calanneh

Wonderful site Hilly!! I found some really kewl 'dial twist latches' that will go wonderful on some rustic 'old world' looking bags I am making!!! And I was on the site less than 30 secs when I spotted them!!! Will

Thanks to everybody for helping find the stamps I need! I was able to get my hands on a hotrod and a convertable that worked great!!! Thanks agian!!! Will

OH! One I learned the hard way just this morning.... -Never try stitching two pieces of leather together while sitting in your recliner with your cat in your lap.... It turns into a game of chasing the thread. My knife sheath now has nice lil 'kittie inprints' on the leather from her claws.

I love the nice even color you get with your dye Russ and your Eagle is beautiful!! Your lacing looks great! I see one spot on the bottom of the dark brown wallet where you either missed a loop or it is your beginning/ending point.....but it still looks great! Will

Well you do beautiful work Elegant! Even if it was your prototype.... I love the color and the 'old world' simplistic look it has. Would love to see more! Will

Looks great Russ! I always have trouble tieing my basketweave pattern into the border wihtout it looking overlapped. You did a great job of combining the two. Did you bevel between them? Will

Update.... They have plywood coverig the inside of all but one window now. It will be at least next week b4 they get the bars installed. Luckily nothing else has happened. Thanks for the support guys, I will pass it on to Tena! cal

hehehe, BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!! But I was using brown.....so I looked like I had #^%# on my hand for days......... cal

I think it looks great buddy! Not all art is supposed to look just like real life... So if the face doesn't look like a photograph, that's not a bad thing. I think you did a 'wonder'ful job..... cal

Not bad!! I plan to try a vinegaroon sample soon. I have some items I have to get done first before I can play around. But vinegar is on the shopping list....heheh cal

Snicker...my wife tells me I am..... Thanks Bree! LOL Yeah, Tena is a trooper.... She is sending the bid she has up to corporate for approval today, so if they get it signed off fast, she should have the bars up by Saturday evening!! cal

No prob bro! I understand! I will be heading to Tandy's in a bit and will give an update as to whether they got bars yet or not.... cal

202? I'd swear Jordan doesn't look a day over 54! cal

Could you use a nice clean plastic bucket to mix it in or do you think it would effect the mixture?? I have lotsa pool chemical buckets around the garage that I use for just about everything. As the pool chemicals are dry items when in the bucket, they wash out pretty easily. I would hate for something unexpected to happen and it explode on the wife's nice pretty back porch....hehehe Don't think I would be able to blame that on the dog! cal

I live on the east side of Houston, Deer Park to be exact. Hurricane Ike went RIGHT OVER our heads and messed some homes and shops up pretty bad.... including the local Tandy!! Part of the roof was separated from the back wall, it rained into about a 1/3 of the store...lots leather and books and other inventory got destroyed. With the A/C broken and power unreliable for another week, the humidity in the store was horrible, MOLD started growing behind the walls and ON lotsa leather.... Needless to say, they lost tens of thousands in inventory and then over $50k in business jsut the last few weeks in Sept. Oct is no better as they are having to rip down walls and remove the mold, etc, etc.... They they get broken into....TWICE! Last Saturday night or Sunday morning, somebody threw a big @$ rock thru the glass on their door and stole a stereo that doesn't work, a change jar (maybe $5) and a handful of Bowie knifes (in custom sheaths) that were behind the counter as displays. The broken piece of glass was probably more expensive than what was stolen.... Yesterday morning, Tena (Tandy manager) comes into the shop and a smaller window had been broken and the bastards stole a stack of COWHIDE RUGS!! The most expensive items in the store...... I can't believe how people can be such bastards.... They are now putting bars on the windows and door. Tena is so stressed from everything that has happened I offered to help her husband install the bars and sleep in the store with my gun until the bars are up!! They aren't officially open because of the reconstruction and mold, but they are still fully staffed and are serving their loyal customers.... Tena even taught a basic leather work class to a Girl Scout Troop OUT IN THE PARKING LOT!!! She just didn't want to disappoint the girls!!! I know they will never catch the bastards unless somebody turns them in, but if they do...I want to skin and tan them, then hang their hides on the store wall as a deterrent!!! Ok, done venting..... cal

Very nice!! I love the 'old world' look!!! cal

It is a hell of a lot better than my first basketweave stamp job!!! Looks great!!! cal

Thanks Art!! Their faces say it all...and the best part, they did 90% of it themselves. They will be able to wear them and if a friend or somebody compliments the garments, the girls can say with pride that they made them! The one in blue plans to make her father some type of Christmas present from vegtan. We have discussed a few items but she is not sure yet. I can't wait to help her get started on it. She is working on a belt to go with her Ren Fest costume now. She traced and re-traced a Celtic pattern on a full lenth belt blank last weekend. She is going to dye it black and then add silver paint on the knotwork. Then sheen it and add an antiqued buckle. More on that later as well. William

Hey Froghunter! Found the case design you used in volumn one, page 58 & 59. Thoguht I would post that incase anybody else is interested in the pattern. cal

Hey Frog! I knew I had seen one on here but couldn't find it again!!! Your's looks wonderful! I have books 1 & 3 of the Stohlman cases. I will look thru and see if I can find it. If not, I will hit Tandy tomorrow to get book 2. I am going to add a little more to mine to carry the stamp boxes, the stamp block and the other tools all in one. This will make my 'portable shop' for camp. Do you think the extra weight will be an issue?? What do you think of folding the leather under my plywood bottom and snapping it there? I felt this would keep the stress off the snap areas of the leather sides. My carving skills are not all that great. I have nerve damage in two fingers of my right hand and I can't control the swivel knive all that good, so mine will not be carved to begin with. Or I might add a basic carving after I get all the snaps and straps placed on the inside. Maybe a simple celtic knots border... I would love to see any other pix of yours and any tips or pointers would br greatly appreciated!!! Cal

Wonderful!!! This is very very nice!

That looks wonderful Bobcat!!!!

Beautiful!!!!

Thanks for the comments Ken! A portable shop is exactly what I am going for. The snaps are currently on the sides of the plywood and the bottom edge of the leather. Are you suggesting wrapping the leather under the plywood and putting the snaps on the very bottom? That does sound like it would spread the weight and pressure out. I think I will incorporate that. I have also decided to put a mallet on top of the box, under the sholder strap. I will use a few small straps and snaps to hold it in place. I may decorate it in the long run, but with the other projects I have going on right now, I will probably just assemble it between now and when camp starts on Nov 21st. Thanks again!!! Cal

Sneaky!!! But I love it..... evil grin Thanks buddy! William