Handstitched

Theres been so many helpful ideas, but yep , but here in Oz, we call it ' grease proof' paper, different names for the same thing. Works a treat HS

Nice neat and tidy, and yes, that colour really stands out HS

We're also here to help 'The impossible we can do, miracles take a little longer' . Not sure where I heard that. Thats the one thing that working with leather has taught me, patience . Its been quite a long time since I threw something across my workshop HS

Thats a great idea , I like that I'll have to show my woolly leather creation. I thought the Joe 90 carrier was a good guess though, lol . You have to be of my " vintage" to know who that is. HS

There are times where the "simplest" of jobs often take the longest to do . We don't make mistakes , we create new ways of learning HS

Its to carry your own personal ' Joe 90' character in ? Think about that now HS

That looks quite good I wouldn't mind getting one myself, mainly for the historical aspect or for historical display . I have a collection of old ' stuff ' on display in my workshop. HS

One technique I used on fabric linings, I sprayed the other side with a few coats of matt sealer, as used for sealing drawings. It will go a bit stiff to begin with, let dry, , but then I was able to put ( brush on) contact adhesive on the fabric without the bleed through. might work better with a spray adhesive. Just a thought. But first test to be safe . HS

For me , a lot of guess work was involved, measuring, cutting, adjusting, shaping, marking stitch lines by hand etc. ...repeat. . I have learnt that what works on paper or a cardboard template, turns out to be different when used on leather. Just when I thought I had everything right, measurements etc. , nothing fitted the way it should have. I used a length of PVC drain pipe for the shape. Not sure if this is of any use to you. That link never opened. HS

Yep tis' that Looks like a drop feed, not walking foot , no reverse that I can see. Light to medium work, upholstery etc. # 69 thread , and perhaps a #40 HS

Great looking work You've also reminded me to get cracking and make some for stock . HS

I made one of these years ago for a truckie . Just thought I'd revisit the pattern . Getting everything to fit right was a challenge. Leather is just a 3mm VT , Ken Griffin pattern , on the body and lid, 1.2mm vt on the bottom. Theres a few things I could have done better ( I'm sure we all say that when we make stuff) . The lip of the lid could have been deeper,but I also had to make sure I didn't cover the pattern, and perhaps the pattern didn't have to be so wide. And I didn't have the clasp I wanted, so I use what I had. But, in saying all that I like it, and I'll learn for next time. HS

I have used Buffalo hide before. But what type of Buffalo I can't be sure ( I still have some left) . It was ' on special' on a suppliers web site. What I ended up with was good, around 5mm thick but it was waxy on the grain side, black chrome tanned . It made nice belts etc. But I soon realised why it was so cheap. When I made a belt or a dog collar, the black kept coming out...onto a customers dog All the sealers I have didn't work. I ended up using a water based ( wood) varnish to seal it as "NeatLac " was no longer available, and the equivalent to was too cost restrictive in freight from the east. ( can't be air freighted ) . HS

' Thor & Zeus got together for a one night stand. Thor gets up in the morning proclaiming his sexual ' prowess' . " I-am-Thor !! " " You're thor !! How do you think how I feel ?? " replied Zeus HS (C'mon @Northmount your turn, you started this )

' A nun in a convent that has taken up a vow of silence, is given dispensation by the Mother Superior every Christmas to speak a few words. " Sister, have you anything to say? says Mother Superior . '"Yes, my one of my sandals has broken , I'd like a new one. Another year passes " Have you anything to say?" " Yes, the nights have grown colder, I'd like an extra blanket please " Another year passes, " have you anything to say? " yes, my robe is getting thin...." " Sister!! says Mother Superior, in the past three years, have you got anything better to say , because all you've done is whinge , whinge , whinge !! " HS

A piece of of history went up in smoke in ' Elizabeth NJ' " ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Over 100 firefighters battled a blaze Friday at a New Jersey industrial park that was home to the Singer Sewing Machine factory for more than a century." https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/new-jersey-firefighters-battle-4-alarm-blaze-former-106131415 Thankfully no-one was in the building HS

' A bloke goes into a pub, sits down at the bar and orders a pint. ' Would you like anything to eat?' says the barman. The bloke looks at the menu and says , yes I'll have the ploughmans lunch please' . Here you are sir. A voice yells out , in a Somerset accent,, " 'ere , who too took moi lunch ?? ' HS

Just search for shoe polish recipes , or ' how shoe polish was made' . Just don't go for ' Mrs Beetons' shoe polish, it will most likely kill you as it contains sulfuric acid. HS

Will do The ones I saw quite a while ago , the wood was a mess almost completely rotten in some places. . It was case of ' head v's heart v's bank account ' Some more will come up one day no doubt. HS

Ours minds are truly aligned friend . Something I've been doing for quite a while. It helps to fill in any imperfections along the edge after sanding. I try to use up the old hard bits in the tin . I don't use any sealer after application , I just use a lot of the ol' elbow grease to get a nice shine. When doing multiples, the less work the better. HS

Theres something very satisfying about bellows. Great job on that, and ' repurposing' materials too I enjoy restoring them . Got another on the bench atm , to be started . On my bucket list is to restore some black smith bellows, nearly did a while ago, I had my eye on them, but they were a bit too far gone. HS

That machine looks weird. The amount of time money and effort gone into that could have gone towards a decent leather machine. HS

A bit off topic, in amongst some leather stuff I was given, was a jar of home made 'leather dressing' , mostly made out of pig fat a bit of wax , I opened it up , OMG the smell was putrid, I threw it out HS

My first thought that went through my head, it would be totally impractical here in Oz, too hot and heavy . The only other thought I had was , many years ago, I was contemplating using Possum skins in my leather products. But then as chance would have it, a customer, from New Zealand, came to my stall and we got talking. She makes Possum skin products, she made a bed spread all out of Possum skins and it was beautifully soft and warm, bit cold in NZ I'm guessing . Possums are native to Australia , but a pest in NZ. Cheap in NZ, but cost restrictive in Oz. ( they're welcome to our Cane Toads , lol ) Anyway, as I've never made a leather bed spread, perhaps make a template of the bed, to make a rectangle shape of the bed, and perhaps use a soft fabric lining on the inside. Or you could just keep the natural shape and neaten up the edges, but I'd still be using a soft fabric lining. Sewing it on will be interesting . I can't think of how else you could do it. HS

Its been difficult year for some of us, so lets hope that 2024 brings us all good cheer and new creative ideas . Hope you all and the mods and the good peeps on here and your families have a safe and Happy New Year HS