HARVEY

Those of you who are sending/shipping commissions and/or gifts this holiday season, thru the Auto Club (AAA) UPS Store and FedEx are offering 5% shipping discounts for AAA members. I don't know the details so call your local UPS Store or FedEx store and ask them what the scoop is. I also read that UPS is planning a 4.5% increase in their rates next year. Any savings we can find for ourselves puts us that much ahead. I don't know if this is a nationwide offer or not. If you Google it, do "AAA UPS" discount, it didn't come up on the normal AAA page. Harvey Los Angeles

Count me in on admiring that fine lettering. So, two questions; a) since I'm here in L.A. and you're in Van Nuys, do you have a commercial business where I might swing by, or are you out of your home, and, where'd you pick up that handy-dandy little stencil cutter? Joann's? Michael's? I'd like to look into it. Thanks! Harvey

Hi, Clay. It's good to know he listened; the shame of it is the begging and pleading part. A LOT of us have suggested things over the years now that Bill Reis turned over the keys to Dave, seemingly always to deaf ears. There's a LOT of frustration out there in LCSJ-land. The LCSJ is a magazine that could be lot better. You know the saying, Clay: you don't have to be sick to get better. Did you see the most recent cover? I'm not sure figure-carving is Jesse's forte, and speaking just for myself, I don't believe that particular carving was cover-quality work. One friend said the pictured cowpuncher looked like Hermann Munster with a squashed hat. Oh, well . . . Just last night I saw the on-line classes last. Right you are: OUCH!, some of those classes are pricey. I may instead save my $$$ for the tools and the restaurant reverie afterwards! Harvey

Shucks, Clay, I can think of a bunch of items to share about you: 1) Out there in them No. Dakota Badlands, remote as you are, when no one's looking you practice ballet; 2) You're a closet member of PETA; 3) You ARE out there in the Badlands thanks to the Witness Relocation Program; 4) In the last election you voted for Dan Quayle on a write-in ballot. (As a friend of mine always groans, "With friends like these, who needs enemies.") Keep smilin'. Harvey Los Angeles

I share with many others a natural "ugh" to reptilian surfaces. Alligator, croc, snakes, eels, frogs, Komodo lizards . . . all YUCK!! Nonetheless, the wallets look good. And I notice the stitching looks uniform and clean. All in all, nice work. (Now ya gotta stick a dollar bill in each for good luck). Harvey Los Angeles

Yep, it has been my experience --- even from the days when I first began --- that leatherworkers have to be close to the most supportive people in the world. Aside from those toadies who praise absolutely everybody and every single project, most folks are supportive and constructively honest. You'll ALWAYS find somebody willing to help. It's a fine group of people here! Harvey Los Angeles

So this past Saturday I rec'd my postcard announcement for the Feb. 2010 SouthWest LeatherWorkers Show in Wickenburg. To anybody who's ever attended, you know it's generally a good time even if the classes scheduled are less than 100% organized in advance. Based on the LeatherCrafters Journal sponsorship of the show, I have some suggestions for new classes. But even I, alas, cannot come up with all the classes the public might like to have offered. (Yes, there's no satisfying the public). here are the classes I can think of. 1) Carving Successful Covers for the LCSJ; 2) Writing Inspiring Articles for the LCSJ; 3) All You Ever Wanted to Know About Sewing Machines, from A-to-B; 4) Designing Your Own Floral Patterns the Ray Charles Way; 5) Successful Restoration of Porter Key Fobs; 6) The 9-1-1 Method of Using Splitters and Head Knives; 7) Visalia Style Kleenex Boxes. Pray tell, what classes am I overlooking? Harvey Los Angeles

Clay, Congratulations!! I never doubted you for a minute! Harvey Los Angeles

Hi, Sal. You're going to get reasons and opinions and yeas and nays. But I think what the bottom line answer would be is: invest (or borrow if you can) 3-4-5 tools in the categories you would use most: basketweaves, camos, bevelers, whatever. If you can afford it, I'd say to you invest a hundred bucks in 2-3-4 tools and see how they feel and perform. Here online we can advise you from daybreak to sunset, but there's no substitute for trying them out yourself, in hand. Good luck. Harvey Los Angeles

Brandon, Add me to the list of folks that use it. But only for patterns I will do more than once. Yes, it IS pricey. Also check Office Depot, even if online. I saw a pack for $33.00. The type I use is 3MCG600 and it works just fine. Again, I agree it IS pricey, but the ease of using it saves HOURS in tracing, the sheets ARE reuseable, and the overall convenience of it can't be beat. And as someone else said, one pack is gonna last you a LONG time. P.S.: If you want a "cheap" way to get it . . . Xmas is comin' up. You might put that on your "wants" list. I'm a hard guy to buy presents for, and folks that do ask me what I'd like appreciate when I say "Here's a list of 5 different things I would like." (Usually it's leather stuff.) It sure makes easier shopping for them. Good luck. Harvey Los Angeles

Lot of interesting work there, and well done. I particularly like how you did the feet and the sandals. Good detail work. Harvey

Political symbols: Elephant and Ass (or pachyderm and donkey).

