rharris

I finished this today. Would appreciate any comments. RussH

It is cold and windy today so I thought it would be a good day to stay inside. Here is my lion.

Howardb & Tazzmann Thanks for the comments. Design is one thing I need to work on. After your comments and looking at the album I think it would have looked better to have started the bottom leaves in the center and round the corners. Thanks RussH

Here is an album that I just finished for friends at Bobcat Pass Wilderness Adventures in New Mexico. Comments welcome.

jlb I scanned my slobber strap patterns. Some people do not like them this big, you could reduce them to any size you want. Hope this gives you something to go on. RussH

Leatheroo If your knot is too big after tightening it you will need to reduce the number of blights and leads or reduce the size of your string. Here is the tutorial I use http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Marlinspikeknotworks/files/. Go to page 8-9-10-11-12 for the tutorial on the turks head. Hope this helps RussH

I am a transplanted New Mexican that now lives in the Texas panhandle. Am retired rancher spending my time with 10 horses a few cows and leatherwork.

Thanks to everyone that worked so hard on getting the forum up and running. You don't know how much we appreciate the effort. Please let us know what it cost to get everything going. Thanks again RussH

ClayB Thanks for the tutorial on the modeling tool. It was a good refresher course. The more I use the modeling spoon the better my tooling gets. I still need to use it more. Practice, practice. Thanks RussH

Russ I have had the same problem in the past. Now I either put a light coat of needs foot oil or oakwood saddle conditioner on before I use the antique paste. I have not had a problem since. RussH

Don Thanks for the offer. I was wanting a side view with the water barrel. I have found several pictures on the web, now to make a pattern out of them. Thanks RussH

Does anyone have a pattern of a chuck wagon or a good picture of one that they would be willing to share. Thanks, Russ H

Sounds like a good idea. Will like to see all the different variations of carving. Any stipulation on the size of the oak leaf? Russ

Bruce Nice looking belts. Where do you get your buckles, sure like them. Russ

You might try panhandleltather.com. I know they have a clicker for some spur straps. Russ

I need to make some small billfolds and I need these type of money clips. Does anyone know where I can order some. Tandy used to carry them but has discontinued them, have also tried Weavers. Any help would be appreciated. Russ

Kathy & Sheathmaker Thanks for the suggestions, will give them a try. Russ

Roncal I have used a pressure washer on a couple of old saddles. It gets the dirt off but you have to be careful to not get the nozzle too close, will take more than the dirt off. I have been using Oakwood Liquid Saddle Soap and Oakwood Saddle Conditioner. Works great. I found out about the Oakwood products from my local tack & feed store. They use it on all of their saddle they take in on trade. Russ

Here are two cross draw holsters for a friend's boys and a knife heath for their grandfather. The sewing is still not what I want but more practice should help. My sewing practice looks good then when I sew a project I screw up. Maybe time will help. Comments and suggestions welcomed. Russ

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Rayban, thanks for the tip on the stitching. I think I had my tension set too tight, loosened it off and it is looking better. Russ

Here are some photos of an album cover for my wife’s fathers WWII photos and a pocket knife sheath (good for using up scraps). Any comments or criticisms welcome. The sewing is not as good as I would like but I am still learning how to run my Adler 205. Russ

Forgot to upload the attachment, will try again. Russ

Attached is a sheet from Tandy that shows how to use the tri-weave tool. Hope this helps. Russ

Pepi Al Stohlman's "The Art of Hand Stitching Leather" book has plans in the back for making a stitching horse. I made mine from it and it works great. Russ

Alan Great work. What did you use for the core? What are the width of the strings? Russ