Handstitched

@Spyros Just ordered x 16 black roo hides from Packers Qld. It was a " last chance offer" . Some are o/runs, and some are rejects. Don't need them right now, ...but... ....they are good for soft phone & assorted cases, bags , repairs , etc. and black being a popular and common colour . ' Black goes with anything' . HS

One method I have used in the past, for a carved piece for eg. flowers, I use a small brush on the flowers ( only) with a super sheen sealer, perhaps a few coats, let dry fully , and then apply the antique dye on the main body and over the now sealed flowers using a swab, but quickly wiping off any excess with a slightly damp cloth. The outside/main body is dyed, but the flowers remain natural . There might be a little dye on the flowers , but hardly , and thats it. Its fiddly I know, but it works. Another technique I learnt from somewhere on this site in the early days: I used to put my antiques directly on dry leather, with varied ( and unsatisfactory) and blotchy results. Then I started to put some oil , like neatsfoot, or phane oil over the stamped/ carved pattern , let soak in , and then I apply the antiques and cut back with a damp cloth. All the antique dye stayed in the stampings/carvings with much better results . I've been doing that ever since. HS

If it was me making that decision, I'd be going for the Consew. Mainly because its a common recognisable and reliable brand, and for the availability of parts . I don't know too much about the Mach 3 . Have you seen any user reviews regarding the Mach 3 ? HS

They're called emery boards. Don't ask me how I know that and I won't ask you about the make up aisle ..?? But it is a great idea for fiddly items . ' Q' tips or ear buds are great use too in leather work , dyes, adhesives etc.

There are some items that can only be sewn by hand.

That looks quite good What is the contents out of general interest ? Is the press stud pressing against whatever is inside ? HS

I tried that link, it didn't work, it froze my computer up . It may work better on a newer computer.

Op Shops are a good source of old or unusual , weird & wonderful buckles, & hardware and various haberdashery . My Mother sews & knits a lot, she finds buttons, knitting needles etc. patterns ( sometimes rare) that she can use. Good way to recycle too @Spyros I also take advantage of ' specials' , and any discontinued items that are heavily discounted, I may not need them at the time....but.. HS

The young chap is a little young to run a butcher shop ...just kidding I feel your craving, I've looked everywhere for them . Nothing comes close. Now to make our cravings worse: bacon steaks cooked over hot coals, with fresh eggs, a few sausages, and black pudding ( aka blood pudding, or blood sausage....Scottish recipe) , and fresh hot damper ( Aussie bush bread ) , and perhaps a beer . Sorry HS

I always over order these days. I once only used to buy a ' few of these, and a couple of those' etc. But now I find I'm ordering stuff in bulk, buckles , rivets in the 1000's etc. Its a case of rather having too much than not enough . Nothing more frustrating than having one piece of h/ware, or some dye short for a customer order. . I also buy stuff that , at the time , I don't really need, or I don't think I need , but I buy it anyway, it may come in handy later. Some excess stock can be sold on at markets etc. You'd be surprised what people ask for sometimes. So, no you're not an idiot HS

Thats largely down to 'some' parents, they can be just as annoying as the kids. Hope they were sanitised ? Ha !! . On some items that haven't sold, I have marked some prices to make them "look" like they've been reduced. For eg. If an item is say, $50 , I'll alter the price tag and put "was $70" . A bit sneeky , but it has shifted some old stock. HS

@Frodo I've tried looking for those bacon steaks........no chance .I may have to go to some ' boutique' butcher . While on the subject of food, after Christmas, when the turkey & ham have done their dash, both the carcass & bones are frozen for Winter and then used for some really hearty & tasty soups. Yummo HS

@Spyros The only time I offer a discount is when a customer buys ' um , one of those, this...this...that, ...aaaand... a few key rings ' . I'll calculate the total, and perhaps round it down a few bucks . Or a kid with their pocket money may only have say for eg. , $4.50 for a $5 key ring, I'll let them have it for $4.50 . HS

perhaps make a nice bag with a piece of hair on skin as a feature, a throw rug , make a whole hair on bag ? A display on the back of the settee? Wrap it around yourself and pretend you're a Viking? Thats just silly... HS

I would like that same option for people that try no knock my price down . They must think if they can do that at a 'quaint little market run by some poor soul trying feed their family' on an o/s holiday, they can do the same to me......o'h no they can't HS

Here in Oz, we have ' Triple J ' , no commercials , just good music to suit all genres , from shoe gaze, rap, hip hop , sunny twangy guitars, to death metal and so on.. Lots of new & local material . New artists and musicians can go on ' Unearthed' so they can upload & 'strut their stuff' on the airwaves . They also have ' Live At The Wireless' live bands & artists playing in the studio. I kinda compare it to the late John Peel . The Peel Sessions , remember them? HS

