wildrose

That is really beautiful! I love the "wood" look especially.

Here is the list as it currently stands. I'll keep taking names 'til May 1. For "newcomers", the idea is to send a leather related item to the name after you on the list. It started out as something you make, in "your style" that you think the recipient would enjoy. I know that some folks actually also sent tools. You can check the other Pay It Forward post to see results of the first "round". The last name on the list sends to the first name. We will probably not run this again for a few months...so jump in if you're interested! Updated List: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn Ian RDB Froghunter Tammy/TCLeathercraft Regis Billy P. Tazzman/Michael Tully Timd1159 broncobuster ferret Pip

I was going to suggest Ohio Travel Bag myself. Tandy has started carrying some nicer clasps, but that one's always been hard for me to find - and I've had to a few times for Rennie friends.

While ceramics do run you the risk of breaking if you drop them, and I wasn't thrilled with the beader ceramic I have, I would overall recommend them. Like Timd1159, my experience with steel was not the greatest (I'm also terrible at sharpening), and I have rarely gone back after using ceramic.

I feel for you with the dye-carpet job. I have messed up the tops of every washer/dryer we've had since I used them primarily as staining "tables"... As to a carrying case: I found a really nice little soft sided craft bag in Michael's, which I used for carrying smaller (4oz) bottles in, along with daubers, gloves, and rags, for classes I was teaching. Here at home, I keep all my dyes and stains on a shelf, generally in alphabetic order. Though the brown shades (i.e. mahogany, saddle tan, tan, etc) I tend to keep separate as I use them more often. I too have had leak problems: during our recent move, a bottle of purple shifted onto its side in its packing container (which thank God was plastic!) and leaked everywhere. Now it is difficult to read the labels of the other colors that were in with it!

At approximately 3 pm today, I was at the Sheetz station in Christiansburg, VA, with my 1966 Ford Mustang. I came to put air in the tires. When I noticed the air pump had a customer at it, I decided to top off my tank with fuel. Because it was built as a leaded gas car, I have been told to only put the highest grade gasoline in it. While this is expensive (approx 3.60/gallon), I felt that needing only slightly more than 1/2 tank would not be too high a cost. After swiping my Visa credit card, I began pumping the gas. A fellow customer was admiring my car, so I was talking to him when another customer who had approached to look noticed that the fuel had not shut off automatically and was instead flowing out all over the ground. I rushed to stop it, and put the hose back on the pump. Doing so of course got fuel all over me. I wiped the car off as best I could, and unloaded my 3 yr old sick child from the car to bring him inside so I could clean myself off. We had just come from the doctor where he’d been diagnosed with strep throat. Now, what should have been a quick stop for air was going to take A LOT longer. I went inside, told an employee, and went to clean up. When I went back outside, the employee was gently cleaning off my car to the best of his ability. However, we could see it was still dripping gasoline out of the rear (where Mustangs famously have their fuel tanks). I took off the cap and more fuel spilled out. I expressed my displeasure over the mess and the cost to him, and he asked if I wanted to speak with a manager. I told him yes. I brought my son back inside to clean up once again. Then I went back out to put air in the tires. After filling all four tires, the manager had still not come to speak with us, so I was forced to go back inside. Finally, she came over and I explained the situation entirely to her. She said there was no way to issue any sort of refund, as there was no way to gauge how much fuel had spilled. (BTW, the bill was over 35.00 and it was supposedly over 9 gallons) Not only was there gas all over me, the ground and my car, I know from experience that it will also flow out in my garage at home as the car sits and the heat causes the gas to expand. I was very upset over this. I suggested she at least offer my son a drink for our trouble. She said that would be fine. I said to him “Let’s go pick a juice for you buddy” and she said no, it would have to be a fountain drink. I said “do you have anything non-carbonated?” and she said “ummm…we do have Sierra Mist” HELLO???? Since when is Sierra Mist non-carbonated. This is a 3 yr old, and he won’t drink soda, and you’re telling me that you won’t even cover the cost of a small juice of some sort for all our troubles? All I can say is that it was a lucky thing my son was at my side or they would have heard a lot worse out of me on how unhappy I was at that point. As it is, I am never going to a Sheetz again, unless they somehow can remedy this situation.

