Something new for me??

[Two Feathers]

Howdy folks; Two Feathers here:
This something new for me. Just thought I'd show it?
As I've said here many times, I'm not a leather craftsman, or a leather artist, just a guy who uses leather.
This is a project I did last month for a new customer. It's on it's way to him right now.
So far he loves the look of it; BUT he hasn't gotten his hands on it yet either, so who knows?
Anyway just wanted to show it. I got his permission first before posting this. That's my policy. Once an item is sold by me, I no longer have a right to show it, it doesn't belong to me anymore.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[SOLANCO]

I don't get it Two Feathers. It is good work. So is the one you made for me. What is different? The initial? Or am I missing something?
And for you, my friend, a thought: Originally an amateur was someone who did or made something out of love for his work. The word amateur coming from the Latin for love. Amo amas amat. Your love for what you are doing shows in the quality of what you produce.

 

[Two Feathers]

I don't get it Two Feathers. It is good work. So is the one you made for me. What is different? The initial? Or am I missing something?
And for you, my friend, a thought: Originally an amateur was someone who did or made something out of love for his work. The word amateur coming from the Latin for love. Amo amas amat. Your love for what you are doing shows in the quality of what you produce.

SOLANCO:
Sorry buddy. Nope you're not missing anything. Yes, I meant the initial. I'm not a leather worker so it was something new for me.
It took a bit of tenacity to get it right, but I wasn't going to let the leather win. I could have maybe done a better job, but the customer and I are both happy. I don't plan on making a habit of this, but it's good to know that I can do a half decent job if I need to?
I'm glad you like yours.
Thank you for your time and compliment.
Have a great night.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Peadog]

I think it looks great. You do wonderful work.

 

[JohnL]

SOLANCO:
Sorry buddy. Nope you're not missing anything. Yes, I meant the initial. I'm not a leather worker so it was something new for me.
It took a bit of tenacity to get it right, but I wasn't going to let the leather win. I could have maybe done a better job, but the customer and I are both happy. I don't plan on making a habit of this, but it's good to know that I can do a half decent job if I need to?
I'm glad you like yours.
Thank you for your time and compliment.
Have a great night.
God bless:
Two Feathers

I think it’s nice sir! You always do great work!

 

[Two Feathers]

I think it looks great. You do wonderful work.

Peadog:
Thank you for your time and compliment. I'm always happy when someone likes my work.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Two Feathers]

I think it’s nice sir! You always do great work!

Thank you JohnL:
It means a lot to me when folks like my efforts enough to comment.
I'm just finishing up 2 more bags. One is to fill an order but the other will be listed within a day or so.
Take care.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[JohnL]

Thank you JohnL:
It means a lot to me when folks like my efforts enough to comment.
I'm just finishing up 2 more bags. One is to fill an order but the other will be listed within a day or so.
Take care.
God bless:
Two Feathers

I think we keep the history alive as we handcraft our own tools and accessories. As I work, I often imagine a poor farmer or hunter sitting beside a fire who is scratching on the side of a powder horn or carefully stitching a leather ball bag. I want my work to reflect the characteristics of the Native American, the farmer or the hunter; all of whom used resources that they had available without waste like we see so frequently today.

I digress, keep up the great work and keep posting!!

 

[Two Feathers]

I think we keep the history alive as we handcraft our own tools and accessories. As I work, I often imagine a poor farmer or hunter sitting beside a fire who is scratching on the side of a powder horn or carefully stitching a leather ball bag. I want my work to reflect the characteristics of the Native American, the farmer or the hunter; all of whom used resources that they had available without waste like we see so frequently today.

I digress, keep up the great work and keep posting!!

JohnL:
Thank you for this and your support of my work. Your retrospect helps keep me focused. I'm 75% Navajo, so doing this is something that is just "in my blood/DNA", I can't help myself. There seems to be an inherent drive to "hand craft?" It's like an addiction?
I hope none of this sounds TOO far out in Left field?
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[JohnL]

JohnL:
Thank you for this and your support of my work. Your retrospect helps keep me focused. I'm 75% Navajo, so doing this is something that is just "in my blood/DNA", I can't help myself. There seems to be an inherent drive to "hand craft?" It's like an addiction?
I hope none of this sounds TOO far out in Left field?
God bless:
Two Feathers

I think that is just how it’s supposed to be actually! It honors those who have gone before us!

 

[Two Feathers]

I think that is just how it’s supposed to be actually! It honors those who have gone before us!

I agree: There's not enough of the old ways being taught today. We've lost the connection with our heritage. I've had a few "student/apprentices", but most lost interest after a few weeks. History is something that NO ONE seems to be interested in these days; but for a scant few? Crafting like our forefathers, seemed to have a bit more allure, but sadly.....not enough. ☹
I'd like to hold classes; to teach what I know, for whatever that MIGHT be worth? I doubt that there's enough interest? Anyway, thank you for your time and empathy.
God bless:
Two Feathers

☹

 

[hanshi]

Two Feathers, your attention to detail puts your work a couple of levels above "just making something out of leather". You are much too modest for the skills you possess.

 

[Two Feathers]

Two Feathers, your attention to detail puts your work a couple of levels above "just making something out of leather". You are much too modest for the skills you possess.

hanshi:
Thank you for your assessment of me and my work. No modesty, just reality. I've never considered myself
"talented" with regard to my abilities, but the folks here (like yourself) are very reassuring and welcoming of my work.
nikʼeh hojidlį́į doo
Two Feathers

 

[JohnL]

I agree: There's not enough of the old ways being taught today. We've lost the connection with our heritage. I've had a few "student/apprentices", but most lost interest after a few weeks. History is something that NO ONE seems to be interested in these days; but for a scant few? Crafting like our forefathers, seemed to have a bit more allure, but sadly.....not enough. ☹
I'd like to hold classes; to teach what I know, for whatever that MIGHT be worth? I doubt that there's enough interest? Anyway, thank you for your time and empathy.
God bless:
Two Feathers

☹

I fully agree. The sense of community in which we share and care for all is gone. Many of our historical skill sets are going with that as well. I wish I had someone to pass my limited knowledge to; however, no one here is interested in powder horns, scrimshaw, leather and anything that doesn’t take a magazine. It’s sad.

