wildrose

This post was set to "invisible" mode because there was some concern it could get nasty. It's now visible again. PLEASE keep any bickering, theorizing and finger pointing off ! Please remember and honor the lives of those lost. The video that Ian first posted was very touching, and made me weep. As a former NJ resident, I have been to NYC more times than I can count. I remember clearly where I was when I got the news of the Twin Towers' collapse. I remember all the news spreading that morning based on hearsay, until all the facts of the tragedies became known, and the other hijackings were made public. As I cried through watching that video, my son Ethan said "mommy, why are those buildings on fire?" and I said to him (in terms for a 4 yr old) "some very bad people stole those planes and crashed them into it. Planes have a lot of gas, so it made them explode. The people in the buildings died." And he said.... "Don't worry, Mommy, God will take care of it" Out of the mouth of babes.

They are all very nice, but I'm particularly taken by the belt with the gold trim. Great work!

I'm signed up for Dover Publishing's design samplers. I get them from Mary_Davis@doverpublishing.com and they direct you to http://www.doverpublications.com/designsampler/0910a where you can see some sample pages from Dover books. This batch included some great Japanese and Victorian designs. You can even right click on them and save them straight to your computer! This, as an example, was a thistle pattern I really liked, and a butterfly in a scroll-like style (very small files, but you can see them at the above site). I'm hoping it's okay to post them here, since I am giving full credit and details on where they're from....

I remember when I quit "the very big leather guild" as we jokingly call it, and Johanna and I threw ideas around for a site like this...I had no idea then it would turn into what it has. I am grateful for her stick-to-it-tiveness and drive to surround herself with the right people. This is worlds better than anything else I've been associated with.

That ranks as probably the most amazing piece I've seen made from leather to date.

I'm LOL at Schno's comment on staining marble Mahogany...had that problem at our old house - even though it was my workroom, it was also the laundry room, and the tops of the washer and dryer were very colorful from staining things there...(I usually put down "protection", but stuff still managed to drip!) Oh, and the floor...hmmm, was nice clean linoleum when we'd moved in...

I have two that Peter did (in fact, mine are autographed!) They are soft cover, not very thick, but abound in illustrations and instructions: Stohlman Step-by-Step and Australian Leather Carving (in fact, to REALLY brag, my step-by-step one is also signed by Ann Stohlman...)

I'll add to the best wishes being sent your way! I too would suggest carving - this is a great time to practice a necessary skill if you are permitted. Aside from that, I'd actually be one to recommend George Hurst's videos. I used them with 4H when I volunteered with a group in PA. For beginners, I found them to be clear and well done. George makes stuff seem so easy! And he was a huge supporter of 4H as well as a general nice guy when I've talked to him. Books are always a great thing too. I'm a sucker for patterns and I have more books than I'd know what to do with. It's a good time to read all the tips of the trade in them, such as the Stohlman books that were mentioned. I also have some by Peter Main that are excellent.

My experience with the paste is similar: it got spotty on me in the rain. (where the drops hit, it spotted) I love how easily it goes on, and it looks really nice....'til it gets rained on!

That is really beautiful! I'm curious about one thing, because it's the only thing I'd change...the snap strap for the back knife: why not bring it up and over from the back, rather than the front?

Thanks! I fixed my first attempt, this black and rust one, which is shown in its original state in the braiding section under the bracelet tutorial post. This was for me. It's wider (1") than the others.

Hope you have a great year!

Sometimes "repetitive" projects are nice, easy, in front of TV or chatting with child type things

I'm making some adjustable bracelets for an upcoming event. Here are pics of a few. It's late and the lighting is terrible, but you get the idea I might re-do the Celtic basketweave and make it little darker... Thanks again to Leatheroo for the help with the braiding style.

I started another one today, and the going has been much easier thanks to those last instructions. Thanks again! I'm hoping to make several of these for sale at the Radford University Highlanders Festival next month.

