CitizenKate

Nice! I've done quite a few game boards, but it never occurred to me to try a Scrabble game. And that lazy susan is a nice touch! Kate

Sorry! I claim ignorance! LOL I have one memory of attending a rodeo as a child, and the... bullfighters were ones who captured my attention the most, because of their slapstick moves and clever diversions. I also recognized that they were courting danger with every round. I hope no slight was taken, because I saw them as very talented, athletic, and entertaining at the same time. I will remember that distinction in the future - again, thanks for the explanation. Kate

Had to revive this thread once more... someone posted the Blues Brothers' version of Ghost Riders on youtube, and I just had to share it with all you Ghost Riders fans out there. The drama and special effects is typical Blues Brothers, but the rendition has a touch of Charlie Daniels. So fun! Enjoy... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4if0vC0Ioc Kate

I might have guessed that. It reminds me of the German word for snow, which is schnee (pronounced shnay). Interesting story, and nice to meet you. For that matter, ALL of you. Kate PS: I'm Kate.

That's cute, Hammerhead! For the non-smokers among us, it looks like it could be adapted to hold one of those long lighters you use to light your grill, kinda like the holsters made for those long-muzzled guns. Now, there's a scenario... the guests are waiting for the cooking to begin. Off in the distance, you hear the opening motif of the theme from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (...that echo-y whistling sound that sounds like a mourning dove, you know the one I mean.) Then out steps the cook, wearing a flat-brimmed cowboy hat, chomping on a stogy. From a stylish, custom-carved holster, draws her weapon, pulls the trigger, sticks it under the coals, and cries... LET THE CARNAGE BEGIN! Okay, I got a little carried away. Anyway, thanks for the pattern. Kate

Ah, right, your best buddies at the end of a ride. That makes sense. Do the clowns wear any special gear? Other than funny noses, baggy pants, and suspenders, that is! :0) Thanks for the explanation, and I hope the work keeps coming! Kate

Elton, those look great! But I have a question, since I'm not in the livestock biz... What's a pick-up man? And why do their chaps require so much extra padding? Kate

Tom, this is my own personal opinion, but I can't stand *sheen, so I use wax finishes, and get very nice, natural-looking results. I have been using Bee Natural in my sprayer, but recently made a great find - Trewax Liquid Carnauba Wax, made for floors, but works great on leather. The Trewax is much less expensive than the Bee Natural, but gives exactly the same results, and I can use my sprayer to apply it. Creates a soft, satiny finish, very water resistant, and no unpleasant odors. The only place I would not recommend it is on pieces that will be exposed to a lot of heat. Kate

Nice, Tom! Very hunky-looking (i.e. masculine). Kate

I second what Elton says. The "Pro Crafters" series stamps are pretty nice, especially the ones they did in stainless steel. I only wish they had more stamps to choose from. Kate

I hope you didn't really mean to say it that way. I can think of a lot of people who aren't particularly famous or influential, or who are in fact grossly unsung, that I would consider equally irreplaceable. But I do agree that George was a genuine article and will be sorely missed. Kate

Okay, water-based, then. First of all, yes, you need at least 3 or 4 applications of the dye before you get the full intensity of the color, and the more times you apply it, the more even it gets. Diluting the dye on the first pass also helps. If you are applying with a brush, try to make your brush strokes blend gradually from wet to dry. Avoid leaving hard water lines around your brush strokes. If you're going for a solid wash, the broader the application technique, the more even it will be. I really like Marlon's suggestion for making an applicator. Wool daubers have also worked well for me. You might try experimenting (on a piece of scrap first!) with dindinbaby's suggestion to slightly dampen the leather before applying the dye. That will probably help it spread more evenly throughout the leather fibers, but I will also caution you that damp leather can cause the dye to spread to places on the piece where you don't want it to go. As I said, experiment first. Hope this helps.... Kate

Here's one us old fogies will remember... "... and the weather forecast for tonight: dark. Continued dark throughout the night, with widely scattered light in the morning." I'm sure that was a statement attesting to the sheer futility of weather forcasts, but they still try, don't they? Never realized how much he has influenced our culture until today... Kate

What kind of dye are you using? Kate

Awwww.... That one just blew the meter on my cuteness scale! Kate

It helps me a lot to get the work all set up on the table, and have it waiting for me. It leaves one less obstacle to starting. Later on, when I think I might want to work on the project that day, I just start some music playing in the place where I'm going to do the work. Then, once I settle in and get started, the music helps block out the distractions and puts me in a good frame of mind to focus and feel good while I'm working. Kate

Gorgous, Dom! Kate

I've also used wax finishes to seal marks I've made with Sharpie markers with great results. Kate

Boy, this is the night to see some great work! Thanks for sharing that, Storm. Kate

I am in awe of this saddle, Brent! I also have to say I appreciated Keith's feedback, as I could also apply it to my own work. But, very, very nice work! Kate

Here's an article I found a few years ago on this subject: http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Art...or_Improved.htm ...along with a few more articles I found on the web just now: http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~Marc-Carlson/leather/hl.html http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/cariadoc/perfect_armor.html http://www.swordbrother.com/sca/hardleather/ http://www.dagorhir.com/HowTo/cbgryml.htm Hope this helps... Kate

I agree with the others, it looks like a great idea. Nice work! Kate

Great work for someone who just started in the last year... glad you joined us! I have Polish heritage, and am interested in seeing all that is being done with leather in Poland. Hope to see lots more of your work, and that of other artisans in Poland as well. Kate

I'm very happy for you, David. He's a strappin' lad to be sure! Kate