Bree

Davy... I like the way you think! That artwork allowance add-on is special!! We just got done repairing a young guy's reversible, thin, duo-colored, lambskin jacket that he got in Turkey. It was a job we should have never taken in the first place. No room to sew because there was zero seam allownace and very weak leather. It had to be sewn flat and overlapping with different color threads on top and bottom. Our 110 needle with #69 thread was too big for the existing holes. The little home Singer machine couldn't sew it as the thread kept breaking. So I had someone helping me and I asked her how much did she think we should charge for this job? She says $20. I laughed and said, how about at least $50? The object isn't to make the guy feel good. It is to make a profit and we are losing money on this job even at $50! But even I have a conscience sometimes!!

One thing I have found using these tools and L-24 snaps is that they don't like the force being applied in anything other than a 90 degree angle to the snap base. That means you must hold the tool straight up and down with the base properly aligned in the anvil. When you strike your mallet on the setter, you must make certain that the mallet head is not angled at impact or it will tend to force the setter off of that 90 degree angle and you will get a screwed up snap. A snap setting press is very nice because it always applies its force at exactly 90 degrees to the snap base. So all you need to do is start acting like a snap press.

Sure I would go. Heck if he is on the East Coast tell me who it is and where and I will go for us!

That's pretty cool. I like the braiding and the handle.

Great looking holster! I really like it. Nice gun too!

Like I said... the back of that seat is simply superior in its craftsmanship. Just outstanding work.

Joe... I won't respond to everything you have said but I will say this. When you work locally, define your work by the local market. If they don't want to pay for braiding, then don't braid for them. The market is what people are willing to pay for. It is what they want. That said, there is a world-wide market for products and there is no reason why you can't participate in it. You access it via the internet. Here you have a much better chance to define your product and prices in terms that you control. There is still much competition but you can add value to differentiate your product and there are certainly buyers that have the ability to pay. So braid for the Net and make whatever the locals want in that market. Of course, you can offer your braiding to the locals but the price is the Net price... not the price that causes you to go out of business. If the locals don't feel they can pay what you charge on the Net, then maybe they need to find better jobs so they can afford your "Premium" product. I have often told customers that want ridiculously low prices that, "There are two ways that I can go bankrupt... I can go bankrupt working for you or I can go bankrupt drinking Mint Juleps sitting next to my swimming pool. Which do you think I am going to pick?" BTW... Johanna's comments are right on the money!

Dave... I too met Jim and Chan in classes that I took from them. They are terrific artists and great guys. I sure learned a lot from them. I loved your seats. They deserved their ribbons. You might want to flip your dragon seat over and show the peeps, the wonderful little carving on the BOTTOM of the seat as well as the excellent craftsmanship in the places that people normally don't look. You create first class work.

I got the samples Snap. They are slicker than spit!! I am gonna fool around with them and see if I can conjure up a project to use them on! Then get some more! Thanks!

Yes the trip home was uneventful. I took a 250 mile Fall Color ride today in the Southern Tier of NY and it was simply spectacular. The mountains are ablaze. You guys are looking for competition stuff from me. I am just a novice at this leathercrafting and one who is dar more concerned with making money than winning a prize!! But I may find some kind of treachery that can overcome skill and experience.

Wow! Wow! Wow!

I just bought me a T-4000 with a 25" arm. Haven't sewn on it yet but I think it's just about the best deal in town. Of course, I am prejudiced in favor of my own decisions. But I think it is clear from the preponderance of the evidence that the Artisan guys are top rated for service, stability, and commitment. So several years down the road you should still be happy you selected them. My $.02 on it. :soapbox: :soapbox: :soapbox:

Well... it would have been a nice pick up at $200!! LOL!

I'll offer $200. I can pay via Paypal or whatever means you prefer.

You are exactly right. Most of these people are hypocrites of the first order. They consume animal flesh. They use animal parts in their attire. They use animal parts in their vehicles. And then we get to the living plants that are killed to provide even the vegans with their daily bread. If life is so sacred to them, they shouldn't even be eating bread or vegetables. The whole thing gets to be ridiculous. I am not in favor of abusing animals and do not support abuse. But let's face facts... nature is a cruel place. We do what we must to live and survive. That means that other living things must die that we can live. There is no other way. At least we make certain that nothing is wasted and return wonderful joyous things in our craft.

