Dale

Two stitching horses and two tooling stones available. One horse is a full size professional stitching horse. The jaws lean toward the user and swivel left and right. I can see it's been used, but it is nearly new. The other horse is smaller, home-made, and will get you by for infrequent jobs - more if you give it a tuneup. It is made out of plywood and painted white. The attached photo shows the size as compared to the full sized horse. It is quite functional, but as I say...it could use a tuneup. Marble stone is just shy of 22" square and 2" thick. Top edges are beveled. To surface has visible scratches, although you can barely feel them. If it's a concern, a professional could probably sand them out fairly quickly. Granite stone is part of a headstone. 12" x 12" x 4". Prices: Stitching horse (full): $275 Stitching horse (small): $50 OBO Marble stone: $100 Granite stone: $60 I'm sorry, but I won't be shipping these. I'm in Colorado Springs and go to the Denver area frequently. I can deliver to the Federation show in Sep. If interested, please go to www.moonlightartstudio.com and send me an email. Additionally, I have a heavy-duty desk/bench, bench with casters, filing cabinets and fluorescent lights. If you're interested, we can talk about those too.

I have received Facebook requests from some folks that I recognize from LeatherWorker.net. I typically decline such requests except for people I actually know. Understanding that your interest is probably in some of the pieces I make, I thought I'd let you know that I finally published a page for them: www.facebook.com/pages/Dale-Hietala-Wildlife-Art/185731010236. I don't know how active it will be, but feel free to drop by if you're so inclined. Dale

Good luck. Eighty percent of galleries go under within five years. Few survive long term. Some are financed more from out-of-pocket funds and less by the art that's sold, simply because the owner loves it, has an appreciation for art, wants to help artists, or (insert reason here). The assumption that galleries have money to burn is quite misinformed. Just like Walmart, Target, mom-and-pop stores, or many/most other retail business, there is typically no "per-piece" profit percentage. There are other expenses like rent, electricity, phone, advertising, opening buffets, etc -- all intended to bring the collector to see the artists' works. Negotiating also doesn't fare well at most retail businesses. Unlike Walmart, Target, mom-and-pop stores, or many/most other retail business, it's not possible to put a piece on the shelf and wait for the customer to come buy it. Negotiate for it? I'd be a bit suspect of a gallery willing to do that for a single piece. Who absorbs the cut? Is it the gallery or the artist? More often than not, it's the latter. But I digress. The bottom line answer to your question is that there is no rule of thumb. If the gallery is making a profit, that means it gets to stay open another month. If not, you won't be buying any more art there.

I'm going by memory, so I may be a little off. I think the color has more to do with the material it's trying to cut rather than its grit. The red is typically for softer metals whereas the white and green are more for harder metals.

I just drove through there in December. I grew up in Grand Rapids.

Would you mind if I asked from where in northern MN you hail?

Looks like you might be stitching a bit close to the edge. Try stitching farther from the edge and see how that works.

I wonder if you've got a piece of leather with a loose grain, or you're using the belly area. If that's the case, try a different area of the hide (or a different hide altogether). If the leather isn't firm enough, I'm not sure there's any technique that will compensate for it.

As did I. The jury wants to see the tent set up with everything inside as you will have it on display during the show/festival.

Kim, You need to set it up. In the garage is fine, but minimize the amount of extraneous stuff in the background...maybe try to hang simple, matching, sheets behind it for a back-drop (seeing all the lumber and tools in the garage makes it look unprofessional!). They want this photo in order to determine whether your display is professional enough for their show. During subsequent shows, photograph it when it's set up so you'll have it for future juries. I would avoid taking photos of the straps with guitars. They are jurying the piece...that's all they want to see. Adding other stuff to the photo has great potential to confuse them, and could result in being rejected out-right (I've never seen it, but I've also never seen a photo with anything other than the jury piece). Look at Peter Main's stuff. I think he's got the best jury photos on this board. If you want further discussion on art show booths, a good place to go is WetCanvas.com. Good luck. Dale

Could you show us the joint detail?

Last I recall, Seigel has the pricking irons in the US. There are also a couple in the UK, though the names escape me at the moment. You can also try e-bay. Your best bet for overstitch/stitching wheel is to call Bob Douglas (Douglas Tools -- http://www.leatherworker.net/suppliers.htm). He refurbishes (for lack of a better term) old hand tools.

