unicornwoman

Yeah, it's hitting me. I need to order supplies from Australia and the US dollar has fallen quite a bit just in the last few weeks. That means higher kangaroo prices. AGAIN.

Steve Mason wrote:I still don't know what to charge, I guess it depends on what your relationship is with the individual, their own ability, and what their expectations are, if they just want a little advise or if they want to learn every detailed step of the process, if that's the case then the fee would have to be figured out.>> It very much depends on the situation and the relationship. I remember one circumstance where 3 of us specialists were discussing things. I thought we were just discussing things, when one of them suddenly stops and pointed out that she normally charged for this. Considering the other 2 of us had been sharing just as rapidly, I was a bit...well, offended. There are times when to not answer a question is to risk offense. On the other hand, I get tired of people expecting me to tell them how to make a certain piece of scale-miniature tack IN DETAIL for free. The kits that I have written have usually taken around 6 months of dedicated time to write, illustrate, and proof. That is AFTER I've spent years (I've been selling scale-miniature tack since 1980) learning and practicing and comparing and searching in strange unrelated places and what-have-you. To come up to me and expect me to give all that away free is...well, rude. Yet, I have had people get on various forums and act like anyone that didn't give it away free was some sort of ogre. As for teaching rates when the situation fits, again consider the circumstances. When I taught at Breyerfest, there was only so much negotiating that could be done on "pay". They did NOT pay cash to anyone, though they might provide some of the workshop expenses. They paid in tickets to the show and model horses, including a rather collectible one. I almost always had to sell the model to pay for the trip, so it wasn't a great deal financially. Still, I loved doing it and it was good PR. So, in this case, I took pay in fun and PR. One of the last workshops Robb Barr taught was here in Fort Worth. It was suppose to be a special deal with 5 different teachers, 1/day. The deal fell through somehow and only 2 students signed up for Robb. Instead of canceling the class, he taught us for 5 days from around 9-5 (less lunch) for the originally contracted price. Did he earn what he should have? NO!!!! Was I grateful that he would be so generous and will I remember this generosity for the rest of my life? YES!!!! From him I learned the idea that even if you only have 1 student sign-up for a workshop, hold it. Now, that was a special case. If you are only planning on 1 student, I think you should charge accordingly. That is different than planning for 20 and only having 1 show-up. It's a matter of what your original "promise" was to the student, I guess, though I certainly didn't feel Robb owed us anything. Still appreciate that he did it, though.

Clay: Personaly I was taught to use an awl and I like it better than punching holes or drilling be it right, wrong, traditional or not. The thing to keep in mind with an awl is that it is like the swivel knife blade it has to be very sharp and smooth to work properly. An awl used off of the shelf is probably not sharp enough and may be the reason why people get discouraged with awls and make the user want to try other methods of making the holes.>> The sharpness issue certainly has been a struggle for me and not just with awls. On x-actos or scalpels I'm getting the trick down, but I can't sharpen an awl worth anything...Do we have a thread on that?

leatherroo: A shed or garage to put it in would be nice too. The kitchen table gets a workout! Its not so much the table, but i have to get everything out and then put it all away and then repeat the process the next session.>>> Been there and done that. Whew! It really dampens the creative processes. Finally, got a work room added on last summer. Now the challenge is keeping the tables & desks CLEAR so I can put project on them. Seems like all the household paperwork/filing ends up there... Bruce Johnson: Standard warning - WEAR eye protection. Once the tubes fill up, subsequent punchings are ejected in random directions. I find them in coffee cups, casing water, etc. Open mouth once when talking.>> ROTLF!

This isn't a leather company, but it has good stuff and great prices. It deals mostly with sewing things, but there are huge cutting mats, french curve sets, pattern paper, metal rulers, rotary blades, upholstery supplies, and more. http://southstarsupply.com/

If you have time, definitely carve something. The tissue box will be wonderful. Why not do the fleur de lis very large on one side and put the initials inside that? On the other sides, maybe have smaller fleur de lis in multiple groupings? Please share pix when you get done!

I've put some of this "silver" lace up on ebay this week: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...E:IT&ih=006

I really love Lexol. Down here in Texas, the hint is that you put a tiny bit of Lexol into the water you use to case leather prior to carving. It helps protect the leather from the effects of wetting and makes the carving go smoother.

I'll have to try that. As for boring to tears, SHARPENING is more likely to bring on the tears. I, too, have really struggled with it. I'm getting better sharpening the X-acto & Scalpel blades, but I still consider sharpening a challenge!

Why is it meaningless? I mean, okay, so Tandy doesn't carry it. It appears you can still get it elsewhere. Fiebings had fliers at IFoLG this last weekend. Their website is: http://www.fiebing.com/

Fiebings had fliers at IFoLG this last weekend. Their website is: http://www.fiebing.com/ and they have a "search for Fiebings" by state function. Just as an amusing aside, you can get it in 55 gallon drums! (Boy, I'd never use it up!)

I have some full 50 yard spools of 1/16 Kangaroo Lacing available in Brandy, Unfinished Brown, and Unfinished Natural. Email me privately if interested in more information.