 

[Two Feathers]

I fully agree. The sense of community in which we share and care for all is gone. Many of our historical skill sets are going with that as well. I wish I had someone to pass my limited knowledge to; however, no one here is interested in powder horns, scrimshaw, leather and anything that doesn’t take a magazine. It’s sad.

God morning JohnL:
I'm sorry; but here I may have to mildly disagree?
I believe that this is exactly the place to show off or discuss the crafts you mentioned?
Have you looked into mentoring for local Boy Scout troops? They're always looking for folks to show their wares or crafting abilities, and instruct the boys in skills of creating the things you've mentioned.

I was an assistant troop leader and Boy Scout merit badge counselor for years. I loved every second of it.
I still get boys who come up to me and say "I had you in my troop. I'm teaching my son (or daughter) the skills you taught us". A lot of the times I don't even recognize the boy (he's all grown up now), but it thrills me to know that something I taught him....stuck after all these years, and that he's teaching it to his kids!
Give it a shot, what have you got to lose?
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Colonial Boy]

Two Feathers,
I’ve been shooting muzzleloaders since the 1950s and I’d never consciously seen a ball bag till I saw one of your’s, most shooters that I know carry the balls in an inside pocket of their hunting bag.
‘Different country different traditions.
Thanks for educating me a bit further; nice work too.

 

[Two Feathers]

Two Feathers,
I’ve been shooting muzzleloaders since the 1950s and I’d never consciously seen a ball bag till I saw one of your's, most shooters that I know carry the balls in an inside pocket of their hunting bag.
‘Different country different traditions.
Thanks for educating me a bit further; nice work too.

Colonial Boy:
Thank ya.' buddy. I'm sorry to say that I can find NO historical facts to confirm the manufacture, sale, or use of Ball bags, that I'm aware of, until recently? I believe that most Mountain Men, hunters, Militia, etc. did exactly as you've state and carried the balls in their shooting bag? That's not to say that there wasn't ball bags being used, I just based my assumption on the fact that people with far more historical knowledge than myself, have made/sold them, so I figured "why not, I can do that?" I found that the ball bag just made it easier to get a ball without futzing around in the bag, especially if your fingers are cold/numb?
I'm sure Notchy Bob would be the one to jump in here and set the records straight. I always count on him to help me out. He's my PC/HA Go-To guy. Kinda;' like the PC/HA Encyclopedia of Britannica. I'm old, I know what those are.
On an aside: thank you for your kind words about my work.
I finished up 2 more bags and a knife sheath about 04:30 this morning.
Business is going GREAT!! That's a good thing.:~))))
Thank you.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[JohnL]

God morning JohnL:
I'm sorry; but here I may have to mildly disagree?
I believe that this is exactly the place to show off or discuss the crafts you mentioned?
Have you looked into mentoring for local Boy Scout troops? They're always looking for folks to show their wares or crafting abilities, and instruct the boys in skills of creating the things you've mentioned.

I was an assistant troop leader and Boy Scout merit badge counselor for years. I loved every second of it.
I still get boys who come up to me and say "I had you in my troop. I'm teaching my son (or daughter) the skills you taught us". A lot of the times I don't even recognize the boy (he's all grown up now), but it thrills me to know that something I taught him....stuck after all these years, and that he's teaching it to his kids!
Give it a shot, what have you got to lose?
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

It’s funny you should mention that! A friend of my works with the Boy Scouts up in Macon, about three hours from here. I’m sending him about twenty pounds of leather for some projects for his troop. I’m unfamiliar with a group around here anymore; perhaps I should further investigate or offer to go to Macon and demonstrate a powder horn or ball bag for his troop. Excellent point. I haven’t found anyone who shoots or hunts with a muzzleloader here. I met one person who has one that someone gave him, but he will not shoot it.

 

[Two Feathers]

It’s funny you should mention that! A friend of my works with the Boy Scouts up in Macon, about three hours from here. I’m sending him about twenty pounds of leather for some projects for his troop. I’m unfamiliar with a group around here anymore; perhaps I should further investigate or offer to go to Macon and demonstrate a powder horn or ball bag for his troop. Excellent point. I haven’t found anyone who shoots or hunts with a muzzleloader here. I met one person who has one that someone gave him, but he will not shoot it.

I have a friend in Young Harris, GA. who is an avid BP enthusiast. He shoots occasionally but has told me the same thing, not much BP activity in GA. ?
Yes, by all means, look up local BS troops. I'm sure a quick Google search will put you in touch with a local Boy Scout organization. Do it for the future of our old ways.
Good luck.
God bless:
Two Feathers

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

[QUOTE="Two
This something new for me. Just thought I'd show it?
As I've said here many times, I'm not a leather craftsman, or a leather artist, just a guy who uses leather.
This is a project I did last month for a new customer. It's on it's way to him right now.
So far he loves the look of it; BUT he hasn't gotten his hands on it yet either, so who knows?
Anyway just wanted to show it. I got his permission first before posting this. That's my policy. Once an item is sold by me, I no longer have a right to show it, it doesn't belong to me anymore.
God bless:
Two Feathers
[/QUOTE]
I'm sure when he gets it he'll be very pleased!