Handstitched

Well done on the win I am Judging the leather section again this year at a show in the southern 'burbs' of Perth ( Western Australia) Last year, I was called in to Judge, same place. Went into the exhibition hall..........there was just one belt...and that was it!! I couldn't place it, it had no holes to do it up . One of the criteria is that it must have function. Not the first time either. At a prestigious Royal Show one year, ,my first item to Judge was a belt...lovely carved belt...but no holes. I couldn't place it. Love to see the look on the exhibitors face when they see the Judges notes ( mine) We have our own country show this year, I have leather stuff to exhibit. See how that goes...I'll also be Judging the Judges. I made a few boo boo's. See if they pick them up eh? HS

In many instances, the markdowns are the foods that are soon to expire ( according to the label), they also have to get rid of them according to ' the rulz' , but, .... from that point on, is where the 'dumpster divers' take over HS

That was a popular fave back in school. But now, they seem 'bite size'. Most chocolate bars ( amongst many products) have reduced in size as well, but the price hasn't changed . I don't pay full price for anything at the supermarket these days. I wait until they are marked down, especially meat . HS

@chuck123wapati "My biggest issue and i wont give folks a second chance is selling low grade leather for higher grade leather" I put my response here, as its off topic, and about food. The one thing that has been p****ng me off about supermarkets lately , is selling 'lamb' especially leg roasts , but I know damn well its mutton . We used to get it all the time, it was cheaper. Cook a mutton roast slowly, its just as tasty as lamb, and theres 3-4 meals from the left overs. I thought it just disappeared.... nup , they just re-labled it call it "lamb" and charge more for it. But any type of roast, or any type of meat , is now becoming a luxury item these days. Thank God my Mother taught me how to cook as soon I could reach the stove , and be frugal at the supermarkets . HS

I think we all need to go to 'specsavers' , cos after sewing that, we'd all be 'crosseyed' HS

@Gulrok You don't say where you are located ? Here in Australia, the biggest problem is....we don't have enough tanneries, and not enough suppliers ...therefore, up goes the cost, because most of it comes from O/S. Freight costs is something no-one can control . Here in Oz, our " express post" used to be just that, express, sent out the next day..or so . But now , "express" = sometime next week ?? Suppliers need to be more descriptive in their ads . Describing what each item is used for, tools , materials etc. especially for the newbies entering the world of leather. Some things are simply out of anyone's' control. But they need to keep on top of what they have, and double check the orders. I've already have a few stuff ups this week because someone didn't read the order properly , and I end up with the wrong size, or wrong product . But,on the plus side, they do their best to correct their mistakes, with no additional cost.. They haven't asked for me to send the incorrect item back , they let me keep it/them. They are courteous and polite , well, those that I deal with are Good luck in your venture . HS

I have a antique typewriter in my shed...somewhere, it comes with a wood carry case ( a bit rare to even have a case I think) , similar to the case in the pic. The case needs to be recovered , so this would be good for me to learn as well. It's been on the ' round-to-it ' list for a while now. Some old cases once had a ' leatherette' type material . It would be good to see the finished product. HS

I've been using a kitchen chopping board ( not a cheapie) ,for all my cutting tools, but its a soft plastic, not hard. The hard plastic will blunt tools in no time. If its good enough for expensive knives, its good enough for me . HS

They're around 5-6 bucks a doz here, sometimes more , totally crazy . But we have a couple of healthy chooks that have been laying constantly, thats a blessing, but we still have to buy chook food, but that gets supplemented with kitchen left overs , scraps etc. that keeps the costs way down, besides , they taste better. My Mother would love you & your Daughter, she's a big fan of rabbit . She's from the 'olde' world when it comes to rabbit. Her Father ( my Grandfather) once said to her, "never buy a dressed rabbit from a butcher" ..in case its a cat . HS

Looks like someone took some stoopid pills . more like 'NFI Syndrome'....' No F*cking Idea ' syndrome . I bet they could sell sh*t to a horse ! O'h well, now they have somewhere to put those ' trashy' outfits . HS

