Crystal

Interesting question, Ray. I haven't given any thought to it. Right now it would end up coming from Douglas Adams: "Mostly Harmless" Crystal

That's looking good, Brent! I like your tree! Good design doodle on that! And how lucky to get to take a class with Jim Linnell! Crystal

Thanks Josh, Bob, boB, Kathy and Tom! I really appreciate all the kind feedback! I was thinking earlier today that April '08 was around the time I did my first carving and posted it on here. I went back and looked - and I got this one finished a few days later than that original post. What a change in a year! I have to thank everyone here for 99% of everything I know - I'd have never had done it without all of you! Crystal

Very nice, Marlon! I am also a fan of your stitching and the handles look great! Your carving design has a nice mix of contemporary and traditional style to it. Crystal

Clay also has the swan tutorial and other tutorials on his website: http://badlandsleatherart.com/swan%20lesson.html Crystal

Thanks, TF. This is the link for the painting: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=15087 And this one if for the carving: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=15772 Crystal

Thanks, Tina! I'm surprised that it came out as well as it did. I'm pretty happy with it. Crystal

Finally- All done! The coloring tutorial worked as well as the carving instructions. I didn't use quite the same colors as Clay did, but did use what I had in the same way. The white was difficult to get the way I wanted and I needed to go over it a few times. I didn't use the blue for shadowing, I used gray instead and ended up adding a little bit of tan to it. I need to get a sealer on it, yet. Thanks Clay!!! Crystal

Beautiful, Steve! I sure hope that isn't going on a short horse! Crystal

Thanks Johnny! Yes this is larger than usual - it's huge! Pattern is about 10" or so. I might get used to this - not quite as much squinting needed with this size. Crystal

An equally well done side, Kathy! I'm glad I didn't hold you up in the chat room all day! Still cannot wait to see this all together! Crystal

Thank you, Ian. I have those lists...I seem to have the same names on both. Crystal Thank you, Bob. I figured out how to grind metal - watch out now! (Hubby is running to lock up the tool box.) Crystal

Another one I just love, Tina! You are the queen of details! I really like how you did the trees on this. Crystal

Thanks, everyone! I really enjoyed this and hope others give it a try. It's hard to go wrong with step by step instructions. Clay- I haven't gotten over the feather phobia yet - I still haven't gone at them with a scalpel. Then there is that "hair" thing and add embossing to this list.... painting.... There are a few things that I did that I shouldn't have - tried some other things and got lucky. Still so much to learn. Thanks for taking the time to help me out and for getting the ball rolling on this to begin with. If you hadn't jumped in and done the write up I'd still be looking at this on a piece of paper! Crystal

Very nice, Ray! I like them all! The color is very rich looking and I really like that border design. You need to show off some things more often! Crystal

Thanks, Bob and Tina! It was a lot of fun to work on. Crystal

Hi All- ClayB did such a nice write up on the swan that he did, I had to give it a try. All the instructions worked! I wasn't brave enough to lift the feathers like he did. I'll try that another time. I haven't colored it yet - (that's the next lesson I'll try to follow). Thanks, Clay!! Crystal

Wow- Kathy! I wouldn't have ever thought of using white on that - it came out beautiful! The yaks are easy - they seem to all be coming out black..... Crystal

Ray- I've had the same thoughts on the tissue paper. I've bought some clothing from a few stores that carefully wrap up your purchases in tissue paper before they put them in a nice paper shopping bag with handles. Somehow, as a buyer, I get a good feeling about coming home and then unwrapping it. Seems like a present. I haven't spent any more money than I would have at Waly-World, where they just dump everything into a plastic bag, but I don't have the same good feeling coming home and taking those things out of the plastic bags. Color of the tissue paper? I don't think that really matters as long as you use the same color all the time. Make it like a brand mark. I loved TomSwede's keyfob with his maker's stamp on it. I think that is a brilliant idea to include that as a tag. Maybe make it up as a keyfob for higher end items? I like what you are doing with the cloth bags for your other goods. It's that little something extra that I think says that if you are putting that much effort into the packaging, you must be taking the extra effort with the items you produce. All that said- I go back to "You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear." If the quality of the work isn't there - other than wrapping it in gold, I don't think the packaging is going to matter much at all. I made a holster a little while ago - first one. It came out okay - had lots that I wasn't happy with. I showed it to my farrier the other week. He loved it. He pulled out a manufactured holster he had that he bought from a store. Mine was nicer than that one, but not as good as most shown on here. Does that make my holster "well finished". Not to me, it was better than that one but not at a level where I think my work should be. Ultimately I think customers decide what "Well Finished" is. Crystal

Hey Tom- Very classy looking case! I have to ditto everyone's comments about the key fob, very sharp! And of course, as always, the lacing is beautiful! Crystal

Very nice! I just found their website a few days ago. http://www.catskill-moc.com/ Nice to hear they feel as good as they look! Crystal

That's a sharp looking purse, Josh! I'm jealous, I haven't even made one yet...That color should match all of your boots. Another good job! Crystal

That is a beautiful job, Ed! Crystal

Very Nice, Josh! I like everything on those. Crystal

I just gave it a try and it was a no-go for me, too. Crystal