David, As an amateur wordsmith, I gotta ask you: breaking something in is called "breaking the bone?" If, not what the heck does that mean? And where (oh, where) does that come from?? Thanks. Harvey Los Angeles

Count me in; NICE filigree. And the more I look at the painted portion of the horses, the more I like it. Let's see more! Harvey Los Angeles

Quite elegant looking. What kind of blade are you using? Harvey Los Angeles

Your control of that serpentine meander really looks good. Nice consistent equal spacing: I'm impressed. I also like your use of the mulefoot; not too many or excessive. Just enough for good accenting. I don't know if it's the finish or the photography, but the pear shader impressions on the leaves look a little shallow. Maybe needs a heavier hit with a heavier maul, or maybe just the photo. And the backgrounding (again, maybe it's the photo) looks a little uneven. But it is one, good-lookin' piece of work. Harvey Los Angeles

Aah, you guys are ALL amateurs until you get one from the Delta Quadrant ! Harvey

Steve, Thanks. I guess I wasn't clear enough. I am an experienced tool buyer. I know who most of the current toolmakers. The two above can't help. Again, I think a CNC machine may be necessary. Perhaps the question is: who are the tool makers that use CNC technology? Harvey

I want to get a custom basketweave stamp made. It would have a figure on it, an Indian head. I suppose a CNC machine would be needed. I actually ordered this a couple years ago from a custom tool maker in Wyoming, but I've given up waiting. Anybody know of any toolmakers I might contact? I saw Gore is still making tools, which surprised me. But can they do CNC work? Does Wayne Juschke do this? Anybody else? Any recommendations, please? Thanks! Harvey Los Angeles

N-i-c-e work!! Yessir! As for the edges, you have all kinds of options: a) here on LW.net, do a search for Bob Park. He has superb edges and details step-by-step how to do them. Of course, living in Sheridan, you have all kinds of resources. Try contacting Chan Geer, Barry King, Chester hape, Bill Gardner. Chan is one heck of a nice guy and a great teacher. Good luck! Harvey Los Angeles

Clean, simple and snazzy looking. Looks like you haven't lost your touch. Harvey L.A.

I hope he receives his long-overdue honor and respect. It seems people have FINALLY learned when it comes to war, if you disagree with it, you dump on the government, not the soldiers. Yes, you are right . . . lest we forget. Harvey Lutske 82d Abn, `68-69

Thanks, Guys, for the input. Please understand I'm not trying to argue with anyone's experience(s) here. But when I read different places sell the same thing with an $800 spread, AND knowing the lower asking price party ain't losing any money for what he's asking, I just KNOW there's a profit margin in there. I have no idea whether a gallery owner would cut his own profit to move a piece, or go back and negotiate with the artist. I just don't know. But I DO think that if a piece is sitting in a gallery for a couple of years and hasn't budged, then reasonably and logically (Mr. Spock here), you'd think somebody would be willing to give a little leeway. Aside from things that don't have an economic price on them -- honor, integrity, etc. -- most everything has some negotiable room. I don't want to cheat anyone, but most of us I surely believe do horsetrade from time to time. Thanks again. Guys! Harvey

Does anybody know the general range of profit between what an art gallery asks and what the artist wants?? I have no problems with galleries making a profit, that's what they're in business for. But I'm also not related to Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. I saw a sculpture I like in a western art gallery, and since everything's negotiable, I'm wondering if anyone knows what the general rule-of-thumb is for profit margin, if there is one. I am not trying to put the art dealer out-of-business, but I'd like to save myself a few bucks, too. Is the profit spread greater if an object is $10,000 versus $2,000? Or do galleries try to get the same percentage profit regardless of the amount asked? Anybody know anything about this? Thanks! Harvey Los Angeles

With all this being said, maybe some kind soul can list 2-3 machines in different categories for those of us that still kill the animal and use sinew. What machines would you folks recommend for: Newbies, say 1-2 years experience; Intermediate leather people; OR For folks who do belts, notebooks, purses, small cases, etc., maybe up to 7-8oz. Or folks that do saddles, tack, industrial belts, and heavier leather weights. How about some categories of leatherwork with, say, 2-3 applicable/appropriate machines? Which are starter machines? What do you move up to from there? Harvey