Big Papa Leather

Looks great. I think your use of the little bump out design adds character and visual appeal. Two thumbs up!

Thanks for the comments. It was a fun project, but the stitching seemed like it would never get done! Andy- Sure use the skull if you like, I can send the digi copy I used if you like, hit me with a pm if your interested. UKRay- the view is MUCH nicer when the lake is full. We have a view of the cove and when the lake is at the proper level the grassy area you see above the bag is all water. If you look closely you can see a boat dock that is dryland. I spent part of the day Sunday "mowing" the lake. LOL! The area just to the right of the photo is owned by the community and is where the community park is located. We are going to take advantage of the low water level to bulldoze the boat slip area and create a better swim area for the kids. Tom- Yes the Nautical star is popular in tattoos. It is also my favorite as well.

Here is a purse I recently finished up. It is from the Bruce Johnson pattern book, Bruce so kindly offered a month or two back. It is 5-6 oz Hermann Oak leather, with a brown 4-5 chap leather. All hand stitched. Including the zipper. It was a fun project. Thanks Bruce for the pattern and Thanks ATX for the chap leather Allen Oops missed the back.

What are the cons on this machine? Can it handle making handbags with 5-6 tooling leather and 4-5 chap? Keep looking? Allen

I sharpen stuff for a living. I have and do sharpen ceramic blades quite successfully. I have posted a few times with the proceedure I use. Mainly the use of aluminum oxide abrasives. Chip repair and re-profiling can be accomplished with ceramic with some work. I have never attempted a Ruby blade, but plan on giving it a shot the first opportunity. I have a guild brother who has one but has not asked about sharpening it yet. Allen

Try www.lasergiftcreations.com Brenda will treat you good and at about $35.00 it's hard to beat. Custom makers stamp in just about any size. Allen

I would airbrush the skull a few light coats of a light brown and/or tans with some darker accents to show shadows and then use a red or blue to place a halo/aura around the skull, follow with a border color that is darker, dark brown or black around the halo/aura. Then blacken in all the beveled areas inside the skull (eyes, mouth, border ect with black) then resist the whole thing with the resist of your liking, then use a highlighter or antique to accent. Finish with a double loop lace or if your really wanting to set it off, use a double loop 2 color lacing and use the natural lace and dye it to the halo color and the second color to be your border color. Just a thought, Allen Now I wanna make it. LOL PS Good work and nice looking skull. edit to give props

No storms here. Ya'll got them all. I wish we'd get just a whole boat load of rain as the lake is 14 foot down. I can't get the boat in the water without driving like 1 miles to a different boat ramp. Sheese the inconvenience. Allen

Rawhide, You are becoming quite the eagle keeper! Good job. I like it. Allen

I too was not a real traditional floral type carver, however it ig definatley starting to grow on me. I am finding myself drawn to it a bit more. But the "other" stuff is more of my cup of tea. I do skulls and tattoo flash mostly. I prefer the older style tattoo stuff from Sailor Jerry but am afraid alot of it is getting played out by the teenie-bopper t-shirt Ed Hardy stuff. Oh well... Allen

Ziggy I like the designs. The colors on both are cool, but the chick really is good. I want to do a rockabilly type theme on a wallet soon. Allen

Anyone interested in helping me out with a couple ideas using chain maille on some purses and bags? PM me and we will discuss the particulars. Thanks

Here is my take on it. Don't do it. Unless you write each person a personal email and ask that they sign-up for an email list or introduce them to your new newsletter. Then I would use a private/commercial emailing service to manage the list. I have used Mailchimp successfully and they do all the work with unsubscribe and spam issues. It is a double opt-in and sometimes that is a pain and you loose a person or two in the opt-in process, but then you know the people you have on your list are people who want to hear your message. Johanna is correct you will find those who throw a fit about spam. I think it is rediculous that I must opt out of most forms when I buy something or book a hotel. If I wanted an email from the Hyatt hotel twice a week I could sign up for it. Not that I must unsubscribe because I booked a room. Petty yeah, probably. But that feeling and sentement is very common. So write them a personal email, plain and no pitch other than your invite to recieve the newsletter and use a double opt in service. Just my opinion. Allen

Well, I wanted to put together a gift type item for myself and our local high school's "Project Graduation." I wanted to do a portfolio but I didn't have the time I felt it would take to make a portfolio and blah.. blah.. being lazy I decided that I would make what every high school graduate wants, or at least gets one of... A Pen. It started as one for me and one for the project graduation. It turned into a whole slew of them. I will post one here. This one is elephant with 24k hardware. Rather than post all of then you can click the following: Visit this Website Let me know what you think. Allen

Cowboy316- Thanks for the comments. ATX- Yes, she really likes it. She carried it Easter Sunday and made sure everyone could see it as she walked around before and after church. Thanks for the kit as well. You made it much easier for me to get it done before Easter Sunday. Allen

Here is a bible cover I did from a kit. The pattern is a Chan Geer and I added the doves from a different pattern. The Sheridan is inverted carved. She wanted a rubber duckie and Yoshi so I put those on the back. Let me know what ya'll think. Allen

I want to make a couple bags/purses and would like the handles to be braided. Being that I already have my head stuffed full of other frustrating leather "I need to learns", I was wondering if anyone was interested in making a few that I could purchase. Please contact me with a pm or send me an email and I will get you the particulars, (or better you can walk me through the stuff you need to make the handles.) Thanks Allen note to mods... Whoever moved this message, WOW that was fast! I was unsure where to post it so now I know! Thanks

FRENCH? Just sayin... Allen

Awesome day there Rawhide. Very reminiscent of the day me and 2 other of my Longhorn Trail Guild members had a month or so back. We made the rode trip from Austin to Hidecrafter's and spent the day with George. If you see the March newsletter from Lonestar CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom of the pdf you will see the story of our visit. The photo shows (starting on the left) ATX aka Sam our Vice pres of the Longhorn Trail Guild, Me.. George has his arm on my shoulders and Danny our President. We had a cool meeting at the store and then lunch at the same diner! Sounds as if he is quite fond of the place. We didn't get the story of the football, but of his military service and his time at Tandy. He is a real cut up and not the monotone guy on the videos. If you get a chance to hang out with him you will walk away with more leather information than you ever thought one person could possess, and that is just what he casually talks about! Imagine if you had access to actually document and pick his brain. I had a blast and hope that I get the chance to hang with him again. Allen

I like it. The little piece marked Ipod Nano is a technological wonder. You made that nano look just like a piece of leather! Absolutely amazing. But in all seriousness. The case looks great. Is it designed to slip into a pocket or does it have a belt/pocket attachment? Allen

I wouldn't be concerned about ordering ANYTHING from Hidecrafters. I have found them to be 100% friendly, helpful and prompt. They have gotten a bad rap lately as they do not have an updated catalog or real web presence, but I truly think that without a doubt they do just a good of job or better than some I have dealt with. Allen

Hidecrafters sells a kit, but it does not have a top strap. Would be simple to add one to it. Allen

Man, I'd sport those in a heartbeat. Tell her she did good. Allen

Looks good! Allen

Thanks for the props. I use a 600 grit belt for the final polish. That way I do not have to polish with a rouge.