Hello From Se Oklahoma

[Hello From Se Oklahoma]

Welcome aboard Ms. Anna. Where at in SE Oklahoma? I used to announce a rodeo in Hugo, OK. That's pretty SE!! Anyway, welcome.

[Last "christmas" Order Done]

Thank you ladies for the compliments.

Renee...I use Fiebings paste antique. I tried the gel once and didn't like it a bit. The color on this project was called Sheridan brown. And it was applied after two coats of RTC resist. Hope that helps.

[Last "christmas" Order Done]

Here's the final Christmas order out the door. When the customer ordered it, I told them I couldn't guarantee it by Christmas but I'd try. Well, to make a short story long, I was going to have it done by Christmas and all would be good. On the day I got ready to dye it, I remembered I still needed to groove it where it folded. So...I take out my groover, groove it right where the lines were, folded it together and...aaaarrrgghhhh. One side was 1/2" longer than the other. I then proceeded to find my center point, measure, and again...aaaarrrggghhh. 17 divided by 2 IS NOT 8!!! Bottom line, I had to start over again from scratch. I called the customer and told them what had happened, and they were fine with it. I still got it done while it was the same year...LOL. I don't call it a mistake though...just good practice! Anyway, take a look and let me know what you think. Hope God richly blesses you in the New Year.

[One More Out The Door]

Tim, Bob, H....thanks for the nice words. It means alot to me. Be blessed.

[Bible Cover Mate]

Here's another order done. It's the mate to a Bible cover I posted before Christmas. The customer ordered one for her sister, and the other (this one) for herself. She said not to worry if her's wasn't done by Christmas. Gave me a touch of breathing room...LOL. So I guess you can say this another Christmas order out the door. Anyway, take a look and let me know what you think. Stay blessed all.

[Spur Straps]

Purdy punchy lookin'! Nice work.

[One More Out The Door]

Thanks Tobin. I've seen your work. You do a fine job. Just keep practicing. I'm still a long ways from where I want to be myself.

[One More Out The Door]

Thanks for the compliments gang. They are greatly appreciated.

Renee...that color was achieved with a light coat of EVO, RTC resist, and sheridan brown antique.

Sherlock...yes I used a beader blade for the inside line of the border.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas. It's an amazing time of year. Be blessed everybody.

[One More Out The Door]

Thanks Country....I'm thinking Gremlins have invaded my computer. I just clicked on the photo and it was fine. Earlier, it was blue and green and in sections. And, I keep getting e-mails from weeks ago like they are new. Very odd. Anyway, thanks for the compliment. I hope the customer likes it.

[One More Out The Door]

Okay....so is it just me and my computer, or is the first photo all weird?

[One More Out The Door]

Here's another Christmas order out the door. This is a repeat customer. Hopefully they will be pleased. I kinda like how it turned out with a few exceptions. I used a pre-made insert for the guts. Not sure I'll go that route again. Found it real difficult to get things to fit properly after the tooling had stretched the outside in places. I may revert back to making my own guts so that I can fit the guts to the outside instead of trying to fit the outsides to the guts. At any rate, take a look and let me know what you think. I hope all of you have a blessed Christmas, and remember why we are celebrating this time of year...we are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be blessed gang.

[Another Order Done]

Thanks Matt....and yes it was a very tiny lil gun. But, bottom line, the customer was happy and her hubby will have a Merry Christmas!

[Another Order Done]

Havamal....it was for a S & W 380 Bodyguard.

Update....the customer came and picked it up and was blown away. I thought she was gonna give me a kiss for a second...LOL. She was pretty happy with it to say the least.

[Another Order Done]

Q....how very true. Those pesky customers with their silly requests...LOL. I guess I kinda had to listen to this one though. They ante'd up a pretty nice sum to have it done by Chritmas.

[Bible Cover]

Thanks rosiart. As for colors, etc., this one had the background and edges dyed with Fiebings brown oil dye, then light coat of EVO, two coat of RTC resist, mahogany paste antique, then Tan Kote. That's about how I finish everything. The only part of that equation that changes is dye color and antique color.

About the patterns, maybe I should reconsider. I've got someone else who wants me to send them patterns. Maybe one day when I get some time I can sit down and draw up some and send them to ya'll. I sure don't have any that I use. Like I've said before, I just kinda lay out the circles and start cutting.

[Bible Cover]

Thank you Ms. Renee. I appreciate it greatly.

[Sorry For The Extra Large Pics.]

Before you know it, you'll be working full time in your shop. For the past 3 days, I've been staying in the shop until 12:30 or 1 a.m. trying to get Christmas orders done. What started as something to "unwind" from being on the road in my "real" job, has now become a full time job. I need to get back out on the road to unwind from the shop....LOL.

[Sorry For The Extra Large Pics.]

Very nicely done Ms. Renee. And yea, this can get real addictive in a hurry.You'll really be amazed in a couple years when you look back at how far you've come. Although, you've set the bar pretty high for yourself. When I started, I set the bar real low....LOL.

[Bible Cover]

Thanks hornm. Hopefully, I'll get some feedback from the recipient. Alot of times, customers will call and tell me if they like stuff or not.

[Another Order Done]

Thank you ma'am. It really looked cool until I oiled it. Customer wanted it a darker color, but I do think I'm going to be doing some green background stuff here soon. It was pretty smokin' when it was a lighter color. But, alas, the customer is always right!

[Another Order Done]

Here's another Christmas order done. Holsters really aren't my forte, but it kinda turned out okay. I really liked the green dyed background. And, for such a tiny lil pistol, it paid pretty well too!!! Take a look and let me know what you think. Stay blessed gang.

[Bible Cover]

Thanks David. I was happy with how it turned out. I hope the customer is as well.

[Bible Cover]

Thanks guys for the compliments. I wish I could be in agreement with you about the "as always" part, but I still add to the scrap pile from time to time...LOL. Stay blessed.

[Bible Cover]

Here's the first of a batch of Christmas stuff out the door. Thank goodness alot of my customers are close by so they can stop at the shop and get their orders. Anyway, have a look and let me know what you think. The pic of the back is horrible, but my picture taking skills aren't what they're paying me for...LOL. Be blessed.

[Shop Apparel... What Do You Wear?]

Sylvia...I feel for you. My old shop was in the big garage. I tried to enclose an area with plastic tarp to keep some heat in the close proximity of where I was working. Didn't work too well. At that time, I worked in Carhart's constantly. Wasn't much fun. Thankfully, I didn't have the volume of orders I do now. My shop now is about 12' x 25' ish, and separate from the garage. When it gets real cold (I live in Colorado) I run a couple of electric heaters. To take the early morning chill off, I'll fire up the propane heater for a while. Yea...propane heaters, coiled extension cords, fumes, etc., are probably not up to OSHA standards, but I used to ride bulls so I'm not really too afraid. I do what it takes to work for me. I will not work cold and miserable. If I wanted to do that, I'd sign on to dig ditches or punch cows.