Handstitched

That sounds awesome . There are so many different types of curry powder . Just to mention a few that I have , are: dukkah, madras, Malaysian , Vindaloo ....and so on. You can also make your own to suit your individual tastes. If you do just be careful with Turmeric as it will stain your kitchen counters, clothing etc. maybe even leather)?) Yet to try that. Glad you're enjoying new flavours. And yes, chuck steak ( gravy beef) is a toughy , slow and steady, like brisket . Maybe as Winter starts to set in here in Oz, I may even try a simple mild chilli dish . I don't mind a bit of extra spice, but I have to be careful with Mum & Dad stomachs The Griswold came up a treat . Just need to find the time to actually try it out. This thing called life keeps happening. HS

@fredk The ladies love it....apparently . Maybe I should try some eh? Ha!

Welcome to the forum Do you have any pics? May be helpful. HS

This brings back memories. I spent all day washing , shampooing , grooming a horse I once had , hooves and all, it was all nice and pretty, ....and what does it do? Roll in the dirt HS

@TomE G'Day, I am in the process of replacing girth straps on a stock saddle, as I have done many times. Looking at your pics, you've pulled the saddle apart . I'm not a saddler, but I have replaced countless girth straps because the original leather wasn't up to the task ( blue/grey hide) , torn between holes mostly , or they have simply snapped. What I have been doing is putting the saddle on a ' saw horse' onto my bench so its up high, , tying up the flaps, removing the the old damaged girth straps from the webbing, making new straps using quality harness leather exactly to the original, using the orig as a template , and then carefully hand stitching the new ones back on. But....its a pr**k of a job. Apart for pulling the saddle apart, is there an easier way ? I had to take a break from the one I'm working on atm . My fingers were getting sore and my eyes were going ' crossed eyed' Thanks HS

@CowboyBob Perhaps you can help with this: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/100673-looking-for-help-to-value-items/ There is a Pearson #6 that the owner would like some help on, amongst other items. HS

@Spyros At a regular market I attend,, one of the other regular stall holders thats sells s/h...stuff, junk etc. , tried to knock me down on the price of a plain, but long belt. But as everything has gone up in price* , I wasn't going to budge on my prices . He kept trying to knock me down...I was having none of it, the harder he tried, the more I dug my heels in. He walked away in the end, I didn't care. However, at the same venue for an Easter market at the weekend, he came back...trying once again to knock me down... I dug my heels in deeper this time . " You drive a hard bargain over 5 bucks" he said. "If I kept knocking my prices down, theres no point in me being here" I said . He laughed, and paid me full price . *When I went to Perth to get some leather around 2 hrs away, I would normally pay around $30 -$40 in fuel, but as the cost of fuel has increased exponentially , I paid over $80 - . Its not just the cost of leather, but the cost of fuel to go and get it. I could get it couriered out, at a cost, but I like to see what I'm buying. HS

You have a lot of catching up to do . 'Mondoleze' ( Kraft) once owned our 'Vegemite' . You should have kept it!!! As ' Crocodile Dundee' once said, " you can eat it, but it tastes like s***t " . Its a bit like salty axle grease . HS

@Barnhart The first name that immediately popped up is ' Ed Bohlin' . Do a quick search on him and you'll see why And when you say ' parade' , I think of the 'Rose Parade ' ( see pic) Beautiful craftsmanship on that saddle though HS

I knew that I have seen those before. At a used machinery seller here in West Oz. It was listed as " shoe shop leather" "Sorry you missed this one, please look in our listings for more we may have, or phone us ***** . Price: $20.00" ( all sold) thats $20- each ...I think I did think about those a while back .....but thought....yeh...nah !! At $20 ???? Whats wrong with them ?? HS

Thats great new for all of us The relief you're feeling right now must be huge. Perhaps lodging a formal complaint to the trucking company may be considered ?? Have lots of fun playing with your new machine, you've deserved it . Happy for ya !! HS

Just started cleaning up the ol' #8 Griswold Waffle iron today. Its Good Friday in Oz, I'm not religious, but a good excuse to have a day off and do other things other than leather . I'll have before and after pics later. Happy Easter HS

No change at mine, still look like ' transparencies' on an overhead projector.

Coming along quite nicely HS

G'Day and welcome to the world of leather. If it came from a boot maker, the first thought that popped into my head was sole leather , for the soles of boots, shoes etc. as you did mention that its quite stiff. May also be good making leather sandals perhaps? HS

I either use a pencil, because most of the marks rub off with a rubber or disappear after shaping, bevelling etc. , or if the item is to be dyed black , I can use a biro ( pen) . The pen marks disappear when dyed black . Or if the leather is chrome tan in a lighter colour, roo hide for eg. I make sure I cut the leather directly on the line ....the line disappears. Too easy HS

Heres a few screen shots. Must only be in Oz.

That too. You've been very patient . I wish you well .

Is it me or has 'youtube' gone all ' transparent' ? Like looking through dirty glasses . It was looking & working fine before, even on my 'ye olde' compooter' . But now, its all over the place. The duration times on the vids are hardly visible, different size frames etc. What idiot thought it was a great idea to mess with it? If it ain't broke, don't fix it !!

Try two words... ' legal action' , and see what response you get . Any free legal advice you can access ? A sewing machine is not just a 'machine' , its quite a substantial investment . HS

Yey !! It arrived ...woo hoo !! nothing to do with sewing machines I know . I lodged a complaint in the ' lost or missing parcels page' of our ever "trusty postal service" ...I put the word " urgent" in the complaint...today it magically appears at my P/O . Amazing @Tequila any updates on your machine? HS

Thats a truly beautiful pic......of the machine The scenery is lovely too , cool, quiet and calming , and the horses bring you joy too no doubt. HS

Had home made burgers tonight, but I used the same ( mild) taco mix I used before ...damn tasty ....mmmmm Wednesday....is..... curry night , woo hoo !! Got some slow cook gravy beef today ( aka chuck steak here in Oz....true.....pardon the pun) . Not sure what you call it over there? It'll go in covered in the oven around midday, about 110 deg. c , , check taste & stir and thicken sauce, & increase temp to 150 about 4.30pm and come out about 5.30pm - ish served with rice & papadums....of course, and a nice red HS

I don't wish to hijack this thread too much, but thats just bloody clever. Do you mind if I try that? I just searched that name. Theres a lot of ideas & inspirational stuff . HS

Just about everything I've made thats needed shaping, knife cases ( leatherman types etc.) I've always wet molded . I guess another way is , although I haven't tried it myself...yet, is to wet mold two identical shapes, so you have two halves, leaving a ' lip' or an edge to stitch, so when dry , cut, shape, dye etc. and bring the two halves together, like making a home made Easter egg and joining them together, but you're sewing them instead of using chocolate. Just a thought. Never sewn chocolate before . Thats just silly . HS