Handstitched

I modified an awl and a few needles by heating them up with a mini blow torch , a small vice and pair of pliers, and slow curved them, just like in AS book of hand stitching. Handy book I have a little portable camping gas heater in my workshop. Thankfully I have plenty of ventilation . Using fans atm getting hot now. One is an old vintage ' Hoover' fan from the 70's, works heaps better than cheapies . Keep warm friend HS

The entry fee for each exhibit is $1- , $2 at most. What do you win ? Not very much . Depending on how many exhibits are entered, you might win $2-3 bucks for each win, , maybe $5 , but its not about the money, thats only a token . Its the winning certificate at the end. Theres prestige , bragging rights , and the acknowledgement of your skills, promotion of the craft . For those in business ( like me ) , its good promo advertising . There is an entry fee for the whole show in general , kids, adults, concessions, etc. I understand. Its a bit different here in Oz . The exhibitons are either displayed in a tin shed at the back of the local footy oval, , or a huge exhibition pavilion. Theres sewing, knitting, flowers , wood work, metal work , painting , food, cakes, beer, wine, kids arts & crafts....leather craft , etc. all under one roof . Theres a multitude of arts & crafts etc. in different sections and classes, and the Judges have experience in those particular sections HS

@chuck123wapati Just checking in friend. How's Wyoming? cold I'm guessing. Its really starting to heat up now down here . I've only got 3 more markets to go and then a nice well earned Christmas break , and then back into it late Jan early Feb . But before then, I have a heap of orders to fill . Doing a mad dash to get them done in time . One of which is cylindrical / tubed shape for a board game, to make it portable . The client is a lawyer...so I better do a good job eh? Did some practice today , with the help of ' Uncle Al ' . Haven't done a lot of hand sewing ' round' stuff before. HS

I was due to Judge leather exhibits at a few metro shows south of Perth , Western Australia this year, only for the organiser to contact me to say , "there aren't any to Judge " * The same happened last year too. .It just left me wondering, why? Is it cost, loss of interest , a bit of both ? While there are some at our biggie, Perth Royal Show, where I've Judged before, , none at the smaller shows. In previous shows where I've Judged before, there was a good turn out of exhibits . Mostly quality work too...a few ' not so good' as well, but mostly quality . And I always try to give positive and/or encouraging comments on each exhibit , even on the not so good exhibits. Even exhibits for other handicrafts were a bit bereft . *the exhibition sheds have quite an assortment of handicrafts , including leather. HS

Hear hear. I had a few groans 'down there' , and, expecting the worst , I thought, 'those 'lil 'mo fo''s' are going to make my life very painful soon ' ....but they must have broken up on the way out....best kind. One of my (worst(?) boo boos as a kid....on a building site ( aka play grounds to a kid ) with mates on our push bikes : bricks, + scrap wood= ramp. This 'Evil Knievel wanna be' thought he''d show off in front of his mates...pedaled as fast as... flew over ramp...front wheel lands in a pot hole, epic fail!!!, ...bent front forks, smashes face into ' goose neck' ( handle bars) no padding back in those days, it damn well knocked me out cold . Lesson learnt...avoid pot holes. HS

@chuck123wapati Heres a sneak peak....shhh...don't tell Our Christmas Turkey in the freezer. Next to it is one of the packs of sausage meat for sausage rolls, a popular fave here in our house . HS

Just had a chat with Chuck, quite envy all that food. Although we don't have Thanks Giving here in Oz, I do have lot to be thankful for Happy Thanks Giving HS

Thats something we don't have here in Oz, ' Thanks Giving' . Quite like the sound of that....all that food.....AND an extra Turkey ....yummo . Although we did get our Turkey and ham ready for Christmas . The Turkey is around the 9kg mark. We get ours from a commercial supplier that supplies to restaurants etc. The ones the supermarkets are a ...small . Ham is about the same size. And, as always, nothing goes to waste....it just goes TO my waist ..lol . Mum has been stocking up on all the ' nibblys', cake mixes etc. Hope all goes well with you and yours . Enjoy Happy Thanks Giving BTW home made Turkey gravy totally rocks !!! HS

One of my fellow marketeers has a similar one, from brand name tool company , she got it for free. As far as I know , it works quite well. Mostly used on icy cold mornings while setting up our stalls. Not sure how long the battery charge lasts for, but being a heating 'element'(?) not long I'm guessing ? HS

I don't do any kind of ' social media' ...period. Never have, never will. LW.net is the only site I go on to chat with other like minded crafters HS

I'm sure I've posted these pics before somewhere on here .....but here goes.. don't laugh.... This is after I've tidied up....not so pretty atm, its a total mess . I have two of those big cutting boards now + one smaller one , and I've upgraded my heating arrangements . I also have a mini mini "museum" ....just stuff I've collected, on display all over the workshop ...pics to come later...maybe. HS

How dare you be so neat Quite good , yours is also neat ....wait til you see mine Love the tins of Neat Lac you have . I have two tins, but not for use, contents all gone hard, they're ' museum pieces' now, on display . HS

Being brand new, I would have thought they might have some sort of protection, like wax paper, or some sort of oil coating to prevent that from happening? HS

Thats something we don't have here in Oz, 'Thanksgiving' . So that means you have two roast turkeys, Thanksgiving and Christmas ...I like that I have a lot to be grateful for, one of which is I woke up this morning Good luck with your house, and Merry Christmas & Happy Thanksgiving HS

Is this of any use? https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/18265-book-on-restoring-vintage-western-saddles/ HS

You've done a great job, but have you decided on a colour for the deer.....hmmm?? Looks great cleaned up. HS

Don't tempt me But I do live in a small town...perhaps not , people might I've gone a bit strange

G'Day, I did the same, but kept getting ' Benz' automotive info. I did a few variations on searches, but nothing . However, I did find this: https://www.liveauctionworld.com/JUKI-DLN-415-4-SINGLE-NEEDLE-SEWING-MACHINE-WITH-BENZ-ZN2-POWER-SUPPLY-BENZ-ENUA-Z22-STITCH_i17807172 . Thats about it.Not much to go on . I typed in ' BENZ ZN 2' as part of the search. Only found a few references to auctions, but all machine were Juki's You could try contacting ' Juki' ? HS

I've only done one line of stitching on sheaths with blocks/ welts where the edge is, turned out fine. Looks great btw . HS

Some very fine work indeed. I'll have to practice a bit soon as I have a board game to convert from a square cardboard box, to a round portable leather case . It has a soft felt like board, not a hard board. HS

Nawww...thats soooo cute I have made tiny little leather bags for Mums teddy bears that she makes, but not boots . That looks cool though You need to do a 'shoey' with a mini bottle of champagne for that pun *** me!!!!!!!!!.... just spat my beer out HS

I'm taking a break at Christmas , so this will be my ' Christmas project' , it'll be too hot to work outside. HS

I found a pair of knee high black 'goth boots' with huge 5-6 " platforms at an op shop ( charity shop)for about $10 bucks, in good nic too . I have a heap of huge 40-50mm rocket spikes, studs etc. so I'm thinking of 'spiking them up' with extra ' bling & buckles etc.and whatever else I can think of, ...purely just for the fun of it , and perhaps for a display at markets. By the time I've finished with them , they'll be a lethal weapon HS

I have a headache now

My 'ye olde pooter' won't open those files. Bugger