gtwister09

Bree, Just checking to see if you had an update on the quebracho bark process. Regards, Ben

Bob, Any progress that you would like to share? Inquiring minds... Regards, Ben

Been busy.... between these and the mauls. Regards, Ben

Great to have you back. You will have to update us with pictures of your new shop. Regards, Ben

Clay, He was a whirlwind of activity, inspiration and creativity to say the least. Regards, Ben

Johanna, He is certainly missed! Him and that assasin. He took a lot of ribbing for those mushroom shaped tools. The date of the original emails was 10/2003. Regards, Ben

Lee, I have always used horizontals for stirrup leathers (either Al-Rays or horizontal Blevins). I waited a bit to write this due to the fact that I wanted to check on the status of 5 saddles that I did way back then. Of course the first few that I did as replacements were for some older cowhands who needed new leathers and wanted to replace their laced leathers. Of course I was only about 14 at the time and just listened to their rants and raves about horizontal being better than vertical and that it was good enough for the laced ones... However over the years I have to agree with Keith on this one. I have seen much more vertical holes torn out than horizontals under normal wear. Yet I agree with Steve that a hooked stirrup on an immovable object generally tears out whether horizontal or vertical. 2 of them are still being used heavily (only one of them by the original owner and the other one was handed down and still being used) and the other 3 are idle over the past due to the passing of the owners. Two of them have had leathers replaced due to being hooked on a trailer latch. I did some further research into some of the saddlemaking books and articles to check and see what others were using. I haven't reviewed the videos from Bruce, Dale, Jeremiah, Bill and others to see what they used. Yates, Jones and Adams all used vertical buckles exclusively. Wilson in his short articles for the Leather Craftsman Magazine didn't devote any informaiton to it. Rice likewise didn't devote much information to stirrup leathers except for lacing. Hopper shows plans for both horizontal and vertical but in all his photos only shows vertical buckles. Stohlman's showed numerous styles (Laced. Al-Rays, Kregers & Superior Quick Change, both horizontal and vertical Blevins). Nowhere did they give any preference for horizontal or vertical holes. They also showed another style called Alan Farrow's Quick Change Adjuster which used an adapter that passed through two slots (cut out with oblong punches) and a strap passed through the adapter. So there's more information for you. Regards, Ben

Troy, Johanna sells it here on the board... Regards, Ben P.S. Sorry! Here's the link. Two-Shews Video

Storm, I will include the email trail for this picture. The size was 14 X 9 inches. You will also get an idea of his flair and style in his writing also. Unfortunately we were photo size constrained in those days severely....so nothing bigger. Enjoy! Regards, Ben First email.... Good evening All, Well this really did take a while....apart from all the intricate details...I had a number of unrelated interruptions ! However here she is...the composition is made up of three different source pictures, the Sheridan 'scrolls come from some great material that was kindly sent to me from Ben Cox, the central rose laurel came from the cover of a calendar of 'old english' roses and the central lady is the well known classic by one of the old masters. I thought by way of a change, Iwould go for a more neutral 'sepia' look rather than the original brighter, truer colours....the cental figure and the rose laurel are quite heavily embossed. I think the whole thing worked out ok. The whole piece is approx 14x9ins. Regards, 2-shews. Second email.... G`mornin` All, Well, well...I`ve just woken up, switched on and seen all your wonderful comments on Lady-Rose. Thankyou so much...wot a loverly way to start the day! Dierdre...no, I very seldom use applique...prefer to keep it all one piece...but now you`ve got me going, I`m on my way to the Gallery and I will start undercutting the 'florals' should be finished by lunch and if it works ok, will take a new set of pics and send them this evening, [afternoon on your side] Cathy...thanks for that, the whole piece from concept, composition through to completion took 6 plus 8...total of 14 hours. I am thrilled to say that after all this developement I have finally found a producer [video/cd/dvd] and have started the making of 'The New Colour Transfer Technique' I really hope to have it done and released by early December....believe me this will be unlike any 'instructional video' ever produced...and will include all my other funny little techniques that have been born over the passed 25 years ! I personally guarantee that every leatherworker in the world [from total novice to serious seniors] who follow what will be shown in this video....will be achieving exactly the results that you have seen from me since I started sending pics.... Depending on the results and the length of this production, I`m hoping to keep the end price to somewhere between $50 to $80 plus postage. So all of those that 'chose to chance the rapids...and dare to dance the tide' will now have the means to actually do all of those impossible projects...with the absolute confidence that failure is no longer an option. Have a great Friday, regards 2-shews. Third email..... Hiya Guys `n Gals, ....after a relatively hassle free day under the African sky....sheeesh that sounds like the start of a Wilbur Smith novel... I`m sending the final shots of the work done today, showing the effectof the undercutting...using just a no. 11 scalpel blade and holder. It always adds a final dimension to any piece that lends itself to that sort of 'lifted' look. Works well on things like fur, fangs, feathers, foliage and folds in clothing... that takes care of all the ' f ' words, well almost! In view of the outstanding response of this 'piece' I thought it would be appropriate to expand on the source of the composition....as I mentioned earlier the piece was made up from three different sources. I will send attachs. of the Lady and the Laurel of Roses....the background [sheridan carving] comes from material that I recently aquired from Ben Cox. I think that the same composition done as it was [colour-wise] would have worked well....this result in sepia was certainly an interesting experiment and I think more gentle and neutral on the eye. I am thrilled at the response to my potential video and simply assure you that all your questions and more will be revealed. I would ask for your indulgence and patience....progress reports will be frequent and I hope to have the video available for early December. It will be well worth the wait. Thankyou All for your heartwarming comments so far, it certainly keeps the afterburners at full throttle....regards, 2-shews.

