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

[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