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18549. Ms. No - 2/15/2006 8:44:06 PM Sounds a bit barbaric, doesn't it? I admit, I felt a bit barbaric with the granite slab and the mallet and metal stamping tools and chisels strewn about. 18550. PsychProf - 2/15/2006 8:45:18 PM Was it a date you were working on? 18551. Ms. No - 2/15/2006 10:53:03 PM Fringed leather purse. I'm still trying to decide how I want to do the strap, whether I want to make it flat or braid it. I'm leaning toward the braid. 18552. thoughtful - 2/15/2006 11:34:24 PM ms no, i have a wooden chest that has an old leather top on it that is tacked down with large upholstery tacks. I want to replace the leather and thought I could do it myself. Any hints on working with the leather?
I haven't bought the hide yet...it's one of my sometime projects. 18553. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 2/16/2006 12:02:04 AM Tful- this might be a more interesting coating for your chest . . .
18554. thoughtful - 2/16/2006 12:04:41 AM Wow...very cool stuff. Nano can easily be the next big 'killer ap' in the world of technological revolution. 18555. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 2/16/2006 12:14:13 AM Or you can get this tattooed on your husband's chest . . .
 18556. TheWizardOfWhimsy - 2/16/2006 12:18:08 AM Or if you want to make someone look silly at work in front of their computer, send them an email of this . . .
 18557. alistairconnor - 2/16/2006 12:18:24 AM Was it a date you were working on?
You evil man, Prof. Got any good piercings? 18558. judithathome - 2/16/2006 12:32:26 AM Magos, is that your handsome son or some young lover you have stashed away? Whichever, he is a FINE looking dude!!!
Thanks for all the congrats on the AtHomes' anniversary...there are so many out there who said it wouldn't last a year!!
Take THAT, naysayers! 18559. Ms. No - 2/16/2006 12:33:03 AM T'ful,
There are several products out there that can rejuvenate old leather depending on how deteriorated it is. If you want to replace rather than repair it isn't any harder to do than covering with any other fabric except in the getting since fabric stores are more common than leather outlets.
Tandy - Leather Co. seems to be the most common but they aren't the best priced so if you live in a "horsey" area I'd talk to saddle and tack makers and find out where they buy their leather and go there. You can often get splits and sides on sale at Tandy or other retail leather vendors but the prices will vary depending on the weight and quality of the leather and of course, how much you need to get.
Is this a smooth-topped chest or is it banded? What's its function? Does it serve as a table or for storage? In the house or on a patio? Does it get feet or gardening implements? Are we talking rustic or refined?
If the leather isn't too badly damaged I'd tend toward restoration because I like the look of weathered leather. I think it has a nice character, but that may not fit with the rest of your decor. You can get some beautiful chap-hides for under $100 that ought to be plenty big enough to cover the top of a seaman's size chest or footlocker and I'd imagine there are plenty of places to get decorative upholstery tacks if you can't or don't wish to salvage the ones currently in use.
Take pictures! I'd love to see!! 18560. thoughtful - 2/16/2006 12:43:38 AM Thanks Ms...the old one is very hard, dried and cracked and torn in one place...not very pleasing.
The chest is about 42"x24" and maybe 24" high...sides are angled and the front is embossed with a design which has been stained in different colors. It's an unusual and interesting piece. It would be used probably at the foot of a bed.
I have some fabric stores in the area that carry hides. I'd have to buy a whole one but they generally run about $100. It's really a matter of getting the right color. I'd prefer a leather that was more supple and I think having it stretchy would make the upholstering a little easier. Top is just rounded over the old fashioned black excelsior stuff...or is it horsehair..without any pleats or anything fussy.
Chaps are not something we see often here on the east coast, though a good idea for a remnant piece. I thought of old leather coats too, but we usually don't see them with one seamless piece that large. 18561. thoughtful - 2/16/2006 12:44:27 AM That face is an interesting effect...wonder why you need to blink to see it though... 18562. judithathome - 2/16/2006 12:48:23 AM I recently found some letters to my grandfather from Tandy...back from the 1950s when he was doing leather work and ordering from them. Really nice...a woman who worked there in the mail-order department was so sweet about getting him the stuff he needed and it made me mourn not only my granddad's passing but the end of an era when customer service mean really personal service rather than form letters and no involvement whatsoever with the actual customer. 18563. judithathome - 2/16/2006 12:50:19 AM mean = meant 18564. Ms. No - 2/16/2006 1:08:36 AM T'ful,
Any leather will stretch especially if you dampen it, but it will stiffen up if you wet it. Leather is pretty forgiving. Your trunk sounds fascinating. What's its history?
You might find a book at the local library with tips on leatherworking. I don't put much stock in most of the ones to be had at craft stores since they tend to be heavy on glue and overly complex instructions but light on practical information that will help you to manage your own projects. 18565. thoughtful - 2/16/2006 3:35:07 PM We don't really know the history of the trunk other than my mother picked it up at a tag sale years ago and paid only $5 for it.
But it's a pretty thing and I'm glad I've hung onto it. 18566. Magoseph - 2/16/2006 4:23:13 PM Good morning, everyone—Judith, yes, it is, baggy pants and all in Las Vegas for his birthday last week, the trip is a gift from his girlfriend. The pictures were taken from far away and do not show how pretty he's. :)
We were waiting for a big snowfall during the night, only an inch so far, but it looks as we’ll finally get it tonight. Anyway, I’m on my way to get goodies for Flexy who manifests serious signs of cabin fever.
18567. judithathome - 2/17/2006 1:02:20 AM So I went to the doctor today about my left leg, the one I broke. It's been hurting since the day before the SuperBowl. We went to CostCo and walked around for almost two hours and my leg began to really hurt.
So I've stayed off it, for the most part, but it keeps hurting more and the doctor said today he thinks it's a stress fracture at the site of the break...sent me for X-rays and I will get the results tomorrow. (It nearly killed me getting to the lab for the damned things...had to park a block away.)
He said if the X-rays aren't definitive, I will get an MRI and we'll go from there. For now, I just put on the walking boot that I had to wear after the cast came off my broken leg and it feels tons better and I'm also using my cane. 18568. Magoseph - 2/17/2006 1:29:19 AM Will you have to wear a cast again, do you think?
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