Ventilation? What's that? Oh...yeah...fumes....LOL! I haven't had decent ventilation in a workroom yet. At least here the door is right next to my desk and it has a screen door with it. That's a first. Used to be, I opened the door and all the bugs came in to visit.

I started on a kitchen table in our second apartment. The building's laundry room was below us, and one time when I was pounding away, a fellow came knocking to make sure I was okay...he thought someone was being hurt. But hey, at least he was kind enough to check things out!

This is my experience: My preference is Tandy's antique stain (the liquid). When your project is done and dry, apply the stain by pouring it on a cloth or sheepwool scrap, then rub it on the project. Apply generously. Wait about 5 minutes and rub the excess off. Sometimes, with basketweaving, I find it needs a little extra rubbed into the low parts of the stamping, after the first coat, to give it the best detail. Then rub gently. If you rub too hard, with that sort of stamping, you'll rub the excess right out of the crevices. Now, if it's regular tooling/carving, I find it's not so hard to keep it in the cracks... I've used the new saddle tan hi-liter they've got out, and it's pretty nice too. Sometimes, I just pour the stain right on the project and then rub it around with a damp sponge, but not all stains work well with that (some leave dark patches where the stain first hit) That's my .02

If you notice the bowl of water on the floor next to my chair....that is because the cat kept jumping on to my desk to drink from it!!! So in addition to clutter, I had to keep pushing her off. Finally I gave up and just put it down there. It was in use for diluting paints and such (I'd pour some from it onto my palette)

Lesson #1: make sure you have a cloth handy to cover him with when you change him! Ethan hit Tim the very first time, when he was getting "the lesson" in the hospital... I have the record of not having been peed on once! Speed baby speed...LOL! (He almost got me one time, when I had him on our changing table, but I quickly turned him to the wall...) I'm very happy for you, joking aside. I remember like it was yesterday when Ethan was born. I was induced too, as my blood pressure had skyrocketed. He was a month early, but still 8-1/2 lbs! They said had he been on time it would've been a c-section for sure.

A while back, in another group, it was asked how we prepare for a project. I mentioned that I cleaned off my workspace and got everything ready. Wellllll....that just hasn't been happening lately....it seems like stuff just keeps piling up on my desk and staining area. So I thought I'd take some pics and ask: what's the worst you've seen in YOUR shop? Mine is in the washroom part of our basement. The former owner had made a workshop in there, so it was perfect for me to set up in. The unfinished desk I brought with me from our old place, but everything else was here already. I'm in the midst of a few projects at once right now, as I prep for a big event next month. I've got roses being painted on my desk, and a piece being pressed under weight on the staining bench. Lovely way to press, huh? Marble with a buffing mitt under it, LOL! Then the project is under that. (It's a small wooden box with a leather top glued on)

I've always heard that it takes a certain amount of folks to get someone to come teach.

Actually, that helps ALOT! Thanks so much Here's the one I did make. I used wider lace on the wrapping, and a nice 'roo lace on the lacing. The band is 1". This was the one I made just by watching the video. Now I'm going to try another...

I'm having a bit of trouble with this project. 1. what width bracelet are you using? 2. what width lace for the wrapping? 3. what width for the lacing? Can anyone show me a closeup of the first few steps of the lacing? I've viewed 'Roo's wonderful video several times, and I still don't think I'm doing it right...

My husband is in the computer industry (database design/development). He has always been told that for interviewing, he should be clean shaven. Personally, I HATE it when he doesn't have a mustache, at least, and he usually has a goatee too. Once, he grew a full beard, but that wasn't too great looking on him, and he didn't like it anyway. One of my uncles, also in the corporate world, shave his beard/'stache for the first time in my whole life a few years ago when he'd been "downsized" and needed to start interviewing again. I think it can also be viewed as a generational thing: his great aunts thought his mustache was disgusting and were always on his case about it. We jokingly called it a "flavor savor". So I guess it's like folks are saying: depends on what you're hiring for.