Handstitched

That's identical to my Seiko stw 28b , which is a twin needle machine, but I only use it as a single needle machine. Mine was under a tarp on a verandah for quite a while and a bit exposed to the elements, I just oiled everything up and turned it gently by hand before I started it up, i had to fiddle around for a while, it needed a few adjustments, but works fine now. I can't find a manual for mine either. So I use a manual for a consew machine only as a guide. Good luck 👍 HS

I am intrigued 🤔. This is something I have never heard of. So,the pieces are too small to make into other small saleable items ? Like using wood dust or wood particles i guess .So you use a binder like in particle board or chip board? HS

Calvin & Hobbes in today's paper: 'Mum and dad quietly sitting and reading in front of the open fire . Calvin, getting ready to chuck a snowball: " Incredibly, people NEVER expect to get hit with a snowball IN the house " Hobbes, casually walking away : " I'll see you in your room momentarily " . That's the sort of thing I would have done when I was a kid,if only we had snow. That had me in stitches! Incredibly, 4th year students on the 3rd floor of my high school doing their exams would never expect to get splattered with a rotten tomato . It wasn't me, honest, it was a naughty fellow student. Instead of the tomato going IN the window, it caught the edge of the frame , spraying the students. We got busted big time ! ! HS

Well there's a something we don't have, leather trade shows, at least in my state. HS

My sander has both belt and round sanders. I use the round sander mostly. Also does your sander have an attachment for a dust extractor? I just use an old vacuum cleaner, with a few mods to make the pipe fit, but it doesnt draw all that well but it does the job. I also wear a dust mask 😷 HS

I would approach that with extreme caution ⚠️ PTO's can be dangerous. I have 3 vintage tractors,2 with pto pulleys ( and hard metal seats, and i end up with sore back and a sore a...se) Perhaps leave it well alone if it's still in tact and functional? But all the very best with the restoration , you're preserving history👍 HS

@chuck123wapati ive kept up on my basil and oregano, and my parsley has gone ' kapoof' almost two feet high. I also planted some capsicums, both red and green , something I use a lot of in cooking. Dam catapillers keep eating my mint, not happy. Just made a heap of sausage rolls, and curry sumosas , some for dinner tonight and the rest get frozen. I can get sausage meat from our supermarket. God bless mum for teaching me how to cook Your ' burb looks quite at home in that picture. HS

I used to sell heaps of those on my stall, in 3 different sizes, they were very popular . That and many other 'western themed 'products . I won't name the company that I bought from, but it was in Pennsylvania . I even bought one for my mother . But economics have changed and I no longer buy them. HS

They look incredibly tasty 😋 they'll go well with a nice red, or in this case, champers . And happy anniversary 🎉 I have never tried tanning my own leather. Mum did try doing a sheep skin many years ago, but that was messy. HS

Very nicely done . I just use an oblong punch and a BFH: 'big f**ing hammer' HS

Lovely work, I have yet to master doing horses. On one occasion I can do a nice job, but other times they are a complete flop no matter how many times i've done them , lol 😆 HS

Great work 👍 acorns and oaks leaves are some of my fave patterns, that and roses. HS

@Tove09Tilda I really hope everything goes really for you 🙏 A former flame of mine is a scientist, her office was adorned with degrees of all kinds in science , she spent many years at uni, she did do some science based jobs in labs etc, but they didn't last long, some of the jobs she ended up doing were food tasting demos in supermarkets , , when we first met, she worked at fast food takeaway joint, go figure ? HS

Forgive me if this sounds like a "what do you want to be when you grow up " question, but i wanted to be a farmer, that was until i went an open day at an agricultural college in my younger days , not far from where i live, a few farmers gave a demonstration on how lambs tails are removed, it made me feel ill 😢. Oh well, bang goes that idea. But in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't continue that idea as it's an incredibly tough and frustrating job and often with little and sometimes no return. Many assorted jobs later, out of the blue, I tried my hand at leather work, and enjoyed it, now 20 years later , I still do 😀 HS

The beef was perfect, so tender it fell apart 👌 served up with mash potato, and veggies with a cheese sauce. Now my belly is full 😋

@Darren8306 the silverside is slow cooking as I type smells great 👍 HS

If my contact cement goes a bit gluggy in the tin, I thin it out with some toluene , leave it over night, and it's back to normal.

When I think of bandoliers, I think of The Light Horse Brigade here in Oz. They often have displays at country shows showing the full uniform the gear they carried and the military saddle on the horses. You may wish to check that out and you'll see the bandoliers going across the uniform. HS

@chuck123wapati labs are so loyal, my Abby does the same thing, but she chases some of the native birds,bit of a 'no no '. Now , back onto our fave subject: food 😋 I'll be cooking up a silverside aka corned beef tomorrow . Mum had her own special way of doing corned beef. The aromas wafted all over the house. There's soooo many recipes, but mine, err , Mums , is simple. A mix of herbs, , pepper, bay leaves, brown sugar, and brown vinegar , cook low and slow all day. Served up with mash, veggies and a nice cheesy cream sauce 😋 its also lunches for the rest of the week. Thanks Mum 👍 HS

I love Celtic leather work, fiddly but effective 👍

'A camel walks into a Cafe' and asks for a cup of coffee with milk and sugar, the barrista says one hump or two ? 😁 O'h dear HS

@chuck123wapati I so love the changing of the seasons in both parts of our planet .its starting to have that ' summery feel ' now. @Sheilajeanne they are lovely friends you have there. One morning, I was in my room on my computer when my dog Abby, ( a border collie x kelpie) came to my room looking quite shocked, running back and forth, she alerted me to Dad having a dizzy spell by the front door . I gave her a lot of praise, and a few treats , Dad was fine after some rest. Well done Abby HS

@Sheilajeanne imagine if the air bag went off ? ' pressed chicken ' Oh dear 😳 HS

'What do you call a piece of meat if you burn it on the bbq? 'A mis-steak' Thats just silly HS

@chuck123wapati spring has definitely sprung here in Oz although it's still a bit chilly in the evenings . Getting cool over there by now 😎