Handstitched

@Marievee I know I'm biased, but I have a well serviced 54 year old Seiko STW 28B, ever reliable, I mostly do horse rug repairs, but also light/ medium leathers .Never heard of ' Jack' machines before until now . @chrisash they are belt driven . I've never had to do it , and hope I never will, but to change a belt, I guess it would be like changing the timing belt on a car engine , don't dare get the teeth in the wrong place, or " clunk ka- ping !!" HS

How about a boot patcher? Just a thought?

@Grindaur You've done quite well considering you haven't done it for a while. I'll be pulling out a few unfinished projects, some that have been staring at me on my bench for the last 6 months, but mainly the ones I threw in the ' too hard' basket ,and um...threw across the workshop( one is 16 years old) .... and a few that I simply didn't have time for . I normally do markets ( that have been canned) so I've been advertising locally a fair bit , and also sending texts to my ( horse rug) regulars letting them know that their repairs can still be done as the cooler months approach . I don't do FB, but a friend of mine has kindly offered to put my leather business on FB for me. While restrictions are still in place, a lot of the panic & hysteria seems to have calmed down here in Oz. Theres a few 'pin heads' that ignore restrictions but apart from that, everyone is doing the right thing, with 'tentative' positive results . Stay safe all HS

G'Day, You went on a cruise? ....and lived?? What a legend When was the last time you did any leather work? Those straps look quite nice. Well done. I did think about ' re-visiting' an old past time myself.. ....exercise ...mmnah !! ...I'll stick to leather work . I've just been doing a heap of tidying up, re-arranging etc. to turn my meagre workshop space into a "shop" ..of sorts , but at the same time leaving enough room for me to work. It was never meant to be a " shop shop" , as most of my business is done at various markets etc. but I have to make do and get creative these days . Things are looking a 'little bit brighter' as far as the virus goes here in Oz , but restrictions are still in place for the foreseeable future , here, they're talking 6 months . Stay safe HS

Not bad for someone thats had a break from leatherwork . The stitching is just fine . So I'm not sure how you can improve something that already looks great. HS

Yep what @Matt S said. Most times I use a spacer, sometimes I use a pricking iron...and sometimes I just guess, but using my accumulated knowledge. I don't want to make it too perfect To this day, no-one has ever said that ' stitch isn't quite right' . HS

My leather supplier has been kind enough to just give me a heap of sheep skin off cuts when I make a purchase. I only use the lighter colours, not the dark coloured off cuts for dying. I give them a nice trim into 2 - 3" pieces and use them a bit like a soft brush. But some years ago, an ' ex- leather worker' gave me a massive box of off cuts ( people often just give me .....leather....stuff ) , most of which I had to throw out as they were too small to be of any use, but I do find some pieces that I can use. That box of scraps has been quite handy to this day I still have two more huge bags I have yet to go through.....that someone else gave me, I've had them for at least 5 years . HS

@Bert51 I'm not even permitted to got to Perth from the wheatbelt ( unless for essential...stuff ) I don't think Dan Murphys is essential Ha They wouldn't know where I'm from anyway , I have private plates on my car, not country town plates, unless someone checks my licence . @Brooks125 I hear ya, I have a job to do for local on a pair of boots, but the materials I need I can't get online, as much I have looked. Yeh, I like to pick and choose my hides, if theres a fault or a blemish, sometimes I can work around it or sometimes they'll give me 'mates rates' depending on the hide. @chrisash Like the saying goes, " two heads are better than one" eh? The one thing I am finding a bit annoying, is the constant bombardment in the media, print or TV about the virus. Be informed and stay safe & healthy, absolutely, that is important, but the media do like to go a bit overboard or a bit ' apocalyptic' making bad situation so much worse . Stay cool & calm....and get drunk I love that Reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw once, " Don't drive naked" . Why not? Its my car? Take care, HS

I'd like to think I'll be making a few new creations/ products ready to sell on the other side of this hopefully out of the bags of scraps I mentioned, and a heap of regular extra stock ready, I need to replace a few things that I didn't have time for. Might even visit my early ' roots' of my leatherworking and dust off a few old patterns that I haven't made for a while, which reminds me, I need to sort out my filing cabinet, its choccas full of patterns , its a mess. . We have to remain positive I do have a small collection of those ' tarp anchors', some more in the workshop, one of which I use frequently as an anvil . Theres still some more I'd like to get. Lets hope & pray that this doesn't last too much longer, and that all on here and their families stay safe & healthy. Take care HS

