When I first started making leather items, my designs were as simple as could be. At the time I thought they were beautiful, and my family and friends kindly agreed. Looking back three years later, I can see how basic they were. My craft has come a long way, and I still have a long way to go.
I began with easy tools like decorative stamps of butterflies, roses, and animals, plus alphabet stamps for names and initials. It was a great way to start. Over time I let my creativity out, added new tools, and learned to combine patterns in ways that felt like mine. That opened a whole new world of looks and possibilities.
There are still parts of leatherwork that I am learning and a few that I tiptoe around because I do not want to make big mistakes. I know I need to move through that fear, and I will, one project at a time.
One of my favorite parts of this journey happens when families visit the campground. With parents’ permission, we invite the kids to our picnic table and help them make simple bracelets. We have had little ones as young as three and teens up to sixteen. We offer it for free so they can take a memory home from their travels. Later, we sometimes receive orders for dog collars or other items from those same families. Sometimes a child becomes curious about leatherwork and wants to learn more. That makes my heart happy.
We also dicovered how to turn our craft into income. A local outdoor flea market became our testing ground. When we set up, we bring an extra table or two and work on projects right there. People stop to see what we are doing, conversations start, and sometimes a sale or a custom order follows. We happily answer questions for beginners, too. And of course, Vixen sits looking adorable, which draws people in. Some come for her and leave with a new bracelet or a made to order piece.
A funny twist in my story is that my mom was a gifted seamstress who tried to teach me to sew. It never took. I can reattach a button, but a sewing machine and I are not friends. As a kid I remember receiving a shoebox full of handmade Barbie clothes for my birthday. Now here I am, hand stitching leather every week. I have sewn lighter cases, holsters, knife sheaths, and even replaced a purse zipper.
I once restored an antique gun holster by pulling out all the old stitching and making it new again. I suspect my mom is smiling from heaven. I love the rhythm of saddle stitching. I put on music, set up the stitching pony my husband made, settle into the recliner with my feet up, and fall into the zone. If I make a mistake, I back up or start over until it is right.
When we work markets or craft fairs, I often stitch on site. People ask how it works, and I show them each step. It feels good to share. I even made a belt while working one day, and the vendor next to us bought it after watching the process each week. Time passes quickly when my hands are busy, and finished pieces sometimes bring more customers when friends and family see them.
Choosing the right event matters. We once set up at a small farmers market where barely thirty shoppers walked by all day. Another fair bused people in from the next state and the flow never stopped. A little research about traffic, vendor mix, and fit can make a big difference. The more you know, the better your experience will be.
Leatherwork has become both a creative outlet and a practical way to earn. It started with simple stamps and brave first tries. It grew with practice, patience, and community. It keeps growing every time I sit down to stitch, teach a child to make a bracelet, or talk with a stranger who becomes a customer. That is the joy for me. Craft that tells a story, work that fits my life, and a little dog named Vixen who makes people smile while I sew.