tashabear

Whatever you do, don't buy them from Skindhuset. IMO, their customer service is terrible (when I ask for a price with shipping before you charge my card, I mean I want a price with shipping BEFORE YOU CHARGE MY CARD), they didn't tape the box holding the runeset shut inside the exterior box, they constructed the outside box from corrugated cardboard, and failed to tape all the corners. Can you see where this is going? When my set came, I had 13 out of the 24 runes I was supposed to have, because the constructed box had broken and the interior box had fallen open, letting the runes fall out and get lost. Luckily, I was able to find a set on eBay, but I'm seriously pissed about how much I spent to get only half the runes I was entitled to, and not even get an apology from the jerk at Skindhuset who refused to tell how he'd shipped it so I could go looking for the package at my end. I finally stabbed in the dark and asked at the post office. For whatever reason, they had failed to send me a card to tell me there was a parcel. Yeah, still bitter, can you tell?

I think that the "nothing fit right" thing was also part of the conceit of the show -- they made to with what they had, what they didn't have the scrounged or bodged together. Ain't broke, don't fix it. Still workin', still shiny. I don't think it was just the title that confused people. I think it was also the episodes airing out of order, the leap-frogging air times, and the lack of support of Fox for the franchise. It wasn't drawing the demographic they wanted (18-25 year old males), so rather than being grateful for the demographic they were drawing (25-30 year old females and 30-35 year old males, IIRC), they just axed a show that could have been a moneymaker for them in the long run. *sigh* Love the rig, Badger. Really, really nice work.

There are some instances where you can't use pliers, though, so knowing how to set rivets properly is a boon.

So pretty! It looks like stained glass!

I don't apply it all the time. Sometimes I just forget, sometimes there's no place to put it. Sometimes I want to put it on the flesh side, and my maker's mark just doesn't give a good impression on that side, so I do one of two things: either I draw my initial with a fine-point Sharpie in an unobtrusive place, or I use the Tiwaz rune from my rune set.

I use spray-on Super-Shene. No problems with it so far...

I use either a rotating leather punch (the squeezy kind) or a drive punch; depends on the leather and where I want the hole. As for what side the rivet cap is on... the public side, of course.

I think you guys mean theleatherguy.org -- the .com version is a cybersquatter.

I think Hidehouse carries it, but you have to have a business license to order from them.

That depends: are you lacing or sewing?

I think it's a knife sheath: http://northwoodsknives.com/marble-arms-mf...h/prod_844.html

Leave the man alone... it gets cold out there in the black. ;-) No worries. It will be sooooo worth waiting for. Besides, I have my own apologies to make, and nothing cool like your reason for it.

I'd let it dry overnight, but really,what I've ended up doing is use a paintbrush to dye around the thing I don't want blackened. You'll get better coverage with EcoFlo black if you put an underlayer of blue down first, I find.

I recently purchased a side of moose hide with which to make a pair of lower leg coverings to fit over armor. I'm going to have to hand sew them, as I do not own a sewing machine, but I don't know what technique to use. An awl and two needles doesn't seem like it would work, as the material is so floppy. I seem to be shy at least one hand for managing the leather, if not two. A stitching chisel doesn't seem like the right tool. It seems like I'd have a hard time keeping the line straight, as I don't think I can cut a stitching groove. Would I be wanting a glover's needle? Can I do a saddle stitch or double running stitch with a glover's needle, or do I run the risk of cutting the thread in the hole? I don't really want to use a stitching awl, as I want this to be as durable as possible, since the fighter in question will be wearing these a LOT, and really gets into the thick of things. Does anyone have any ideas? Push comes to shove, I can probably use rivets, but I think we'd both prefer the cleaner look of stitching.

You didn't use a needle for that bag you made? No wonder you were going mad by the end! I'm not the OP, but I love working Mexican basketweave. I use these lacing needles, this lacing chisel, 1/8" lace, and a lacing fid to open the holes up a bit. Once I get going, it actually goes very quickly, and is easier and more intuitive for me than other types of lacing, like double loop.

I wipe the leather I'm working on, no matter the size, with a wet, well-rinsed sponge till it turns that nice dark orange color, and then I let it dry a bit. Do a search on this forum on "casing" or "casing the leather;" you'll find some good tips.

Oh my, yes, there are better tools out there. If you have a local Tandy, stop in and get some advice on purchasing and using a swivel knife. Failing that, you can order one online. You'll want to sharpen it out of the box (unless you plump for the more expensive ceramic blade), but you'll find it much better and easier to use than an Xacto knife. You'll also want to wet the leather, then let it dry a bit till it's no longer dark, but still cool to the touch.

How strong does it need to be? I mean, if you're really concerned, try carpet tape, but I think the Scotch tape would work.

I do speak blazon fluently; it's actually part of my promotional materials. That's a lovely device, though I would make the lesser points of the compass stars more pointy and less square-ish. As it is (though the rendition on your group's webpage is teensy), it looks like a crux etoile quadrate. All that aside, I think it would make a lovely stamp. Don't go too small, though, or you'll lose all the detail, and you need at least some. ;-)

What do the group arms look like? It's a good idea; I think I need to come up with a badge sooner rather than later, and I can use that as my maker's mark in the SCA. Or I can keep using a tiwaz rune, though it looks as much like "this end up" as it does my mark.

$65, I think; it was a birthday present from my husband. For Christmas he got me the deadblow hammer. Ain't he romantic? ;-)

I haven't seen any stamps, but Hidehouse South has conchos with dog breeds on them.

Helium hand = Pelican in training! My late cat Max was banished from the sewing room when he pounced my foot as I worked the foot pedal of my sewing machine. Apparently the stop and start, up and down was too much for his little kitty brain to resist. I haven't tried spinning with the new cats around, but Bob is fascinated by dangling thread and needles when I stitch leather. Drop spindling is one thing; if they play with that it's just annoying. But I'm actually concerned that they might stick a paw in the spinning wheel, and that would be BAD.

Oh, I love the copper paint over the black! I'm going to have to give that a whirl one of these days.

I make quivers for teenagers, but they're unlikely to chew on them. ;-)