UKRay

Welcome to the Forum! There are several of us returning to leatherworking after a good few years away and its always nice to share stories. Do post some pictures of your work as soon as you can... we all like that!

Nice job RDB, clean design too, what color have you stained those beauties? Just a thought but would they benefit from a retaining loop and snap? I'd personally be a little worried my expensive and much loved Zippo was going to jump out... Would it be worth thinking about combining the belt slide with the retaining strap - one piece of leather to wrap around the whole thing or better still, just taper and extend the back over the top of the lighter and fit a snap to the end. Just about the same time to manufacture and fractionally more material but, IMHO, a more secure product. The hole at the base is a great idea and I'm already planning to incorporate it into a moulded guitar tuner pouch I make. Its really difficult to get the tuner out of the case as it is a tight push fit and this would solve the problem I like the clip idea, very neat, but I haven't had much luck with clips in the past - I keep losing 'em! I'd rather have something that slotted securely into place and stayed there!

Those belts look very fine indeed, I really like the arrowhead belts (and the 'fake snake' is superb) and will have to make a try at one of those tomorrow. In fact the whole display looks fine to me, your work is finished beautifully. What sells best?

Tom, I've just had a similar problem with a strange, almost invisible, greasy patch on the surface of the leather that I missed at first. I got around it by cleaning the whole tooled area with methylated spirit. I had already applied a bit of dye when I realised I had a problem but I cleaned up using a wool daub and neat meths and the rest of the job went okay. Now that could have been because the only bit that had guck on it was the bit that showed up and resisted the colour... either way, the cleanup worked and the dye went on easily after that. You will need to put something back into the leather if you use meths as it is pretty astringent stuff. Hope it works for you. Meths is cheap enough or you could always use vodka at a push!

Has anyone got a good way to display expensive bags on their stall? I have just been hanging them up but, given the advice received earlier in this thread, I'd like to bring them closer to the paying public. Like most people I can't afford to lose them so how do other people get around this? I don't want to chain them down... or do I?

I've never seen a performance quite like this before...

I also do the T-shirt/duster thing but I now use a quick squirt of Lexol for good measure. It gives a nice clean appearance to things and, according to the blurb, feeds the leather at the same time which can't be all bad. When making working harness I was taught to hammer all stitching flat so it doesn't get rubbed and worn and the habit persists. I think it looks neater but others don't agree and like to see decorative stitching sitting proud of the surface. I guess it is all down to preference and the way the item will be used. It would be interesting to hear how other people finish off their hand/machine stitching. A friend suggested that before I put something out for sale I should use a tiny drop of superglue on the snipped off 'tag ends' of my machine stititching to make sure nothing comes unravelled. That seemed like a good idea - does anyone else do this or something similar?

Has anyone got any tips on finishing off a piece of work? I don't just mean the leather finish, I'm talking about the way we need to clean up the back of the leather, tidy up loose ends of thread, give a final polish and prepare the item for sale. I am always keen to learn from someone else's experience! How do you finish off your work? What do you do to make it look 'extra' attractive so it sells easily?

Welcome, Django. If you want to drop me a PM I'll do my best to help with a list of UK suppliers. Cheers, Ray.

IMHO, my two cents would have to be spent on Skidmores - it does exactly what it says and waterproofs better than anything else I have tried. It isn't expensive and is made from good natural materials. Well worth a try I think. They ship pretty well anywhere too.

Partially answering my own question, I have just ordered (wholesale) some good quality polishing cloths, one of which I will reserve for wiping silly grins off those with a mucky sense of humor! <grin!> The rest will go on sale with the leather cream. I have also commissioned some screen printed soft cotton bags to put my own leather bags in. I figured that if the big guys were getting premium prices by offering customers a little bit more 'class' then I ought to do it as well - we shall see if it works. The bags add slightly less than two dollars to my costs and, hopefully, about twenty dollars to my retail price... What else can I do to add value and make more money?

Droll, very droll... Having given your question an inappropriate amount of thought, I suggest we pass that particular curve ball to Drac?

Does anyone have a free information sheet or handout they give away with their leathergoods telling the new owner about leather and how to look after the product? The reason I ask is that I have occasionally had a complaint from a purchaser that a piece of leather is 'damaged' or 'flawed' - yes, you've guessed it, they are invariably talking about a scar or a bit of grain. They also ask how they are supposed to look after the item they have just purchased. I would be fairly certain almost everyone on this forum has had the same sort of conversations from time to time and I wondered if anyone else has felt the need to produce a guide to leather and leather care. I re-wrote mine today to take into account that I now sell those neat little jars of Skidmores Leather Cream alongside my work. My free 'Leather Guide', which accompanies every purchase, tells how leather is a natural material and needs to be looked after properly and I suggest Skidmores would do the job very nicely. Now, everytime I sell a bag or a belt I also tend to sell a cute little jar of leather cream and make a few extra pennies. The question is: what else could I be selling alongside my existing leathergoods to increase my profits? Anyone got any ideas?

One possibility that nobody has voiced is that the mother is feeling guilty for not supervising her kid whilst he carried out his task (lack of time, laziness, whatever - but I bet you would have checked once or twice that everything was okay) and is looking to shift the blame on to someone else... It is a whole lot easier to live with a mistake if someone else has made it. Just my opinion and worth precisely what you paid for it!

Anybody got any thoughts on which is the best one?