The 29 series machines are designed to sew up to about 3/8" of leather. They are patch machines. They are for short irregular stitching or darning. They have a head that rotates the needle bar 360 degrees and feeds material from the top. This allows the operator to insert the long narrow cylinder arm into a shoe/boot or pocket/sleeve and sew a square (or other pattern) without having to rotate the material being sewn. The head does all or most of the positioning. They are not particularly good at sewing a long straight line with a beautiful stitch. But they are absolutely magnificent at sewing unusual jobs that flatbed machines simply can't do. I don't use my Singer 29's all that often but when I do use them, nothing else will suffice. They also last forever and a day.

I sometimes like to tie flies for fly fishing. My favorites are Atlantic Salmon Flies. They are difficult to tie, very colorful, extremely beautiful, and highly exotic in their materials and construction. One of the prime materials is the end of the neck feathers of a Jungle Cock. It forms a little circle like an eye and the best patterns use Jungle Cock nails as cheeks near the head/eye of the hook. There are people who tried to use photographic images of Jungle Cock nails but they are totally fake looking. Back in the '80s I used to jones for some genuine Jungle Cock feathers. Then I found a domestic source that had come into legal possession of a breeding pair and developed their own little flock of birds. They farmed them and made a limited supply of genuine and LEGAL Jungle Cock available to the fly tying community. Back then a whole skin cost about $125. I bought one and I still have most of it. I treasure and cherish that skin and those feathers. I have the highest respect for the bird that once owned those lovely feathers. And somehow I feel that there is a lot more value to my caring for and sparingly using his feathers then having them rot shortly after the bird drops dead. In any case, the proper farming of these exotics not only assures continued survival and strength of the species but gives to humanity wonderful artistic products that uplift and make life better. I have no problem farming exotics as I have no problem munching on a burger or some bacon.

Snap... I would like to get some samples to test out. I tried to send you a PM but the system keeps dropping my cookie data or somehow generating authorization mismathces and the messages fail. So here is my info. Please send to: Brianne Corbett Bree's Patch & Leather Repair 71 Lebrun Rd Buffalo, NY 14215 breeliz at verizon dot net Thanks! Bree

The best selection that I have found of top quality sheepskins is Misty Mountain Sheepskins between Branson and Springfield, MO. Their skins aren't cheap but they are excellent quality with great body and color. The leather is excellent and the owner will sew on any attachments you want on his Bonis machine. http://www.mistymountainsheepskin.com/ I have purchased maybe a half dozen skins from him and every one was a winner. He also makes great Bomber jackets and other gear. He will do wholesale pricing if you schmooze with him and buy in some volume.

Hot Dayum! You made me look like one of the Joker's chicks on Batman! Thanks guys! I am happy to be in the Artisan family. I got my paid invoice today and a ship date of 10/7 via UPS. So when it arrives at the Buffalo UPS terminal I can zoom over with the Dodge RAM and git er loaded up! I offered BEER to my HOG friends and had 4 helpers in about 30 minutes. I have a bunch of beer left over from when we had a bunch of our HOG friends from Chicago visit on their way to Maine this summer. I just got done sewing on a bunch of HOG patches on a guys XXXXL vest. I wish I had that big new long arm machine tonight as squeezing that vest under the Juki's arm with the big chapter patch and large rocker was a pain in the butt. I have a tonneau cover for a Dodge RAM that has top be shortened, resewn, and get new snaps attached. That might be a good first job for the new long arm machine. I'll have to see if the customer can wait a couple of weeks. Maybe he will come over and join the unload the pallet party!!

I did a little Photoshopping and this is what this thing will look like

Most competition pieces were outstanding pieces of craftsmanship. The winners were spectacular. I voted for the dolls as best of show (People's Choice) Not sure if they won. I think they did but I don't know for certain. The dolls were simply mind blowing... all the way down to the cameo on mom and the stockings and shoelaces. Simply superior work down to the finest details. I was very impressed. I also loved the wedding gown and the Australian turned wooden bowl with an incredible colored leather interior. Those were the other members of my top three. But there were so many extraordinary works it is a shame to even have to select a winner. They were all winners in one way or another.

She eats what she shoots and that is a heck of a lot more than I can say for the other side. I'm voting for her and McCain.

Yes... I went over to the show... got blabbing with Steve and Jerry and then bought myself a new stitcher and all around kitchen sink machine. This sewing head (Artisan Toro 4000 LA-25)^... on this Ped 600 stand ^. It should be shipped out end of the first week in October. Just exactly what I wanted.

It's an excellent holster despite the blotch. Very crisp lines, great stitching, nice design and looks to be very functional.