G'Day, Like all countries , we're restricted to travel in certain areas . I'm in the Central Wheatbelt Western Australia, and we can't leave it , to go to the city for example , but "exceptions apply" , for eg.' essential services' . Our little country town is virtually a ghost town . Just need some tumble weed Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef and Clint Eastwood to complete the picture All markets have now stopped, and totally working from home , have no choice, and thank God for the locals, still repairing horse rugs and a few other bits and bobs , and doing various ' non- leather related jobs'( see pic) , as well as a few outstanding leather orders, (that I got before things really went pear shaped) . I did a 6 x 3m tarp alteration/repair , join 2 halves w/fell seam , 2" hem fit eyelets, its not leather I know, but a job is a job. My leather supplier can ship my leather out, but I can't pick & choose hides....cos they're 2+hrs away in the city, that sucks. But I know I can trust them . My thoughts are now turning to the bags...and bags of accumulated leather scraps . Tip the whole lot out on a giant tarp one arvo , see what can be used, and turned into something creative , after concentrating my mind , or sold as is...or just thrown out . I have plenty of time on my hands....now That was the one thing I couldn't make before ....time. I also have an old suit case that I intended restoring some years ago, might dust that off. Love to hear what others are doing or creating during these challenging times? Take care, HS

I have used a large metal ( 5mm) ' D' ring , 'O' ring or square ring to smooth those out on occasion, with a bit of ' elbow grease' . I don't wish to back off the foot pressure too much in case the adjustment screw comes out too much and goes through the roof of my workshop and leaves a large hole Its a pretty tight spring I'm guessing ? Not sure if I'll ever get it back in? Perhaps someone can enlighten us on that ? HS

While everyone is ' panic buying' toilet paper, maybe what I should be buying is ' tin foil' Does a tin workshop count ? HS

@Grumpymann A job is a job, I don't care how f****g weird it is Just another happy customer HS

I think this would be considered a ' weird job' . Anyone seen these ?? I was asked to make a ' pendant' for this ' WiFi'....thing . Well, according to the client...what sense I could make of what she was telling me.....its sorta like a ' WiFi ' ....repellent ?? You wear it around your neck and it protects you from the 5G .....alien... ....thingys I wished I hadn't asked, cos it took 20 mins for her to explain it. When I removed the paper from the adhesive backing, I saw a ' criss cross' of wires , like on a circuit board on the back . I just charged her $20 bucks for it , too weird for me mate . I did make a black swimming pool for some actual witches once , that spooked everyone from sales to manufacturing ( me included ) , so this falls in the same category of weeeiii..eerrrd !!!! HS

I haven't got a pic, but I have made some singles for .357 speed loaders . Simple one piece templates. Just think of the shape of a ' crucifix ' to give you an idea , because thats what my template looks like .It was helpful to have a fully loaded speed loader with me to custom make them. I hand stitched them . Its up to you or your client how the belt loop goes . HS

Got this from LW: Hi Handstitched, Today is the first day of *Spring*, and another day of uncertainty around the world with unprecedented shut-downs and closures. So here we are with 10,000 year old skills and lots of time. Do you need a break from pandemics and politics? Pour a cup of coffee and visit the forum for inspiration, for improving your skills and knowledge, for looking at the fabulous pics of work of everything from everywhere, and engaging with other leatherworkers who can teach you how to start a business, thread a sewing machine, find the latest tools and leathers, understand why your hands are dyed 4 different colors, and anything else you want to know. Laugh and learn, we are here for each other. Leatherworker.net Education, entertainment and fellowship We hope to see you soon! Leatherworker.net Handstitched Joined 08/18/2008 Last visit 03/16/2020 Total Members 82496 One particular bit made me smile was, " understand why your hands are dyed 4 different colors" . I used make fibreglass pools in a past life, and my hands really were a different colour each day. Mostly light blue, but dark blue, white, black or brown . Fast forward to today, my hands are a different colour...... again I'm just a colourful person I guess now is the time for us to hunker down , get our creative thinking caps on, and even work out what we're going to do with all those scraps. Or even finish those unfinished jobs ? Or maybe how to rectify those ' dummy spit' jobs, you know, those jobs you lost your temper with and threw across the workshop ?? But we don't do that....do we ? But I really do love the last bit : " Education, entertainment and fellowship " (* In all honesty LW, we only have two seasons here in Oz, ' alive & dead' Ha !! ) HS

@iron1951 You are much braver than me to pull the whole thing apart . No doubt you have good knowledge of machines to do that. But can't wait to see the finished product though . Good luck HS P.S. Can't help but notice your " secret stash" of toilet paper in the last pic.

