Search the Community

Hello! I am looking for someone to help mentor me either one on one of via pictures and email, I have searched high and low in Central Oregon and have been turned down by the few people I have asked if they would consider giving me a lesson or two to improve my skills. I am completely self taught with the help of Tandy videos, books, and YouTube. I have attached an example of my work here. To me it is starting to look very good, but as I am a perfectionist, I would really really appreciate help and advice from someone who is in the leather industry professionally. My main focus is on horse tack, spur straps, maybe a purse or two. I am not very creative so drawing my own patterns is hard for me but I am starting to get a little better in that regard! Any help would be amazing from drawing patterns, choosing leather for my projects, casing and tooling, managing and selling my work, or anything really! I know I need work on casing and when to start making swivel knife cuts and carving, making my swivel knife cuts flow as well as bevelling evenly, I have been working on "walking" the tool around my design, and appropriate use of other various tools. My designs always look better after I have dyed or finished them than when they do natural with just the tooling. I would love to someday make a custom saddle, even if that is the only one I ever make I realize that this takes time from your day that you could be making money, however, it is such a priviledge to learn from someone who is excellent at what they do, I would love the opportunity and I am very willing to put in the work that it takes to better my skills. Thanks so much! Christina

Hello, all, I'm so happy this place exists, and I hope to learn as much as I can from my betters. I've already read many previous posts, and I'm sure my craft will improve with such wonderful people willing to help and share their experiences. I've recently met a local carpenter willing to make a stitching horse for me here in Toronto, so I will post pics of this soon. I was going to make my own (MacGyver style), but I figured I could support a local craftsman and receive a quality piece of functional furniture. I can't wait to start making some larger projects with it and posting them for scrutiny and advice. Cheers, Lolligagger

While visiting relatives near Woodstock recently, I decided to check the local Kijiji for used saddles. What I found was a listing for two "stitching saddles". Yep - sure enough, they were stitching horses. The owner remembered his parents using them to repair tack, but didn't think anyone did that anymore - "Isn't that a lost art?" He had listed them under antique furniture, and figured they were good only as decorative plant stands. Had he not mis-named them I never would have found them. Well, I picked up two plant stands for less than I'd expect to pay for one stitching saddle, er.., horse. They are both of oak, even the seats. One has maple jaws, one oak. All the joints are through tenons. I've cleaned up, repaired and refinished one of them - new leather, scrape and paint the rust, sand and refinish the wood. The jaws were chipped, so I refaced them wih maple, then added leather covers. I also put a wear-leather on the foot-pedal, as it had worn significantly. The only real damage to the wood was some rot on the bottom, where they had stood in a damp basement, so I added some adjustable feet. Loking at the jaws I suppose I might call one a harness horse, and the other, if I reworked the tension strap, a saddle-stitching horse, but I don't really need two. I expect once I refinish the second one I'll decide which I want to keep and put the other up in the for-sale section. Anyone looking for a plant stand, or a "stitching saddle"? Chris

Anyone have any weaver tool, or machines they want to sell? I'm interested in a splitter, but would like a used one if possibel. Thanks, untitled.bmp

I want to make decretive Leather Bronc Halter nose bands, with hide, rhinestones, spots, & more. I'd like to use multiple or different hides, leathers such as stingray, embossed leathers. Can anyone help with patterns, & how to sew hides on? What tools & materials will I need, and where to get them? Any help would be so appreciated! I've attached some samples of what I'd like my projects to look like. Thanks, Andrea Any Tools for sale???

I want to make decretive Leather Bronc Halter nose bands, with hide, rhinestones, spots, & more. I'd like to use multiple or different hides, leathers such as stingray, embossed leathers. Can anyone help with patterns, & how to sew hides on? What tools & materials will I need, and where to get them? Any help would be so appreciated! I've attached some samples of what I'd like my projects to look like. Thanks, Andrea