MickWoolnough

hey, yep be there with bells on, looking forward to having a few jacks with some friends. im going to do clay banyai classes monday to friday and gabrielle's on the saturday

heres a tank strap i made for the sons fat boy

Hi Roo, Micks “other half” here, what a wonderful time we had at Dimensions in Leather, we are still in “Leather Heaven”!! Our minds haven’t touched down yet, it was so great, we don’t want to give it up yet!! Now we have to try to decipher all the info, our brains absorbed in just a short time. Michael and I were so sad when the week came to an end, and having to leave all the old mates, and wonderful new people we met in the week at Dimensions, but really, it is such a full on week, we couldn’t have kept up the pace of classes and socializing for more that a week, and we were especially glad to see that some of the younger ones were as wrecked as the “age challenged” ones like Michael and I.. We just can’t say enough to praise the wonderful people who worked so hard to make sure that we all had a great time. In the whole week, every time I saw Cherryl, she was running somewhere to get something for someone, I can’t remember seeing her sitting down relaxing, chatting, once, the whole weekend. Oh, and not to forget all that weeks of baking that she must have done to provide everyone with homebaked cakes and slices each day for morning and afternoon tea!! Thank you so much to the organizers for all the hard work they put in, it is greatly appreciated. Like you, I also had courses with Merv Rowland, what a privilege to just sit and listen to that mans stories, what a wealth of information and knowledge he has to share. And Merv cherishes his leather tools, Michael and I also loved his distain at badly made tools that “weren’t worth spit”, and non Dimensions people will probably think we are odd, when we turn to each other and say that something is “not worth spit”!! Thanks Merv for that expression, and thanks so much for giving your valuable time and knowledge to share with us. I also had classes with the Lorraine Tinniswood, a lovely lady with a wealth of knowledge, that she graciously shared with us all, even the “artistically challenged” like me. We made a lovely leather mask, with a leather shawl draped around, a leather bowl, and we had fun dipping moulded leather, and odd bits of leather into a boiling pot, and making bowls, and other fun things… Michael did classes with Joe Barth, and Peter Main, two great leather artists, and also great blokes !! He had done classes with them at the last Dimensions in Leather, and was so keen to learn more this time. And yes, we also spent heaps on those special tools that you can buy at Dimensions!! Michael was also very impressed with the demonstration from Tony Laier on Eco-Flow Dyes. (Oh did I mention that as well as classes all day, there were demonstrations most nights ) It was nice to meet Tony Laier and his wife, Kay, lovely, gracious people. Oh, and I picked Robert Witthann’s brain, on exotic leathers….too many wonderful teachers, and too much to tell of…. this email could turn into a book, all I can say is that if you have the opportunity, don’t miss the next Dimensions in Leather in 2011, the teachers are brilliant, and all the people we met were wonderful!! best wishes from Kathy and Mick Woolnough

Hey Roo glad to see you got home safe. yep a great time was had by all. and yeah we did hear a bit of a scream when you won Joe's bag. just think only 23 1/2 months till we do it again. im actually spending today finishing off my projects before i start back in the real world. take care mick

I think your reply is a wee bit over the top UK I think what Ray was saying is you cant be libel for someones gross stupidity..it would have to be death by accidental actions Mick

Hi there there is a leathercraft guild in Shepparton "the Goulburn leathercraft assoc , inc. A bloke by the name of Rob Felton who i met at dimensions in leather a few years ago is a member. Dont know if this is anywhere near you though. By the way Rob if you read this i lost your new email add. Mick

Hi We do a lot of work with stingray, wallets, purses and even a tool bag for a softail. i found that punching the holes from the back was easier then from the front as the tool dosent slip on the pebbles. i dont stitch all our projects are laced (well all stingray anyhow) after i punch the lacing slits i use a spirit dye close to the colour of the skin, hit it with topfix and your pretty right. the cartlidge is as tough as, even with a machine the needle slips on the bigger bumps. inlaying is one way of getting around the problem. by the way its a cow to lace as well, the edges of the pebbles wear your lace down realy quick.

As usual Peter's detail to design and depth and colour of his spirit dyes never ceases to amaze me Mick