Saddlebag

I've had good luck with carpeting with a woven backing laid upside down.

Caledon Leather in Calgary, Alberta has excellent leathers and they really know their stuff. Check their web site.

Those were popular in north america about 15+ years ago but seem to have fallen into disuse. They were prone to breaking and difficult to replace.

I've used Tandy's and not had a problem with rusting. Or if you can find good stainless D's, wrap a piece of strong leather around the straight side, slide it into the slot in the skirt, making it long enough for a good copper rivet. That's how the early ones were done.

Are you getting anything with name or initials or just symbols?

A friend also has a metal allergy. Some items she puts clear nail polish on. She wears a watch with a plastic case. Yet she can wear 18k gold or higher.

You weren't paying attention if you didn't see it coming. Get off your duff and get a job, any job, day jobs, whatever it takes. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. If you got the boot you probably had it coming. You're not much of a man if you don't support your family. I see this all too often and have no patience for it.

I have what some call a Pearson. Made in UK. The flywheel reads British United Machinery Co. Leicester England. The John (something) of Montreal Sole Agents. Anyway it's a big honkin machine powered by "moi", either by flywheel or treadle. Best ever for stitching fleece to saddle skirting. The finite stich control allows me to reuse the original stitching holes for a nice clean job. Someone painted it brick red.

I've often used acetone to remove the shine from leather in preparing it for dying. I believe that is what Deglazer is.

UM...HMM which part of the bear produces the best grease as come bear hunting season this fall I could probably get some. Would you believe it's slipperier than lard?? I once wrapped bear meat and it slid all over the butcher wrap, made my hands so greasy I could hardly wrap and then when I tried to wash it off...........good luck! I wasn't real fond of the smell either but perhaps just the grease is ok.

When I first started out with no list of suppliers I tried some strap goods from Tandy. After cutting out a teardropped shaped headstall and stamping a border trim, the leather spider-cracked, not when dampening the end for the buckle, but the end going thro the buckle. The cheap headstalls from India do this. PS I have a Union Shoe machine that will go thro almost anything. It is hand or treadle powered and a wonderful machine because of the infinite control. It enables me to reuse the original holes in a saddle when replacing the fleece as it has a finite dial for stitch spacing.