I have a new readymade mini-tote in my Etsy shop. 100% handmade and one-of-a-kind. Check it out! Thank you.
Mini-Tote with Badges
Reporter’s Field Portfolio
I just listed this upcycled Reporter’s Field Portfolio in my Etsy shop! FREE SHIPPING in the U.S. It contains one brand-new Portage professional reporter’s notebook.
Happy to be back
My workshop wall calendar reads December, the clock has stopped, and I have no idea where to begin, but I am back! Shop mannequin and bird skeleton are stoked. I’ll have two new readymade items in the shop soon: one is the saddlebags for which I won a ribbon at the State Fair and the other is a kooky journalist’s field portfolio I fashioned from an upcycled workman’s kit. Also, I am returning to several custom orders made by VERY patient customers — a stampede string for a hunting hat, a Dungeons & Dragons dice bag, a growler carrier, a backpack, and a blacksmith apron!
Hiatus continues
This past Fall I snapped a photo of this bag I made in 2009 for Shelly Vaillancourt in its natural habitat! Super-fun project: hand-drawn, -cut, -punched, -riveted, and -sewn. It has a zippered drawings portfolio that attaches to the back for the artist on the go. Fun to spot it and think, Hey, that looks familiar!
I am finishing my writing degree this summer and will be back to leatherwork after a short rest break! I hope you are well during this crazy time. I am not accepting custom orders at this time but still have readymade items available. Thank you!
-Heather
Catching up
The most exciting project of the year was these hand-cut, hand-punched, hand-stitched, hand-painted saddlebags that won me third place in the Alaska State Fair in the leather category. Sweet! I made them with copper rivets and heavy-duty black grommets, along with two cool antique copper cart buckles I got from a Wyoming tack seller. Below is a photo of one side. The other doesn’t have any painted elements, just cool range scars and a brand. I have some copper Dee rings to add, and then I will post them for sale in my Etsy shop.
This summer I made a custom wristband for a customer that she’s always wanted: black stoned oil cowhide with two rows of line 24 snaps. Simple and strong design.
I also made a spooky purple skull cameo wristband that’s available in my Etsy shop.
For Tides & Time Tattoos by Shelly V, whose shop is steampunk-themed, I made a collection of keyfobs to sell. She and her staff loved them so much that they kept most of them for themselves!
Excited about this new collar!
I’ve listed some new items in my Etsy shop, including this one-of-a-kind handmade leather flowers and gears collar necklace. I’ve been wanting to make this for years. Modeled by shop mannequin, who for whatever reason is wearing safety glasses.
Also, I put up a handful of privacy luggage tags: HANDS OFF, WTF, NOT YOURS, NO, DUDE, PRIVATE, NOT YOU, and KEEP OUT. These make fun gifts!
I also made a second variation of the skull cameo keyfob.
My plan this summer is to catch up on custom orders, do a couple repairs in the queue, and crank out some more ideas and experiments. I have a cool little vintage miniature suitcase (it was an old men’s grooming kit) that I’m going to come up with a fresh take on. I also want to try my hand at a vest and saddlebags, which I hope to finish in time for the Alaska State Fair 2018 exhibitions. Thanks for visiting!
New custom and readymade items in December
Lucky me! This year I received a commission for a buckskin rune pouch. I chose a vintage buckskin, dyed it black, and created a veg-tan cowhide domestic cat skull badge, dyed blue, tacked on with rough knots showing on the badge. It’s on its way to its new cat-loving owner’s home in Minneapolis, MN. It’s around 4×7″ with a rawhide drawstring and a skull-and-crossbones charm.
Next up is a large readymade wristband, now available in my Etsy shop: it’s veg-tan cowhide, hand-cut and dyed dark brown. It features a Ghostrider concho and two 9/16″ steel hex spikes. Closes with line 24 snaps (adjustable 7.5-8.5″) and is 1″ wide.
Last up is a custom veg-tan cowhide growler carrier, dyed dark brown. This was made as a gift from a secret Santa and was sent off to Shrewsbury, MA. Features a hand-sewn comfort handle, and it’s handmade top to bottom, from the drawing to the assembly. You can order your own in my Etsy shop.
Thanks for visiting!
New vintage buckskin mini-purse
Just finished this vintage buckskin cross-body mini-purse. It’s 100% handmade and one of a kind. Modeled by my trusty shop skeleton, Mr. Clackers.
You can find it in my Etsy shop. Full description in the listing.
Also, I received a custom order for some wristbands and am offering multiple colors with custom aluminum tags, stamped by my production partner, Annie’s Arts & Follies! Click HERE for more.
Thanks for visiting.
The holidays approach
The journal below sold before I could get it posted in my Etsy shop. That’s always nice! Please submit custom holiday orders ASAP. I have a lot of readymade items in the Etsy store, and you can get privacy leather luggage tags, customizable leather gift tags, and leather keyfobs at Bella Boutique in Anchorage — at discounted prices (currently at 15% off everything in the store)! Bella’s doors after 10 years will close this year. Get great deals on all sorts of goodies … remember that 11/25 is Small Business Saturday: consider buying all your holiday gifts from local small businesses.
Lots of projects on the bench
I’ve got my workbench stacked with projects in various phases of completion. In addition to a wall-to-wall bench at standing height, my husband built me a new leather hide rack, which helped me tidy up my space. After four years without a proper workspace, it’s amazing to have my own shop again, and I am not taking it for granted. I’ve mounted my inspiration board on the wall, installed a speaker system to dock my iPhone into, and stocked up on water and roasted pistachios. I don’t even need to live in my house anymore.
I just listed two new items in the Etsy shop: a hand-cut leather corset-tie wristband and a hand-drawn, -cut, -painted rose on a swivel clasp. (I’m not really sure what the rose is for, but after I got all my hides mounted the edge of the burgundy latigo hide looked like a rose; so that’s what I did.) All-in, I have 49 items for sale — many of which are actually useful. Thank you for your support!
