Sheilajeanne

It glows in the dark?? Wow! Very unique work!

Very nice!!

Fred, what the HECK is a 'brayer'?? Other than this: We obviously don't use that term on this side of the pond!

I finally bought some Resolene to give it a try. I diluted it MORE than 50/50 with water, and it ruined the dog collar I put it on! It made the finish very streaky. I applied it over top of Fiebing's antique, which had been allowed to dry for 48 hours. I didn't get very good results with another project I tried it on, either! But I noticed it seemed to be very thick, and dried very quickly. I'm wondering if it was maybe old stock that was a bit dried up to start with? If I use it again, I'll dilute the heck out of it, and see if that helps!

Chris, I'm afraid you don't quite understand how Tandy works. They are constantly introducing new products and retiring old, to keep people buying, buying buying! My understanding is that Craftaid, like Crafttool is a Tandy brand and once a Craftaid is retired, it will never be produced again. Unless, of course, it proves to be so popular that Tandy thinks it's worth bringing back! I believe retired Craftaid patterns are available in bundles in the Tandy library. Of course, they don't include the actual Craftaid template, just the design which you will have to print up, piece together and trace onto your leather.

Thank you for this! I am a retired nurse, and many of my friends are still nursing. Here's what's currently happening in Ontario: https://www.yorkregion.com/opinion-story/9919234--i-didn-t-sign-up-to-die-on-my-job-fear-and-anger-among-ontario-nurses-battling-coronavirus-pandemic/?fbclid=iwar2hb-x4lxiowtyjzndmtqykyf1xqqa2zxdiwdfy_8ag2juphbdvv1jkfqs#.XoIyWzylfhN.facebook I am still not sure if local hospitals are willing to accept masks made by the general public, but it can't hurt to try. As supplies of regular hospital approved masks dwindle, I am fairly certain they will be accepted. Before the days of disposable masks, masks were made of fabric, and sterilized for re-use.

Wait - Baker's? Are they Mennonites? When I lived in Richmond Hill, there was a Baker's Harness Shop just a short distance from our house at Bathurst and Hwy. 7. They did heavy horse harness, but also catered to local English riders, and their needs: light tack and saddles, tack repair, etc. When the Bakers decided to give up their farm and sugar bush, and move to the States to join other Mennonites, a non-Mennonite named Carmen had already been apprenticed with Mr. Baker, and taken over the business. Since then, the shop has moved several times, and is now devoted to the needs of the local English riding fraternity only. They no longer make heavy horse harness. https://www.bakerssaddlery.com/articles.asp?ID=83 Of course, I'm wondering if there's a connection between the Baker you mentioned, and the family I knew in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Maybe the harness making branch of the business followed Mr. Baker to the States, though I know you are in the U.K. Perhaps another branch of the same family? Edit: not Mennonites, but Pennsylvania Dutch, which also includes Mennonites and Amish. I remember going into the shop where they sold maple syrup, and the women who were behind the counter had on long cotton print dresses, and lace bonnets. And the Bakers always used horsepower on the farm and in the sugar bush. https://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/1455409-family-comes-to-grips-with-thornhill-development/

Read this, please: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/25239-the-type-of-sewing-machine-you-need-to-sew-leather/

Very true, Sonydaze!

Biting the hand that feeds you is never a good idea. And some of the people who sell those machines are much respected members of this forum. I am sure if you had detailed the problems you've had, without trashing the manufacturer, you would have gotten the help and support you need.

Totally get what you are saying - have the Tandy version of that stamp, and the definition SUCKS unless you hit the thing with a carpenter's hammer! Even then:

I live within easy driving distance of the nearest Tandy's, so I can make sure the leather I buy is up to snuff. You're right about the shipping fees from the U.S.

Yes, would love to see pictures! I've never heard of this before! That's one thing I love about this hobby - I am always learning something new! Welcome to the board!

Zonker, when I saw your post, and thought you were going to be asking where you could find a table for your work, I came here to suggest EXACTLY such a table! I have one I got from Canadian Tire. Since moving to a home where I have lots of cutting room, I don't use it for leather work, I use it when I have company for a barbecue. It saves me having to bother with a large patio table that has to be left out all the time, taking up space on my deck and suffer the effects of inclement weather, which usually destroys it within a few years! These tables are very popular and widely available. They come on sale frequently at local stores, so I would never bother to pay full price for one.

As a leatherworker, I found this extremely interesting. The cover of the book features some very fine Celtic knotwork and the raised pattern in the center has been done using a claylike substance to emboss the leather! The book is approximately 1,300 years old. It has been digitized and is available online, if you want to see anything other than the cover. “The left board is decorated with a rectangular frame with interlace patterns in the upper and lower fields and a larger central field containing a chalice from which stems project, terminating in a leaf or bud and four fruits. This raised motif was apparently made using a matrix, with a clay-like substance beneath the leather.” https://mymodernmet.com/st-cuthbert-gospel-oldest-book/?fbclid=IwAR1OZf7PjNAGOtOs9uokoQMiIULPq0nzISaoFigI4y47bAKhYD54gMDTMss

I think your problem is the background. The letters get lost in it. The only way you can fix that is to make the background a different colour from the letters. Next time, as suggested, leave blank space around the letters to help them stand out.

Okay, out of 6 tries with the stamp, this was the best I could manage. I think the problem is it's a Craftool USA stamp, and not very high quality. The leather was 3-4 oz. veg tan. If you still want to buy it, let me know. I hit the stamp 3 x with my mallet to get this impression.

I have one, and could probably be persuaded to part with it. Will have a look at it to see what shape it's in and let you know. I got it with a batch of used tools last year, and have never used it.

I'm sure donations of money will be most welcome. Just make sure you are sending it where it will do the most good. Personally, I'd see if Robert Irwin and his family (family of the late Steve Irwin) have a charity. And don't even THINK of sending it to PETA!! There are some excellent suggestions here: https://vocal.media/petlife/care-about-australia-s-wildlife-please-don-t-give-money-to-peta?fbclid=IwAR1Z_28TJr-W0Ig7zC7S-OuO5HxkqO4yV8rRCV54sz4zlAYBKsZvNVnKlXw

I saw an article on FB today that said to STOP SENDING nests and especially mittens. The mittens cannot be sterilized, and the koalas must have sterile dressing for their burned paws. Also, SO much stuff is being sent that the recipients can't cope with it all. They have all they need and are too busy caring for the animals to unpack it all. Will provide a link if I can find the article again! Okay, found the releavant article: https://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/well-meaning-knitters-told-to-stop-sending-koala-mittens-to-australia-38851220.html

The reason leather working mallets don't have metal heads is that a metal hammer will eventually damage the top of the stamp, and possibly bend the shaft, especially if the stamp is made from cheap metal. Also, metal against metal is likely to bounce, and possibly cause a blurred or double impression of the stamp. Your tools are GORGEOUS!! I am sure if you ever want to make a bit of money on the side, you would find a ready market for these tools! I think I can hear the woodworkers on this board drooling over them already...

"Cover for a round seat".... [cringes at the thought of someone SITTING on such a beautiful piece of art...]

I see the edges starting to curl. What thickness leather is that? It looks rather thin, and I'd suggest fastening it to some sort of backing to prevent stretching as you work on it. That's going to be some picture when you're done!! But wondering why it's the dragon that got torched and not the warrior!

Superb work, as always, Tim!

I texted the seller as soon as I saw the ad, but alas, someone else got in there first. It was a re-post on Canadian Leather Crafters, so someone else saw it on Marketplace first.