Storm

Thanx Kate...More stuff on the granite as I write. After talking with Brent(Go2Tex) I am in the process of putting together some documentation on how we went from the classic acanthus and such to our more recent "Western Floral". You are right though there are so amny possibilties. I just got through modifying an A104-2 to a much smaller version for backgrounding the intricate pattern I am carving now. Wanted to se how small I could go for a wallet. I will be posting the test piece soon. Storm

I think you are very right in that respect. The interesting part is trying to trace back to exactly who started to stylize the acantha and the coiled fern leaf and so forth. I think that our familiar type of Floral Carving is not from the 1800's but from well into our mid 1900's. I have been looking at the early stone carvings and so forth for ideas. Something that would be more correctly called Classical Floral carving. Like some of the William Morris's work from 1875 England. He had really reifned the ebb and flow of Acanthus. The old Spanish stuff was very airy with a lot of dead space. I am now looking through my library for a large book of mine that might help pin point the time frame. Storm

Not sure yet. I bartered My last big journal for a side of leather and some tools. Soooooo maybe a new big journal maybe in the works. I am just playing around looking for the right patterns. I just like the direction I am going with these new ornamental scroll pieces. Something outside the box.

Green Man Scroll Work Combination

I sew them so that th two halvespf the key fob stay together! The ones from Tandy are like half of this one. They are not so solid and with the rivet might not last long. Sewing gives it a more solid and finished look. I have one in my pocket that I have used for several years. They just seem to stand up better. I don't do anything specia on the sewing just a saddle stitch.

Two beauiful pieces bro! Very clean and the stitching is tight and even! Storm

Bet you are going to get some more orders. Word of mouth is a very good sales tool. Congrats!

Looking very good Dave! Next step a molded holster! Good job!

Hi Katie, I just got some to see how it feels and so forth. The piece I got was immaculate but a little spongy and the cuts close up more than I like. I have since seen some other hides that were firmer and smoother. Not velvety like the one I got. I do like how it models when I am finishing it off. The funny thing is that I guess I am so used to less expensive hides. I always buy each hide persoanally. I am not into mailorder. Like to look at the back and front and see how it feels under my fingertips. But that is part of the fun. Storm

Thanx to one and all! I am glad you like it!

Wonderful and very unique and with one bloody day to spare! ...Storm

Ed that is just a great piece. The colors are good and the depth and definition on your carve is great!!!! Beautiful work!!!

Is this what you were looking for?

Exquisite work! Not to worry I get insomnia and work on leather or patterns at 2 or 3 in the morning. Beats staring at the walls or watching reruns on late night TV. Your work is really classic!!!!!

Another great case man!!!! Love the calligraphy on the bottom. How did you put this one together? Looks like no sewing at all. Very clean!

Had so much fun with the first one I made up a new design for the two corners of a journal cover. I think I am getting the hang of it. This was some Tandy Royal Meadow.

Thanx Spence, Perhaps on the next one I can include some photos. That can always help out the idea. I will say that the Dremel tool for the edges is great, especially if you do't have a lot of space to work with. Which is the case for me. LOL! Storm

Top Notch!!! Would not change a thing about them. The vintage carving combined with the basket weave is great. Storm

Johanna If that is true about your bank pulling that then that is not a bank but a bunch of crooks! I mean that seriously. On the other hand I love the story about cutting off the saddle bags. I did something similar to that years ago to a guy who hand me make him a custom pair of fur lined boots. Sometimes revenge can be so sweet.

I know where you are trying to go with this but there are fake checks, funny money and credit card fraud. Some jerk just stole my debit/credit card(Wells Fargo) and ran over $400 on it in less than an hour and a half in a city over 500 miles north of my place. I got an immediate call from my bank and they cancelled the card. They had a card with my number and someone elses name on it and the correct ID to go with the name. I was reimbursed to my account for all charges made. I am truely sorry for the two businesses involved but no one should be held accountable for someone stealing their information. We have been given bad checks in the past and they, to use the vernacular, Bounced Like A Rubber Ball! However it is not the policy of a reputable bank to punish the person recieving the bad check but the person who has issued that bad check. On what do I base this comment beside my own experience? My wife has been in banking for over 30 years. I know this is something that bites at all of heels of those of us who do business but a bit of logic must come into play. If you have been doing business through the mail then I would say the person to contact is the US Postal Service as this may very well be considered mail fraud. Regardless of the method of payment it is so very important to make sure the instrument of transaction has cleared and the cold hard cash is in your bank account. Kind of makes you not want to do long distance business doesn't it? But sometimes cash and carry is not always possible.

Thanx...The term Sunburn is the term we use for exposing leather to the sun. Originally it was accidental. Some shops leaving the hides flesh side down when they stacked them or rolled them and having the sun light fall on them. I thought that every one might have gotten that I was kidding around about the tanning bed. This was a practice piece for the pattern and as such I would not normally use a half and half(No that's not a cream joke) piece of leather to test out a carving pattern.

Crystal I know what you are talking about and my solution has been to use my computer. I will create the pattern in Illustrator and include the border, centerlines and so forth. Then take it into Photoshop and select the area inside the borderline and erase it. I will create a blank new layer beneath the pattern. The erased area is like a window and under the window I place the pattern I want to use. Size it and or move it until evrything looks right and then print it out. Then I will trace it down on the film and after to the leather. Sometimes I will scan in an original design or an old Stohlman floral. I have grown accustomed to being able to combine patterns and or duplicate and rotate. I used to have access to a good printer which I could directly print to matter film but now I have to trace to the film by hand.

Thanx Crystal....hope some will find it usefull. Storm

I have done business with personal checks and the client was already aware of two things. 1. Nothing is going to happen until their check clears. 2. I arrange for shipping and insurance of the item or items. Also I might want to think about changing banks. If someone sends me a check and it bounces it goes back on them and not me. The bank would in no way be deducting money from a personal account after the check had bounced. By the fact that their stating that the check has bounced means you are not getting a dime and for them to deduct the ammount of the check from your account does not seem legal or correct.

Hey Everybody! Thanx for the kind words. I love this color too. My grandfather used to have a lot of saddles on his ranch. Most were simple, well built working saddles. No dyes or silver or carving. Just a well made saddle that had been oiled upon completion but they would get this wonderful color after they were out in the sun. I suppose that one could use a sun lamp or hech just go to the tanning salon and rent some time on a tanning bed for your leather. That might verywell work but a bit pricey. Nothing like natural sunlight. Organic suntanned leather. LOL!