February 2009
The date of the February meeting has been
changed! We will be meeting on Sunday, Feb. 22nd, barring any
snowstorms or other natural disasters. Sorry for the late change. Hope you all
can still make it. It has been months since the last time we were able to get
together! So once again we will plan to gather, get caught up on what’s been
going on in your life, talk about what projects and/or techniques we would like
to learn at our monthly meetings, the upcoming show schedule, who we would like
to bring in to teach a class, and what outside activities we may want to get
involved with this year. Then we will start/continue working on the chipmunk.
Sound like a good plan?
Tandy Open House, March 20th
& 21st.
This is an annual event at our local Tandy Store where
Debbie extends an invitation for any and all of our members to do
demonstrations while many of the items in the store are on sale. This is a
win/win situation for both Tandy and the Pitt Pounders. A lot of people come
through the store these two days and it’s a great time to introduce them to our
guild. Once again, Kevin & Draper plan to be there. Are you able to be
there to demonstrate and/or answer questions about our guild or leather
working? We would love to have you there!
Whether you
can make it to Tandy to help out or not, this is something our guild needs to
do a better job at: Getting out and introducing folks to leather craft. Three
years ago we were at the 3 Rivers Arts Festival where hundreds of folks saw our
display & many of them stopped to talk & try their hand at
leatherworking. It was an extremely busy and fun weekend. And last year a
number of us had the opportunity to teach a class at Old Economy Village in
Ambridge, PA. Again, a busy, fun and
rewarding day. So what about this year? Any suggestions on where we can go
and/or who would like to learn what we have to offer? Think about it. This will
be an item we talk about this month.
Kevin Cohn
President
412-837-2159
Johanna Schroer
Web Master
Chris Kearns
Newsletter Editor
Guild Contact 724-816-3901
Next meeting:
February 22, 2009
Meeting Place:
Harmony-Zelienople United
Methodist Church
123 N. Pittsburgh Street
Zelienople, PA 16063
What to bring:
Swivel knife, strop, tracing film,
pencil, stylus, 4/5 oz or heavier leather aprox. 5X7, mallet, bevellers,
including your pointed bevellers, F926, hair blade, pear shaders, matting tools
and tooling surface
Happy 40th Pitt
Pounders! That’s right, Howard Brock and a
number of other folks stared the Pitt Pounders Leather Guild back in 1969. Back
then they met once a week! Just imagine the projects we could be working on if
we met every week. Or imagine how good you would be now if you’ve been working
on projects every week for the past forty years. Thanks Kevin for the reminder
of our guilds age.
A perfect example of how good you
can get if you’ve been working with leather for over forty years, actually it’s
fifty-five years in this case, is our
newest member: Fred Kilburn from Columbus
Ohio. If you’ve been a member of our guild for any length of time and have been
to any of the Spring or IFOLG Shows, chances are good that you’ve had the
pleasure of meeting Fred. A warm, friendly and talented man, Fred is a wealth
of information. And he is always willing to share his many years of experience
with you, usually in the form of a funny story. Welcome Fred! It’s great to
have you!
Canceled Meetings. Surely it can’t happen again can it?? But just in case
they are calling for bad weather, please check your email or give me, Chris, a call at the
number listed on the front, or give Joyce Wedge a call at 724-538-5853. As
always, better safe than sorry.
Upcoming Events
Extreme Leather Workshop
Asheville, NC March 27 – 29, 2009.
The Extreme Leather Workshop in Asheville, N.C., will once again host
Master Leather Carving Instructors, each teaching 3 days of in depth classes.
All classes are $190.00. That is only $63.33 per day for Hands On,
Personalized, Custom Tooled Leather Instruction.
“Back At The Ranch” Spring Show hosted by Prairie
States Leather Guild, April 24-26, 2009, at the Oaks Hotel & Conference
Center, Burr Ridge, Il. Just 18 miles from downtown Chicago & O’Hare
International Airport. 10 miles from Midway. Room rates are $89 if you use the
discount code “PRAI” and make your reservation by April 10th. The
cost of the Saturday night Texas Buffet is $26 per person. There will be a flea
market after the Buffet, as well as the usual competition Friday night, Sunday
raffle plus demo’s & workshops. The list of workshop instructors I have
includes Carol Gehrman, George Hurst, Allan Scheiderer & Jim Linnell.
“Ride Your Hide” to Indianapolis for the 43rd
Annual International Federation Of Leather Guilds Show, September 23-27, 2009
One, two & three day seminars will be offered
Wednesday thru Friday. Half day & mini workshops will be offered Friday
& Saturday. With a schedule chock full of award winning Master Craftsmen
and Craftswomen, we are asking each Master to offer something that hasn’t been
offered at other locations. Much more information to come!
Location: Clarion Hotel & Conference
Center "Waterfront", Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hope to see you on the 22nd!
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