They are in big demand these days, they don't last long. Hope all is well in your universe. After a frustrating few days, a lot of driving in bad weather for leather supplies, our market for Saturday got canned, and frustration with a customer, *sigh* ...I decided to cheer myself up, found a cheap-ish T bone steak and a few ' snags' ( sausages) at the supermarket and cooked em up on the barbie and ate them straight off the BBQ plate, yummo , ( no washing up) all washed down with a beer...feel better now Butter chicken next week. I won't cheat, I'll have a go at making my own butter sauce from scratch , I'll try not to mess it up. HS

I have a 'Pfaff 60' . It's a domestic machine, compound feed, but happily sews thin leather quite well ( Schmetz leather needle) . I use it for kangaroo leather ,wallets, wallet inners etc. If you can find a similar machine , like what @Wizcrafts & @fredk mentioned? Its quite handy to have more than one machine in some instances. HS

This sounds familiar. One particular brand of thread I once used ( here in Oz) was so tightly wound on the spool, it was causing all sorts of tension issues. I had to manually unwind the thread off the spool for a few metres or so, or enough for each job to loosen it up, and then wind it back on by hand before I could start sewing. Needless to say I no longer use 'that' thread again. HS

@chuck123wapati well done on that handy chart. @BigLeatherVic Theres a multitude of items that can be made . I use 1.2mm/2.3mm ( 5-6oz) on bags, wallet outers , small coin purses, cases, scraps can be used for book marks, key rings etc. You're only limited by your imagination Have a play and have fun HS

I still keep seeing these 'newbies' arriving at various events. Once again, they struggle to put their ( cheap) gazebos up. On the one hand , I feel automatically compelled to help them put it up, show them how things are done, introduce the organiser, show them the facilities at the venue etc., I had to learn myself once, but on the the other, I think...stuff it. "they need to learn" . But then I feel kinda mean after....what a dilemma !!! I do suggest for a newbie with your new gazebo.....have a practice run the day before the event. One person may be able to put it up, but two is better. And...weigh it down, otherwise you may get the feeling "you're no longer in Kansas anymore" . If all else fails...read the instructions?? HS

I have also tried free ads on the interweb on various free ad sites , newspaper ads etc. Zilch !!!! Even had a quick interview on a local radio station a while back ........... Nothing !! I have flyers & business cards on my stall, at my workshop . I go through those pretty quick. HS

x 2 I second that Removing them can be tricky though, an angle grinder on the other side....but they may get a bit hot and make the leather smell..or a large pair of side cutters in between the layers of leather. Copper is soft enough to cut through. Or just cut the leather HS

No matter how many times I've watched that, still cracks me up . Imagine that as me, covered in dye? ....with my middle finger extended instead of a hat ???? Sh**********t!!!! Thank you friend but don't forget the bar snacks HS

Not knowing your location, not sure if this helps? They're in Montana . https://www.outfitterssupply.com/Stainless-Steel-Spring-Snap-Hooks-Spring-Snap-Clips/productinfo/WHW200/ They are available here in Australia as well. HS

They're spring snaps. I have some of those in amongst my horse rug repair hardware, 25mm. Don't even know why I bought them, never used them I use quick, square & round snaps & scissor snaps mostly. HS

It would be just my luck I'll blow myself up trying that out "here lies HS after he tried an experiment he saw on LW.net. " HS

For about 30 mins or so I kept getting " this site cannot be reached " ( here in Western Australia, 4.30 - 5pm ish au time ) , also got " resolving host" ...nothing...nada...zilch . All the other sites were working fine. Got bit anxsy ... phew HS

100% agree I've tried other forms of advertising with very limited success , some of my customers have even put my name & trade about on social media ( something that I don't use myself ) and, to date I have not had one single customer come to me as a result of social media , goes to show how well that works, .... but WOM is the best HS

Just recently, I had a customer who needed a replacement halter. So, she went a local hardware shop in another town. That hardware doesn't sell them ( some hardware shops don't just sell hardware ) , but, that hardware then contacted our local hardware , our local hardware then said...." O'h theres a bloke here that does leather & horse gear..." etc. Customer contacts me. Me: " Yep, I have two of those left" All good ( she bought both) , One Happy customer HS

Yep, I can see it. It'll be a good chance for me to practice the herring bone stitch , I don't do it too often . HS