Ladybug

Thanks Luke I may go for the wrist bands. i can have them finished pretty much ahead of time. Hammers and a hard surface will be my biggest problem. So guess they will just have to take turns. JoAnn

Hey Storm Thanks so much for the directions and pattern for you key fob. You posted it at just the right time. I have been ask to have a small class in leather work at a local middle school. I've been racking my pea brain for something the kids could make. The teacher only wants me to bring knife sheaths and gun holsters to show and explain how to make but i think that would be very boring for this age group. Something they can make and take would be more impressive i believe. Any ideas on something else they might be interested in making? I only have an hour class to fill. Thanks JoAnn/Ladybug

Hi Did you get any answers to your questions about making a cowboy holster? If so and you have one made i'd like to see a pic or 2. JoAnn aka Ladybug

Tom That is one cool hat.... and hope you don't mind my saying so but it deffinately looks like your style. JoAnn

That is one great hat. I smiled at that one for sure. I also would love the pattern when you are set and ready to pass it on I have a friend would just love something like that. You did a great job on it. JoAnn

Small World... i love to have lunch at Mings in Lake Mills And.. maybe we've seen each other cause i just happen to work in that walmart store!!! You really put in the hours girl... hope about 1/2 those hours are spent working leather. JoAnn

I've bought from LU several times.. they used to have some really nice almost white leather. Never let you into the back room as you stated. They would bring out as many hides as you liked to look at. They seem to have changed suppliers. Last time i visited the store they didn't have as nice leather. In the past they even had scraps you could buy or small quantities, but they don't offer that anymore. If you buy from them buy their top quality. I'm impress ... how did you manage to find them?? LOL Next time you head down this direction maybe we could get together and talk leather. I'm in Watertown, WI JoAnn

Hi I was having trouble with my IE8 also, but found that i had to delete a program that took care of my cookies... it was a download.. What i now have to do is each nite when i shut down go to my control panel, internet options and when internet properties opens be sure the general tab is the one that opens. Click delete and another window will open.. be sure that there is a check in Personal Favorites, temp internet files, cookies and history... click delete at the bottom of that page... then either do a reboot or just turn off your pc... Next time you turn your pc on it will take quite awhile for your home page to open... could be up to 5 minutes, but then everything moves fast again. Also don't forget once a month to do a defrag. Hope this helps... i know it's a real pain to wait so long when you turn on your pc to get it up and running each time, but with IE8 that's the best way to run. Ladybug/JoAnn

This knife appears to be too handle heavy to be held in a sheath without covering part of the handle or using some kind of retaining strap. The only thing i can think of is to find out if it's steel or stainless steel. If it's steel you could use a magnet, but to do that you will need to put a liner in the sheath to protect the blade from becoming scratched. Maybe some of the knifemakers/sheath makers will have a better idea. JoAnn

Budd It will be much easier for everyone to give suggestions or ideas if we could see what the knife looks like. Any chance you can post a pic of the knife?? JoAnn

Great job and very artistic Tina.. I have one for empty shells when i do cowboy shooting... What are the dementions on this piece?? JoAnn

I also agree with the egg eye harness needles. I always bought tapestry needles, but they broke all the time or bent so bad you could sew in circles with them. The egg eyes are much more course and don't hardly ever bend. They are much more difficult to thread. I'll have to give the tapering a try. Thanks for the great idea. JoAnn

Marlon Did you say you think cost of a Main awl is approximately $38?? And how often do you need to sharpen.. That is my biggest problem with this leather work.. I don't do so great sharpening my tools Thanks JoAnn

That is a nice looking holster Your stitching is so nice and even, and I like that you did back stitch at pressure points..I try to do that also. Most of my work is in sheaths but I'm making more holsters. I have a couple samples on show tables when I go to gun shows. I have to try to use my cowboy guns for fit for the samples I have on the table, or I borrow a friends guns. I do have one air pellet gun i'm going to use as a pattern for a pancake holster, but it may be too big. My real gun has a site on so i can't use it for a pattern. JoAnn

Hi Guys At a gun show a couple weeks ago I was talking with one of the leaders of the local NRA. It seems the gun they have chosen for the "Gun of the Year" is the Ruger New Vaqueros.. They have a pair to give away at the raffle at this springs banquet. To make a long story short... before he finished talking it seems I had somehow managed to volunteer to make holsters for them. Now, I have made holsters before. I made mine and a friends for our SASS gear. I have never lined a holster so I'd like to know what your opinion on lining is. Also can you give me any ideas and help in this project??? Sorry if I stole this thread... but I need help JoAnn

That is one beautiful seat !!! Man You have talent JoAnn

what is the site for itsy? not sure how to spell

Great Job on both projects! What a clever idea on the briefcase. Never would have thought to do something like that... just shows what one can do when you think outside the box JoAnn

Hi, USMC dye is not a very good dye... it's not a true black. I only use Fiebings Black Oil dye.. I made the mistake at one time buying USMC, the bottle is still sitting in a dark corner. Ladybug/JoAnn

I also tried a couple days ago and got an error message. Guess we just keep trying. Ladybug

I also have been looking for something like this. I mostly make knife sheaths for knifemakers.. I've been in the annual Knife Book four times including the new 2009 issue. I have also been featured in Blade Magazine. I do make gun holsters and shell holders for cowboy action shooters (I shoot SASS) Most of the work I do at this time is custom, but I do go to knife and gun shows and lay my product on a table for sale. Ladybug

Try Walmart craft department for your magnets. They sell round in couple sizes and also couple widths by the roll. I bought a roll cause I had to make a couple neck sheaths for miniture knives. They are easy to work with and can be cut to fit with just a pair of shears. JoAnn

You did an absolutely beautiful job... just beautiful

Hi Shorts That is a terrible piece of leather. You will have a lot of waste with that piece. I'd return it if it was shipped to me. There are lots of leather suppliers out there so no need to accept poor quality leather. Last week i received 3 shoulders i had ordered from Siegel of CA and was very pleased with them as well as the price, they were on sale for $2.99 sq. Most often i drive to my local Tandy store and hand pick what i need. Ladybug

I've been working with leather a few years and don't have a clue what anyone is talking about when they say spirit dyes. I use Fiebings oil dyes and stains. To get a two tone line the ones posted here i use a small paint brush and coat the area I want to be lighter than the rest with 5 or 6 light coats of leather sheen. Then I use a dobber to cover the entire surface with the darker stain or dye that I want to be the main color of my work. Then buff as usual and give it all a coat of one of the sheens I want, depending on the shine I want the finished product to have.