what do you do for a living

[HorsehairBraider]

I'm another one of "those guys"...sergeant on a City police force, just hit 20 years. I've got a small embroidery business on the side, and any profit I make in that goes to my leather hobby. I'm implementing my 5 year plan of figuring out what business I want to own when I retire and move to New Mexico. I can assure you it probably isn't going to be owning a saddle shop, like I thought it was going to be. I'm not sure even five more years of practice can overcome my deficiencies.

Well, NM has treated this horsehair braider OK... and pretty much all of my neighbors (the ones that are not cows) rope and ride. So you never know - it might work out pretty good!

[skip]

very interesting hearing from everyone. I have been doing leather work since I was about eight, although it wasn't until 1994 when I got the bug again and my wife and I bought our first horse. I kept seeing all the tack and thought to myself I can do that and started building her tack and finally found someone who would teach me to make saddles. I have been doing that part time for the last 13 years. I have worked as a gas jocky, car detailer, donut baker, Psych tech at the State mental hospital, Water well rig worker, half way house parent, auto mecanic, autobody and car painter, then finally a X-ray/MRI tech. I currently am a supervisor of a small clinic AT Brigham Young University in Utah. That pays the bills but what I am planning on is retiring to my leather shop which I hope will happen before I end up to medically impaired to do the work.

[barra]

Medically retired after 20 yrs of flying in the back of Auroras (canuckian P3's) as a sensor op in the Cdn Airforce - arthritis :0/ Been in the financial biz as a Certified Financial Planner since then, Am presently taking that shingle down as I really don't do the Herb Tarlick thing well and apparently that's what people want rather than facts. Got a few different irons in the fire right now - who knows where they'll take me ;0)

Leather's gonna stay a hobby :0) I hope? LOL

A Canadian Cone huh. We might have attended a few of the same piss up's, ala Fincastle International nights.

Barra

(Australian P3 world and lover of all things Moose Milk)

[Rod and Denise Nikkel]

We build saddle trees full time. Rod started the business just over 13 years ago, and I joined in full time 10 years ago. Prior to that Rod worked ranch jobs, rode pasture and feedlots, and was in charge of the horse herd and riding program at a camp (which is where we met). He finally got tired of building other people's empires for poor pay and decided to start his own business. Best job related decision he ever made. I am a retired veterinarian (it is nice to retire in your 30s!), having worked farm animal and small animal practices. Never did much with horses as a vet though. Go figure...

[McJeep]

A Canadian Cone huh. We might have attended a few of the same piss up's, ala Fincastle International nights.

Barra

(Australian P3 world and lover of all things Moose Milk)

One never knows ;0) I was east coast 85-89 west 90-94 back east 94-97

My crew went to fincastle in 94 - alas the sqn chief decided that my gig was up and it was time for me to teach :0/ Guess who took over the crew for that summer

Per Ardua ad Astra my friend

Rob

[Randy Cornelius]

I am a patol Sergeant for a Sheriff's Office, Have 27 years in. Only 3 to go until retirement

I guess I did not get into much detail as the rest. I started leather in about 1972, I had an art teacher in grade school who taught a section on leathercraft and I caught the bug. Made my first pair of saddle bags that year, I still have them. At that time I knew no one else that done leatherwork so I had no one to teach me but Al Stohlam and his books. Over the years I kept at it making things for myself that I needed, family and friends. Then people started noticing the things I made and wanted them too. So my busines started by wearing what I made. Cell phones really got me going as I made a cell phone holder for my first cell phone and everyone wanted one. I lost count of the cell phone holders I have made. Started going to the IFoLG shows back in 2003 and got hooked even more, Sheridan in 2006 and I had a disese that was incurable. Leather is like and addiction to me, I am always looking for that next new tool! My son Riley got interested in what I was doing when he was 14 and started working leather also, He recieved the Ann Stohlman Youth Award for Achievement in Leathercraft in 2006. So I have a great friend to share my passion with in my son. We are the best of buddies and go everywhere together. He is gone to college now and I miss him sometimes (but the peace and quiet is nice too) but he comes home offen.

I am buinding a new shop that I hope to have done in the near future. I retire in 3 years from Law Enforcement and hope to build a few saddles and go to the shows and keep in touch with all my friends in leather.

Thanks Johanna for a great way for eveyone to share infomation.

Randy

[Kowboyboots]

I am an Ag Teacher by trade, but only sub'ed a few times before my crafts keep me to busy to get a "real job".

I am one of the very lucky ones, its not work if you love it as much as i do.

Diversity is the key to my success.

Leather Work, screen printing, sign making, awards, embroidery, if it is crafty I probably have the equipment to do it.

Seldom bored, always low on money but I am not money motivated.

My place is paid for, all my equipment is paid for, I don't owe any one any money.

Yes I am blessed.

Whats funny to me is when my husband passed away 12 yrs ago I took sometime off, but after 6 months I was so frickin bored I actually went into debt for a new business venture. It was very successful, but not as much fun as my crafts so after 3 yrs sold it too.

My main business varies from season to season. Summer I make most of my living printing t-shirts, fall making the leather covered boxes I do, winter a little of it all, spring is mainly signs (baseball fields etc) awards are all yr long.

This is a fun post thanks for starting it Josh.

kathy

[Bree]

Bree, don't worry. With your credentials, you won't be living out of a van any time soon. Your story rang true with me, though. I dodged that bullet myself 2 years before I retired. Never so scared in all my life. I was literally 3 days away from walking out the door with the box of personal effects in hand when they changed their minds and decided to let me stay. From that moment on, my theme song was, "I'm a survivor, I'm a survivor...." and nothing much mattered after that.

LOL! WE are survivors!

I am almost sad that they kept me around. I was prepared to go into my little leather business making stuff or should I say manufacturing stuff. And I still am ready. Just working out the bugs so that I can have a process that turns me into a fine production line worker.

Of course if sales are not great, I can always build a website for fast cash or do my other expensive specialty... write business plans for entrepreneurs looking to raise capital for their businesses. I spent 15 years doing that management consulting work so it's always good for paying some bills.

I am condemned to work until death so I have to have multiple ways to make my $$$... and ways not controlled by some big corporation's whims and caprice.

[Scott1952]

I work for a large, purple, express package delivery company that flys large purple, orange and white aircraft. I started with them 25 years ago as an aircraft mechanic, and now spend most of my time watching others do the work. I am currently the on-site rep at one of our vendors who are converting passenger 757 aircraft into frieghters for us. I have worked in aviation all of my adult life, and have learned to hate airplanes!!! When I grow up, I am going to be a Fireman or a Cowboy.

Scott

[TrooperChuck]

Scott: I, too, hate airplanes. My hatred comes from spending thousands of hours in small planes in Alaska, travelling to remote places, often in bad weather, to investigate serious crimes or investigate PLANE CRASHES. If I never step on another plane again it won't bother me.

On a lighter note... This forum has such an amazingly diverse group of people and skills that we could start our own country! Let's elect Johanna as president of LeatherWorld!