I had two pints of Guiness for St Paddy's Day. I'm not Irish....but what the heck . Actually my ' ye olde' ancestry is Welsh..... I think. Which may explain why I eat leeks a lot ...??.. Just a giant spring onion really. I don't know a single word in Welsh, except ' Cymru' ( Wales) . It helps to have a gob full of snot to say it. The Guiness was yum btw HS

I price everything, customers like to see prices,( regardless of laws) and so do I when I shop . They can make a choice. I have swing tags on my belts, and on my stubby holders , knife cases etc. , but I put price tags inside purses , because the one thing people do when they pick up a purse...they open them ( but rarely close them) , and prices are on small signs for various other items. @Spyros from the NSW 'Fair Trading' web page: ' Under Australian Consumer Law, businesses must display clear and accurate prices. ' So, they could well be breaking the law . HS

The only name that comes to mind...in Melbourne...is Lefflers ? Yeh, I too tried to order stuff from them . I gave up trading with them years ago. The only leather suppliers I deal with now is Birdsalls, Mac-lace leather, Packers , Adelaide leather and NSW leather co. agent in Perth . HS

I saw " shrinkage" , and thought, ' yeh that happens as you get old'. I don't think I've had that issue with leather shrinking. But like you said, it depends on what is being made . If anything , I have noticed a slight increase after tooling. Its like tenderising a piece of meat . HS

Thank you my friend. We all need to let off some steam now and then , but its good to do it with friends that also feel so many frustrations I couldn't agree more. If I die, I would love to die naked covered in dark chocolate , cover my bod....o'h ....wait..?.... Damn my subconscious .... @chuck123wapati yeh, I hear ya. I bought some trophy type buckles some years back...they were crap, very tinnie, cheaply made. In the end I just sold them cheaply ( and was honest with those buying them) as it was financially unviable to send them back . Never went back to that company again. Lesson learnt. Peace HS

Each and every time I use my Juki 441 clone, I think of 'that time' and keep my fingers well away from the business end of the machine. Just imagine putting one of those needles through your finger ? The one on the left is the Pfaff 60 needle, the one on the right is the 441 clone needle . Ouch !

I try to remake leather pieces if badly damaged, rotten etc. but I hand stitch and I also match the colour the best I can . The leather often breaks right where the buckle heel and pin sits , whether its cheek straps, reins , bridle/halter components etc. For me, it has to be a good job as a lot of my customers are associated with equine clubs . It has to pass whats called ' gear check' ( safety check) in some clubs. HS

Thanks for your replies good peeps. There are many times we get attacked by the ' fed up & p***d off ' virus, so its good to just vent . @Spyros & @Tugadude A lot of my hides come from Italy . I'm just going to stock up while I can atm, as we don't know what will happen with freight, cost etc. in the future. I may have increase my prices to compensate . Our 'lil ol' hick of a town only has approx 1700 people...no bank, that closed down Nov. last year and nowhere to park right now due to the redevelopment . The journey just to collect the mail each day has doubled ( no mail boxes where I am) . The foot paths are all over the place, so its a bit like 'bush walking' to the post office each day. Feel sorry for the elderly & the disabled . Businesses are suffering as a result . I really can't see the point of it all. They should have left it the way it was....people were happy , not any more they're not. And , our 'lil 'ol hick of a town now has no mobile phone service . Its been down since yesterday , and the townsfolk are p***d off !!! That would be classed as seconds here. I guess it would be too costly to send it back . Feel free to vent some more HS

Not sure where to put this rant. Today I ventured out to the 'big smoke' for the first time in about 8 months + to get some leather . I've been avoiding heavily populated areas because of COVID . My supplier is over 2hrs away in Perth WA , they're also an agent for NSW Leather Co. . While I did phone ahead, and they are very helpful, didn't have everything I needed, except the few hides I regularly use , just enough to tie me over., so I grabbed whatever I could. I could have it couriered out, but I like to see what I'm buying. The remainder of my order is at least 1 month away as a result of massive floods in the east, one of the main rail lines connecting the east with west got washed out and has only just opened, and on top of that, we're still dealing with COVID. Operators can't work if they have COVID....putting all freight services under pressure, causing all sorts of issues. Shop shelves are nearly empty . Our state 'gubment' even changed trucks rules to allow triples into supply yards etc. to catch up. On top of this, thanks to Poo Tin 's war, the price of fuel has gone through the roof. 'But wait theres more', as they say in the ads ..... Many events, markets , fairs etc. have largely been cancelled...and ........my local regional town council decided to "redevelop" the main street ...and the carpark where I hold my regular stall, and what a major f** up its been. .......... Thats me out after 12 loyal years, with no guarantee of a return, thanks a bunch I'm working solely from home now , may as well be in lockdown . Dam it, time for some chocolate!!! **sigh** Sure hope things are a bit easier for you where ever you are ? HS