What Are You Afraid Of / What Dont You Like In Leather Working?

[Jazznow]

Hi fellow leatherworkers,

I was inspired by a question in the marketing forum. Somebody - sorry I ont remember who it was - asked if others have problems to give away their stuff to a customer too, after having spend so many hours on it.

I think that's interesting and I want to ask the same I a more general way.

So what are you afraid of, What dont yo like in leather working?

If I ask you stupid questions like that, I think it's only fair to be the first to answer.

I had never problems giving away my stuff to customers although I love (almost) every piece I do and put time, energy and of course love in it. When people buy my stuff it makes me happy. Its not the money that makes me happy (it isn't that much lol). What makes me happy is, that people show how much they appreciate what I do by buying it.

The only item I will be sad when it's sold is my steampunk messenger bag I posted in the show off section recently. I want to use it myself so badly but it's a lot of leather in that bag and I need to sell it to get money for new leather.

At the beginning I had a problem to finish my stuff. I often had 3 or more different projects that only needed to be finished but I never actually did it. I think that there were two reasons. First was that I was simply afraid of dying and finishing because at this step you can ruin a piece with only a wrong movement of your hand. The second reason was, that I was afraid that the item won't turn out as cool and beautiful as I imagined it to be when finished (which happened all the time when I started leather working years ago.

Time gave me experience and confidence so it's not a real problem anymore.

Today I'm afraid of other, more complex things. Im afraid that I will never be able o make that huge step from a hobby leather worker to a prof leatherworker who is making a living with it and who is his own boss. It's so difficult in Germany to start business. Even setting up an online shop is something you shouldn't do over here without consulting a lawyer.

I hope time will give me experience and confidence to solve ths problems too.

So after I wrote so much about myself I want to know where your problems and fears are. You don't have to write as much as I did, lol.

Greetings

Jonathan

[Chief31794]

Only two things I'm afraid of; Women and the Police!!

There isn't too much I don't like about leatherworking, hand sewing large projects makes my hands sore, but I don't really dislike it.

Chief

[Bob Blea]

I really enjoy the carving process. I used to get somewhat nervous about finishing, but I don't worry too much about ruining a project at that point. The part I look forward to least is the actual assembly and construction. I don't have as much confidence when it comes to hand sewing or building big projects, so the final assembly isn't my favorite. Also, it lacks the creativity that the carving stage does, so it doesn't appeal to me as much.

Bob

[DoubleC]

I am terrified at almost every stage because every step gets you closer to a great finished project (well I like them anyway, and my customers seem to) and a chance of ruining that project. I do a lot of guitar straps. And first thing you have to punch the holes. I'm not afraid of cutting anything I can use my strap cutter on, but can't cut a straight line to save myself without it. I am so much better at leatherworking than I was 9 months ago, but still can't cut a straight line. And I have a great oblong punch for those holes, but it's only an inch and I need oblong holes 1 & 1/2" So I have to do a double punch with mine after trying to keep it straight to begin with. I just can't seem to even MEET straight much less become friends with it. I do custom work so every project is different. I am always learning new things and I love that but I am always afraid of messing it up from the beginning of getting the design on until the end. I don't mind dyeing as much as I do everything else. I'be found that if I put my dye on FIRST, including in the holes and then burnish them with saddle soap and canvas the dye doesn't get all wonky around the saddle soap. Took me a long time to learn that. But then trying to go back over with edge kote or something? Since that also takes steady hands I wait until the top has a finish on it, and THEN use it, and when I make an 'oooops' I have a chance of wiping it off.

I guess I should explain I have an anxiety disorder and very shaky hands. Odd combination for someone who loves working with leather. I am sorry when a project ends while heaving a sigh of relief at the same time. So I put off starting a new one while hardly being able to wait to start on it. This is a great topic. Cheryl

[Double U Leather]

I'm with Bob. I get skeered when it's time for the construction phase. Especially if it's something big like a briefcase or purse or something. Gussets make me tremble. Oh and zippers in things like notebooks kinda make my palms sweat a tad. Like Bob, I love the carving part, and am getting much more comfortable with dying and finishing. But ask me to put a zipper in or make something with a gusset, and I don't like it one little bit. I'm grateful I've got some folks around me who are far more skilled at that stuff than I am, and I can go pick their brains when it's time to put stuff together.

