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Another former law enforcement officer. Four years as a bicycle cop in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Did a few years there as a Code Enforcement Officer also. Moved to Bozeman, MT and went to work for the Police Department doing parking enforecement. I had all teh abandoned vehicles towed and sold.

I now live in Lewistown, MT and get this, I am the Driver's License Examiner. I love the job almost as much as Leatherwork.

Raised in Nebraska on a ranch so I guess I have been around leather all my life, (in a way). Seven months on an Ag Exchange in Australia and learned to braid there. In Oregon, I met Mary Fields and learned rawhide from her. She is in the Bruce Grant books.

Here my shop is in the garage. I have two sewing machines, a couple of splitters, many stamping and hand tools. Everything I need but the time. I got a great deal on equipment a few years back and also was able to get a leave of absence from the City of Bozeman to go to Saddle Building School. God blessed me in that so I chose the name Rugged Cross Saddlery.

I have "met" many wonderful people on Leatherworker.net so Thank you Johanna. It's great that most everyone is willing to help each other.

Joe

Joe Boyles

Rugged Cross Saddlery

Lewistown, Montana

Romans 6:23

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Posted

Hey Bree- once upon a time my first husband got drunk, went to jail and I sold his motorcycle. It wasn't a very nice thing to do, but I had bills to pay and deposits to refund, and it had to be done. He begged me never to sell the tools, ever. He said as long as I had the tools, there would always be food on the table. I never had to sell the tools, and didn't think too much of it at the time.

But now years have passed, and I have kids to think about, and I look at the shop and smile to myself knowing that, no matter what, I will always be able to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads because I have my tools. I would hand sew a thousand belts, or whatever, if that's what it took to keep my kids in warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Know what I mean?

Johanna

 

 

You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted

This has been a great thread glad every one joined in well tthere are lots of interesting folks in this band of leather worker.

Josh

Josh

Dusty Chaps Leather

&

Seven O Saddle Shop

801-809-8456

Keep moving forward! On a horse.

Hebrews 4:12

My link

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Posted

YES JOSH.............

"A BAND OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS"

Luke

Posted
Hey Bree- once upon a time my first husband got drunk, went to jail and I sold his motorcycle. It wasn't a very nice thing to do, but I had bills to pay and deposits to refund, and it had to be done. He begged me never to sell the tools, ever. He said as long as I had the tools, there would always be food on the table. I never had to sell the tools, and didn't think too much of it at the time.

But now years have passed, and I have kids to think about, and I look at the shop and smile to myself knowing that, no matter what, I will always be able to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads because I have my tools. I would hand sew a thousand belts, or whatever, if that's what it took to keep my kids in warm clothes and sturdy shoes. Know what I mean?

Johanna

LOL!! Yes I do.

Reminds me of one of my favorite songs... a blues tune by guitar god Jimmy Thackery called Cool Guitars. Google up the lyrics. It's kind of like reversed but who cares! And I can't post them on this family-oriented system! LOL!

I remember the last time I saw him play, the crowd was screaming out Cool Guitars!

:guitar::guitar::guitar:

Ride Safe!

Bree

2003 Dyna Wide Glide

Memberships:

Iron Butt Association, Niagara Falls HOG, Wild Fire HOG

NRA, Niagara County Sportsman's Association

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Posted

>snicker< I still have his cool guitar. It's an old Guild, and I love to play it. Jon reminded me more of "The Pawnbroker" song by Tinsley Ellis. ("Collected unemployment, swore I couldn't find a job, been too busy holding up this bar stool when the bill collectors came to call..." Good to know there is another Jimmy Thackery fan here!

Johanna

 

 

You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. - Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted
Another former law enforcement officer. Four years as a bicycle cop in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Did a few years there as a Code Enforcement Officer also. Moved to Bozeman, MT and went to work for the Police Department doing parking enforecement. I had all teh abandoned vehicles towed and sold.

I now live in Lewistown, MT and get this, I am the Driver's License Examiner. I love the job almost as much as Leatherwork.

Raised in Nebraska on a ranch so I guess I have been around leather all my life, (in a way). Seven months on an Ag Exchange in Australia and learned to braid there. In Oregon, I met Mary Fields and learned rawhide from her. She is in the Bruce Grant books.

Here my shop is in the garage. I have two sewing machines, a couple of splitters, many stamping and hand tools. Everything I need but the time. I got a great deal on equipment a few years back and also was able to get a leave of absence from the City of Bozeman to go to Saddle Building School. God blessed me in that so I chose the name Rugged Cross Saddlery.

I have "met" many wonderful people on Leatherworker.net so Thank you Johanna. It's great that most everyone is willing to help each other.

Joe

You must have good nerves to be a new Driver Tester, that's all I can say!

Tony.

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Posted

I am a little slow to responed, but here goes. At present time I am a butcher three days a week, a VA rep for two, a full time dad and husband, and a leather fanatic 24/7. Before all that I was a paratrooper in the army for four years until an unfortunate incident with the ground a fast blowing wind. Jeremiah

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Posted

Hi all, I am born and raised on a Cow/Diary farm, with some farmanimals on the side, raised up with hunting and fishing.

I took the degree as a Cook and had been working as a cook for 8 years before getting a re-education (because of an injury) and took the degree as a Baker.I was working as a fulltime Baker up to last year when they closed down.

Today I work as a full time machineoperator at a chocolate factory, being responsible for moulding milkchocolate...

It pays relatively okay but it's one heck of a boring job... I really miss pastry, cooking and workin' in the kitchen!

I am also one of those who would want to become so skilled that I could put the hobby up as an extra income or hopefully a part time job if not full time...

And I'm looking for the recepy on a cake I tasted last time I was in the US, called "Oakey cake" or somthin' similar...??

Posted (edited)

Wow such wealth of experience. From the sheer talent you all display in your leather craft I would have pegged most of you for full time pros!

I am almost ashamed to admit that I have been a cue case maker for most of the last 18 years. However before that I was a professional high diver and an Air Force weather observer, that's right I got paid to watch and note the weather.

I consider myself to be a self-taught designer/engineer when it comes to making commercial goods. I seem to have a knack for figuring things out.

My "day job" is product designer and quality control person for Sterling Gaming. They were my customer when I owned a famous cue case company (famous in the world of pool) and when I sold that company they hired me.

I guess right now I am very lucky that I can combine both jobs as I design mass production cases for my employer and get to do custom cases for myself.

Anyway, this was a great thread to read and see the diversity and commonality among us all.

Edited by JohnBarton

Support Quality. We are all humans. Buy the best no matter where it's made. That way everyone lives in harmony. Nature knows no flags.

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