tojoful

Thank you Chain, just joined the group this morning after reading your message. Have already been given some great advice/direction from one of the admin on the group. Thanks heaps

Thanks Aussiemade, yes I have just in the last few days stumbled across the Birdsall website, it looks good - in price and in the variety of stuff they sell. I saw on their website they have lessons as well - I'm born and raised in the bush and small country towns, hate driving in more than 2 lanes of traffic and avoid cities at all costs. I might just have to toughen up cause they are only a couple of hours from us and look to have some amazing lessons on different things, for us learners and also for the experienced. Plus it would be great to look and feel (and smell) the products instead just seeing them on my computer screen. I'm going straight over to look at the leather workers guild website now, I've been looking on facebook for "groups" but not finding much at all. Thanks heaps for your help. Ta Jo

Thank you everyone for some great advise and pointers on where to start. Sorry I haven't been back to thank you before now, like I said I'm new to forums as well and have been reading other peoples posts on here instead of coming back to check mine. Aussiemade - We're in Newcastle/Hunter region NSW. I don't have to encourage her at all, she is very keen to get started. JLSleather - thanks for the offer, I'm not sure how to message you but will experiment. Yes I almost went over board on tools etc - looked at total of shopping basket and was up to $600 - without leather and without all the fancy tools and stamps I'd like to buy! Had to clear it and start again with just the things we need to get started. So many things to get, so little money to get it with I've bought pre-cut belt lengths to start with, but will definitely have to buy some leather. I looked at different knifes and didn't know which sort to get. The strap cutters look like a great tool, for now we just have a retractable craft knife, but will get something better when we start buying pieces of leather. My brother used to be a butcher so will get a lesson in knife sharpening off him. Have also ordered some basic tools off ebay, (9pc hole punch, edge beveller, stitch groover, awls, needles, thread, alphabet stamps and one of those cheap 20pc stamp sets which are probably no good but it's a start. Also got press studs & setter, rivets, buckles, resolene, dye, conditioner and a zoingo boingo (lol -just trying to trick you, that's for my other daughter). Now just have to sit back and wait for the mailman to deliver it all - which since it's almost Christmas will probably be mid January! Guess we'll research some more while we wait and look up the links you guys have given us. Thanks heaps, will definitely put up pics of her attempts for guidance/feedback.

Hi, we're mother and daughter (13) . My daughter is horse mad, (but sadly we don't have the room or money to buy her one), I think she loves leather because it's a smell familiar around horses. Anyway, she has made a couple of belts under the instruction off an old saddler, who was going to teach her more things like bridles, pouches etc. Unfortunately he is no longer able to give her lessons, so I am trying to learn from youtube how to do leathercraft so I may be able to teach her some more basics. I like to dabble with art and can sew so I guess I'm a little bit crafty (have never sewn leather though which i know is completely different). We are going to have a go at making personalised dog collars and belts and try to sell them for a bit of money to afford to buy more tools and leather and make better products. She wants to get into saddlery but is way to young for an apprenticeship or anything yet, so at least this will give her a bit of experience/exposure. Just trying to work out the most basic of tools we can get away with to get started, so much googling it is making my head spin but at least I discovered this great site, which I'm sure will be invaluable to our learning. (I'm new to forums too, so hope i have posted this right ) Thanks Edit: according to IP address, location is Gladesville, New South Wales. I suggest everyone include their location in their profile, so local peoples can add or help with sources, etc.