Handstitched

Unless something has to be glued, I always dye and seal the inside ( flesh side) of everything I make. Always have done. HS

One of my friends is a ' quilter' and she showed me her very ex$y machine, around the $12-14k mark. OMG !! Very impressive. She does it as business and does great work and just one quilt could be in the hundreds. The machines I could buy with $12k?? HS

Heres a link...I think: https://www.leathermag.com/features/featurerusskaya-kozha-finishing-plant-opens-in-lorca/ It does reference ' concerie cogolo' , third paragraph You could also try searching: 'concerie cogolo tanneries' as I did. HS

Is it just me , or does that ' ink stain' look like a foot print?? What was it resting against in the closet?

That would be quite a comfy reliable vehicle to drive The down side of old ' Landys' , they ain't comfy. They're not built for speed or comfort , just work, but they do have a good low range. . After a weekend of 4 wheel driving ( back in the day ) it feels like I've done a workout at the gym . Heavy clutch ,and steering , no luxury of power steering. But if it gets a few dents, get a hammer, bang 'em back out again. If the battery is low, use a crank handle to start it. Can't do that these days. No way would I take a fancy latest model modern 4WD in the bush, too much to go wrong, and one scratch and its devalued by $5K lol . HS

and thats a discussion we've all had before, one of the many reasons why I love this site

Thank you to you both. @Frodo You really have opened up a can of worms HS

Can't you be artistic with stamping tools as well? The stamping took a good few hours to do, and the design is my own . The sky really is the limit . HS

When it comes to carving or stamping, the sky is the limit . You can be artistic with either. You can incorporate both if you wish. I often doodle with tools on scraps with designs( either carved or stamped) that I thought of. If they look good , I go with it. Theres certainly a sense of individuality when you come up with your own designs. Its yours, and no one elses HS

$60 - $65 bucks. I used to make tobacco pouches, but the demand has dropped out. The cost of tobacco in Oz is astronomical. I also used to be a smoker , gave up ' cold turkey' 25 yrs ago . ' Tobacco was around the $20- 30 mark for 50 gm pack, but now anywhere around $70-80 upwards, therefore I hardly ever make pouches these days . HS

I, embarrassingly have a pic of me somewhere after I just had a hair cut for one of my first jobs , I was a wee lad. My fringe is shockingly poor, not to mention very embarrassing . Looks like someone put a breakfast bowl on my head and cut around it.. ....baring my inner most here HS

They are really good. Don't much work with ' hair on ' leather, but they are nice. The stitching stands out nicely. I also love the images on the press studs. HS

My machine is set up for 277 M10, #24 needle.

@chuck123wapati " land rover is one of the best trucks ever made.. at least the old ones were" I have x 3 . A pair of 68 LWB's ( one being an ex military) and x1 62 LWB . All original. They all have stories. They just need some TLC...and a few cans of AeroStart ( ether) get them going again LOL . HS

Its actually me and my damn curries , sorry 'bout that. Its been over 25 years since I last jumped in my Landrover and disappeared somewhere in the bush . I admire what you do There used to be a shoe repair kiosk at a shopping centre where we regularly go in Perth . I'll stand there and admire his machinery , but just last month, he was gone. Don't know why...he just left and the kiosk has been removed. Now theres no-one to do repairs. Shoe & boot repairers are a dying breed here. Sad. HS

Yep, I have a belt , my very first one, that I made almost 18 years ago. Never touched it. I just put it on every day, still good to this day With the exception of horse saddles & tack, I don't think I've ever spent 1/2 hr on maintaining leather. HS

Is that any good with upholstery thickness leather? HS

I like that. Not much into guns, but thats nice. Its about time I made a few more holsters, mainly cos they look good carved and for the experience and make good ad displays at markets etc. HS

Funnily enough, we really do have whats called an annual ' Fringe Festival' here in Oz . Arts & culture etc. HS

We used to have this company called...um .. Tandy?.. here in Oz I should have bought some while they were still open . Ended up making my own, just me and a very sharp knife. HS

Where & how are they stored when not in use ? If the place where they are stored is damp , no wonder you have mold. You could try a damp cloth with a mix of vinegar & water or rubbing alcohol & water. Don't soak the leather . You need to kill the spores that cause the mold. Just a few ideas. HS

I have a ' speedy stitcher' awl with a #24 needle from my 441 clone in it. That pic reminds me of it. Only used on particular repairs or projects. I also have other awls that have smaller needles in them , thats all I ever use for my handstitching. HS

Great minds think alike . I have seen something similar on a brow band on a bridle. HS

Its a needle that steals your last beer and eats the last slice of pizza I haven't heard ' jerk needle' before, but I have a few speedy stitchers . I have used them on rare occasions, depending on the project or repair I am doing where appearance isn't an issue . I guess, with practice, they can be used to do a nice stitch. But I still continue to use the ' two needles & thread' set up. HS

Another idea, mix a little black dye into some white leather paint, just experiment with it until you get the colour you want. HS