With all the concerns with the c/virus atm , so many events are being cancelled all over Oz . So I contacted my local shire to see if I can still have my stall in town, mainly to cover my neck... and my P/L insurance, and the official word was "I can see no reason why you can't continue " Pheeeew !!! When I saw the Shire Council heading in my inbox , my heart was in my mouth, but it was good news, some saving grace in all this uncertainty . But they also said to " practice practicable social distancing" .... thats fair enough....... I guess that means don't kiss my customers when I close a sale Ha !! just kidding Stay Safe HS

We've all done stuff that we regret no doubt, and I think we can all learn from this. There was a brief passing ' thought' of me completely stripping down my 29 K 53 boot patcher, shortly after I bought it a long time ago , but I'm so glad I didn't after reading that. I think my intuition was on my side back then I gave it some love and a good dose of oil and it works just fine . I'm happy with that. HS

@spurdude101 I have a very simple saying, ' the only person I compete with is myself' . I never have and never will try to compete with anyone else . I'm forever learning, and I do my best to do a better job than my last one , even if I do make the odd mistake along the way in trying HS

@fredk Theres hope for me yet . I've heard of hand models, so I wonder if theres ' beer gut models ' ? ' What does he wear under his kilt?' Nothing, its all in perfect working order. ' This is going off topic now . HS

Just seen the " stimulus package" on the news. I was right, people like me, 1000's of self employed & sole traders don't get a brass razoo . I don't have employees , I don't have any assets to right off , nor do I earn up to $50 mil per year . I know a few chords on my guitar, perhaps I can go busking , and with a face and a gut like mine, modeling is out of the question HS

If we don't do firebreaks, we can get fined $ 250- . I have an old Fordson that does ours But between our town and the next on the ( shire) verges, the grass is 10 foot tall and theres dead/ fallen trees all the way along. One ciggy butt in 45+ deg heat and we're f****d , go figure? As far as the shire council is concerned, a ' firebreak' is merely a formality , thats why I make ours so much wider. I'd be happy to plough the entire paddock next time , and I think I will. . I also slash, even though its not required for our property , but thats for our own peace of mind . But you're right, 1.5 mtrs will do nothing. HS

I've already seen quite a difference in trade at the markets I attend. Numbers are way down, and all of us stall holders were thinking the same thing, that people are frightened to be in crowded places. Seeing is believing when I see actual $$ go into my bank account , ' tax breaks & holiday incentives' don't pay the bills, but will I get any help from ' Mr Bulls**t' bag himself? Not in a pigs ear !!! I'm not in his electorate Hear hear There are no fire breaks in residential areas, although not a bad idea, say on vacant land etc. but they are compulsory in regional areas for those that have acreage like us. They are supposed to be a minimum 1.5 mtrs wide( that varies from council to council) , but I make ours 2-3 times that . In the town centre, or 5 acres and under, its compulsory to slash weeds, tall grasses etc. Pity the local councils don't follow their own rules. HS

G'Day, heres a bit of an update. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-10/couple-who-lost-everything-shocked-at-recovery-grant-rejection/12038166 Not only did they suffer the loss of their leathergoods business due to the bush fires, but then it rained so much they were flooded out. God knows rain is a precious drop down under, but....... I've just seen a report on the ABC ( Australia) in regards to the financial fall-out from the bush fires. This business, like so many, had to go through a lot of governmental red tape just to get access to financial assistance & grants. During the registration process, the 'powers that be' said that their leathergoods business was listed as ' untouched' ( as in, it didn't burn down) so they had to prove that it did FFS !!! Now that process is to be ' simplified' ....apparently. How much hardship do businesses have to go through just to get help? Also according to the report, people( fellow leather crafters) kindly donated leather & tools to help them get back on their feet. Thats some saving grace HS