Cowgirlup8807 Report post Posted November 21, 2013 Hello! I am looking for someone to help mentor me either one on one of via pictures and email, I have searched high and low in Central Oregon and have been turned down by the few people I have asked if they would consider giving me a lesson or two to improve my skills. I am completely self taught with the help of Tandy videos, books, and YouTube. I have attached an example of my work here. To me it is starting to look very good, but as I am a perfectionist, I would really really appreciate help and advice from someone who is in the leather industry professionally. My main focus is on horse tack, spur straps, maybe a purse or two. I am not very creative so drawing my own patterns is hard for me but I am starting to get a little better in that regard! Any help would be amazing from drawing patterns, choosing leather for my projects, casing and tooling, managing and selling my work, or anything really! I know I need work on casing and when to start making swivel knife cuts and carving, making my swivel knife cuts flow as well as bevelling evenly, I have been working on "walking" the tool around my design, and appropriate use of other various tools. My designs always look better after I have dyed or finished them than when they do natural with just the tooling. I would love to someday make a custom saddle, even if that is the only one I ever make I realize that this takes time from your day that you could be making money, however, it is such a priviledge to learn from someone who is excellent at what they do, I would love the opportunity and I am very willing to put in the work that it takes to better my skills. Thanks so much! Christina Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted November 21, 2013 I recomend you go tot he Bob Beard class in Eugene, dec 13-15. You will learn a LOT, and will be around other leather workers that can coach you and answer questions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cowgirlup8807 Report post Posted November 21, 2013 Thank you very much for the suggestion, I had seen that class, however I am not in Oregon those days as I will be on a business trip unfortunately. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hornm Report post Posted November 21, 2013 Even if you can't make the class I'd suggest getting ahold of the Emerald Valley Leathercrafters Guild (if I recall they are the ones bringing Bob to Eugene). We've done classes with a couple of the folks from that group and they would probably be a good resource for assisting with refining your leather skills. Horn Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
