Innehållsförteckning för August 2024 från Illume

Full grain, vegetable-tanned double shoulders that are drum-dyed with metal free aniline and greased with tallow - Cowboy is “leather with strong personality and an intense scent”. The grain has a smooth surface and uniform color that will produce a bright pull-up effect when handled. These shoulders are a well-trimmed A/B selection with minimal defects. The Cowboy article was inspired by a 2019 trip to the Lone Star State of Texas. Where the tanners discovered real cowboy country - allowing them to experience and get acquainted with the American Cowboy together with his cattle, ranches, country music & line dance. Upon their return to Italy, the decision was made to create a leather in honor of the legendary “Cowboy” figure. Who’s trade objects were a source of inspiration, being made…

Traders in Bangladesh dispute livestock dept over Eid rawhide discrepancy  According to the Chittagong Rawhides Traders Association and the Chittagong District Livestock Department, there is a notable disparity in the rawhide collection figures after Eid-ul-Azha. 818,468 animals were sacrificed, including 533,088 cows, buffaloes, and 285,243 goats and sheep, according to the Livestock Department. That leaves 172,138 rawhides unaccounted for, according to the trader’s association, which claims to have collected only 360,950. “We collected all the rawhides from Chittagong city and district,” stated Md. Abdul Kader Sardar, vice president of the Chittagong Rawhides Traders Association. He went on to state, “The figures given by the livestock officers are based on estimates and do not match reality. We have 360,950 rawhides, but the livestock officers report that 533,088 animals were sacrificed. Where…

I first became aware of the deep connection between rock and roll and leather fashion in 1967, when my mother took me to my first rock concert. She paid our admissions, $4.50 a ticket, and we took our seats in the auditorium of Hunter College, in mid-town Manhattan. The first act on the bill was The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, at that time a brand-new folk-rock act, who played acoustic instruments and covered the 1924 hit song, “Hard Hearted Hannah (the Vamp of Savannah).” Then in the boring white academic assembly hall stage lights, the main act took the stage. Dressed in black leather pants and a leather jacket, a long-haired singer with a moody expression grabbed the microphone, shut his eyes and belted out, “Come on baby, light my…

WANTED  NEW SUBSCRIBERS WANTED. Now is the time to renew and see what you have been missing! Give us a call at (435) 565-6052, e-mail: savannah@burns1876.com or visit www.illumeconnect.com. GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Burns 1876 is now hiring saddlemakers, bootmakers, silversmiths, hat makers, and leather craftsman/woman in their manufacturing facilities in Salina, Utah. In-house training provided. Please send your resume and a cover letter to careers@burns1876.com. FOR SALE NEW 6" SPLITTER AND SKIVER BLADES, fits Landis, Champion, American & similar machines. Some misc. tools and equipment. Email sadlbagz@montanasaddles.com for list. MB LEATHERCRAFT has been in business for 20 years in New York and Malin is ready to sale. The Company comes with all tools, machinery and supplies. For inquiries, send via mail to: Malin Byler, 7156 Burdick Rd., Dewittville, NY 14728 COMPLETE…

B. CRAWFORD  B. Crawford has written, co-written or ghostwritten more than three dozen books over the last thirty years, including Border Radio: Quacks, Yodelers, Pitchmen, Psychics and Other Amazing Broadcasters of the American Airwaves (Univ. of Texas Press: 2002) which he co-wrote with fellow Illume writer Gene Fowler. Crawford is interested in all things authentic and mind-bending. He currently lives in a small town in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where he writes, swims, rides his bike, and drinks tequila. RICHARD MASSEY Richard Massey is a writer based in East Texas. MATT WANNER Matt Wanner has been working with leather and building saddles for over 15 years. As President of Production for Burns Saddlery, he oversees manufacturing, boots, silver, saddles, and hat departments. His passion for leather and western lifestyle has given…

The winter and spring seminars held by the Colorado Saddle Makers Association were another hit for the books. The events are held with the intent of educating and making connections as a community of saddlemakers, and that’s exactly what they did. The winter seminar was held January 26th and 27th in Salina, Utah, hosted by Burns Saddlery. Throughout all of Friday, Ty Skyver taught a tooling class where members learned specific and sophisticated tooling techniques. Gordon Andrus took the time to teach the difficult and tedious process of installing saddle seats and horns both Friday and Saturday. If art and a little competition are more your forte, Matt Wanner taught a belt tooling class where attendees voted on their favorite belts. The first and second place winners, Tanner Ronfluson and…

It is our opinion that all tooling can be highlighted by the process of antiquing. Antiquing really helps to show off the stamping and swivel knife cuts. This goes for simple border stamping, heavy field stamping or all finish cuts. Over the decades of our work, we have experimented with many different colors of antiquing applied to many colors of finished leather. The steps to follow are always the same, as noted. So, aesthetically, the questions are – high contrast or low, very dark antiquing paste or something else, like Sheridan brown? We prefer high contrast, so you will find light colored or two-toned saddles and art on our website with mostly dark antiquing. Check out skyhorse.com. The final point is…do not be afraid of antiquing. Following my steps, your…

Streamline your workflow and elevate your craftsmanship with Weaver Leather Supply’s new Polycarb Leather Cutting Dies. Crafted from lightweight polycarbonate and machine bent steel rule, each die is made to exacting standards by a skilled team of die makers to deliver precise, consistent leather cutting at an affordable price point. Get time consuming cutting tasks done in minutes rather than hours when you pair your Polycarb Leather Cutting Dies with the 4 Ton or 8 Ton Mighty Wonder Clicker Press. Choose from Weaver’s in-stock selection of popular die shapes, or send in a custom pattern for a free quote on a leather cutting die made to your exact specifications. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a business owner, a reliable leather cutting die is a worthwhile investment that will pay for…

Liisa Andreassen is the president of Write Away, Inc. (www.writeawayinc.com). She works with custom content publishers, national and regional magazines and B2B publications. She also writes blogs, website content and marketing material for an array of industry niches. She has a Master’s Degree in Media Studies and lives in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC with her husband, John. They travel often and enjoy hiking, cooking, SCUBA diving, skiing and clay shooting. EXPLORING LEATHER: A Guide to Best Resources on Leather History and Tools Leather has been an integral part of human history for millennia, serving as a material for clothing, tools, armor and more. Understanding the history of leather and the tools used in its crafting provides insights into ancient civilizations, technological advancements and cultural practices. So, whether you’re…

“If anybody has ever sewn a stitch in their life, they appreciate what a handmade saddle is all about… It’s not made with a machine that punches out hundreds of the same pieces and is then assembled with another machine.”—Penny Ploughman It’s all about the upbringing for Penny Ploughman. From a young age, the lesson was clear – if there’s something you want, learn how to make it. If there’s something you want to do, learn how to do it. Raised in the countryside near Buffalo, New York, Ploughman, owner of Albany-based Ploughman’s Saddlery & Belts, had no shortage of influences. Through her family, she was introduced to tool usage, knot tying, construction, hunting and fishing, and her imagination was fueled by a great uncle who sailed in the merchant…