A Meandering Journey In Leatherworking 

Years ago, while living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, I happened upon a handmade leather journal. It seemed simple enough to make and I tried my hand at it. While functional, the end result was rather mediocre. I quickly reflected on all the aspects of that journal that could have been better. So I ordered better quality materials and made another journal, aiming to produce something I was happy with. Only, the more I made, the more ambitious I became about other products. Eventually I decided I would make myself a briefcase for work. Again, my first attempt was rather mediocre as I learned new techniques and the art of saddle stitching. Several iterations were made, each a marked improvement on the last (and most of which ended as gifts to friends and family) as I started to identify the design elements I really liked in a bag I would be proud to own and use. Eventually I did finally make a bag I was truly proud of - one made from Buttero and lined with natural pigskin, with a luxurious Italian brass lock and a full bodied rolled handle. 

​

I’ve learned that passion for a hobby can take you in unexpected directions. In my case, while working on my briefcase design, I found myself struggling to use the basic Tandy stitching pony when stitching larger pieces together. The stitching threads constantly caught on the tension screw and the small clamping depth made the experience difficult for any projects larger than a wallet. While searching for an upgrade, I discovered artwork-quality stitching clams that were produced and sold by a man in France. Alas, I soon found out that he had stepped away from his craft only a year or two prior. At this point, I probably should have done the logical thing and bought a Vergez Blanchard stitching clam. Instead, I determined that I would try to make my own. Having little in the way of tools and experience at the time, I enlisted the help of my dad, a woodworker by trade, to help me. We steam-bent zebra wood and dimensioned a walnut leg and a hard maple mouth to pair with it. I was of course over the moon that it looked great and worked well too. However...

 

I again quickly started to critique my own work and to realize there were things I could do better and other features I could add. This has led to a years-long "rabbit hole" over which I've accumulated many woodworking tools, built my skillset, and continually tweaked my clam design. In other words, what started as a hobby focused on making leather goods and morphed into something adjacent but altogether entirely different. 

​

I've made this site as a place to memorialize my notes and progress on my own journey. I hope others may find some value in my musings on here