylon sealant (I said urethane by accident), I've not had a problem with it cracking, but I don't think I'd try it on something like a checkbook cover, for example, that has a very thin spine. I did use it on my father's motorcyle saddle bags and it helped.

My prayers are with your family also!

I can't comment on the edging, as my experience there is limited to the black EdgeKote. But tables, that I can speak on. I use 4 small folding tables (rectangular, not square) at my space almost every time. I keep a part of one as my work space. I lay my 12x12" marble square on one end of the table, so that it is above the leg(s) and not in the center of the table. This gives it the best support. I almost always bring something to stamp and/or tool. It draws the curious and makes it alot easier to explain how things are made (and proves you're the one making them!) It also gives you something to do during down times.

I've had the same problem. For me, the solution was a different finish. I use Aussie Wax now. I know it's not a "sealant", but it works for me. If I need it "more" sealed, I use a spray urethane.

I like it! Personally, I've always enjoyed tooling more than stamping; but I've found with the youth I teach, they'd rather do stamping. They think it's easier! To me, I'd rather pull out my swivel knife any day. It does take a little while to "get a handle" on it though. You'll be fine :-)

That's why we named the farm "Rocky Meadows"! It was still rocky enough to repair the fallen portions of the fenceline if we'd wanted to... I'm also LOL at Bree's post - too true Bree!

He is a favorite of mine as well. His Robin Hood is still the one I like best. I also own Captain Blood.

One publication I really love is Country magazine, by Reiman press. It offers some stunning shots of the US, plus great stories and humor. While I live in Virginia right now, and could rave about the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway, I have not been here long enough (just over a year) to comment on it as other than a tourist. I was born and raised in New Jersey - a state that often gets a "bad rap". I found much to love about it though, and I miss it dearly. I lived in Hunterdon County, which was still a fairly rural area, near the towns of Flemington and Clinton. We had a 7 acre horse farm, on which we raised Arabians, had about 30 apple trees, and some peach, cherry and pear as well. To me, it was a little slice of heaven. Our barn was so old, it had wooden pegs for nails. Most of the property was marked with a rock wall, the undamaged part of which was 4 feet high and 4 feet wide. The wall alone was said to be over 100 yrs old. Now, I know that's not old in many European places, but to a kid in NJ that was ancient! LOL! We had a swimming pool and a tennis court too. How I miss that farm! My folks retired and moved here to VA though - and since we wanted Ethan to grow up near family, we moved not long after. NJ is just too expensive anymore. Yet I yearn for the back roads and the changing seasons. For the beaches of Wildwood and Seaside Heights. For being close to New York City and Philadelphia, as well as the mountains of Pennsylvania. I often wonder how my parents could live somewhere all their lives and then move somewhere so radically different (as the South is to the North) in their '60s!!! Mom was from North Jersey originally (Stanhope) and Dad was from the south end of the state (Sewell). They met at Rutgers University. Anyhow, that's my tale - I'd be back in Jersey in a heartbeat if I could afford it!

I'm actually quite fanatical about dragons. I prefer the winged variety (aka DragonHeart movie). I thought the ones in Ring of Fire (I think that was the title?) were awesome, though that's the worst Matthew McConaughey has ever looked (I probably mucked up his last name too!) I had to laugh at how cool the oriental one is in the new Scooby Doo movie (Scooby and the Samurai Sword). Your line drawing was gorgeous too!

That's fascinating, thanks!

That is some BEAUTIFUL knotwork. I love the knot font myself.

I have formerly used a deglazer that Tandy put out, and it worked great for me. Stripped off EVERYTHING.

Tigers are my favorite big cat - and that is just GORGEOUS!

My favorite cousin is getting married in Sept. and I'd like to make her something special. I was thinking of a binder she could use for a photo album, but am open to suggestions. If I go the binder route, I'd like suggestions on designs/patterns for it. (Not the binder itself, but what to put on it). Her name is Asheley, and her fiance is James.

I signed up on Etsy only because a bossy woman I know got pushy with me over it. LOL! Honestly! Anyhow, I don't find it to be that great for me. She's a jeweler, so maybe it works for her.

I am LOL at Ray's line: mine is not to reason why, mine is to apply the dye!

AARP sent my hubby an invite when he turned 40 ... LOL! I'm glad you had a great day.

I will give you an example: Sometimes I sell at Renaissance Faires. I am a Christian, and I believe in Jesus as my savior. Those are my beliefs. When I am at Faires, I am presented with ALOT of different beliefs. It is not my place there to jump down a potential customer's throat, so to speak. However, when a customer asks me if I will make a cover for her Book of Shadows, my answer is no. I tell her I can refer her to several excellent leatherworkers who can help her, but I cannot help her. I hope this answers your question. I would say the same thing if it were handcuffs, whips/chains, etc. It is simply something I personally do not do, and do not wish to promote.

I saw a young woman (college age) come through our local farmer's market with the most stunning green satin corset on (and nothing under it, unlike what I usually see at Faires)...I couldn't help myself telling her how pretty it was - the color and style - but I refrained from going on about how nice it fit her....that might've seemed too weird LOL! But she definitely had the figure for it!

Thanks! I've been wanting to make something like this, and that helps alot I moved it to "how do I do that?" since it seemed to fit better...