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Hey everyone! I'm so grateful to this forum! I've learned so much in the last year or so that I've been working with leather. It started out as a hobby to support my 8 Dogo Argentinos collars, gear, toys, and leashes...buy last holiday season I created a Jingle Bell Collar out of BioThane (Thank God for my leather working skills as that stuff is the devil to work with over and over...) I prefer Leather but man people love that collar and so I've also been commissioned to create some leather collars for dogs. I like giving gifts to folks as well. Sharing is a gift for me!!! I'd love some tips and advice if yall have any? When I've needed help, I come here and always find my answer. Thankful for all of you! I'll post some pics of the leather collars I've made. They're not typical... but then...neither am I lol. Thank you much! Keri Costello www.smtdogo.com

The Power Of Creative Therapy! I've always had a lot of hobbies but discovered leathercraft during a difficult time in my life. It was extremely therapeutic as well as rewarding and helped me focus on what I was doing creatively rather than on the problems around me. Over the years I've discovered a lot of people with a similar experience as mine. We all need a healthy outlet that does not involve looking at a screen or being preoccupied with likes on social media. One good friend and successful leather artisan once shared with me that prior to getting involved with leathercraft she was losing an ongoing battle with depression. She had been on medication and therapy for a while, but in spite was getting worse. Then one day someone introduced her to leathercrafting and suggested she give it a try. She immediately took to it and her condition began to rapidly improve. Within a short amount of time, she was off her meds and living a healthy and productive lifestyle. Since then she's made a career out of her craft and has received multiple awards and honors for her work and contributions. Healthy creative expression is not only a very important part of who we are, I believe it's also food for our souls. Its a beautiful way to share with others some of our finer qualities rather than some of the chaos we're fed through the media everyday. You can't always take a vacation from stress in your life, but you can find opportunities to rest and recharge through creativity. There are also many reasons why I love to work with leather besides the fact that I find it relaxing and therapeutic. So, I don't want you to think that it's just something I do to chill out, it's also extremely rewarding... It's provided me with incredible opportunities to develop my talents into a profession and work with some of the most talented craftsmen in the world. I love the strong sense of community that exists within the trade and the support that the community shares with one another. Leather is also perhaps one of the most versatile materials in the world and its craft is as ancient as civilization itself. Leathercraft is a skill that just about anyone can learn and put to use in their lives, given the opportunity. Thanks, Chris Free Tutorials, printable leathercraft patterns, and articles can be found on my website at, www.fischerworkshops.com My 1st workshop in Taiwan before starting the Fischer Workshops Youtube Channel

Hello again everyone! I am a new old member to the forum. My old account was under ChiefFilipino117 but I forgot my password and the reset option wasn't working for me. So I've been absent for quite some time. I am a newbie and love leathercrafting! I have so many ideas that are in my head that I will bring to life some day. I reside in Tucson, AZ. I am interested in all things leatherwork but I am focusing my skills on carving, sheaths, and masks at the moment. Thanks for being here! Chief Filipino