I agree with Jim; it doesn't make me think ocean either. I think more of maybe seaweed or frogs! It's a nice piece and I believe it WILL find its destined owner.

<<Melody welcome to the site, thats some realy nice work its badenough working on a full sized saddle, but thats some fine work, are the basket weawe stamps a single stamp and made by yourself or custom made? Don>> Yes, it is a single stamp. I don't strike it as the result is either irregular or goes all the way through ike a punch on 2 ounce leather l. I just hand press it. On this scale, that is all that is needed and provides better control. Riorondo.com had some custom ones made, but it's hit-or-miss as to them being in-stock over the years. I also have some Beard tools. I haven't gone far in making tools yet. I did recently get a copy of Ron Edwards' Making Tools book, so maybe I'll try something later. Right now, I'm working on a 3 set lot of Spanish Riding School of Vienna Sets. The saddles are in white leather. The bridles are black kangaroo with spots on them and then braided DMC for the webbing parts. I'll be hand weaving girths and plan on machine embroidery for the blankets this round. At least, I'd like to try that as I have a decent embroidery/sewing machine now. Last time, I had a dinosaur machine and choose to do applique on the blankets as the best way to get consistent results.

I managed to get some of the kangaroo lace in the silver foil metallic earlier this year. I suspect it is among the last from the manufacturer (I actually begged them to search the warehouse for the gold foil--sorry gold sold). As it looked to be the only time to get it, I didn't wait for confirmed orders like I normally do on special orders stuff and guessed...wrong...So-o-o-o, I still have some left. This is lovely sparkly lace that probably would make some really cool Christmas stuff. As I normally sell to model horse tackmakers, I have it available in as small quantities as 1 yard up to how many yards are left here. I do offer discounts if you order more than a yard. When this is gone, that's it. Email me privately if interested.

Welcome! I, too, would LOVE to see some photos of your work!

Howdy! I've been registered over here at Leatherworker.net for a while, but haven't gotten over to post much. Things have been a bit crazy with other concerns. I am a scale-miniature saddler. In the model horse hobby, that is called a "tackmaker." I work in 1/8 to 1/24 scale when not under duress. If under duress (as in MOMMY!!! My bridle's broken!) I've been known to work on 1/32, but you have to be blood kin to talk me into it. I've been making scale-miniature tack since a kid and been selling it since a kid as well. My business started in 1980. You can read the official bio at: http://www.unicornwoman.com/uw_melod.htm I'm also a free-lance writer. Most of my articles have been model horse related, though I've done some inspiration pieces, also. A few articles have been reprinted in the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal. For the list of published articles through 2006 and where they were published, see: http://www.unicornwoman.com/uw_articles/uw_publish.htm For pix of my work, prowl through the website at: http://www.unicornwoman.com/

How fun! I am looking forward to seeing pix of the completed piece. Please don't forget to post them! MatthewD asked about patterns. YOU obviously don't need this resource, but I can recommend GREAT BOOK OF DRAGON PATTERNS by Lora S. Irish It is a lovely book with 31 patterns in it. The copyright on pattern use is tolerable as she allows 3 pattern copies for personal use and unlimited completed projects. (I HATE those pattern books that put in the fine print that you can only make 1 project for yourself. Why buy the book? But that's another rant!) Anyway, GREAT BOOK OF DRAGON PATTERNS is available at Amazon.com. **IF** you click through to Amazon by going through this link FIRST http://www.disaster-area.org/ a portion of your purchase goes to a College Scholarship Fund in honor of a dear friend who died in a car wreck a few years ago. I've been considering these two books, but haven't purchased yet: Dragons: A Book of Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) by Marty Noble Dragonart: How to Draw Fantastic Dragons and Fantasy Creatures by J. "NeonDragon" Peffer & Jessica Peffer These are also available at Amazon.com.

If any of you are looking for Ron Edwards Books in the USA and in US dollars, I have the ability to get copies of ALL of them. He has a lot! For the full listing, you can visit: http://www.unicornwoman.com for listings & prices.

According to Ebay rules, last time I checked, there is very little marketing that is actually allowed by their rules. They get fussy about links in the listing, they really don't want catalogs included with the shipment, and a whole bunch of other stuff. They are also getting ridiculous about shipping policies right now. For example, I can't charge in my handling fee for the gas it takes to run a package to the shippers. That is supposed to be covered by the cost of the item. They don't allow realistic amounts for the time it takes to pack items up. Actual cost of supplies can be charged, BUT prepare for fusses from the customer if you recycle things and don't give THEM the benefit of your foresight and frugality. I've used it for some items successfully, but mostly they have been rare collector's items or kangaroo leather lace in specialty colors/widths. Completed craft products are pretty iffy. Since the shipping policy changes this fall, I've been so exasperated I haven't even listed my kangaroo laces with them. That has cut sales, but what's the point if I can't charge real costs? I may break down and list again IF they have one of those 10 cent listing days, but at full listing prices, I don't feel it is worth it right now for what I have available.