Wampum!

I do still have a few items I began making/collecting (usually gifts given to me), growing up. We did this to earn a few extra pennies, and were as 'Authentic' as we could make them. That olde Saying 'Let nothing go to waste!' regarding animals and their by-products was practically our 'Golden Rule to Live By' (That wasn't expressly religious at least!).
Many of the predators that tried to give us trouble (Mostly 'yotes) 'Donated' many things to this trade/industry. I still own the 'yote-skin-cap I took/processed years ago in the AZ desert (Lost the damned boots though! Stolen, alas).

I feel yer pain/frustration at the 'Fine motor skills' thing. While mine own phalanges still do quite fine, I live with someone dying of MS, and he's forever frustrated at the things he can no longer manage well.

:-/

Thank you. I only use real glass and bone beads, none of the plastic crap. Worked with buckskin too years ago. Never did get a chance to tan my own - really wanted to try brain tanning. Hehe neighbors would have called the cops on me for the smell if I had...
I had a cousin Norway with MS. First met him in 1977 - he passed away a couple of years ago. Guy stayed somewhat independant for years. Family had bought him a Fjord Horse to ride when they wanted to go on a hike in the forest near their farm. Horse started laying down to make it easy for cousin Svein to get on. No special training. I fell in love with that breed at that time.
I make myself do small item work to keep up some measure of dexterity. Fiddling with some small HO scale snap together tank kits from China. Been adding springs to the turrets of the T72's and T90s - bobble tanks.

I think you and Roomie would get along FAMOUSLY!

Yes, Fjords/Norwegians, and let's not neglect them flashy Friesians, are amazing equine Breeds! SMART as heck, and oh-so-nimble for things that size! I fell in love with Friesians in the movie "Lady Hawk," ('Goliath' was his screen name), and everything I've learned about them since has only kept me in dreamland!

Models and such? THAT is where you and my Roomie would likely bond first/best! I've seen some of his work, and it's astonishing how he's painted them, and/or built the dioramas. While I've built models, painted 'Miniatures' and such, that isn't a skill I really excelled in. Sure's hell respect those who do! (Just watching some of the Builders on various EweTube Channels can see me lose HOURS of viewing!)

RC really astonishes me. Everything from friggin' 'Hot air balloons' to real JETS, there seems no limit to the things! Well, other than your $$$ of course!

Tanning and stuffs. Eeyup 'bout the reek! I STILL can't tolerate it, and I grew up around it! The results are spectacular if you know what yer doin'! I've thought 'bout trying to learn/start, but that's a huge investment in time and atm, more $$$ than I can drop to see it happen. Will keep it on my 'Bucket List!'

heh, my Avatar on this site is Fjording. Yep, I like smart horses and smart dogs. They'll keep you on your toes. Oh I did a lot of models as a kid, diaramas, etc. Did a really good detailed Curtis P40 - Flying Tigers in High School. My father worked with one of the Flying Tigers. I built the model, got a little clear case for it and had dad give it to the gentleman. Guy wrote me a nice thank you letter and gave me one of his unit patches, some Nationalist Chinese money and some war time photos. Screwed around with the flying stuff - free flight gliders, control line and RC. Was better at building than flying. Sold off my old analog RC gear in the 90s. Was looking at the newest stuff, damn expensive. Do like the electric motors for the planes. I hated trying to get the little gas engines to start. Would work great in the garage. Get to the field and nope, not gonna run. Haven't painted any models in years but still have my brushes and Xacto knives.
As for tanning, the couple of deer I bagged in Texas were so small - tanning those hides would have been pointless unless I wanted to make a few small moccasins. Not like the big Mule Deer hanging around my neighborhood here in the AZ highlands - couple of those I'd have a nice buckskin shirt, leggings, breechcloth and mocs... Those I know how to make. Used to have a book on brain tanning. Use the brain and liver from the deer. mashed and boiled to make the tanning solution. Scrape both sides of the hide, soak in the stuff - let dry then smoke over a low fire. I own some beadwork that was smoked over Hickory. For several years when I'd wear that beaded belt buckle folks would say they smelled breakfast...

