lloyds of leather

Lloyds of Leather Since 1968, you name it. I've made at least one., in the old days I would make fifty. .,Blacksmithe, glassblower, weaver, leather Fireman, EMT, and much more ,since 1963 I finally decided to do a business card in 1967 or 68. Having studied at F.I.T ,NYC, Oakland school of fine arts and crafts, Expressive arts , Sonoma state college. BA in business administration and art.

Studied under a master saddle builder in europe, Apprentice to a furrier in Paris, two years,

Went to the university of Berzerkly in California. sold on the streets, did horse stuff, bikers stuff, high fashion, Saddles, saddlebags, jackets, vests, pants, floor length gowns, leather curtains, leather floors, straight jackets, you name it.

At times having had as many as 36 people sewing for me. New york, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Holland, Vancouver, you name it.

master of none. You don't have to be great or famous- just get the product on the table, show up, put a price on it

and repeat. Leather has an energy all its own - you talk to it- it listens.

Just take your dreams in Leather and run with it, Show up , put all your time and money into leather and tools, meet every leather worker in your area, net work, Show up at the work bench and put in the time. THe "leather gods" take it from there.

I was there when it all came down in the 60's, Winterland, altemount, Haight Ashbury, Berkely, San Franciso, Woodstock,The green triangle

I was making something for every popular band in the country. I was ON ken Kesy's bus. rubbing shoulders with the best in San Francisco, bay Area,

During the 60's-- 70's I had something on every famous person you could name.

I had my work in thirty stores across the world, on every continent.

I traveled the world, doing prestigious juried Arts & Crafts shows , Where 375 Leather workers applied to get in that show and there were only slots for four leather workers. I always got in, Every show I ever applied for, I got in. I was never turned down.

Being on the road doing shows is extremely grueling and extremely exhilarating.

And can be extremely profitable.

My formula was work four days a week building stock, sell on the weekends , take time to rest, chase the girls and treat yourself

save as much money as you can. Don't spend all the money. I've brought in as much as $26,000 dollars in cash on one weekend at

a street show. Its a lot of VERY-VERY hard work

I've somehow managed to support myself in leather, and still do. Steak - Beans. it never made a difference. I Love Leather.

Leather, you fold it, you curse it, you wet it , you beat it, you drill holes in it, you spit on it, you stretch it, you sew it, you love it, you hate it,

you dream in leather, (oh then you must like motorcycles) Once you start -there is NO turning back.

Just be careful how much glue you ingest. It adds up. Don't ever quit, keep evolving , trying something new.

You can actually get to a place where the "day job" is history.

Right now, I do one of a kind bags, depends on what frame of mind I'm in. I very seldom do custom orders- I do what is in my head.

I make one , sometime three finished pieces. Then I toss that pattern and move on. The days when I had to Whore myself out to

survive in leather are gone. I'm finally able to set a fair price for my expertise.

A few years ago, I figured out that by the time I made the pattern, marked out, cut out and fabricated an item, I needed to get paid a set price.

So several years ago I set the price of $888.88 for one of my finished pieces. Sometimes whining and crawling will get you a discount

I have had no problem finding buyers. Most of my sales are word of mouth now.

I've got a lot of finished goods out there.

I have a few retail outfits that buy my one of a kind bags and give them to their guys who reproduce that item in multiples.

They pay me $444.44 for one of these finished pieces, once they have bought that particular piece-they "OWN" the design.

So, when I'm not taking care of the ranch,(Erodeaway Ranch) I'm welding up a garden gate, Buying an old vintage sewing machine - so I can Fix it up and sell it. I manage to squeeze in four to six finished pieces in leather a month.

I'm sitting smack dab in the middle of the Mother Rune. I could not live life without a Leather Shop/studio waiting for me to walk in and pick up my tools. Lloyd