JazzBass

I'll bet the teacher wasn't quite as "upset" as you were!

Sam - That's marvelous!! I was hoping that that was the answer. As soon as I saw it, I was thinkin', "Steve McQueen - Wanted Dead or Alive", combined with a little "Road Warrior" and a hint of "Terminator". ...I really like the slightly "distressed" look of the texture, as well. This one is a winner, sir!! (Hey, don't worry - when I get good enough to steal the concept, I promise to make it something unique. LOL!) Chris

YES!! A gift certificate/membership for a few classes is a great idea, if it's available somewhere reasonably close to you.

Folks here can easily recommend high-end tool makers, but this is one area where Tandy Leather might be your best bet. I'd have to respectfully disagree with @Ragingstallion on this one. Yes there are "great deals", but it's tough for someone who doesn't work with leather to choose tools of reasonable quality via ebay/amazon. You kinda have to know what you want, its quality, and what it should cost. I think the folks at Tandy can steer you in the right direction - it's nice to be able to go there, talk with someone who knows, and have them recommend something within your price range. From there, your husband will easily be able to add tools on an as-needed basis. Good Luck - GREAT gift idea!!

Wow, Mike - once again, your carving is off the hook, and SO darned CLEAN! Inspirational, my friend!

Nice. Does the gun have to be drawn in-line, or does it break through the top?

Neat! As a relative newcomer, it hadn't even occurred to me to design unique, decorative stamps.

It's worse than if it were a hobby...playing music is my profession by training and trade. I do my best to take your advise- but I have jabbed myself with the awl a few times. Oh well...$#!^ happens!

Yeah, that guy IS an idiot. He declares arrogantly and confidently that he is trained and that others shouldn't handle firearms. I've seen it before, essentially, "I'm a cop, so I'm an expert and you are not.". Stunning. I've been involved with firearms for over 30 years, and was a competitive shooter for about 15 years, shooting 3-500rnds a week in practice, with probably 200,000+ rounds under my finger - and I know a LOT of folks who routinely shot more, and consequently were better than I. Meanwhile, I remember some leftist commentator saying about this video -"If a trained police officer can have an accident like this, then guns are too dangerous for the untrained public." Typical BS from those who believe that they are smarter than you. I'm SO tired of this crap! Accident? NO! An "accidental discharge" is when something in the gun fails and it fires when it should not. A "NEGLIGENT discharge" is when someone unintentionally fires a gun that is functioning as intended. HUGE difference. A lot of guys like this dude, need to go to a CIVILIAN competition, and see what can really be done with a firearm in TRULY trained hands. ....but I still stink with knives! LOL!

Mea Culpa....Well, it looks wonderful, nonetheless

Man, that's CLEAN! (and classy). For skiving a strap of any kind, this video is the neatest, coolest, "Why didn't I think of THAT!" method I've seen:

Beautiful work, Todd. For some unexplainable aesthetic reason, I've never been a fan of lacing with a whip stitch...but your application and execution are wonderful! Gee...might have to rethink my irrational bias... LOL! Chris

First of all - One needn't be a "pro". There is no better reason to just play music, than for your personal enjoyment. For those who play music, at ANY level, simply because they love it, I am always helpful and encouraging, and never overly critical. It is only when some turkey thinks he/she is a pro, that my rather stringent standards of musicianship apply. In that regard, I can easily come off as an arrogant p**k! LOL! Enjoy the music, and GO MAKE THAT NECKSTRAP! The first one doesn't need to be pretty, and everyone on this forum will give great input, since they understand what it takes just to get started. I know what you mean about the "knowledge acquisition mode", but what got me to do it was realizing that with ~$200 of hand tools, you can literally make almost anything. It's a LOT of fun to pick up something in videos, etc, try it, and find out, "hey, I CAN do this!" BTW...welcome to the forum. I've met a LOT of nice folks and incredible craftsmen in the short time I've been here. Jump in. Ask questions. Marvel at the work. You won't be disappointed. Thanks, bro - I work in slow motion in spare time, but will indeed continue to post - the folks here give comments and input that are often an epiphany for us burgeoning leather crafters.

Well, I studied classically from age 9 through college, but got my first electric bass in 6th grade (11-12), playing everything that was on the radio, tv, and records. Today I consider myself a jazz player, as it's the greatest challenge, and the style I probably do the best. Blues is cool, but it's so harmonically limited, I lose interest quickly. Here's a link to a group I've been involved with this last year, called Jazz Juice. There are studio, live, and video recordings if you scroll down the page. http://www.markdalzell.com/jj.htm I can't either!!

Thanks, @bikermutt07

Peg slash...Yup, that one hurts. Background was just a small seeder. Tedious, but much easier to avoid the "hamburger" mistakes I make with a bargrounder. LOL Stitching - I'm trying the "traditional" method, using an awl...it gets a bit wonky in spots, especially when having moved the piece in the pony. Seems I have a tendency to meander a bit. Ah...more practice! Thanks for the comments

Thanks, guys. @immiketoo Wow...thanks, Mike - I hope to live long enough to have my work look like yours! Oh yes... that one was put together for me in 1983, to be a modern "clone" of my '66 Jazz Bass, sans frets. Wanna see some REAL character?? A buddy of mine calls this one "the canoe" since the grooves where my thumb go are actually quite deep after playing this one for almost 40 years!

Sharp?? I could probably cut myself with a Q-tip.

Well, I did it! I've been doing leather for a little less than a year, where my attempts at carving were on small things (like initials on a belt), here is my first "big" project - a fully carved and lined guitar strap for myself. Despite a dozen mistakes here and there, I'm kinda proud of having completed this. The liner is 1.5-2oz Pigskin. Comments and critiques welcome - I know I'm among friends here

Nice job - I've always believed that a custom measured strap is better than any typical adjustment system.

Ah... If you like a scotch that is really "pete-y" like Laphroig, you should also tray Talisker sometime. Wonderful single malt. OH yeah...the coasters look nice. Sorry...got sidetracked! ROFL!

What a GREAT uncle!! That's SOoooo cool, especially for a 5yo. It's something he'll appreciate more and more as the years go by - it looks sturdy enough to stand up to a rambunctious kid! LOL!

Wow! What a clever and wonderfully executed design!

Sound advice, @hwinbermuda - a physical address and a contact number of a real person is most certainly NOT too much to ask.