Ian

I don't know why I thought of this today, but... A few years back a friend called me and told me that a local saddlemaker had died and his shop was pretty much abandoned. I found out the landlord's name and gave him a call about possibly buying some of the equipment. The shop was beautiful - well laid out with primo tools and equipment. The sadddest part was that this guy was only 50 and died of a heart attack. His work was laid out on the bench just like he was expecting to come back in the next day- some pieces tooled, others cased and covered in plastic for the next day's tooling. His family from whom he had been estranged had already come by and taken his display saddles but had left the rest for the landlord to dispose of. Unfortunately my offer was bettered by someone else. It really got me thinking how temporary life is. All our plans and excitement about this or that project or event may be just plans if we don't sieze the moment and take every day like it's our last. Now, I'm talking a walk down to the local diner for breakfast, and when I get back I'm getting going on a saddlebag I've been putting off - who knows...

Beautiful Fantastic stitching, I'd have to echo Hilborne's statement

Thanks Ian

Is the standard keyhole (button hole) punch the correct hole size for a guitar strap? Thanks Ian

Tammy, my experience was similar. After working from my home shop for a few years, I took the plunge and opened a retail store combined with my shop. My investment was considerable (for me) outfitting the store with fixtures, stocking merchandise(I sold other leathergoods besides mine) and building and stocking the repair part of the business. I started with very few customers, but quickly built through word of mouth. However, I came to realise that I needed to make and sell a hefty amount of stuff just to cover expenses. There is a certain resentment that develops when you see so many of the items you spend countless hours making going out the door strictly to cover expenses. For myself, being in the motorcycle business, there is a definite season too. So almost as soon as the riding season ends, the business drops to zero until spring fever comes again. I closed my store in January and am once again working out of the house. But, it doesn't compare with the nice storefront and big workshop I had. And, the daily interaction with all the people that stop by for a chat was a great experience. I'm looking for a new space with lower overhead, with the goal of my grand opening early next year. Despite the big cash I was out at the end of the whole episode, I highly recommend giving it a go. I learned a million things having the store and having a dedicated time to work was great too. Be sure to get set up with a credit card company - it's almost a must. Spend your advertising dollars wisely (a lot of advertising is just money wasted) There are a lot of free advertising posibilities Don't forget to set your sales tax $ aside Buy all your supplies from wholesalers and resell them to your students at the common retail price (you'd be amazed at the mark-up) Anyway, best wishes on your exciting adventure! Ian

Ooops, here it is http://www.eleatherworks.com/downloads/schmetz_page_97.pdf

Here's a link to a list of suggested needle/thread combos Ian

That's really nice. Just to let you know, Weaver sell the wooden stirrups for $13-$18 a pair. The plastic ones are around 10 a pair, so it's not a huge difference. I'm trying to figure out where you ran the cord. Hmm...

Thanks Nick and L'Bum, I'll check those out

I'm working on a guitar strap at the moment - I'd like to run a bead of piping around the edge and buckstitch around the piping with silver. I dont want to resort to using silver vinyl lace, so I'm looking for some ready made silver leather lace. Any ideas? Thanks Much Ian

Funny, I was just reading a post this morning about using a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of lexol and dye. I had been thinning with alcohol, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The dye went on beautiful and very even, but I notice that when the leather is flexed it has a 'pull up' effect (lightens where it is is bent). So, I'm thinking I'll stick with my old way of dyeing and then oiling.

For small items I have had decent luck edging the top on front and back, glueing the top to a larger piece of backing leather, cut the backing along the edges then burnishing in the appropriate groove on the burnisher (gets a good bond and forms the lining leather to the rounded edge), then finish with edge paint, then top stitch. I think the bond would hold for a small item like a watchband

David - awesome work - there's a few hours in that braiding for sure. BTW, is that color saddletan?

Bill, I have used leather (the backs of the burgundy bags are leather) The backs of the other ones are rubber - actually I cut them from the largest size of poundo boards. Now that they've changed the type of rubber they use, I'm not sure what I'll do once my supply runs out. I've been to quite a few rubber suppliers and they can't identify what kind of rubber that is. I have also used ABS plastic, but I don't like the way it stitches. One reason I don't use leather much is that it takes a full side of leather to make a set of bags, and I hate cutting into a second side to put on the back. Really cuts into the profit margin. If anyone has a source for hard rubber about 1/8 - 3/16 thick, I'd love to know it.

Here's another for you http://www.baasmetalcraft.com/index.html

Hi Ryan, The black bags are all 10/11oz bridle from Hermann

Thanks Tom, they are burgundy latigo - the color was actually nicer in person Shirley, was checking out your site. Awesome work. The sheridan tooled seats are really beautiful. I noticed how similar our spiderweb seats are. Great minds think alike

A few sets of bags I made last summer

Looks real nice. Frog, what's the tab on the front for?

Oops, my bad, I was thinking of the loops on page 38 of the newest catalog. They look very similar, but don't swivel. By the way, why do you need them to swivel? If there's a swivel on the leash, you could use a fixed loop. The ring holders on pg 125 of the Weaver catalog would work well for that style of collar too.

I'm always fascinated with the various paths people's lives take them. Some of us are just not meant to follow a pre-prescribed path, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Dallas, thanks for the interesting intro. Isn't life grand? Post some pics when you get the chance. Ian

Ohio Travel Bag has those

When you're painting the background (black background on tan) on a sheridan carving, how do you keep the black from getting onto the raised area when you apply the finish? I don't like any of the spray can finishes and usually use Bag Cote or Leather Balm applied with a small scrap of towel. Thanks Ian