Papa and (Hell, I think ALL of them), many of our 'Elders' did and knew all about tanning processes. From literally saving urine (to bleach curing leather. ewww), to brain tanning/smoking.
Interesting little tidbit 'bout that? Every animal's brain is literally the exact amount/quantity needed to tan THEIR hide! (Nature, it be scary sometimes!)
One thing I like(d) about the smaller game hides? They're perfect for novelty items, be they belts, pouches/purses, hats/gloves. Being smaller/lighter, they're also WAY easier to handle/sew/etc.. For clothing? Yeppers! Gonna need either a LOT of 'em (And I know folks who've done this/taken the time), or some bigger sized critters to provide it! And the ROOM/Strength to manipulate/rack/et al 'em.

Also, I've worn real leather. In the Summer. Many times. I don't recommend it if you can avoid it! lol I still have my custom made 'Taarna' outfit (From the animated movie 'Heavy Metal') that I used to show off at Events/Faire's/etc.. Looked great, but leather 'Chafes' in all the wrong places after awhile!

I remember reading that and also hearing it from folks who do their own Brain Tan leather. Oh yes, leather is way too warm in the Summer. I've done some kicking around the back country in my buckskins. Some times of the year the wool broadcloth breechcloth is way more comfortable than the buckskin. Heh I think i've seen that outfit at a few events. Also seen one gal at a biker event in Laughlin Nevada - leather g string bikini, top and chaps / boots.

A warrior's necklace!

Pretty much

WOW!

That is fine work-and so good to see that you reworked it into a fresh version as per the old ways-like I was taught back in the day!
Still have the odd item or two from waaaaaay back in the mid 1990s that I still rock at the pow wows when I do get out to dance from time to time.
Aho!

Thank you. Yes, I can't throw away anything that is good. I kept all my crafting supplies and do have access to local suppliers for beads, etc. My Norwegian kin have the same attitude about saving and fixing nice things. Well at least the generations I knew - have no idea about the younger ones these days. I have two hairpipe and pony bead chokers I crafted in the 90s along with a bone hairpipe and pony bead breastplate. I was dating a dancer from Oklahoma at the time, her family liked me and at times I was the driver of their Powwow van. Fun memories of driving the van, doing speed limit, being pulled over by small town Police who were trying to do the DUI thing and not knowing what to do when a long haired bearded white college boy was at the wheel sober, holding DL and the papers for the van and asking "Is there a problem officer?"

Ha ha!!!
Good memories indeed!!!
...so many stories from driving to and from gigs is half the fun!!!!
I dance tradish, grass, and hoop-always inspired to get back into it(have not danced since 2018)--now,...just to get my crafting room up to par and get cracking on repairs and upgrades to my gear---I have a lot of gear that needs TLC!!!!

Oh yes, did the drive 3 times to different powwows in the Texas Oklahoma border area in the early 90s. Got to mess with small town cops each time. Loved when one would start to call me Chief then do a double take. "Well chief, you were weaving back there..... wtf"
One crafting item I bought 30 odd years ago was a large spool of Aritificial Sinew. Dang stuff comes in handy for stringing bead necklaces, sewing leather and even fixing a tear in a soft convertible top at one time. Some sort of synthetic coated in beeswax. Stretch it a bit before use and it works perfect.

Ah yes-the roll of sinew!!!!
Many a time have I used that golden spool of super strong line!!!!!
SOOOOOOOOOO many good uses for it!

One of my better purchases from a Tandy Leather store years ago, along with a copy of Ben Hunt's book from the 20s and 30s on Native crafts. Guy learned from a number of tribes on tanning hides and crafting buckskin garments and everyday items. Made 2 of the Ojibway single skin deer hide shirts from his illustrations over the years. Comfy but definitely not for wearing in hot weather.

Oh!!!
Now the Tandy Leather Company(as it was known in western Canada back in the 1990s when I was still stomping around my home grounds!)-that is a place I have not heard about in AGES!!!!
lol
...showing off our grey snouts I suppose! Ha ha!!!

They did have a great selection of materials and source materials for serious people who wanted to learn close to nature skills for sure.
I mainly learned from friends and family on how to do stuff as I went along,

Yeah, you don't see stand alone Tandy Leather stores these days. I so see some of their products at independant leather stores. Last hide I purchased about 24 years ago was at a native american craft supply shop in Flagstaff - used it for one of the single skin shirts. For a while when I was in Texas I bought some supplies from Crazy Crow - for a while their warehouse and store front was a short drive from where I lived. Was buying some hairpipe beads and wool broadcloth for some projects