I use vinyl flooring too, Barra. I find that I can cut it really easily and it has enough 'substance' that patterns hang together for years. I have also used it to 'mock up' a couple of bigger projects. The softer stuff actually handles, stitches and hole punches much like leather and can be used to create a dummy of a finished article without much expense or hard work. I have even thonged and rivetted stuff together to get a better idea of shape and dimensions. Best of all, it is free if you ask the flooring guys for their out of date pattern books!

It sounds like every show has its own 'take' on the way history is presented - It isn't clear who, exactly, makes the rules? Do they generally have a panel of experienced historians or is this more an 'ad hoc' thing that relies on someone having read a few historic novels? I'm interested in your experiences with Living History groups, Ferret. It sounds like you have had a bad experience or two there. What happened? Very grateful for the 'heads up' about the big Ren. Fayres. Thanks Whinewine. They look fantastic but they may be a bit daunting for a 'first timer'. One of the websites says they have around 100 traders at their event - this suggests that the competition is very hot and prices are cut to the bone. Is this true? You also suggest that the quantity of merchandise sold at these events is enormous - can you elaborate a little please? Anyone got any experience of stock turnover / potential revenues? Can you tell me more about the smaller fayres please - how many traders usually attend and what do they sell? Having checked them out, I've added the URLs for the biggies you mentioned to make things easier for folk to follow: www.parenfaire.com www.medievalfaire.com Your info on the sort of products that sell is invaluable, Fishguy - many thanks. I'm interested that you say some traders make a significant amount of money - what makes them successful? Is it quality? Price? Volume sales? Are those who don't make much money just there for the fun? Michael, the costume issues are a concern for me as I don't know much about period costume and it seems such an integral part of these events. I would like to do things properly so has anyone got any advice for a beginner? What will 'pass muster'? What is to be avoided at all costs? What about period shoes - where can they be purchased - better still, does anyone have a medieval shoe pattern they would share? Thanks for all your help guys!

I was wondering if anyone could share their experience of selling at Renaissance/Medieval Fairs as I understand there are some pretty strict guidlines about authenticity. Does this apply to the products you sell as well as the tent you display them in? (some kind of Jury perhaps?). Hopefully we have one or two traders here who can help? Some idea what sort of tent is acceptable would help a lot and so would some guidelines of the sort of products that can be or are already sold. What sort of leathergoods can be purchased? I'd also be very interested to see some trader's stalls from this kind of event in the US and elsewhere to get an idea how you guys do it and how the stalls compare to those at events on this side of the pond - can anyone oblige with a picture or two? I have attached a few pics from a medieval event held here in the UK to give you an idea what I mean:

Many thanks for all the information about taking card payments - really useful. How do you all manage to keep track of your stock at events? Do you start out with a list of everything you take and check it off at the end of the day to see what has been sold - or do you just know what has gone and remember to make more when you get back to base? I have a fair sized pile of stuff developing right now and would like to stay on top of the stock control thing if I can - any suggestions?

I just tried letting the gum trag dry out before edge burnishing and I have to agree, it seems to work. It is a really messy substance though - (other than the Weaver Dye Box - thanks for that Bruce) is there a clean way of applying the stuff? Can it be thinned effectively? What would you thin it with? Has anyone used one of those Weaver edge slicking/sanding machines with gum trag? Another question: Has anyone ever used gum trag as a dye resist - in other words to block dye from reaching certain areas? I have read that it can block certain types/colours of dye - is this true?

This is one of the most beautiful leather carvings I have even seen. I just wish I had a fraction of your talent.

Roger made a good point when he said it can be used to smooth the rough backs on straps - I guess that means you can stick the fibres down with it. I couple of weeks ago I was working on a really 'hairy' chunk of belly leather and would have found that tip very useful (I wish I'd thought to try it!). Does anyone else use it on the back of leather? Do you just paint the stuff on with a wool dauber or use a brush or what?

Like many people on this forum I like trying new ideas and products but I sometimes feel that I haven't got the best from some of the older older stuff. Gum Trag is a good example. In recent years I have started to use it for slicking veg tan belt edges, just like many other people but, frankly, it doesn't seem appreciably better than plain old water. Before I get the lecture about hard work being the only way to burnish an edge, I ought to say I worked as a harness maker for years and firmly believe that a well-burnished edge should involve sweat - if not blood and tears. So why am I using this stuff? - Because the guy in the shop said I should - that's why! Has anyone got a better reason? Can you please share your ways of using Gum Trag so I can be sure I'm doing it right? Hey, we might find some new ways to use it and I can stop feeling like I'm wasting my money every time I buy another bottle. To start the ball rolling here is a link to the Wikipedia definition just so we are all on the same page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gum_tragacanth Are they serious? Cake decorating? Medicine? Artist's materials? There may be more to this than you think...

Classy looking stall, Wildrose! I'd really appreciate knowing a litle more about taking credit card payments as I can also see the time coming when people simply won't carry enough cash to make a purchase. Like Wildrose, I rely almost exclusively on cards and other folk will doubtless be the same but I hadn't given any thought as to how it would affect my sales. So what is the procedure? How do I get started? How much does it cost and are there any 'hidden' costs? What are the problems we face taking plastic instead of cash? Who actually loses when a card scam happens? This is all very worrying!

I didn't know what you meant by 'juried shows' Kate, and had to check out Google. I found the following URL that is very helpful and explains the craft show selection process: http://www.getcreativeshow.com/craft_sew_b...d-nonjuried.htm I hadn't given it any thought at all, but it is quite obvious when you read this.