JayEhl

Hard to tell from the pictures but the pattern looks like it came from the paper towel? When I case my leather in a bag I don't put anything with it and have even reused the same bag without any issues. And I just use distilled water found at most any grocery store. Are you planning to dye it? Looks like you have nothing to lose if you don't try it, otherwise maybe get ready to make another replacement piece. Good luck.

Truth!

I went by last fall. It was an amazing display of Americana history that I got to enjoy all by myself. I got to spend all the time I wanted enjoying the different pieces without being 'encouraged' to move along. Anyway, I was told recently by another friend they moved their display around and rotated some other pieces in the gallery. And, man, that show/sales room is so big! Practically need roller skates. When I was there they had an advertisement needing a leather crafter on staff. I imagine the person would also hold classes but man....besides that part.... what a dream job.

My goal for when I retire.... but crikeys, with the way the market is going, looks like I'm going to die at my desk...

Hi, far from being any kind of critic as I still consider myself an amateur. I did notice your stitching colors is a great choice and looks nice, especially for a beginner. I'm too ashamed of sharing my first 'stitching' work! Ha! The cut out for the thumb part is a little rough. Maybe go over that again with an exacto knife to clean it up? may be an edger to round it? Definitely burnish it, that will help, too. And what @Tugadude said. Practice, practice, practice. It's an obsession super fun hobby and the more you practice, the more you want to learn. And most definitely this forum is probably THE very best at providing you a school to learn from. Good luck! and enjoy the journey!

I've found wooden boxes being sold at a craft show/fund raiser type thing for a church. A guy had cedar ones for not much money, around $10 or so. Maybe partner with a wood worker as an idea?

Tulsa is one of my home towns. (I can have more than one, right?) I live in Houston now and how I envy that quieter lifestyle. Man that picture is majestic. What I would give.....

No, but the maker was.... LOL!

I bought a pair from harbor freight. Costs me about $10 or so and I've had it for about three or four years now. I use it to rough cut pieces of the hide and never had problem cutting anything.

I have the same problem. I heard from a friend who suggests leaving enough tail on both ends to allow for hand back stitching until I get it figured out. Granted I'm still very much a novice with this machine so I know its something I've screwed up. I just need to spend more time on it is what I was also told. Was hoping for a better answer but unless it's mechanical, e.g. the machine isn't working to stitch back, then it's definitely something to do with thread type, thread size, needle size, or tension as far as I can tell. Was also told that once it's set, don't mess with it!!

One of the other guys on the forum suggested how he rubs his projects with oil before applying dye. I can tell you it's made a difference for me and my projects. But I'm sure your gift is very pleasing, because you personally hand made it for them.

Man you guys are awesome! Thank you for all the great ideas. I bought two buckets of damprid to help with moisture in the garage which is my biggest issue. Not sure if it's available everywhere but for anyone that may be curious: https://damprid.com/ Next thing I'm going to try is the onion wash thing and then cut into larger sections to place these with onions in totes, this evening. I've got a couple empty ones but will need to hop to the store to get a couple larger ones @Frodo spoke of. I'll have to report back, but will take a couple of weeks, I should think.

ahhh,,.... that's why I asked! Wouldn't have thought to use a blender to make a mush.

The onion wash seems like a good idea and will try out. But I'm trying to envision the process to make the concoction. just chop up one or two onions into the bottle with some water ? spray down lightly and brush over with sponge? Thinking that would work but wanting to make sure I'm on the same page as you.

No, the smell will still be on the items My thought of cutting up the leather to belt lengths to hang up so it would be easier to manage and more air would flow around them (using my fan). It would also make the items more recognizable, maybe easier to manage than huge 6 foot swaths of leather hanging up on the garage walls. The smell wasn't that bad in the garage where they moved everything from the house for me to see so I really didn't notice it until we moved through his house for them to show another room. The cigarette smell was really bad, then. Then we moved from the smell of the house back to the garage and then I got to noticing the smell of the hides even more. I just didn't know better and should've thought why someone else didn't already take it. That's why I said earlier that I hoped it wasn't a mistake! Anyway, my hope is to get this smell cleared up most of the way before it mildews. Still open to other ideas.

Thanks! I'll have to cut up the hides to fit into a tote but that's a can do item. Thinking of the raw onion, I guess it would need to be in some sort of container like a plastic bag or something? After a week or two it would turn into mush, not to mention it's own odor. ~JL

Hi, I may have made a mistake and bought a bunch of leather from an estate sale this past weekend that is very good shape except for the cigarette smell stink. This is already dyed veg tan half hides in the 4/5 -- 7/8 oz range but a couple of embossed chrome tans. Right now I've got them all spread out hanging along the walls of my garage with a couple of fans circulating the air but the garage door is shut when I'm not home. Living in south Houston I am really worried about the humidity so I'm going to the store to pick up a couple buckets of 'damp rid' that should help. Can anyone else make a suggestion? Is it just going to take a few weeks of this practice? I was thinking if I take a couple of hides and cut them to belts widths if it would speed up breaking up the smells? Any other suggestions?

Hi there from Houston Texas

Hi there from a fellow Texan, living down here in Houston town. Where abouts from the republic are you from?

Hi from Houston Texas! Short story: I used to live in Heidelberg and Worms back when I was a kid in the '70's. Amazing times that I often reminisce.

Well... if its just going to scap yard with no other offers, would the travel, time and gas from Houston to Pennsylvania and back count as a trade, (20 hours one way)? I promise it will go to a great home (soon to be air conditioned) and it will be put to good use. I think I can get someone to wire in a 220 to my garage but if it works, I may have to take a few days off for vacation.........

How timely. I have multiple projects scattered about. I was using some shoe boxes but they're too big for just one or two things so I'm gravitating to 'borrowing' from work these interdepartmental vanilla envelopes that are well used but still usable. They lay flat for smaller things like pieces for my wallets, fold over knife sheaths and belts and other one off projects, including my patterns that I can slide in with it. I was thinking how after they're done I can just keep the label on the outside of the template (wallet, belt, etc) to help keep them organized. I've got my next door neighbor that is cleaning out her out shed and is going to give me these custom made counter height cabinets with long drawers (including counter marble tops!) that would work great for storage. I was thinking how I can just take the front panel off those drawers to make them just shelves for easier access and to make it easier to find things. Anyway, just thinking how I need to reorganize my garage to turn this into a proper shop and still be able to drive my truck in.

That's a good idea @Zonker1972

What's not to feel about it? It looks stunning! Great texture contrast and would make an interesting piece for conversations. Definitely needs to go in the next leather crafter magazine!