CitizenKate

A lanyard is a strap with snap hooks that attaches to anything you want to carry around your neck. You may see them in places of employment, trade shows, conventions, or backstage at rock concerts, where people are usually provided them to carry a name badge of some kind. It never occurred to me to make one for an eyeglass case, but now that I've seen yours, I'll probably make myself one. That's a great idea. Kate

Johanna's right, if you still have the domain name registered to you, then you can just hijack it right back. Also, your hosting provider should be of some assistance when something like this happens. Kate

I've been sticking the "purple" painter's tape on leather for years, and it always comes up clean. It is less tacky than the blue painter's tape. Another thing that might help. After you lay the vellum down, and before you begin tracing, take a scratch awl and poke holes through the vellum into the leather in several places outside the boundary of the pattern. This will create registration marks that you can use to re-align the pattern in case it moves while you're tracing. Kate

Now there's an idea... a lanyard eyeglass case. That is very sharp, Tom! The key fob almost looks like a designer label. Gives the piece a nice, professional touch. Kate

My pleasure, Tom. Thanks so much for your patience in waiting for it, since I shipped it quite a bit late! I like the location you chose for it. As for reaching "that skill level", based on recent work you have posted, I would say you are getting there in good time. It won't be long before others will be saying the same thing to you. Kate

I use 3M copier transparencies, but they don't work that great if you try to use them the same way you use tracing paper, i.e., pressing the lines into the leather with a tracing stylus. But here's a way to use them to print the design on the leather. It's very quick and simple, and reproduces your pattern very accurately. Once you print the design on the transparency, turn it face down on your dry leather, and use a modeling spoon to lightly rub the ink into the leather. The sooner you do it after it's printed, the more solid the lines will be. You need to be careful not to let the transparency shift around while you're rubbing the ink into the leather, but I've been using this method for 3 years, and still haven't messed one up. Give the ink about a half-hour to dry good, then case and carve. Kate

Glad you're here, zopi. Look forward to seeing your work! Kate

Here's a quick sample I hacked out this morning. It's from a Wickett & Craig double-split, which are cut relatively smooth. When you order a tooling side from them, they split it to any thickness you need, free of charge, and if you request it, they'll also send you the material that was split off the side at no extra charge (although I suspect it may affect your shipping charges slightly). Kate

Yes, either side of any veg-tanned leather is tool-able. It might be useful to tool on a split if you are looking for a rougher texture to put some carving or stamping on. The only thing I've used splits for so far is to make plugs for appliques. Kate

Don't feel too bad about that. I played one for a semester in brass ensemble. I loved how easy it was to nail those high notes, but it's a difficult instrument to play, more temperamental than a French horn. I was constantly having to bend pitches to stay in tune, and with all that bending, I was fracking a lot. Arrgggggh! That was enough to motivate me to buy my own euphonium, rather than continue to be subject to play what was available from the university loaners. Kate

I get it at WalMart in the fabric section, or at fabric stores. It comes on big rolls, and you can buy as little or as much as you like. Kate

You might be amazed how quickly it comes back to you. Kate

Here are some previously-posted discussions on this topic. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...amp;hl=airbrush http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...amp;hl=airbrush http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...amp;hl=airbrush http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...amp;hl=airbrush Also, if you do a search for "airbrush" a lot of other topics will come up that include some discusion about how airpbrushes are used for specific projects. These should be a good starting point for you, but feel free to ask more questions! Kate

Here are a couple that nobody has mentioned yet... Leatherwood Designs (Rod Stanger in Australia) Art-Goldberg (Michael & Vera Goldberg in Israel) Kate

I recently found on Youtube that someone had posted some old video footage of a drum & bugle corps I marched with in the late '70's. Wow, did this ever bring back some memories. It wasn't one of our better performances that year - everything was way too rushed in this show, but anyway... I'm in this... somewhere in the low brass. I was 19 at the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIEi6L4iHJY&NR=1 Kate

No kidding... That is impressive, Pete! For my part, I was a music major my first time in college, playing mostly various brass instruments. I also have played guitar, some years better, some years worse, depending on how much time I put in at it. Gotta love the software programs that are available now that let you turn your computer into a home music studio! That has really gotten me motivated to arrange for and play my instruments more. (Maybe I'll post one of my projects sometime in the off-topic forum.) If you ever heard me sing, you would laugh until there are tears in your eyes! Kate

That moosebutter stuff is some great amateur a capella work, and they obviously have a flair for parody - Haaaaaa!!! Thanks for posting it. Kate

Sure, why not! When I saw that plane taking off, then heard all the other musicians kick in, I actually got goosebumps. Just a small example of what can happen when the walls and barriers come down, for once. I especially enjoyed Grampa Elliot - what a great voice. Thanks for sharing that! Kate

Oooooooh, THAT baby yak! LOL They did it again, snuck one in when you weren't looking. You're starting to get quite a little herd going. Congratulations! Kate

Kathy, that is beautiful!!! Can't wait to see it finished! Kate

Mine's just a 5"x15" piece of illustration board. I used to use the white stuff all the leather suppliers sell, but then saw some of the red buffing compound at Sears and decided to try it. I like it much better. I inadvertently got some oil onto it when I was re-sharpening one of my blades, and discovered the oil seems to improved the performance of the strop, as well. Kate

Great ideas! And I have a much better idea how to use my hairblade tool, now. Thanks so much for posting that, I'll be referring back to it on future projects. Kate

He speaketh words of wisdom. Kate

That's way tougher than anything I've encountered so far, Bree. Hope someone can provide some insight. Kate

I've been using it for at least a couple of years now. It's so simple, but amazing what you can do with it! Kate