Tina, You've essentially demonstrated the point I was trying to make regarding the defined "proper" use of the tool. In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with this tool. It makes a great impression. The problem is that it's being sold as a "seeder" that is to be used in a particular manner to create the illusion of a flower center (or some such nonsense). The tools may not work with their instruction any longer, but they will work. Like I said before...the rules changed. Identify the look you want and then identify the tool/technique that will get you there. The energy spent condemning a tool is energy taken away from the creative process. Dale

I'm going to be a little repetitive, but I think some points bear repeating. Tandy and Hidecrafter target the hobbyist, and in that respect they have good tools. Same applies to any other hobby...you have hobbyist tools and professional tools. Ever hear of a student-grade paint brush? paint? craft-grade foam-cutter? Anybody ever walk out of Harbor Freight tools with a little less cash because you "didn't need to pay the extra 20% for the professional-grade bench grinder?" The only place I hear of tools causing a creative struggle is with leathercrafters. Painters don't blame the paint or the brushes, sculptors don't blame the clay, and woodworkers don't blame the table saw. If they don't like what they're using, they go get something else. We go through the same discussion periodically. The last one I participated in was about a year ago. That's when I sat down in the local Tandy and only used tools off the rack (except the swivel knife which was laying out on the bench) to create the attached picture. The tools seemed to work ok. Before anyone starts thinking I can only sing Tandy's praises, I will say that I think they are currently missing the mark with respect to how the Craftools are used. All of the literature (instruction books, patterns, etc) and instruction specifies the "right" way to use each Craftool. Unfortunately, as has been pointed out, the tools that are produced today are deviating from the intended design to the point where many of them are less useful in creating the impression "as instructed." You may still be able to reproduce the design, but you may need to use different Craftools to get it. In other words, the rules are changing. In fact, assume there are no rules. Rather than depend on Al or Jim or Tony to tell you how it's "supposed" to be done, do it your own way. Judge your success on how well you like your own creation rather than how well you reproduce somebody else's creation. And have fun with it. Dale

For those who do it, I must ask....why line a switch plate cover to begin with? Seems like a lot of work for no benefit. Why not just skive the edges and glue it down?

Don't take it personally. You describe it as a brush-off, but I really consider it "undecided" or "unprepared" (for what it actually costs). Granted, the guy could use some social skills (don't say "I'll get back to you" if there's a possibility you won't). In truth, I do the same sort of thing myself..."I need to think about it," or "I want to look around a little first." It doesn't matter if I'm dealing with a mom-and-pop or a chain store. I'm just not prepared to commit yet. If you're looking for recommendations, mine would be to just let it go. If he comes back, great. If he doesn't, you really haven't lost anything. Remember it's normal customer/client behavior. You'll get more of them (maybe a lot) and it's not going to productive to get frustrated about them.

http://www.goligerleather.com/

A small glover's needle or sharpened stitching needle ought to do it.

What size will it be?

Ummm...nightmares? I know this isn't something you want to hear when there's potential for a commission to be displayed in public, but you asked. My input is to pass. You don't know what's required. He doesn't know what's required. Physical safety is involved. There's potential liability. You have anxiety that's giving you nightmares. While these cues don't automatically mean a train-wreck is coming, this is certainly the part of the movie where the music gets real ominous, the camera shots are switching around real fast, and you're stomach gets a little queasy at the suspense. Life's short. Live it. Don't have nightmares about it. Dale

Apples and oranges, I think, Clay. While you can certainly come close to reproducing the image in leather, I think it misses the point. You can also do it in oil, acrylic, pastel, or any other color medium. The spray paint technique is fast and "simple," and still creates a unique image that you probably aren't going to fully reproduce in another medium (real close, but not the same). You're probably playing to different markets...the cost difference would be considerable. Dale

For the most part, I only create one of anything. Not only do certain pieces become tedious if done too many times, but it takes time away from the new one I'm looking forward to. Yes, I've got stuff sitting around. Since nobody is asking for it, there's no pressure to complete it...and I don't care if it's not done, because I know I'm working on something else I'd much rather complete.

Been there. Done that. Except I was on a ladder (2-story) all day. 80 degrees and 80% humidity. I'd need some better pay if I were to do it again!

Bob Brenner is in Colorado Springs (more specifically, Black Forest).

It's a standard awl blade you can get just about anywhere, but I've found that's not the problem. The handles just aren't that good to begin with. I never could find one to hold a blade reasonably. You're better off to fix (i.e., epoxy) the blade into a handle and be done with it -- less time and cost in the long run. You can usually find the handles pretty cheap on ebay or have someone turn one for you. You can also make one yourself with a pocket knife and a drill. Dale