Last week, I posted about a new zippered wallet. What I didn’t say was that it was actually a Mother’s Day gift for my wife. It was an opportunity to make a very nice gift and revisit the last wallet I made for her over 10 years ago. Although looking at old work often makes […]
Praise the Sewing Machine Repair Person
I have several machines in my studio: three sewing machines, a skiver, a splitter, and many other smaller machines. If you’re like me, you accumulate a mixture of new and used tools and equipment. You know every moment of use of the ones you get new, but the used machines could have gone through hell […]
Restoring a Leather Campaign Chair
This mid-century modern campaign chair, also known as a safari chair, was designed by Kaare Klint, the father of modern Danish furniture design. He is considered so because he adopted and applied German Bauhaus principles to his furniture designs and architectural work. Those fundamental ideas include making furniture according to the proportions and needs of […]
Keep Going
I’m in the process of updating our online course, “Refining Your Technique.” At Fine Leatherworking, we adhere to the practice of continuous improvement. For example, I update the content to incorporate new questions and insights when we run an in-person course. Our courses are not static, and I always want to improve their quality. If […]
Moving Beyond the Basics
Last week, in my post on Getting Lost in Translation, I wrote about how you can use leatherworking to unplug and practice being present. When you can focus, you’ll notice more nuance in your practice. You can better master the basics, which later enables you to do more advanced techniques. For example, the process of […]
Getting Lost in Translation
Recently, I was traveling in Japan and struggling with the language. I lived in Japan for two years and have visited numerous times. Sadly, I don’t practice Japanese very much day-to-day, so my first few days back in the country were tough. Once I got there, a flood of words started returning to me. All […]
The Small Details: Threading Your Needles for Sewing Leather
Threading your needles for hand-sewing leather is a simple technique that shows how paying attention to the details pays off. Properly set needles make it easier to sew and help you speed through your leathercraft project. Learn about threading your needles in this short video.
Bund Strap: Remaking an old Watch Band
A customer found an old Paul Frank watch and wanted the band remade. The watch still worked; however, the band was ragged and worn out. He envisioned a new band reminiscent of the old band with superior looks and quality. This was a fun exploratory project where I could replace and refine the old strap. […]
Advice on Craft From a Living National Treasure
Preface: I wrote this newsletter article ten years ago(!) and have revisited the same question a few times since. Why do leatherworking? Are you after a particular style of wallet or bag? You could feasibly buy one in a store, but you don’t. Something inside compels you to strike out and make the thing yourself. […]
An Old Custom Shoe Shop Perseveres
A while back, a reader shared this New York Times article about a football shoemaker in Mexico. It’s a great, though somewhat bittersweet, story about how a custom cleat maker started his business and how it continues. It reminds me that starting a small business is sometimes about capturing a moment or an opportunity when […]