The Art of Leather
As much as I enjoy my day job in the knowledge economy, there’s a part of me that yearns for a creative outlet. And lately, I’ve found just that in the art of leatherworking.
From wallets and belts to phone cases and laptop sleeves, I’ve been fascinated by the possibilities of creating beautiful and functional items out of leather. And yes, even aprons.
I started my leatherworking journey last December when I bought some basic tools and crafted handmade gifts for my loved ones. Since then, I’ve been honing my skills and exploring new techniques.
And now, I’m ready to come out of the closet as a leatherworker and share my passion with the world. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a beginner looking to get started, join me on this journey and discover the joys of leatherworking.
For me, leatherworking has become a meditative and deeply satisfying activity. There’s something incredibly rewarding about taking a piece of raw material and transforming it into a beautiful, functional object.
Working with leather requires a certain level of focus and precision, but it’s also a wonderfully tactile and sensory experience. From the smell of the leather to the sound of the tools, there’s a richness to the process that I find both grounding and inspiring.
If you’re new to leatherworking, don’t be intimidated by the prospect of learning a new craft. With a little patience and practice, you can develop the skills you need to create items that you’ll cherish for years to come.
And while the tools and materials can be an investment, there are plenty of affordable options to get started. Plus, the satisfaction of being able to say, “I made this myself,” is priceless. So why not give it a try and see where your leatherworking journey takes you?
Check out my QuickStart Tools Guide for getting into Leatherwork or my free guide for using medical scalpels for craft and leatherwork.
All my content on Leatherwork is here.
Uber impressed – sounds like a great cathartic hobby (is it still a hobby if you are addicted??)
Thanks Desiree…! Very cathartic. My definition of a hobby is something that takes money out of my pocket (rather than puts it in…) So, it’s definitely a hobby…! A lot like drinking red wine on the weekend.
Hey. Good to see you owning your latest passion Graeme! Your wallet is fantastic. Cheers Tracey
Hi Tracey…! Thanks for that. More to follow you can be sure. I think I’ve levelled up since I took those photos around Christmas time ๐
I so know how you feel ๐ And you can also add it to any other hobby. You’re a fashionista? Easy. You like to write? Make book covers. You like to read? Same, or a sleeve for your glasses. You like to do archery? Even better. Me, I like to write with pens. So my new project will be a fountain pen leather case.
Did the hand tooling grab you yet as well? ๐ Don’t start, you’ll never stop.
Hi there. Thanks for the comments! I can relate re pens as well, but I’ve been holding back on that one. It looks like a very deep hole to disappear down… All the best with the fountain pen case. I haven’t tried the hand tooling yet but I will. I just have to find a style that’s not too country and western, but also not all skulls and motorbike branding. Thanks again!
Little tip from a beginner: Do a good course. No matter if it’s country or skulls, just do a course with someone who knows what he or she is doing. After that you can choose your pictures yourself. It’s the technique that’s what counts, and that’s the same no matter which style the patterns. ๐
My trainer gave me the suggestion to go for tattoo patterns, no matter which (as long as they’re not too intricate for the beginning). I’ve kept to that and had some pretty good experiences.
And yeah, biiiiig deep hole ๐ Don’t start.
ok ok I’m already hooked… Will keep on the look out for a good course. Thanks!