[sherlockian100]

Geometric stamping scares the heck out of me. One missed stamp and the project is destroyed. It's a confidence thing for me.

[Rumblestiltskin]

my biggest fear is impatience. I catch myself rushing something and have to reign myself in to avoid a start over because i missed an important step or just screwed something up because I wasnt focusing.

[Toolingaround]

Hi Everyone

Great topic. Ditto everything LOL! I will add two more. Thease two kind of go hand in hand. Sharpening and cutting.

Though I try mightily I can't seem to sharpen anything to the degree I need so thus I dread .......DREAD.......decorative cuts! I do a nice job, I am real happy then I just butcher the project with G-d awful slashes from hell. I do practice and I can draw so I understand flow. My knife just turns in to a feindish Mr. Hyde that makes me want to curl up in a quivering ball. So any part of leather working requiring a sharp implement is the bane of my existence at the moment.

Cheers, Toolingaround

[DoubleC]

Ditto on the cutting :-) All my cutting tools have united against me! Cheryl

[Bob Blea]

I'm with Bob. I get skeered when it's time for the construction phase. Especially if it's something big like a briefcase or purse or something. Gussets make me tremble. Oh and zippers in things like notebooks kinda make my palms sweat a tad. Like Bob, I love the carving part, and am getting much more comfortable with dying and finishing. But ask me to put a zipper in or make something with a gusset, and I don't like it one little bit. I'm grateful I've got some folks around me who are far more skilled at that stuff than I am, and I can go pick their brains when it's time to put stuff together.

I'm with you on the zippers! I've only tried it once with a small one on some scrap and it came out horrible. I need to practice more but I don't have much enthusiasm to start a project requiring one!

Really anything that requires hand sewing is scary to me, it doesn't come out very well. I just need to practice a lot more on that too.

Bob

Edited October 2, 2012 by Bob Blea

[Jazznow]

I don't worry about zippers anymore. Never used one on a bag but had to exchange a lot of them in shoes and boots in my shoemaker apprenticeship. For the first I needed 2 hours just for getting the old out of the boot and glueing the new one into it nt even started sewing. Now I need around half an hour, sewing included. I think Its a question of practice.

[Horrrk]

For me, the dyeing and stitching processes are frightening at the moment..

Trying to get my head around the both of them and I don't have a lot of money to waste on wrong items, so I'm dithering about even purchasing in the first place..

I've been several hours now, looking through folks differing methods of dyeing and finishing and feel no further along apart from I know I want Feibings oil dyes..then I'm stuck in an edging, oiling, finishing loop..

I've nearly decided the shopping list for stitching now..but its taking time and brain power..lol

I'll get there and then be able to actually make something worthwhile..

Regards

Phil

[ramrod]

wow! another great thread.

the scariest thing for me is the same as you jazz. it's making the leap to more complicated projects. graduating to more of a professional. the way i've been getting around that is: i'm finding that i'm leaving a LOT of projects incomplete. i've got them everywhere! my subconscience is telling me that if i never finish it, i can't screw it up. i gotta stop that.

i've been at this for a dozen years now, i should start to become more comfortable with taking on more complicated jobs, but i'm not.

[CustomDoug]

SHARPENING BLADES! TRYING TO KEEP AN EDGE ON ANYTHING.. I never imagined that leatherwork would be so dependent on this aspect. I now would imagine that even fairly small companies would need someone dedicated to this. It seems to be a huge learning curve all it's own.

[Artimus]

Spending 6 hours on a project over multiple days and then running the stitch groover off track across the face of the leather. Gotta love that! Hello, Mr. SLOW DOWN!

[radar67]

I hate laying out the project on the leather. It seems to take forever. I am a bit of perfectionist who wants to get the most usable amount of leather out of a hide.

[katsass]

Only two things I'm afraid of; Women and the Police!!

There isn't too much I don't like about leatherworking, hand sewing large projects makes my hands sore, but I don't really dislike it.

