I’m taking part in this year’s art festival, which is held on the last weekend of June (28-29 June 2025). There will be lots of different venues for you to visit throughout the villages of Silverdale, Arnside and Storth (on the border of north Lancashire and south Cumbria). Some venues, like the Arnside Methodist Hall, will …
I recently had the great pleasure of teaching Anne how to make a leather case for her new iPhone. Anne chose to use a beautiful green Italian leather for the outside and a thin Spanish goatskin for the inside pockets. All hand-stitched using a vibrant red thread. If you’re interested in doing something similar then …
A strange name for these little portable seats. I was asked to replace the worn and torn canvas for leather, which were needed in time for the Cartmel Races last weekend. Such a simple design and very effective, shooting sticks come in different shapes and sizes. These two are made from aluminium so they’re light-weight …
I had a great time at the recent Weekend in the Woods (run by the Coppice Association Northwest) where I taught five people to make a billhook sheath and one to make an axe sheath. Two of my students are coppice apprentices with BHMAT – a charity based in the north of England dedicated to …
I’ve been doing lots of repair jobs recently. Here’s another example – a Barrett Alley wallet in need of some new thread. I decided that it needed to be taken apart and all the visible stitching re-sewn as neatly as possible. I love seeing how other makers work. An example is the little cutout on …
I’ve been busily building up my stock of small items and have just finished uploading all the details to my Etsy shop. So here’s a rundown of them, along with direct links to each item… Drop me a line if you’d like to know more.
I’ve been slowly adding products to the shop section on my website. The latest item added is my Oak Belt, which I make to order. I’ve also created a coupon code that will give you £10 off each belt you order! Just enter “WHATABELTER!” during the checkout process. This coupon will expire at the end …
The restoration of a customer’s grandfather’s Gladstone bag involved addressing several issues, including a large side hole, torn lining, dry leather, and a failing handle. The repair process included patching the outside of the bag, replacing the handle, and carefully reassembling it to preserve the original leather. The project celebrated family heritage.
Consider gifting a leather craft experience for £100, which covers materials, lunch, and a maximum of four students. Participants can create items such as phone cases, belts, book covers, or tool sheaths. Check the courses section on the website for more details on leather craft offerings.
The Christmas fayre at Halecat in Witherslack will take place on December 7th and 8th, 2024, from 10 am to 4 pm. Join artists and craftpeople for food, cocktails, and live music in Jack’s workshop. Visit before or after Yew Tree Barn’s arts and crafts show for unique gifts. More details on the website.