Thanks for the nice welcome.
I'll let you know when I've got some skins ready Luke;
Great emoticons here, btw!
Yes those are tipi poles. I'm putting them to work! It is pretty tough to get much done when it's freezing out.. was wondering if the frost was going to bite me or whether I was going to bite it!
I have never been to any rondevous.. attended two voyageur encampments but never as one of the traders..maybe sometime in the future. There seem to be plenty of Powwows going on in MI as well, but I haven't been to any of those(yet). I think when I do I'll be prepared with a 16' lodge and all the right gear. "Historically correct".. this may take awhile! Seems more like the ones who do go regularly to trade at these events are going more as hobby then tradespersons! I've got a pretty good location here at my home for tourists coming 'up North' so this is my goal. I just figure I will need a lot of items to sell and I don't wish to go in hock to do it! Working on my own business plan and it's slow when all this 'stuff' seems to be more labor of love. The sewing machines and being a non-purist has it's tempting moments with this leather, for sure! It does seem a shame to go to all the trouble of making braintan leather only to stitch some things up by machine!