I had a purveyor tell me a couple of months ago that my leather work sucked and I needed a professional to do it for me. That kind of pissed me off so I've been working hard at improving. Here are a couple of my latest.
http://choctawplantationforge.com/uploads/P1010003.jpg
http://choctawplantationforge.com/uploads/P1010008.jpg
http://choctawplantationforge.com/uploads/P1010013.jpg
http://choctawplantationforge.com/uploads/P1010002.jpg
http://choctawplantationforge.com/uploads/P1010018.jpg

THANKS Chuck for the great tutorials!!!! They were a big help.

Steve-
Not sure who the purveyor is, but from what I have seen of your work here on the forums I'd tell him go pi$$ up a rope and then stand under it :evil (does he perhaps have a "pro" in mind that he "recommended").
Now granted I have never seen any of your work first hand, but your pictures are good enough to see that your work is definitely not crap and you can tell him I said so! (If you - or anybody - else ever wants an honest, straight forward critique of your work, ship me a sample or two - with return postage please - and I will be glad to offer my considered opinion - and I am well known to call a spade a spade, but am never cruel and will offer CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions only - There are a few a VERY few people over the years that I have offered the opinion that they might be better off doing something else and that equals the fingers on one hand minus three :D Main reason for the observation was there heart just wasn't in it and if your heart ain't in it you will never get good - period.)
Over 40+ years I've seen all kinds of leather work - good, bad, and otherwise and yours is definitely in the good category. That is not to say that it couldn't be better - everybody can get better. Heck mine is NEVER perfect and I am NEVER TOTALLY SATISFIED and never expect mine will be perfect (I follow the Indian tenet that only the Great Spirit can do "perfect" - not an excuse just an observation.) Besides the day I do get satisfied with my work or think I know it all I will quit growing and getting better and that would for me at least be exceedingly dull! I have always told my students that you have to be willing to fail - if you're not then you will just get stuck in a rut of your own making and never grow in skills. Some people may be happy with that and all the more power but.....:confused: Anyway rant off!!!
Anyway glad my tutorials helped but in the long run it was you who improved your work through diligence and skill. Two big Thumbs up!!!!

Steve, You do great work ! Im very impressed.

Shane

Thanks Chuck.....
I will take you up on that offer. It never hurts to get objective critiques. (the purveyor did have someone he sugested)

I was showing Jerome Anders some of my work at the show this weekend we were discussing some of the problems I had with my work. It seems you, he and I have the same opinion on one thing. The day your satisfied with your work you might as well quit because your gonna' be on a down hill slide.

Oh by the way, I hope I don't ever get on your bad side...
:D

wow I just wish mine loked half as good as yours. If yours supposedly sucks ,mine are horrible.. killer looking sheaths. that kind of work gives us ,with little knowledge something to shoot for.

If one moron's comments can encourage you enough to make these, then maybe we should be telling you they look awful - at least until we see just how good you get!!

That need to keep doing better is the difference between those who create and those who coast.

I would never claim to be an expert on such things, but for what it's worth, I like the sheaths.

I don't know about "before" (my brain doesn't work well on Mondays) but those are AWESOME ! The one that really gets me is that very first sheath - so, so clean and the simple "curl" embossed / cut into the face - just beautiful. Thanks for showing your "comeback" to a challenge... I'm always looking for inspiration to make a nicer sheath. Cheers. Jason.

Thanks alot guys. I appriciate the great comments!!!

Steve- The applause is all due you!

And any time you are ready to ship some sheaths to me I'm really looking forward to it!

Steve -- in my opinion, the first one is OK, the third just looks plain, and the concho model is somewhere in between.

There -- that ought to keep you going for another month or so, at which time you'll be untouchable !!!

'nuff funnin' -- all three are great pieces, anyone would be proud to put their mark on them. And I'd be proud to wear any one of them. Way to respond to the gauntlet :)

Mike

Heya Steve,

This guy definitely doesn't know what he's talkin' about. No way could any of yer stuff "Suck". You do great work in creating and teaching. Keep up the good work.. You inspire us who are looking to become great.

~Matthew

Sorry it took so long to respond, very long week. Thanks for the great comments! They really help.

Chuck I will take you up on that offer soon. Stuck making kydex at the moment for the 2 NG units that were acitvated here last week.

Matt you gonna come back and finish the knife??


Thanks again Guys!