Hi Jeannelou,
 JT>     If you do try to sew leather with a standard machine, remember
 JT> what i said about how long a machine lasts doing that-not long.    Be
Then I wonder about some of these sewing machines that the makers claim
can go thru anything without batting an eye or changing the tension.
 JT> sure to get a heavy leather needle and 'button and carpet' thread.
 JT> One
 JT> problem with using that thread on a sewing machine is that if you get
 JT> a snarrleup,  you absolutely can't get it out by just pulling. You
I got some of that to put new zippers in my BIL's 30 year old backpack
about 15 months ago--buggers but it did work.  Now the zippers are
bright red & plastic on an old bright orange nylon pack--but he said
they're a lot better than the old metal zippers.  I also used the heavy
needle just before Christmas when I replaced the zipper in a denim and
leather jacket.
 JT>   As for the punch, the multiple , rake like ones are what i have,
 JT> several.   The problem there is that the sharp curve in the end of the
 JT> sleeve is always running the punch off the edge.  That leaves  a
 JT> weakened and raggedy edge.    The machine is doing ok.
OK, I wasn't sure.  I've thought about getting into leatherwork
different times but have always had something else distract me.  I did
get the multiple punch and it's been handy for other things over the
years.
 JT>    Sara is doing fine except she is over running her vitality, trying
 JT> to do all the things she didn't have time for while she was working.
 JT> Both her husband and i try to slow her down so that her body has the
I know what you mean; last Wed. I got my annual bronchitis after I'd
made a drs. appointment for Friday.  He gave me a bunch of meds, put me
on 48 hours quarters and gave me more meds yesterday.  I'm beginning to
feel a bit more human but still don't want to overdo.
 JT>    I have been spending an hour a day on an inter BBS game.  I find
 JT> that it is all attack and war.   That's not my style.   I Opped out
I never got into them; too many other things to do besides surf the web.
 JT> before yesterday.  I have also been doing a lot of chat lines.  Try as
 JT> i may,  i rarely find anyone interested in crafting, gardening or the
 JT> SCA.   I am always very polite but usually get answers like  "not
That's the beauty of Fido; it's much more user friendly in so many ways.
 JT> am very much inclined to cut that from my schedule too.   Heaven knows
 JT> i
 JT> have plenty else to keep me busy.
I think we all do; I'm going to Tucson Saturday to help a friend get
some fancy fabrics for a Rodeo Queen competition outfit, same store
where I got most of the stuff for Rachel's wedding.
 JT>     Today the wedding dress,raincoat and street dress plus a
 JT> commercial pack of accessories went out to our great grandaughter.
Don't you wish you could see her face when she gets it?  Told Deborah I
wish I could have been a fly on the wall for parts of her visit to
Oklahoma.  She got a letter from Rachel with a few stamps on it; Rachel
got a recipe card set and a few others a while ago but hasn't really
gotten into it big time.
 JT> Whoooo! glad to see them done.    I also finally managed to connect
 JT> with another
 JT> rubberstamper down here.  Unfortunately she is laid up after a fall
 JT> too. She promises to call back next week when her doctor has promised
 JT> to let her do a little 'running around'.  We also share several other
 JT> crafts.
Good that you found another one to share your interests.  Deborah and I
were at Wal-Mart last night, stopped in the fabric/craft section.  The
one supplier of their $1.00/yard fabrics had sent 40,000 yards instead
of the usual 4,000.  We're going back to pick up some to make skirts,
etc for Deborah, can do a lot for about $25.00.
Catch you later,
Ruth
Geoworks Ensemble & Professional Point - High performance on a budget!
hafflys@primenet.com    FIDO 1:309/63.2
... Behind every good computer - is a jumble of cables!
--- PPoint 2.05
---------------