You're luck to be near the top, no chance of changing who's "got you"...Pip has to wait to see who might be the next name, or if it's me...

No problem Myriam! My thought in doing another on the heels of the first was to bring in anyone who didn't get a chance the first time...then I think we should probably wait a bit before doing another. Updated List: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn Ian RDB Froghunter Tammy/TCLeathercraft Regis Billy P. Tazzman/Michael Tully Timd1159 broncobuster ferret Wolfenstien Pip

I think we'll take names 'til May 1, does that sound good? Gives folks a chance to wander by and sign up, and not too close to the first one.

In this same topic (Special Events, Contests, and Classes), there is a thread for PIF (Pay It Forward) pictures. I've noticed some posting here, some there, and Cecil's own thread up TWICE, so it's kinda scattered around. I tried (as a moderator) to combine things, but I couldn't figure it out, even after it was explained to me. Originally, Johanna said to send them to her. ps Cecil sent me previews of that Lincoln pic and it sure is great work!

Let us know how it works for you. I was really anxious about "trying something new" but I figured if it worked for Jim it mustn't be bad

I started using Quickbooks when I was the treasurer of a certain not to be named guild. Then I started using it for my own business. While it is pricey, I find it to be really good and easy to use. I like the different reports, graphs and charts it can do, and there is ALOT more to it than I used myself.

I also use it to apply Aussie Wax - that was the first thing I did with it. But when I saw Jim at a class using it to apply dyes, I thought I'd try it. You basically cut off all the excess, as much as you can, almost down to the skin level. Do you know the scraps I'm talking about, that they sell in bags full? I don't know as it's true sheeps wool, or synthetic, but I chop it into 1-2" squares and then cut off the excess wool from there.

I have had pieces I absolutely adored come with me from fair to fair and not sell for years. Then there were others I thought were awful, that sold right off. The old saying is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all. Plus, as the artist, you know every flaw that is in the piece. That is the hard part to get past. About 10 yrs ago, when my best friend and fellow leather artisan invited me to share a booth at a Renaissance Festival, that was when I felt perhaps my work was good enough - that is, if it was good enough to sell, and for people to BUY, there must be something to it!

I used to only use daubers - even on huge projects. For the Tandy Antique stains, I used a damp sponge. However, I recently got up the nerve to try what I've seen Jim Linnell do: use a scrap of sheeps wool, like Tandy sells in bags. Trim off the excess wool, and you're good to go. It works great and is less "streaky".

Thanks for the praise

Updated List: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn Ian RDB Froghunter Tammy/TCLeathercraft Regis Billy P. Tazzman/Michael Tully Timd1159 broncobuster ferret Wolfenstien We'll miss you Kani, but totally understand how things can come up!

I'm totally in love with that notebook!

Update: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn Ian RDB Froghunter Tammy/TCLeathercraft Regis Billy P. Tazzman/Michael Tully Kani The list is growing steadily...

Updated list: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn Ian RDB Froghunter Tammy/TCLeathercraft Regis Billy P. We'll talk about when to start making/sending stuff out after we give folks a little more time to sign on this round. I think some are still seeing the original post and thinking "hmm, sounds like fun!"

Updated list: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn Ian RDB Froghunter Tammy/TCLeathercraft I've not set any deadlines yet...didn't want to do it TOO soon as some folks are still doing pieces and receiving things from the first go 'round. So I figure we'll take names for a week or two yet at the least. Once the list is done, what you do is send an item you've made to the next person on the list following your name; the person last on the list then sends to the first person on it (in this case, me)

Okay, here's the list so far: Holly/Wild Rose Mike D/TwinOaks Jammon William Vaughn (I pulled his name from the other PIF posts as someone interested)

Hooray! Now I'm even more anxious! And I've started a new topic for the next go 'round...so anyone interested, check it out.

Well, you all have me beat, because I don't see a pic at all...

We're about 3.30 USD/gallon here in Radford, VA, but it does vary wildly. We were in Roanoke this morning and it's only 3.11 there (ONLY! aargh!). Too bad it's just too far to go in a regular trip for gas, or that's where we'd fill up! Some members of my family work for companies that are trying to produce an alternative fuel of hydrogen. I think the problem with that or any alternative fuel is that the gov's all over the world are too entrenched in the use of oil and whose pockets it lines.