Leather Storage and Epic Win for Target

I bought half a hide of leather last week (thanks, Nancy!) and realized once it arrived that I had no idea how to properly store my leather.  I've been making tack since 2007,  but only in the last six months have I used thin tooling hides and dye.  Previously, I scavenged leather from purses, wallets, and the scrap bags from Tandy that I found at Hobby Lobby.  All of this worked, but I started to think that there had to be a better and more efficient way to do this thing.  I was right, and now I love using dye and the nicer hides.

Inquiries about leather storage on Blab brought up two important things. One: leather should be stored flat or rolled to prevent creases.  Two: leather should be stored away from direct sunlight or bright indoor light to prevent discoloration.  I had everything crammed into a moderately sized snap-lock tote that sat on a shelf in my supplies cabinet.  Stuff was hard to find and scraps of special leather or suede that I was saving always ended up on the bottom or lost between layers.  When I was out and about yesterday, I scoped out some new storage ideas.

As usual, Target had a winner.  This little tote is about 7 1/2 inches high, 6 inches wide, and 9 inches long.  While it wouldn't hold large enough pieces for Traditional scale purposes, it works great for me.  Each section unsnaps, so I don't have to dig to the bottom for what I want.  The third compartment has two smaller containers in it, each divided into three sections and with a lid.

I've got suede, lace, and other small pieces of assorted leather in the bottom, thicker leather in the middle, and my finer tooling leather in the top.  I'm going to HAVE to get another one of these totes to keep my props in!  Another epic win for Target! (plus, I found a super cute pair of purple tye-dye socks for 70c!)

 

Adding...I had someone pick up a second one of these for me tonight with the thought that it would be PERFECT for my Stablemate scale props.  Unfortunately, quite a bit of my stuff is just a hair too long, wide, or what have you.  So, plan B: art supplies.  Also backfired.  My art supplies fall into two categories; things I use constantly and things I use once in a blue moon.  It's just not practical to store them all in one tote.  I don't have a plan C, but I desperately love this storage container and want to keep it.  Plan C may be taking it back, though, because I can't justify keeping a $8.00 container that I don't really need.  $8 is two gallons of gas nowadays!

I Am Sick and Tired...

...Of being sick and tired.  I've been fighting a painfully sore throat, stuffy nose, and pressure on my left ear since last Tuesday.  Pretty much nothing has been accomplished in the last seven days, and until I'm feeling better not much is going to happen.  My attention span is astonishingly short right now and my five hour shift at work completely wiped me out.  I have a couple of papers to write, and those need all of the concentration that I can muster. 

This is day four of my ten day antibiotic, and I DO feel much better, but definitely not well.  Hopefully, prayerfully, I can get this sinus infection or whatever it is (the doctor was surprisingly stingy with the diagnosis, and being sick I didn't have the presence of mind to ask questions) beat and be back to my cheerful, perky self (there may be some sarcasm in that statement).

I'll have an actual update, with, you know, progress and pictures, as soon as there's something to update about.

Happy Easter!

Christ is risen! Happy Easter everyone!

Another One Down...Ninety Billion to Go

Yesterday afternoon, between Disney movies, popcorn, and six or eight episodes of the X Files, I wrapped up Shauna's saddle.  She asked me to recreate a really neat eventing saddle with front and back kneeblocks. It was a really fun project that came together very easily.  I got to try a new technique, too.  Protective legwear is much easier to tack up if reinforced with wire.  Who knew? Plus, I'm on a five or six pair roll for laced reins! No breaks in a long time, so I think I'm really getting good at that.

I've still got a LOT of work to do, though.  Seven saddles are still to be started, with varying levels of difficulty.  Seven might as well be ninety billion right now, since the school semester is drawing to a close and I start a new job in exactly two weeks! Yikes. 

All of that said, though...this post is useless without pictures, right? Right!

Pssst...if you want to bid on the Working Girl set, you've got until the 23rd!

Red Deer Rebellion Live: Finished!

I wrapped up and photographed my donation for Red Deer Rebellion Live.  Nothing like deciding to donate three weeks before the show, right? The saddle was half done anyway, but I've been a little worried that I promised more than I could actually accomplish

Want this saddle? Bid on it in Red Deer Rebellion Live's silent auction! 

Books Closed!

I want to send out a huge thanks to all of my customers! Because of you, I've got enough work to keep me busy for quite a while! My order books are closed until the backlog of work is done and/or further notice.  When I'm able to take orders again, I'll let everyone know through the usual channels: MH$P, Blab, and the website. 

For those interested in commissioning a piece by me, you can still send me an email.  I'll be taking names and contact information while my books are closed so that I can contact you when I've got everything cleared from the bench.  Be on the lookout for updates to the website; I'm planning to update my prices before I reopen my books.


Again, many, many thanks to my customers!

(I posted this on Blab and MH$P, as well.  I have a huge backlog of work in addition to school, my "real" job, and, well, life.  I'm probably going to need a slight break after I actually finish all of this stuff!)

Things I Can't Live Without, Part One

Everyone, no matter what part of the hobby they're involved in, has at least one hobby-related something they can't live without.  As a tack maker, I have quite a few somethings, so I'm going to share a couple! 

Mini Clothespins
Okay, so this one isn't new to most people.  In fact, it's pretty obvious and already used a lot by other tack makers.  Me? I discovered them exactly three weeks ago.  I can be a little slow on the uptake sometimes.  They're perfect for holding pieces together while glue dries.  I'm sure there are other uses, too, I just haven't found them yet.

Sharp Pointy Objects
Needles, straight pins, and my personal favorite: a random sculpting tool that I bought from a garage sale.  It's got a stiff metal rod in a wooden handle that's pretty comfortable.  Probably through misuse, the very tip is slightly bent.  This is actually hugely helpful, since it makes a slightly larger hole than might otherwise be expected. It's great for punching holes for fake buckles, stitch marking, and removing any excess glue that might seep out.  Needles are pretty obvious: good for lacing reins and any other sewing.  Tip for lacing reins: turn your needle so that the eye opening is perpendicular to the lace, so that there's less stress on a narrow part of the rein.

Scissors
I only use one pair of scissors and I've had them so long it's unbelievable.  Slightly larger and definitely more pointy than school scissors, they're the perfect size for the leather I work with the most.  They don't handle thicker leather very well, but that's okay.  I sharpen them periodically with scissor sharpeners and pray that I never lose them, because I haven't seen a pair like this in years.

Show Photo!

Here's Manuela's photo from Show for the Cure! She got 3rd place in H/J with this setup.  Great job!


There's not a whole lot to write...I've been really busy with tack, finishing things, packing them up, and doing a little bit of painting on the side.  Usually I'm tack only, but I do dabble in pastels occasionally.  I'm finally finishing my Dinky Duke up, just have details to do now!  No photos of him, unfortunately, but he does have a name! Secondhand Serenade, but no one will ever hear it because he'll never be shown, poor fellow.

This week will be devoted to english homework and finishing up two projects: Shauna's english set and a donation for Red Deer Rebellion.  Because I am just that brilliant, I have less than two weeks to wrap up a saddle and the assorted gear that goes with it.  I completed the carving this evening, so theoretically it's smooth sailing from here on out.  That's in theory, though, so just you wait for something to happen!