PastorBob

You are so right. I don't know how I could forget it. This one is a great option.

Here are some options. Some may suit you better than others... 1. Sell on Etsy (as you mentioned, they are now cracking down on the business side of things) They take their percentage and you compete with everyone else on the WWW. 2. FB marketplace. As you mentioned you have not had much luck on there. People are really looking for deals on stuff and doesn't lend itself well for fine leatherwork. I have put items there on the lower end of pricing and have actually gotten some custom requests doing that. Not a huge fan. 3. Setup your own website - pricey. Then you have to drive traffic to it and that can get pricey too. 4. Word of mouth. It would be cheaper to make some items and give them away to friends and family so the neighbors can see your fine work. Takes a while, but you could always hang out a shingle near the road by your house. 5. Setting up at trade / craft shows like a Ren-Faire or motorcycle show, etc. The booths, etc can get quite expensive and it is a time-hog. You have to be there the entire time. 6. Find a local shop that will either buy your items or allows for consignment in their shops. I have 2 local shops where I sell my wares. Each of these could use some elaboration and there are many threads on each one of these types on the forum.

Love that US stamp. Much better than my first one.

Great job! well done.

Stunning. are you using a sewing machine or stitching by hand?

Nice work. Love the croc!

Beautiful!!!! What size is the embossed image in diameter? What are you using to press it?

Very nice. Can't go wrong with following John Wayne!

mine is the 362 (second ebay link above)

I am currently writing articles for the International Leather Club (https://www.internationalleatherclub.com/). I may be interested, but would like more information. Please email me at PastorBobLeather at gmail. I can give you my number for a quick call.

@Campleathergoods may be able to help. I believe he did a gofundme campaign. I am also in the process of having a shop built. Hope to be in it by mid-December. It will be 15' x 40' (600 sq.ft.). Am playing with the layout now. I haven't decided to use the under portion of a 4' x 8' table for flat storage of leather sides, keep it rolled up in PVC pipe sleeves, or hang it from hangers in a closet type system. @Brokenolmarine has some great ideas for tool storage and there are plenty ideas on the internet to look up. Do you have the ability to fabricate your own wood stands/ storage?

Those are Sergey's stamps. If in the states, the are carried by SLC. i have a mitt full, including the diamond quilt pattern. Great quality stamps.

Stunning. As mentioned, love the simplicity of the design, yet how functional. Great job.

Welcome to the forum from SW Missouri. Looking forward to seeing some of your work. If you can, please post the pics on here. Lot's of folks don't like clicking on links to outside sources.

A beautiful piece of workmanship for a beautiful rifle. Well done. Did you sew by hand or machine?

Isn't it NFO that one puts on a baseball glove to loosen it up and help fit the hand better? If not, I retract the statement of using NFO. Sorry for the confusion. I don't like getting my leather gloves wet, as they get stiff and hard. May be the saddle soap can prevent that.

Wow! Very nice. I am sure she loves it. Absolutely beautiful. Love the embossed clover leave and the celtic knot on the closure.

Carve first, dye second.

Neatsfoot oil may help. Put your gloves on and pour a little neatsfoot oil into the palm and begin rubbing it in, similar to washing your hands.

Great idea. Sometimes, I will get out some of my stamps and start making marks on scrap leather and find a unique pattern between 2 or more of the stamps and take off with it. Also, explore YT for border stamping.

For around $1300, I can get a Cowboy Outlaw, an Adler 104-64, or a Singer 144w102. Both the Adler and Singer are being sold by an individual reseller who has completely went through them and are in good working order. I have tried one of those Chinese Patcher / Cobbler machines with no luck as my only inroad into the sewing machine market. Any thoughts about which of these to choose as my first real sewing machine? I really don't want to have a bunch of these. Just one to take care of my leather needs. They will mainly be for holsters, sheaths, and may jump into some satchels, backpacks, etc. Thanks for you help in advance.

Not at all....throw in a granddaughter and I have a hat trick. More than you know. beautiful pieces BTW.

That's awesome. Back when cartoons were actually funny.

Welcome from SW Missouri. Lots of great stuff on here for sure. As you keep practicing, you will amaze yourself with your own improvements. Lots of videos on YT as well. For carving, check out Joe Meling and Don Gonzales. They are really really good.

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