Not sure that this belongs here but he was certainly a part of history. If it doesn't then please move it. As some of you know I was working with Billy to capture the flair,style and techniques from older saddlemakers. Sadly that ceasedseveral months ago as he became sicker and sicker before we were ableto complete answers to many of the questions we had come up with. Billy was to many a relative unknown. However as someone who grew upin New Mexico riding and working cattle at an early age, he was wellknown to me. His was the first New Mexico made saddle that I eversaw. It was certainly a big deal after seeing so many Porters and soforth. I later learned of ones like Slim Green and many more but hewas the first I had seen. In a way he was responsible for me gettingthe saddle bug if you will. I later met up with him when he and BobDellis ran Maverick Leather. He was slated next week to receive the Academy of Western Artists DonKing Saddlemaker Award but his wife Vivian and daughters will maketheir way to Garland to accept. I have included the information from Paul about him below. He is a friend that will be sorely missed. Biography - Billy Wootres, Master Saddle Maker Billy Wootres was born on April 13, 1927 in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Itwas at about the age of ten that Billy found work for himself in thesaddle shop of Mr. Billy Green in Las Vegas, New Mexico. That year of1937 saw the beginning of a lifetime of saddle making excellence andleather artistry from the heart and hand of Mr. Billy Wootres. Billyworked for Mr. Green right up until a hitch in the Navy struck him as apretty good way for a fresh-faced kid from the cattle country ofnortheastern New Mexico to see a little of what else lay hidden outthere in the world. So that's what he did. Mustering out after serving his time before the mast, Billy returnedhome to Las Vegas where he began teaching vocational leather craft. Todo it though, he found it necessary to put together the firstvocational leather craft course ever offered at New Mexico HighlandsUniversity. After a time Billy undertook an apprenticeship with saddle maker, Mr.O.W. Jolly, in his shop in Abilene, Texas. Successfully completing hisapprenticeship, journeyman saddle maker, Billy Wootres, worked his wayaround Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, honing his skillsand broadening the scope of his understanding at benches in many a goodshop throughout the southwest. They were places like Brown's Boots andSaddles and Dan's Boots and Saddles in Albuquerque and Slim Green's inTesuque, New Mexico. There was time spent working for Guy Reedhead inPhoenix, and Wall's Livestock Supply in Porterville, California. InTexas, Billy made saddles, tacks, and accoutrements for Johnny Bean andS. D. Myers in El Paso. He also worked with Wilburn Thomas' outfit inSilver City, New Mexico and made saddles for the stars with Edward H.Bolin in Hollywood. Through the years, Billy operated several saddleshops of his own in Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Mountainair, and El Paso.Every place Billy put his tools to the task, he worked to get better,and his renown for excellence, craftsmanship, and beauty grew, makinghis work ever more highly sought after. Such was Billy's renown that he was commissioned to build 27 trophysaddles for the Bernalillo County, 4-H Club rodeos. Every one of thosesaddles were bought and paid for by "The Albuquerque Journal" newspaperorganization. The custom design work and stamping on them was donatedby Billy himself. Health concerns forced Billy to retire from saddle making for a timebut by 1998, his health having improved, he was back at the benchoperating Wootres' Hand-Carved Leather, in Albuquerque, New Mexico; hisobjective being the improvement of his carving to the point ofheirloom-quality work. One would also find him there making and sellinghis own stamping tools while still finding time to teach leathercarving to several protégés and local guild members. Billy made his last saddle