So, what hobbies do you have?

Okay, here is my iPad cover, that I made. Sorry about the size, but I have tried to reduce the size in every way I know, So I can simply use the pic upload feature, but all reduction apps I have tried still leave it bigger than the upload size limit. (My iPad takes big HD pics)
So I just linked the image code from photobucket account.

Lol, well that's one of a kind!

The emblem and my name was laser etched on equipment at the blind center in Chicago, so unless I get a $15k laser etcher, I won't be doing anymore of that!

Are there any trophy companies in your area that offer laser etching?

That might be something to look into if you want to do some more of those.

And, let me say, that is some NICE leatherwork!!!

There is a company here in town that has a laser engraver, they do a lot of cork wine glass coasters, and different wooden things.

A friend of mine once took one of my knife sheaths to a trophy shop that did laser engraving, and had the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation logo etched on it, then donated the knife and sheath to the RMEF for his local banquet auction.

No word on how bad the leather along with the wax smelled!!!

But, if this company here does cork and wood, they must have some sort of fume vacuum on the machine.

I don't know if you are close to Lexington, Kentucky or not, but these guys do laser engraving:

www.lextro.com/

Hey, it never hurts to ask, check around in your area, or even farther away.

I've found a nice cordial phone call can really break the ice, sometimes much better than an impersonable E-Mail...

That is great leather work, and if you can find a shop that can laser etch some of your artwork, along with your great leather work, you might be able to make a few bucks.

Nice leather work. The trophy company is a good idea for finding a laser etcher. You might find someone advertising the service at hobby or woodworking stores too. I go to a guy who had an etched sign at the Woodcraft store to get pens etched on occasion. He only charges $10 a line. He will charge more for larger print but that is his starting point. For something other than text he would need a digital image in whatever format his machine required.

I have a clock that I made and am talking to Woodcraft about turning them out on their CNC machine but they are having issues getting it programed. Mostly because it is largely comprised of curves and, for lack of a better description, uneven arcs. They tried doing it from a JPEG but were getting nowhere slowly, I'm not even sure what they are trying now, they may be trying to not do it. ;D But, once they figure it out, if they do, they will have it forever and I can perhaps get some clocks made.

In woodworking I used to make only one-off items by hand and then sell them but my hands are getting too beat up and I have problems making enough stuff to keep a table full at the craft shows. It took me two years to make a guitar stand. I didn't work on it exclusively and it was a "when I get time" project (kind of like the wood engine) but still... However if I can take my time and design the first one and have it produced somewhere else and then distributed, I should be able to do alright.

I know that some of us are into leather work, I found this site by a guy that makes holsters and such:

www.willghormley-maker.com/index.html

He has patterns for sale of some pretty neat stuff, and has some great tutorials on some of his shootin' iron holsters.

IIRC, I bought a whole side of 7?oz. when I bought some from Tandy, but it's been several years ago.

Can't go wrong with Tandy, I've had really good luck with them in the past.

I really liked Ghormleys site, he had some really good tutorials and even had instructions on how to get a black dye job that I'd never heard of before.

That was a good deal on the leather!

Just a thought. but if you wanted to make a "stiffer" holster, you could line it with another piece of leather, using rubber cement to glue the two pieces together...