Chief

Chief, I ain't afeard of the 'po-po', maybe 'cause I were one once. And I just find that wimins am just like cats - - - they'll take adventage of a poor old man any time they gits the chance. Mike

Edited October 3, 2012 by katsass

[c2369zulu]

Carving and tooling, period. I just have not gotten this stuff down yet and it bugs me. Especially the really small tight lines and curves. I have guidance from everyone here though, so I will get there......Rory

[raysouth]

Nice to learn that others have similar situations as I and are willing to relate to others. I am not a pro, nor will I ever be, but have sold a few small items. Decent but not a master of dye work as Peter Main and others seem to be. I also have the shaking hands, for a number of reasons, but just do what I can do as best I can. Enjoy pyrography on leather and can do my knife work with some of the tools I use so no need to use the swivel knife very often, although an artist with a swivel knife is amazing. I experiment, a lot, with coloring via many different products and create a few things of my own. Not a problem as I don't display my projects anywhere but in my studio. When I tire of the projects on display, I have a tendency to give some away and others are taken off display to make room for new projects. Screw ups? You bet, and I just continue on with them and at times, alter them in such a way that the error fits the project fairly well. If doesn't come out as I think it should I just add it to my "folk art" projects. lol. Nobody around here to share work with so rely on what the books say and what I find on the net. If I thought of myself as an artist, then I would be afraid, of everything, but having realized my lot in life is as I am, I no longer fear much, except politicians, these days.

I may even make a few mistakes with my typing so with what I have written herein, you will understand. At my age I feel I have earned the privelage of laughing, at myself as well as others, loving the world and nature, and sharing what little I have with others. My doors are always open to those who would enjoy visiting for a Mountain Dew and swapping tales of lifes adventures in the leathercrafters world.

May you all enjoy life and be able to smile forever.

God Bless us all.

Edited October 3, 2012 by Helmut

[Cyberthrasher]

Add me to the dye group

It's not that I'm scared of it, but I always have that feeling of "this is where I can screw it up the quickest"

If dye acted just like paint it wouldn't be an issue.

That, and I'm always afraid a customer isn't going to like something and then I'll have to figure out how to make it right. One time I got an email from a customer a couple weeks after they recieved it and my stomach instantly clenched when I saw their name. Turns out it was a huge thank you email with some business ideas after he showed it to his friends. None of it is anything that we can't adjust to though

[bluesman1951]

I am afraid of nothing but that head knife ,everthing else is routine after this amount of time . Most days things have a harmonious out come on my bench . No longer afraid of prices or budgets ,generaly no matter how huge the mistake there is a way to make art from it . Slow steady and safe ,never work when you are tired if you have a rule dont break it period no matter what . NO BEVERAGES ON THE BENCH EVER !!!!!! NO eating on the bench , Wash your hands ,no greasy finger prints on the leather , if its open it will spill !!!!! beyond that if you dont know dont go ,ask somebody .

[shtoink]

I am afraid of seeing the price tag for all the stuff I have invested in to do with leather and working on it. I'm also scared of not getting my projects started and it going to waste.

[J Allen]

I'm afraid of midget ninjas and tofu.

I don't like waiting. I want to start and finish a piece in progression. I hate to wait for stuff to dry... tooling leather, dyes, or finishes. I want oget on to the next step and get it done.

[halafax]

I hate grooving, its annoying but necessary. When the groover goes off track all you can do is not want to throw it across the room.

My biggest fear is ruining taking on something I cant finish. I tend to take on bigger and bigger projects just to see if I can do them.

A rule when cutting is measure twice cut once. Though how well that works out is up for debate since Ive had blades that were sharp enough to shave with that just wouldnt cut through the leather like it should. So then its a matter of trying to cut again on the same line. I hate that, Or when the blade gets caught on the grain of the leather and jumps over and ruins a perfectly good cut.

Matching dye colors is another. When using the mineral spirits dyes there is a tendency to get different shades of the same color dye, just because of the dye itself. only time Ive gotten an even coat with that stuff is with an air brush.

[Bob Blea]

I'm afraid of midget ninjas and tofu.

I thought the midget ninjas were elves. I've been waiting for them to come do my hand sewing during the night while I slept.