in March 2005 and donated it to Cowboys forCancer Research (C4CR), at their team-roping event in Las Cruces, NewMexico. In 1977 Sid Latham, of Leathercraft magazine, wrote a feature articleabout Billy. Examples of his artistry have graced the cover of the HideCrafters Digest and been published in Shop Talk magazine. In August of 2009, Billy was invited by the Academy of Western Artiststo receive the prestigious, "Don King Lifetime Saddle Maker Award," tobe presented in Garland, Texas in September. Albuquerque Journal Newspaper - Obituary - Billy W. Wootres Sr. Billy W. Wootres Sr., 82, passed away September 7, 2009. Billy was born on April 13, 1927, to John W. And Willie McCargo Wootresin Las Vegas, New Mexico. He is survived by Vivian, his wife of almost52 years. Other survivors include daughter Wanda Wootres and husbandBill Jaynes, daughter Nelda Pocs and husband Rene, grandson CoreyChristman and wife Sandra; grandchildren Jonna and Cole Jaynes, andgranddaughter Tracy Pocs; great grandsons Marcus and Matthew Christman;nephew Christopher Wootres of Virginia; and nieces Roberta Tarling ofEngland, and Cathay Lewis of Wales. His son, Billy Jr., his parents,and his brother, Jack, preceded him in death. Following a short stint in the Navy, Billy attended New MexicoHighlands University in Las Vegas. He taught the first VocationalLeather Craft Class at the University. Billy served a 4-year saddlemaking apprenticeship in Abilene, TX, and worked as a JourneymanSaddlemaker in many Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California saddleshops. He also owned saddle shops in Las Vegas, Albuquerque, andMountainair. Billy was a well-known saddle maker and leather carver. Hemade about 3000 saddles during his career, and many are still used onranches in NM, TX, AZ, and CA. Some of them have been in use for 40years. While living in Albuquerque, Billy made 27 saddles for theBernalillo County 4-H Rodeos. At one time, he sold his tools andretired due to poor health. He couldn't obtain tools quickly enoughwhen his health improved, so he began designing and making toolshimself. Some of his tools were bought by leather carvers from othercountries. Billy made his last saddle in 2005 and donated it to Cowboysfor Cancer Research (C4CR) at their team roping event in Las Cruces,NM. C4CR raffled the saddle, and donated the $13,400 in proceeds to theUniversity of New Mexico Cancer Research and Development Center inAlbuquerque. One of the winners of a Billy Wootres trophy saddle at the1989 4-H Rodeo was riding his saddle at the 2005 team roping. Later this month, Billy will receive the prestigious Don KingSaddlemaker Award given by the Academy of Western Artists. He waselected unanimously by a panel of his saddle making peers. Billy was a member of Eastern Hills Baptist Church and the New MexicoRoadrunner Leather Guild. He was a member of Five Points Masonic Lodgeand Scottish Rite, El Paso, TX. During his rodeo days, he was a memberof the Rodeo Cowboys Association, which is now the Professional RodeoCowboys Association. He was a Master Gardner and gave classes ongardening methods. Family and friends paid their respects at French Mortuary on Wednesday,September 9th. Services were held at Eastern Hills Baptist Church,Albuquerque, NM on September 10, 2009. Pallbearers were CoreyChristman, Cole Jaynes, Christopher Wootres, Philip Jones, PaulBrinegar, and Paul Zalesak. Honorary pallbearers were Jonna Jaynes,Tracy Pocs, Rene Pocs, Bill Jaynes, John Atkins, G.M. "Dogie" Jones,and Alvin Chewiwi. Following cremation, a private graveside service washeld at the Mountainair Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions my be made to: University of New Mexico Cancer Center MSC 084630 Attention Development Department, (Indicate "In Memory of Billy Wootres") 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131 Cowboys for Cancer Research P.O. Box 202 Las Cruces, NM 88032 Eastern Hills Baptist Church 3100 Morris NE Albuquerque, NM 87111 or First Baptist Church Mountainair, NM 87036.

