Tabla de contenidos para March 2022 en Illume

Greetings ShopTalk! Friends! Remember back in January when I promised I would write an Editor’s Note for each issue this year? Well, I just want you to know that this task comes around like a lightning bolt each month, fast and shocking. Why do I constantly find myself thinking, and quite often verbalizing my astonishment, about how quickly time flashes by?! Speaking on this matter a little further, who can believe we’ve been privileged to hear from our in-house marketing expert, Michael Magnus, for 15 whole months? His column is one of my personal favorites and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with each month. Not only is the information he shares insightful, but the fact that he too is a leather enthusiast makes his advice applicable…

Reduce hand fatigue and boost productivity with our patent pending Weaver Rotary Punch that boasts an ergonomic design for hours of comfortable punching. Designed for punching precise holes in leather and Brahma Webb® for stitching, lacing, hardware and more, this tool is a must-have on your workbench. A six-in-one carousel holding 2.0 mm (5/64”), 2.5 mm (3/32”), 3.0 mm (1/8”), 3.5 mm (9/64”), 4.0 mm (5/32”) and 5.0 mm (13/64”) tubes ensures the right size is always at your fingertips. Visit shop.weaverleather.com or call 800-932-8371 to place your order.…

As craftsmen/women, we pour our passion and attention to detail into our work and when creating functional items, precision is key. Paper patterns are simple, yet effective, tools to leverage and can be made in a few steps. They provide a consistent jig, useful for mediums like leather that stretch and for projects that require multiple layers. In this article, I will explain how I cut a precise rectangular paper pattern using a crossed center line, which can then be applied to create various paper patterns quickly and accurately. You will need: Two Rulers* Scratching Awl Sharp Precision Craft/Utility Knife Thin Poster Board** Optional: Paper Weight *When making handheld items like purses, bags, wallets, etc. use rulers with units in millimeters. Measuring with smaller units of measure like millimeters ensures…

After working for 55-plus years in the hide and leather business, Andy Barta knows a thing or two about weathering the ups and downs of the trade. His hands-on confrontations with adversity and his knack for bouncing back with fortitude, began for real in December 1955, one year after his father had launched the rawhide enterprise, George Barta Hide Company in Petaluma, California. That year, severe floodwaters swept through the region. “We had to get into swimming outfits to fish out hides from the Petaluma River,” Barta, 75, vividly recalled. “The river was not far from the warehouse.” At the time, he was just nine years old, but the sudden crisis revealed his dad’s strong-willed character. “He was very determined. A couple of years later, my father found a good…

STEP 1 – Start with a straightened hide and cut out the bellow pieces for the bag. They are normally about 55" long and 5" wide. STEP 2 – Next, you will cut your kidney bean pieces. You can use a pattern for these which is roughly 21 ¼" long and 7/8" wide. SIDENOTE – You will cut two kidney bean pieces, one for the front and one for the back. The zipper will be installed in one of these pieces. STEP 3 – Once you have cut out your kidney bean pieces, you will grab all of your cut pieces so you can prep to cut in and install the zipper. STEP 4 – Now that you have all your leather pieces cut you will grab one of your…

Working with leather, you put a lot of time and effort into your craft. The best way to preserve what you’ve done, is to use Pecard Leather Care Dressing. Following up with Pecard Leather Dressing ensures the leather will remain supple and protected from damage. Formulated in 1902, Pecard Leather Dressing is still family owned and handcrafted in the USA, using the same high-quality ingredients for 120 years. Visit WWW.PECARD.COM to order or call 1-800-467-5056 Mon-Thurs 8 AM to 5PM CST and Friday 8 AM to Noon CST if you have questions. Dealer Inquiries Welcome!…

Arran’s description of his homeland reminds me a bit of the kitchen-sink topography of Texas. “We have mountains, flats, arid, wet, snow, floods, ocean, an amazing sky and forests. It’s a beautiful place to live and visit! In the Eastern Free State where I live, we have the most beautiful clouds and skies. We get massive storms but also clear and bright days. The best thing is to see the enormous clouds reaching for the heavens on a sunny day.” Of the nation’s tongues he says, “We have eleven official languages which is why we are called the Rainbow Nation. Our national anthem is sung using five of the languages! It’s very cool but also difficult to memorize all the parts. Our flag is also based on the concept of…

Whether you’re a solopreneur, part of a team of in-house learning and development (L&D) professionals, one of the most important things you can do is build an active community around your training organization’s brand. This is especially important as businesses and other organizations both large and small become more decentralized. For trainers and teams, building a community around your brand will help grow your following and open up new opportunities. For in-house professionals, this is what keeps your department relevant and sets your L&D initiatives up for success. Keeping learners engaged requires that they embrace both a mindset — and a culture — of personal growth and collaboration. Without the right mindset and an active community, there can be no culture. And without investing in a culture where people can…