JMixx

Thank you!

At a concert recently, a friend was having a problem with the inexpensive leather choker she was wearing. She said it was so uncomfortable that she had to take it off. So, for her upcoming birthday, I put together an alternative that I think will be more comfortable (and safer). The chains on the front are optional; they have lobster-claw clasps at each end for easy removal and re-attaching. Elastic is integrated for "give," and the the links on the adjustment chain in the back are "breakaway." Just sharing! Thanks.

Thank you all for those references!! I have been trying to get a "feel" for what thickness is how many ounces, just by handling the stock at my LLS (local leather shop), which thus far has been *way* too much information for my little brain to hold (on top of work stuff, pet stuff, to do lists, etc, etc).VERY much easier to have a chart, and try to remember that the "weight" in ounces correlates with the number of 64ths of an inch in thickness. Thanks again! Jennifer

Great color! And that looks like *really* heavyweight leather. What weight is it?

There are times when I have been able to say honestly that I gave it my awl.... My finger, that is.

Love your work, and your Chi is too cute for words! Jennifer

There is at least one good sewing pattern for a woman's corset, by Butterick, B5662. It could probably be adapted for use with leather.

Hi Saddleman, and you're not the only one! I just started fiddling around with leather in ?November? 2017, and I've not only realized how much I *don't* know, but I've also recently learned that I'm lousy at stamping/tooling! (Apparently it takes hours and hours of practice...) Good to meet another person starting out with leather! Jennifer

I have some hand-made items I have purchased over the years that have small "irregularities" that the crafter probably viewed as "mistakes." I see them as characteristics that make *mine* unique, and, in a few cases, the irregularity made the piece better for what I bought it for. I once knitted a cardigan (in one piece) that "turned out wrong" because I flubbed the pattern and made too many increases in the front (so it turned out "double-breasted," overlapping in the front). It ended up going with me to a craft show by mistake, and I set it in the back, where I thought it would be out of sight. About half-way through the show, a woman asked me about it (oops, not out-of-sight enough!), so I handed it to her, explaining that it hadn't turned out right, so I could give her a big discount if she especially liked the color or something about it. She put it on and wrapped it around her--and her 8-months-pregnant belly. She said it was the first sweater she had found that was actually constructed for a pregnant woman, and bought it. I feel that hand-made is usually much higher quality. And, if I had wanted "perfect", regular stitching, or something that appeared machine-made, I could have bought something cheap from a factory. I know many people, including me, strive for perfection, and that's a good thing. Just wanted to throw in another perspective on those "mistakes." Jennifer

You left out "he ran off *giggling* in just diapers and a shirt." Because that's hilarious.

Stunning. Just gorgeous. There's no emoticon I can find for "picking my jaw up off the floor."

I would have concerns about durability. And the skin seems able to stretch almost infinitely. Assuming you can coerce the wearer out if it in the first place.

I hope they have the decency to treat it with the respect that fine craftsmanship deserves. I've lost count of how many times I watched them whack each other with the belt. Of course, that was "the old days," with Rowdy Roddy Piper (RIP), the Nature Boy Ric Flair, the Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Ole and Gene), Ricky Steamboat, Chief Wahoo McDaniel (honestly, is there really a Native American with the name "McDaniel"?), the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka... surprising how many I remember lo these 37 years later... It was a fun way to get all worked up over nothing. Nice work, and thanks for the memories!

Both are beautiful work (to my inexperienced eye, anyway!) Love the detail!

@zaynexpettyI was going to suggest "In Zayne Fine Leather Goods," but someone beat me to the idea. (I think your first name is more distinctive/unusual than your last name.) @SattendornFor the tack company name, the first thing I thought was "Saddledorn Leather." It sounds so much like your last name, incorporating part of it, and identifies the kinds of products you make.

fredk, how hard have you been laughing at how much time has been spent pondering your puzzle? Think we'll figure it out in time?

In my (admittedly imperfect) experience, "Pop" is a mid-western US thing. Minnesota, Wisconsin, etc. In the areas of Vermont and upstate New York where I lived, it was a "soda." In the South, it's a "Coke" or a "Co-cola" (short for "Coca Cola"). Pop, pronounced "Pahp," always sounded so weird to me when I lived in St. Paul. And why in the world would you use a hose instead of a straw? (Nyuk nyuk nyuk!)

Very nice!! The feather on the back is wonderful--continues the design and theme without duplicating the front. And beautifully detailed.

Do you still have anything in that stunning purple?

Wow...lovely!

Wow. Beautiful!

Looks great! I'm curious about what weight leather you use (if it's not a trade secret!)

Hi Phil! I'm brand-new here, so we can welcome each other! Thanks for coming to share your expertise! Jennifer

I haven't seen that one...I am woefully underexposed to movies that came out after 1999. I saw the last half of "Monster Dog" on TV, though. Ack. My sister, who I took to the concert, started me listening to his music when I was about 7 years old. My only "complaint" about the concert is that he only performs "Billion Dollar Babies" once. I always have to listen to it twice. "I'm so scared your little head will come off in my hands..."

And I just guessed! Apparently drinking wine DOES make a person smarter! (hic)