Barra, Thanks for stepping forward. Regards, Ben

Boy that could have kept me out of trouble in some other areas. :-) Keep up the great work. Regards, Ben

Harvey, Look online for companies in your area that use packages like Artcam,JewelCad and Monarch are just some of them but these are packages for CNC jewelry and engraving works. Some of these guys should be able to help you in a fairly quick turnaround. They may be a good source to get something like an Indian head done CNC wise in the center of the basketweave. Most of them work in precious metals so there may be some issue with tool steels but I can't answer that definitively. Ask some jewelers as well because they create some intricate works with via CNC.Hope that helps. Entered this elsewhere but just in case I included it here as well. Regards, Ben

Darc, Truer words have never been said about humility...as always...WOW! Thanks. Ben

Tina, Ditto here with the tools and your creative work. Have a safe trip. Regards, Ben

Tal, Good! Glad to help with your creative juices. You will have to show us your idea when you are done. Regards, Ben

Nice as always with the exotics and insets. Regards, Ben

Tal, You can make them just about any size (width and length) and they can be simple designs, incorporate brands, stamped, or tooled with just about any pattern you can lay out. They can be a single piece of leather or doubled over. The ones that I have made were mostly done for family and are doubled over so that they fit over a page. They are about 1-1/2 to 2 oz leather so they have to be placed on something to reduce stretch. Then I glue a light flat magnet and strip so that they clasp over the page. If you like you can line them as well but that affects the magnet pull. You can finish as you see fit. Sorry. I don't have any pictures but I did find a couple of patterns. One is fairly simple and the other one I made for my grandmother who loved roses and was a teacher. I just about went blind doing the text on the inverted style. As you can see a simple letter makes a nice one. You can personalize them as much as you want. However smaller text (unless you used actual printers type) like the message on the "A" bookmark is pretty tedious. Both of these were 1-3/4" wide. The "M" was 8" long and the "A" was 10" but you can make them any width or length. You can add braiding, tassels and any number of other items to it. Like I said they can be as simple as a single piece of leather, doubled like mine or even lined. The sky's the limit with fonts, tooling, brands and so forth. Hope that helps. Regards, Ben

Ed, Grobert files are supposed to be good swiss made files. The ones I have seen are chrome steel alloy that is tempered and hardened. They are generally very good files. However I have not used them specifically on stainless. Here's a link that I have for Grobert USA. Grobert Swiss Files Regards, Ben

Tim, I don't know what scanner or software you have but all of them generally have a place to turn down the scanned resolution. Both of my Silverfast packages have a dpi setting on the front screen. On the Microtek software you have to go to the advanced control panel before you can adjust the resolution. The regular screen one did not allow for it. The UMax also has a front screen dpi resolution setting. I have seen HP software on both ends of the spectrum with some that you have to search for the advanced featues. All of the HP's that I have have the resolution on the front screen Drop me a line with you specific software and scanner and I may be able to help. Regards, Ben

Mike, This guy used to post some of these on eBay. He had oblong punches (sold them as Amish steel - painted blue) as well as other strap end cutters. Jack Joseph USA Leather Machinery 3301 Devault Bridge Road Piney Flats, TN 37606 1-423-571-1364 Jack Joseph email address Regards, Ben

Ross, You are correct they picked some good complementary colors. Your workmanship further adds to the package as well. Very good job. Regards, Ben

JW, No problem! Thanks. I already had his web site bookmarked and was familiar with his work. I thought that maybe these were something special from him that wouldn't be on the site. Thanks again for sending the website...you never know when you may find something or someone that you hadn't seen or thought of. Regards, Ben

JW, Very nice clean lines. This is a great looking roughout. Since you mentioned Jayson Jones were these special conchos and hobble rings. If so maybe a closeup of them would be nice. Great job once again. Regards, Ben

This is a great buy....It took me on average $4.32 apiece to get them all completed about 10 years ago and more than a couple of years of active eBay watching and asking around. Regards, Ben