Howling Wolf Leather
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About Me
After watching Wayne Christensen (Leather by WC) carve leather projects for 2 years, I wanted to learn to work with leather and create my own projects. I began doing leatherwork in 1995.
My first project was a simple strip of leather that said "'06 KJ of the Year Lori Halley" that was glued onto base of a trophy made of plastic flowers and a plastic birthday cake topper from my birthday cake in 1992. I made the trophy for a friend who was nominated for KJ (Karaoke Jock) of the year in 1995 but did not win it so the trophy I made was presented to her to let her know that she was the fans KJ of
the year for 1996 even if the judges hadn't given it to her in 1995.
I learned much of what I know about leather from watching Wayne as he worked in his shop creating custom leather items.
I am visually impaired, which makes leather carving a challenge most of the time. I do most of my leatherwork more from touch than sight. Beveling my using my fingertips to ensure I am on the correct lines and beveling in the correct direction etc.
Moving on from the small strip of leather glued to a trophy base I began making wallets, key cases, checkbooks and barrettes. Most of the designs on the early projects were Taz, Tweety, Yosemite Sam and other easily carved cartoon figures. Only 3 tools were needed in order to make the designs, a swivel knife, beveler and backgrounder so the projects were easily produced.
I set up a desk in my room where I could work on leather projects and began accompanying Wayne when he started teaching leather 1995 and began doing floral carving and more common leather patterns. When I first started doing leatherwork, I took a classes from Mike Rhinehart, learning to make molded roses and to make a mask,
Watched a demo from Robert Beard and through watching and taking classes, like a sponge I took in much of what all the artists around me were doing and leathercraft became the center of my focus and has been ever since.
I now assist Wayne at Standing Bear's Trading Post and continue to learn through watching him work on his projects, as well as taking classes from other masters of leathercraft who teach at Standing Bear's such as Robert Beard, Jeff Mosby, and Al Gould.