Crystal

I think I know what you are saying, but I could be hearing what I want you to say which is totally different than what you are saying. Exactly!!! Crystal

I think it turned out great, Casey! After seeing your finished project, I want to throw out all those backgrounders I have. I really like how the tiles came out on the back, also. Everything looked spelled right to me! You don't need to spell check, you need the quote that hung in a customer service office I worked at eons ago. "I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant!" Great job! Crystal

Hey Josh! I can see you do work! What I want to know is when do you sleep? Lots of sewing there. I am really drawn to that sheath. Looks really neat. Won't show it to the hubby or he will be wanting that knife! Good job all around. Crystal

Love it, Tina! The snake skin is a really cool touch. Although - I probably wouldn't touch it. Give me a spider over a snake anyday - I am pretty sure I can take down a spider in a fair fight, don't think I could with a rattlesnake. Another beautiful project! I never get tired of seeing your work. Crystal

I think that there will probably be as many different needs/wants for a bag as there are women who use them. I have been mulling this for quite some time -I need a new bag and am refusing to buy another one when I can make my own. I bought a Coach bag at a "purse party" last September. I am sure that it was either a knock off or a line reject. There were a few construction flaws in the bag, missing a matching decorative piece, etc. It has fallen apart in less than a year. Zipper pull tab- gone. 2 construction rivets - gone. Inside fabric pockets - torn at seams (I stapled them back together). Bag straps- fraying at the edges. Strap keepers- coming apart where they were glued. All kinds of little things going bad, and I am not a bag abuser. If I had paid retail for a "genuine" bag (I don't know for sure that this one is genuine) I would be very dissapointed with them as a brand altogether. I have never met my "perfect bag" anywhere. I like a larger "tote" style, but cannot tolerate the "pit purses" that seem to be everywhere. (Those bags that have handles too long to carry in your hand and too short for over the shoulder without having them tucked clear into your arm pit. Forget having enough room for over the shoulder with a winter coat on.) I want over the shoulder straps, with enough room for winterwear, but not so long that it becomes a knee banger. I want those straps to be adjustable. It needs compartments and pockets. Outside and inside. Outside pockets for cell phone, pens, notes, shopping lists, sunglasses, keys.... Inside compartments to segregate all the little this and that's that I think I need. Everything from wallet to perfume. For me- this has to be a 3 compartment setup. There needs to be enough room inside for a bottle of water (I want a bottle holder in there) and everything else from a book to a file folder for documents. I don't care for zippers, especially zippers for the main closure on the bag itself. I want magnetic closures. Easy access - quick access. A zippered compartment on the inside, would do. I don't want it to weigh a ton - because I will pack enough stuff with me to give it some weight. So I will probably go with a leather outside and fabric inside. A detached fabric inside, so it can be turned inside out for cleaning. I want it to look like a million dollars, feel like a dream, and wear like Samsonite luggage. Now - if you were to ask my best friend what she wants in a bag, we're gonna get an entirely different list. She likes small.... very small - with zippers and built-ins for cash and cards and checkbook - no seperate wallet for her. She always puts her coins in a zippered pocket, she clips her cell phone and keys to her belt. She has a different purse for all occasions and changes out on a regualr basis. I don't like to fuss this much. I dump my change into the bottom of my bag and when it gets too heavy, I know it is time to dump out all those nickles and pennies. So - the quest to build the perfect bag is on. Don't think I will get it right frist time around, but I will get there someday. Crystal

Hi Casey - I did a quick search and found these. They are textile references, but may help a little. If I find anything else, I'll let you know. Plate # 14 on this one: http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/needlework/...ted-Part-3.html http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/needlework/...ted-Part-2.html I often think of Spanish style in ceramic tiles. Like here: http://www.arttile.com/ or here: http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780486417998 Crystal

Wow, Tom. Hope you get bored more often and post more items like this! Beautiful bag! Crystal

Wow, Tina! Lots of work on that one. Braiding, lacing and sewing. Not to mention all that carving. The frogs are adorable! (I am also a frog fan.) And I really like the way you incorporated the braiding and beads into the flap tie with the concho. And the pop of green for the liner is great. Excellent all around! Crystal

Thanks, Shorts! If it looks half as good as your belt at the end of a year with 1 percent of the wear, I'll be a happy camper. Crystal

Thank you, Kevin. Toss in your 2 cents anytime! (Good or bad.) Crystal

Thanks alot, Art! Crystal

Thank you, Tom! You just brightened up my day and motivated me to go back to the bench!! Crystal

Thanks alot, Johann! Crystal

Thanks, Kid! Crystal

Thanks for the information, Casey! It is very interesting to learn what collectors want, and the miniature guns are very interesting. I did a quick look online and found this site: http://miniaturefirearms.net/index.html I can't believe it, Miniature Gatling guns! Miniature rifles! I had no idea such things existed. I need to get out more... Thanks for the info! It lead to some interesting places! Crystal

Very nice, David! I really like how you shaded that font! Of course, the carving, dyeing and lacing is always high on my drool meter.... dang - gotta get the mop out now. Crystal

Very pretty, Pinkchaps! Glad to see you got the pictures uploaded, hopefully we will get to see more of your work. Nicely done. Crystal

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. I am very honored to have been asked to join such an outstanding team - everyone from the moderators to the ambassadors do such an amazing job here, I just hope to be able to contribute in some way. Leatherworker.net is an amazing place filled with skilled, talented, generous, members and I am very happy to be here and hope to be able to give back a little to a place that has given so much to me. Crystal

Casey - I just have to ask... are your miniature guns and ammo real? Was trying to think of what size casing you would need for a miniature belt then got to thinking about the guns that go with the belts.... Crystal

Hi Tom! Wow, don't know how I missed this. Nice write up. Thanks for taking the time to do this. This technique could definitely come in handy for some projects. Thanks! Crystal

Thanks, Bob. I saw that you got your new machine... I get into another one of these I may beg to come down for you to sew it for me...ahhh..,errrr... give me a demonstration. Crystal Thank you, Casey! I did the slots. I might try sewing next time instead. The slots worked well and seemed to line up pretty good. More accident than planning, I think. Crystal

Beautiful, Ed! I like the little curlie-q coming off the tip of that flower petal. Little touches like that really show how much thought goes into your pieces. Count me as one of your many fans! Crystal

Thank you, Bob! I am happy that the two-tone is looking good to everyone. I liked it, hubby didn't (he's a minimalist) -so I wasn't sure how it was going to look to others. Crystal

Thank you, Badger! Stitching around the holster slot is something I will do. I was having a problem with the holster flap fit the way I had originally made it. I finally fixed that problem so everything would fit thru the original slot - but until that point I was leaving some wiggle room to make the slot wider. I will use your suggestion for the back keeper next time. I didn't like the bulk either with that, and just couldn't think of another way to go with it. Thanks again! Crystal

Thanks, Mark. I appreciate you keeping me motivated! Crystal Thank you, Kenneth. For me the hardest part is just getting started, so go ahead and give it a try! Be sure to post it when you get it done! Crystal Thanks, MadMax! I wanted to do something decorative, but was a little intimidated to try to carve something that large. So I ended up playing with the dye. Crystal