Saying Nothing

[bluesman1951]

Bill, you have a very good point..I agree with the other "newbies" when they say that they don't feel they are in a position to make comments on others' work. It feels like you are talking just to be heard, with no real meaning for the recipient behind it. I'm sure that isn't how the poster feels, but I know it would be a much greater compliment to get a positive reply from someone like you, as opposed to a greenhorn like me.

Congrats on becoming an "Ambassador"..you genuinely care about the folks on this board, and you have taught me personally the value of honest work, whether it turns out good or bad LOL

Thanks for your words! I dont believe there are greater or lesser compliments in the end we are all equal some how . Every ones opinion matters and is important . When I make a new product I test market it first ,showing to as many people in as short a time as I can looking for honest opinions . My favorite test group is women espically ones who do not know me or any thing about leather ,they are brutaly honest (LOL) and if no one say "How Cute " the product is dead on arrival ,will never sell . Why this is I have yet to figure out ,but 25 years of experience has convinced me this is etched in stone .Your opinions are valuable your input is welcome and your participation will be aplauded ! Here in New Mexico the bar for artists is very high no doubt about it the talent level is superb in all mediums pottery ,leather ,silver the list is endless . One never knows who's hand you will be shaking on any given day . Beating one's own drum is considered tasteless and those who are full of them selves are soon forgotten . Deep down we all are aware that these talents are a gift from the creator and not sharing them blocks the flow and delays gifts we might be reciving ourselves . I try to donate the proceeds from one product I produce to make the world a better place keeping only the money to get another hide and repeat . Iam very set on helping : www.smiletrain.com if you take a moment and look you can see why . So thanks for reading ,have a great day and may all your projects turn out as well as you dreamed they would . It must have a little love to be finished and your time is worth something so sign your work . That makers mark says you cared enough to put your name on it . Gives your customer a bonus if you ever get famous LOL !!! All my very best Bill

[Bigfoot]

Another great post Bill, followed by more superbly worded replies...I think you are some kind of poet (or maybe people don't talk honestly anymore) with your words and I hope that in 300 years or so people will be quoting you just like they did with some hairy bloke called Shakespeare (and I still don't know what he was talking about!)

Congrats ambassador Bill

PS Can i have your autograph

[immiketoo]

Bill, all leather workers are cool in some regard, and I haven't had anyone here be rude or mean in the few months I've been here. The group of leather work as a whole has been far more interesting, intelligent and friendly than any other forum I have ever belonged to. I love it here and the sheer number of talented people is overwhelming.

[abn]

The group of leather work as a whole has been far more interesting, intelligent and friendly than any other forum I have ever belonged to. I love it here and the sheer number of talented people is overwhelming.

Well said, Mike. I've belonged to a number of different forums with generally unpleasant and irritable folks. Thankfully, Leatherworker.net is a cut above with good, caring people who are generous with their advice and talents.

[EquusCustomLeathers]

Well said, Mike. I've belonged to a number of different forums with generally unpleasant and irritable folks. Thankfully, Leatherworker.net is a cut above with good, caring people who are generous with their advice and talents.

You are absolutely right. I belong to a few horse forums....enough said:)

[Samalan]

Bill congrats you seem like a nice guy.

[immiketoo]

Well said, Mike. I've belonged to a number of different forums with generally unpleasant and irritable folks. Thankfully, Leatherworker.net is a cut above with good, caring people who are generous with their advice and talents.

You are absolutely right. I belong to a few horse forums....enough said:)

I have belonged to motorcycle, car, watch and gun forums, and without fail, it usually devolves into "Mine's bigger/better than yours" at some point and the anonymity of the internet makes people feel that they are invincible. Internet muscles. Especially where material things are concerned. As a car/bike/racing enthusiast, usually the richer the person, the better the thing. Here, money doesn't mean JACK. You can't buy talent. Or a personality. Here, everyone is willing to help out or offer some encouragement, and seems genuinely concerned about improving their own skill and that of the craft in general.

One of the things I have learned here is that people who have are willing to help those that don't, whether they lack experience, tools etc or confidence. When I first started working with leather, somebody told me that leather would teach me patience, and painful as that is for me, its working. More importantly, the LW community has taught me that there is still compassion in people and that this is a place where people can express themselves without fear of senseless ridicule.

[bluesman1951]

Bill, all leather workers are cool in some regard, and I haven't had anyone here be rude or mean in the few months I've been here. The group of leather work as a whole has been far more interesting, intelligent and friendly than any other forum I have ever belonged to. I love it here and the sheer number of talented people is overwhelming.

I am glad you are enjoying ,I am as well. There are so many wonderful folks here . The sheer volume of work is amazing . Making comments forces you to think not only of the work you are seeing but of the person and the place it was made . We dont all have the same tools or the same skills . There are those from all over the world and just going to the store and buying something is not a option sometimes . When we see a hand sewed seam a little off, consider this before commenting, maybe glasses are needed that cant be afforded, perhaps the tool needed for a straight line is currenty out of reach money wise , maybe it was clamped to the bench or sewed between the knees instead of using a stitching pony ,we never know how some one accomplished something till we look closer . I am amazed at some solutions I see here and wonder how they were arrived at .I have stood behind a table filled with my work and faced the public many times hoping they would purchase my work . Each time I made a mistake I learned and tried to eliminate it from my life. Now after years of mistakes its down to pretty efficent ,refined and simple ,no more traveling thru the weeds . LOL I am at peace with myself and my craft my picture collection has more ideas saved than I have life left to create ,so I wish to pick and choose my projects . I am in total awe of some of the talent here. What I have learned in my years is the laws of the universe WORK !!! There is truth in the saying : Give and you shall recive . Be grateful for the smallest things ,Treat others as you wish to be treated , Your life will pass before your eyes again live it well . One should never be far from a copy of OG Mandinos "Greastest Salesman " Imagination is the key to much of life vanilla ice cream is fine but imagination allows for cherries ,nuts whip cream point is why be ordinary ? This site is growing and good people are joining every day , the chance for sharing is becoming epic . I have a very good feeling about the direction its taking . The holidays are coming and there will be stories beyond imagination shortly . Thanks for reading this and rember it has not been a perfect day until you have helped someone who has no chance of ever paying you back . Gravity works you dont have to see it to believe likewise being nice works . May all your memories be good ones . Bill

[bluesman1951]

Another great post Bill, followed by more superbly worded replies...I think you are some kind of poet (or maybe people don't talk honestly anymore) with your words and I hope that in 300 years or so people will be quoting you just like they did with some hairy bloke called Shakespeare (and I still don't know what he was talking about!)

Congrats ambassador Bill

PS Can i have your autograph

Gladly !!! Drop me a line any time ,love to share some music and pics with you . Nothing like Zydeco music to make you raise a glass . Thanks for the words . Bill

[mikesmith648]

I have Bill's number and I can't wait to meet him............good words my friend!!