Introduction

[Billy P]

Hello everybody, it's me it's me it's Billy P. I've been a member for a little while, but being as dumb as a rock about computers. I'm just learning to get around on the forum and post some things. I got interested/started trying leather working back in 1974. Some friends started with me, but they didn't love it like I did so they eventually quit. They both have a pretty good selection of tools, but won't sell em and ain't gonna use, LOL, go figure. I've mostly stayed with it, just sometimes doing more than others. Here in really small town South Carolina most people don't even know what custom leather work is. My home towns population is 345 people as of last census. 2 stores, 1 grill/cafe, no industry. Anyway I'm disabled, on SS, and get rid of just enough stuff to keep me in leather for what few small thngs I make for family and friends. I hope my friend and I will be doing some custom bike seats soon. He does upholstry work and is already covering some seats in gator, ostrich, and doing some stitched flames and such. We are working on it anyway. Most of what little I know is Stolhman books and trial and error. I joined the IILG about 1 and 1/2 years ago and then this forum about a year ago, plus I am a member of FLaSAH too. I am not too good, but I am smart enough to know good when I see it and this group has some really good and knowedgeable leatherworkers in it. I hope I can help someone sometime and I really appreciate any help that anyone will share with me. With what I've learned from this forum, the IILG, and FLaSAH, I've really seen an improvement in my overall work in the last year or so. Until about a year or so back I had never even heard of Bob Beard, Barry King, Don Butler, Mc Millen, Peter Main and a whole bunch of the others. I only knew of Stolhman, Shelton, Baird, Ken Griffen, Paul Burnett, etc. I didn't even know there was even a style of carving called Sheridan Style. I have still never tryed Sheridan carving, but I will if the good Lord's willing. I guess the old fart's rambled enough for one sitting so I'll say so long for now and may God bless each and everyone of ya'll. Please keep sharing and helping each other. Here where I live and I'm sure it's the same everywhere, if we don't help each other and start getting some younger folks interested in leatherworking this art is going to die out. I've don't know for sure, but I've heard the around here they are not even teaching leathercraft to the Scouts or in 4-H anymore. no teacher and no interest. Bye for now and until later Billy P

[pepin1948]

That's a really pretty picture

Around here there seems to be superficial interest in learning leather - i.e. the scouts in our local troop begged me to get the merit badge counselor application - but now that I'm "official" NONE of them have come to earn their badge!

Here is my SC humor for you: My sister went to college at Furman. We are all from NJ (though I'm in PA now). It snowed her first winter there, and the highways and everything were all closed down because no one knew what to do about snow! We still laugh about that up here...

[freak]

Welcome to the forums. Glad you found us. I'm looking forward to seeing some more of your work.

Long , long , long time ago i did some runnin around in the backwoods of SoCarolina . I haven't been back though since i was 19. The picture is me one day before my 19th birthday. Feels like yesterday but yet it feels like a lifetime ago. I just love the name of the town.

[Billy P]

Welcome to the forums. Glad you found us. I'm looking forward to seeing some more of your work.

Long , long , long time ago i did some runnin around in the backwoods of SoCarolina . I haven't been back though since i was 19. The picture is me one day before my 19th birthday. Feels like yesterday but yet it feels like a lifetime ago. I just love the name of the town.

What part of the backwoods were you running around in? Billy P