PastorBob

thanks for sharing. Very clear instruction for sure.

I love the combinations you have selected, leather, exotic, different colors. Plenty of choices for your patrons. Also the first time I have seen a handle like that. Great job.

Lots of tooling there. It looks great and should last for generations to come for sure. How long did it take you to carve that? Beautiful.

Super clean as always. That's a nice addition for the speedloader. I have seen them on the shoulder strap, but never attached to the holster itself. Nicely done.

Wow, just wow. Stunning. Very clean knife work.

It might help to have pictures.

Elegant craftsmanship. Love you you lifted the edges of the leaves, almost looks like they are just laying on top of the leather. Beautiful.

Nothing better than practicing some knife work. Something else you might consider, just putting some small swivel knife cuts in the leaves to give them extra texture.

Depending on the thickness you can get by very inexpensively with either a scalpel (for thin leathers) or a simple utility / box knife with replaceable blades (for thicker leathers). That is where I would / did start. Eventually one could get a round knife, japanese skiver, or a multitude of other cutting implements. These would be used to cut pieces of leather all the way through. If the type of knife you're looking for is for carving, a decent swivel knife should run under $30.

Great workmanship! What bike will it eventually go on?

Something to consider on the basket weave pattern...use a contrasting border stamp around the edge to hide the partial basket weave marks and help them stand out. Something else I have been doing to help with dye consistency is to dip dye. It seems that when I use a dauber, the color isn't as consistent. Will like to see the new stamp pattern when you get it.

I have yet to make a checkbook cover. Turned out well.

There is always something special about working together with family. Whether leather, or cutting wood in the field. Dad still uses a woodburning furnace, and was needing some wood cut this past weekend. Was nice to be out there with him as we filled up the truck.

Still lots of boxes to unpack and things to organize, but I have officially moved into the new home. I have not even begun to work on leather projects yet; too much to do right now just to get organized to do work. Good to be back! Missed you guys!

Sorry for not having much activity lately. I am busily working on finishing the house / shop. Hope to be done before Christmas. I love this wonderful community and can't wait to be back on here regularly. If I don't get back on here before the new year, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!

Wow! Nice job! Thanks for thinking of me. That is a perfect likeness of our relationship too.

Welcome to the land of leather. Was outside of Atlanta near McDonough for 16 years before moving back to SW Missouri. Welcome!

Lovely work as always! Great job!

Love the motif! Nice job on adding the stamen to the center of the flower. The only thing I would change is the depth of the anther (the seeder). To me, those become the focal point of the piece. I also like the way the vine curves around the cross. I also noticed you let a blank spot on the top left border, as if the flower would overlay there. I love it when part of the carving is outside the lines, so to speak. I think it really makes them come alive.

Welcome from SW Missouri. Glad to have you as part of the group. Lovely work you have there. Really enjoy the coloration of your pieces. Airbrush?

Wow! way to jump in with both feet! Very industrious. I love the designs of your items. Something to consider... the one with the buckle strap may look better if the strap was stitched onto the back and brought over the top of the case instead of riveted. Also it appears that the edges of the same case were not beveled before slicked / burnished. By beveling the edges, it will give it a smoother look. The stitching looks pretty good too, except the one spot on the right pocket. I try to have the ends of the stitching stay on the inside of the piece so it isn't so noticeable where I burn it off (when possible). Great work! Keep it up!

That's beautiful! Amazing what the kids "need" made out of leather when they have a source lol. That will be an heirloom piece for sure.

Didn't mean to overtake the thread. Thanks for your well-wishes. Will definitely keep you updated.

Thanks. It was to be a labor of love. My wife and best friend of 35 years passed suddenly in March of this year. Most of the house was designed with her in mind (and a lot of her input, especially the kitchen). She was a Godly woman (as described in Proverbs 31) and is in her eternal home. Oh to meet her again one day..

It does a body good when you hear that kind of praise from a previous customer. Glad he got back with you and that you shared it with us.