6 Reasons to Learn Leatherwork (or any new skill)

 

6 Rewards of Learning Leatherwork (or any new skill)

When you make the decision to learn a new skill, your main focus might be what you’re going make and perhaps what you can do when you finish the course or workshop but you might not have thought about the other rewards.  I’m sure there’s more but here are 6 that I can think of:

1.    Brain exercise

Our brains are lazy!  Generally they don’t like working out, thinking or problem solving.  Learning a new skill is like exercising your brain.  It expands your mind.

2.    Something to look forward to

Whenever we have something new in our lives, there’s always a level of excitement and anticipation.  When you learn a new skill you will be thinking about the possibilities, what you’re going to be able to make and what’s coming up in the next lesson.  Just as important as being in the now, having something to look forward to encourages us to move forward.

3.    New conversation piece

Next time you talk to your friends and they ask what you’ve been up to, you’ll have something new to talk about!

4.    New opportunities

Who knows where your new skill may take you.  You could discover your passion or calling in life – something you felt was missing.  Doors can open, opportunities for making money may come your way and the people you meet might change your life.

5.    A different perspective

We all see things differently but think about watching a movie for the first time, being captivated by the scenery and the story line and being taken into another world.  You’re probably not thinking of much else.  Then think about watching the making of that movie.  If you watch the movie again, you won’t see it the same way.

Learning a new skill is the same.  You’ve probably seen hundreds, maybe thousands, of leather products during your life but never thought more about them other than you like them or you don’t.  Once you understand the characteristics of leather, learn about it’s history and what you can make with it, you will have a whole new appreciation of handmade craft and a completely different perspective.

6.    It’s great for your soul

Taking a break from your usual routine, getting out of the house, giving yourself time to focus on something other than what goes on every day is refreshing and revitalising for your soul.  It charges your batteries and gives you confidence.

As I said before, I’m sure there’s more.  If you can think of some, feel free to add them.
Interested in learning a new skill now?  Take a look at The Happy Viking workshops and learn leatherwork

Hand Tooled or Embossed? Do You Know the Difference?

Hand Tooled and embossed leatherwork

Do you know the difference?

If not, it’s worth taking the time to read on …

N  Hand tooled leather is hand made by a person, with their own hands, not by a machine.  This means creating a design, drawing it first onto paper, next carefully tracing and then marking it onto the leather.  Depending on whether the artisan chooses to carve into the leather or not, she/he will then take great care in cutting that pattern/design into the leather at just the right depth.  Next, using their leatherwork tool designed for this purpose, she/he will run it along the edge of the marked or cut line, while hitting down on it with their mallet to make an impression.  This must be done in a steady, consistent manner in order to make a clean and smooth design.  A slip in the wrong direction could mean a whole different design, or worse still – a complete new start!

N  Hand tooled leather products are unique.   Even if the  same design is used,  no two will  be exactly

    the same because they are done by hand.

N  Hand tooled products  are made  using real cowhide leather,  often  referred to  as ‘natural tooling’

     leather.  This heavier leather is not  only ideal  for tooling but it is also of  high quality and is durable

     and long lasting.

N  Hand tooled leather products can be custom made with your own design.

N  Hand tooled leather products are made with love and care. The time taken to create these works of

     art can quite often be long but the end product is very rewarding. 

N  Hand tooled leather products  are  an  investment.  Over time,  like good wine,  these products will

    only get better!   The character and  life will intensify and,  looked after,  will last  for  many years to

    come.  The craftsmanship, uniqueness, quality, love and care all contribute to making these products

    well worth the price tag!

4  Embossed leather products are done by machine using specially designed plates that are pressed into the leather.

4  Embossed leather designs can be extremely detailed.

4  Embossed leather products do not need to be done on leather of the same high quality as hand tooled.

4  Embossed leather products are, more often than not, mass produced which enables the price of each piece to be kept to a minimum. 

Both methods of leatherwork are beautiful and have their place. In the end, it all comes down to what you are looking for and personal choice. 

I take great joy and pride in my leatherwork.  Whether it’s an item that I’m making for my stall, online store, or custom made, you can be assured that each piece is truly hand crafted with love and care

The Happy Viking 

(1) First of all I draw the design/pattern onto paper.  This is a design that I created for a custom order for a pair of Legolas arm vambraces to be worn at a Lord of the Rings' event in Washington.

  

(2) Next I dampen the leather all over:

(3) Then I place paper on top of the dampened leather and trace the pattern to leave an indentation:

(4) Next I tool the pattern into the leather.  I had some tools made up to use when I demonstrated at Viking events but I love them so much that I use them all the time now.

To see the finished product or order a set of custom arm vambraces, please click on the link below:

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/178214935/leather-arm-guard-cosplay-larp-legolas?ref=sr_gallery_2&sref=&ga_search_query=leather+arm+vambraces+&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=AU&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

                                                                                                                                                            

This is the start of a design I created for another custom order - a Medieval Dog collar

to be worn by an Irish Wolfhound.

                                                                                                                                                            

This is my Celtic Oak Tree of Life design before staining on a handbag.

I also have this design printed on greeting cards.  Please take a look at my Etsy shop (link below).

https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/178286353/greeting-card-celtic-oak-tree-of-life?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_query=celtic+greeting+card+oak+tree&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=AU&ga_search_type=all