Handstitched

Thats quite a smart looking bag and the design on the back . I am biased, but I love the colour, my fave colour, blue .

I've had my 441 clone since 2005 , and it goes very well, touchwood I got it from ' Q stitch' in Queensland. HS

Get this, I'm not far from our local air strip ( here in the bush west Oz) ) . The emergency services aeroplane flew over our house a short time ago. I can tell by the sound , it also flies right over our house, I can see the lights. The same plane that took my Mother to hospital just over a week ago. It hit me , and Dad , like a ton of bricks. Never expected that to hit a nerve the way it did. Thats going to be a constant reminder . I also thought of the family that may be going through the same experience that we went through. Deep breath !!!! Phew !! HS

Bugger !!!! Wishful thinking .

I needed that It does remind me of ' Rimmer in ' Red Dwarf being chased by someone from ' inland revenue ' with a hammer in his hands, across the the other side of the universe. " Now where's those little thumbies ??? " HS

All good somewhere near ' Lefflers' Leather ?? Now that would be handy eh ? HS

G'Day, I haven't had a chance to take a pic of my plate, but I did find a sample pic. More of a 'slotted' plate than a holster plate, pfft, does the same job. . I use it for just about everything belts , cases , making holes ...etc. works great . I have my machine set up just the way I want it. Out of general interest, roughly in what part of Oz are you? I'm in the Central Wheatbelt , WA. They call it the ' Wheatbelt' but its mostly Canola . Should call it the ' Canola Belt ', lol . Smells l like rotten cabbage when it flowers !! HS

Theres been quite a few of those moments lately. I just read all that, thats actually quite beautiful. I can see the wave coming, but knowing that I'll survive it . Thank you both for sharing Peace

Yes, I'll try to HS

From the pics , it doesn't look to bad, condition wise. A bit of surface rust, sure, but that can be cleaned up. Will you give it a new paint job or keep the original patina ? Look forward to seeing the end result. HS

I'm sorry for your loss as well, and thank you for sharing. I feel that the more I talk to people and write about it on here, the slightly better it gets, although my nerves are still a little raw at times. Right now I''m just mentally exhausted . Its been non stop since Wednesday , formalities, paper work, finances, arrangements, lots of phone calls, emails , finalising stuff etc. The weekend will help to clear my head a little . Talk about force of habit, I did a roast chicken last week, and I poured my Mother a glass of wine.... HS

I use a different plate, a holster plate yep, these brute of machines can take up to 20mm .

Yup, I've also used my big 441 clone machine for that as well , mainly when time is of the essence, holes are nice , neat and even . HS

why do you keep finding these barn finds ??? not fair Dry as a bone eh ? A shite load of WD 40 will do the trick Yup, Like 'Pringles' , , ' once you pop, you can't stop ' HS

Mr Sheen perhaps ?? just kidding and where its cracked to buggery ( esp. last pic) , some water based dye , sealer & conditioner . HS

@RockyAussie as silly as it sounds, bunnings do sell 'zenith' brand line 24's ( here in west oz anyway) . They're not too tight or too loose , great for knife cases etc. who would have thought? HS

Do you have any pics ? that would help too This is just a wild crazy suggestion, and not seeing the pics, you could try finishing it off?? " Use the force" ..just sayin' HS

Yeh, different brands/ suppliers work different. Some are loose, and some are just too damn tight. I have tried using up my ' odds & sods' of press stud parts, by mixing & matching, not so bad if its just one project, no good if you have quantities . The punch idea may work though HS

I have many friends that I have made at the craft markets over the years . One of which, her and her hubby are very crafty, she does some pretty fancy hand made quilts, and he does picture framing. We've known each other for years. They have been helping me through these tough times. The more I talk/write about stuff, the ( slightly) easier its becoming, and people on here sharing on here helps too. I still have my difficult moments, but I'm getting through it . So thank you to all for your support HS

@Frodo & @chuck123wapati Thank you so much to you both and for sharing The people in my local community have been very caring and supportive as Mum was very popular and well respected amongst the locals . It was just so unexpected , no warning, no symptoms . Chuck, when I was talking to her and holding her hand , I could feel Mum trying to hold mine, I take great comfort in that, and yes, they can hear your voice . Hearing is one of the last senses to remain. Frodo, it will take a quite a while. My nerves are still very raw. No-one heals completely from loss . And just writing about her and talking about her does help a lot. I went into her sewing room recently, her life is in that room , I stayed in it for about a minute, ...and walked right out again ,couldn't handle it. Too soon . That will take time . Thanks again, HS

In the early hours of Friday morning , June 16th, ( Aust) I lost my Mother, she was 89 . She fell ill Thursday morning, unable to speak, only managing the word ' headache' . Rushed to our local hospital and then she was airlifted to hospital in Perth. What was thought to be a a stroke , turned out to be a massive brain bleed , too dangerous to operate in a dangerous location, , an operation that would have had no benefit, the damage was too great.. So she was made as comfortable as possible . She was heavily sedated , not conscious , and not in any pain . I went to the hospital in Perth (Thursday, ( 3hrs drive) I talked to her, held her hand. Apparently they can hear your voice. I stayed as long as I could, but had to leave and look after my Dad . I got a phone call from the hospital in Perth around 4.15am Friday morning (aust time) to say my Mum was gone. The worst phone call I've ever received. . Thats how quick it was. The shock is huge. She was fine Wednesday night, no symptoms. We were both very close, plus we we did craft markets for the last 18 years. She was my best friend, not just my Mum. Peace HS

Is that Cane Toad leather? the texture looks very similar as I have worked with Cane Toad leather myself . Nice work HS

Off topic : have you ever been tempted to try and play it ? I have an English ' hunting horn' in my collection of ' stuff' . My lungs aren't up to the task of blowing it ..yet. HS

I so love that weave . I googled that, not much luck here in Oz . Thats one stamp you don't want to mess up HS

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