Handstitched

It does seem the edge isn't straight . When I get my new sides or shoulders etc. I have a long straight piece of 2x1** timber that I use to cut a straight edge with my knife to then start making belts using a strap cutter . The 2 x 1 is clamped down at both ends of the hide and sometimes in the middle. If I don't do that ' wonky' edges. Any off-cuts get used for small items , keepers , book marks etc. **Other people will have different methods to start a straight edge . HS

yeh man, I think the Italians are a bit fussy about their leather There are suppliers/tanners here in Oz. So, out of curiosity I ordered some leather off ebay au . An Australian supplier.....it was crap . Drank dye like a sponge soaks up water. Never again I'll stick with my regular supplier. HS

I think its important that these little traditions & superstitions are maintained so they don't disappear, and should be passed down. I do have a passing interest in maritime superstitions, but thats too far off topic for here. HS

Something I was going to try, inside some of the cloth bags bought at supermarkets, theres sometimes a piece of thin black plastic at the bottom. It is quite flexible so I thought about using that to stiffen particular leather projects, just a thought . I guess Adelaide Leather is handy for you? HS

Yup all of that Fine work . Theres a little superstition , , that if you give a knife for a gift, the receiver gives a coin to the gift giver so as not to ' cut the friendship' . Does that apply over there? HS

So what does a crow tastes like? Chicken ?? Goes well with a bit of garlic and seasoning no doubt I have heard that some of the old timers around here used to eat Cockys ( cockatoos) and Galahs in the very early days . I've had Emu once ( commonly pronounced eemyoo) Tastes very gamey , but nice HS

"Shooting and fishing...is there anything else ??" Yes, an Emu Export or two at the end of a good day fishing They look really good Quite an interesting mallet. HS

Thats what I noticed too, its a bit long. I also ' feather' the machine when going around tight corners. HS

@Tequila All my VT leather comes from Italy , good stuff too . I use VT Tarino butts, shoulders and sides of varying thicknesses, it moulds, stamps and carves well too. . Theres a supplier in Perth here in Oz . HS

Not sure if this is even relevant, but I used to smoke, I gave up well over 25 years ago, the smell never bothered me, but it bothered others. But now, every time I smell ciggies, I hate it !! I once worked in the fibreglass industry , making fibreglass pools, same again, the smell was part of me. . When I drive past a FB factory now , I hate the smell. Our nostrils ( and minds) are fickle things. Theres an association or a familiarity with smells. Unlike ciggies & FB, leather is a 'pleasurable' smell . If that makes any sense HS

I have customers come to my stall, " O'h I love the smell of leather" my response : " I'm so used to it, I can't smell it anymore " , not unless I stick it right under my nose. On rare occasions I can smell it when I open my workshop in the morning, but after an hour or so, nup...nothing, can't smell it. HS

For the needle to hit the bobbin must make a hell of a frightening sound HS

I do something similar . I use a 277 M10 thread, and a 180 #24 needle , if that helps. I too like the ' bold' look HS

Thats a good idea for those that wish to do that, but considering the risk, I'd rather have the pay wave deactivated . I never used that feature anyway. But at the end of the day, no card or the account is absolutely 100% safe. We just have to put our faith in the banks to make sure our hard earned is protected. I never do online banking either.....no sirree !!! But thats another story. Stay safe HS

Man that sucks. I hate the ' tap & go' shite. Heres an example why I hate it: I went to a bottle shop ( liquor store) got what I wanted, went to pay with savings card, just about to put my card into the machine, and ' beep beep ', " approved" ....WTF ??? The damn machine picked up the 'tap and go' on my credit card that was in my wallet ....in my left hand, a good distance from the machine. Its happened to me a few times now. So, I went to my bank and got the tap and go component deactivated . They are too dangerous an what happened to you is the reason why . But yes, I would warn others and notify your bank as it could be happening to other people without their knowledge , and , they may be able to do a trace back to the offender. There are RFID materials or devices that prevent it happening, but you shouldn't really have to, or alternatively , deactivate the tap & go . Also, some banks ( here in Oz anyway) charge a little extra for that " convenience " . HS

Married to what ??

Thats how I run my old Seiko STW , ' formerly' a twin needle . Thankfully I have more than one set of feet . HS

They are turning out to be quite a significant find there chuck Apologies to Fred K , this is his ' rambling' thread HS

Not sure what fossilsed bones look like, but thats what came to mind. The two pieces centre and right have an almost even shape, as for the one on the left , fossilised alien?? Good find though. Any paleontologists on here ?? HS

G'Day, I have almost completed a recipe book cover, front and back for a client using 'hinged Split rings' , (google that) .They come in different sizes , I am using 32 mm . Basically I have made lined hand stitched leather covers sightly bigger than A4 and to accommodate the holes on A4 the pages ( provided) , but no spine. The client can add or remove as many pages as they want. The pic is of a rough diagram that I provided for the client . \ HS

@fredk and they don't have different colours, they all look the f**k'n same , drab & dreary ...and tacky . Kids in school could come up with better designs...and colours. We all use more colours in our leatherwork than they do on a house, crazy!! HS

No, never Don't wish to go too far off topic, but our lives can change in an instant. And as @chuck123wapati said, I cherish the space I have and what I have . I used to live in the southern ' burbs of Perth . I could never go back, it would make me feel claustrophobic , and, in all honesty, the busy crazy cities are f**ked !! Here, I have fresh air, I can see my my neighbors , but they are at a distance* . Its damn cold in Winter, stinking hot in summer, but I wouldn't change it for all the ' tea & china' . Apart from the utilities, govt. charges etc. nothing is owed, its all paid off. Not something too many people can state considering the misery people are facing when it comes to those stuck in a endless grind stone of debt,( monster) mortgages, high cost of living and so on. * the houses in Perth are now built so close together , you could literally jump from one roof to the other. " Little boxes on the hill side" My 2 cents worth...+ tax HS

I've often thought about getting a metal detector and just go around my property , just out of general interest, might find some of the tools Dad lost over the years, lol I enjoyed Time Team when Tony Robinson and the other regulars were on it.One of the TV series I really enjoyed was ' Worst Jobs In History ' hosted by Tony Robinson. He takes a hands on approach and gets involved . Some jobs were just totally gross, and some were just down right dangerous. The safety skiver is what I use, haven't really needed anything else. HS

Stunning work You'd do really well selling those in the ' Top End' of Oz, ....no demand here in my part in the south . HS

You did good on all of it Love the weave and the border patterns , they really stand out . Well done Do you mind if I try the weave pattern? Just courtesy to ask. HS