rodneywt1180b

Beautiful work and congrats!

If you need to cover a lot of tools it might be worth looking at clear vinyl tubing in the hardware store. It comes in different sizes. Bring a couple of your tools with you. Try to find a tube that fits tightly. If you dip it in boiling water it will get softer and slide on easily.

I joined this site with the intent of learning to cover my cane handles. Seeing things like your journal cover makes it hard to maintain my focus. I'm not starting one any time soon, but I think my daughter might like something like that. I like the diamonds.

Very classy looking bag.

You might try the Victorian Sweatshop forum too. http://www.victoriansweatshop.com/?forum=501752 It's a forum dedicated to vintage and antique sewing machines. Rodney

Optimum workshop? I don't think there is such a thing. I look at mine as a continuous work in progress. It changes as my needs change. Mine is small, 10ftx20ft, and packed with a bunch of woodworking equipment along with a whole bunch of wood and a lot of misc. stuff that has no place in a workshop. Nowhere else to put the other stuff at the moment. Maybe someday. I think even if I had 10 times the space I'd still fill it up.

Soft stretchy leather to start. (Figures, right?) The soft stretchy leather is actually an advantage for me for forming the leather around my handles. I already ordered the safety skiver. It should be here soon along with some more leather and a few other odds and ends. The plan is to have nice neat rolled edges at the ends and seams on my cane handles. Unfinished edges on my leather work are one of the biggest and easiest issues for me to resolve. I know that a round knife is more versatile (almost like it was designed for leather work) but I also expect the learning curve to be much steeper. That's the main reason I didn't look at knives first. The skiver will get me started quickly and with less risk of cutting through the leather in the wrong place. I've also been following the current thread on skiving stretchy leather so I'm hoping that will help too.

If you plan to contact a wood turner, I know at our club's meetings the president will generally announce to the members if they know of anyone looking for something made. If you contact the club through the website they'll probably do something similar.

Barbedwireboutique: I see Boise has a woodturner's club that meets regularly. http://mkmk.com/swiwt/index.php I don't know how far you are from there but it may be a possibility. There's also a club in Spokane - Inland NorthWest Woodturners - if that's closer for you. There may be a member in one of the clubs that's close to you and willing to do the work. I do some turning but I'm not set up for smaller, finer stuff like what you would need. Also, I may be making assumptions but those look like standard hardware store dowels that you started with. They tend to be pretty plain and somewhat on the soft side-at least the ones at my local store are. As another sort of middle of the road option you can get dowels in a variety of decorative woods. Here's one supplier though I've never used them. https://www.bearwood.com/wood-dowel-rods-walnut-maple-oak-dowels.html I'm not trying to be pushy. I just think your barrettes are nice enough they deserve a pretty stick to go with them.

I'm just happy I didn't have a mouthful of coffee when I read that.

I think you nailed it.

What the others said!

I just thought of this. Are there any wood turners in your area? Your leather work and designs are great. I think some custom turned sticks in some pretty hardwoods would take your barrettes to the next level.

I sell on Etsy and for the most part I like it. Fees run just over 7% total between Etsy's fees and the financial transaction fees. On Etsy SEO (search engine optimization) is everything. You can't sell your product if people can't find it. Don't be discouraged if you start slow. It took 4 months for me to make my first sale. New sellers don't have a proven track record so buyers tend to be cautious. They look great, I also checked with my 14 year old daughter, she likes them too. I don't think you'll have any trouble selling them. Rodney

Between it being an awesome bag in it's own right and the personal connection of the antler and moose hide I'm sure he'll love it. Great looking bag!

Looks like it's going to be the safety skiver then. Thanks!

I don't have a maker's mark yet. Just a brand, if that. The name of my Etsy store is A Sturdy Stick. While I like the name and the initials are an accurate description of the owner they don't work well for a logo. While some of my canes could take a stamp others would be difficult.

I'm about to order some more leather and plan to get a skiving tool to go with it. Primarily I want the skiver for doing turned edges on my cane handles. Since I lack any skill in skiving I'm looking at these styles first instead of a traditional knife though I'm open to a traditional knife too. http://springfieldleather.com/Skiver-Super http://springfieldleather.com/Beveler-Safety Both appear to use the same razor style blade. Thoughts, suggestions? Thanks, Rodney

Great looking bag! I like the flannel lining too.

I think I have that same arbor in my shop waiting for me to put it to use.

Nice looking cover. Whoever gets it will be pleased.

Sweet looking knife! You've made a LOT of progress in your tool making. Rodney

You all have some really nice work spaces. My leather working tools are in my wood working shop in 2 cardboard boxes right now. Actually one of the boxes is my "leather storage space", the other one has my leather tools. Not much to take a picture of.

Beautiful work. One problem though. It's too pretty to sit on. Rodney

It's too pretty to sit on. If I could do that I'd frame it and hang it on a wall.