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Leather Shop, based in Greece since 1955. We sell high quality leather in the best price! You can visit our website or email us ( leathercosmosgr@gmail.com) for more information or questions. www.leathercosmos.com

Alta Andina crafts handmade mutli-use rolls. They are for sale on our website: https://altaandina.com/products/ Our tool roll can be used for almost anything. Fits a 12 inch wrench. Each slot can be sized as big or small as needed. Great for woodworking sets, chisel sets, bonsai sets etc. Also works great for paint brushes or art supplies. Our art rolls can also be used for pens and pencils, brushes, etc. We haven't played with putting tools in our art rolls yet, but we'd love to see how you use them! We do all our work by hand. Hand stitching, hand hammered copper rivets, hand burnished with beeswax. All full grain, vegetable tanned leather (quebracho, mimosa blend).

The Pros and Cons of Crafting with Leather 7/13/2018 0 Comments As a textile material it’s said that the origins of leather are as old as civilization itself? A lot of writers credit its origins to different points in history, but perhaps the most impressive is actually found in the Bible. The Bible credits the origins of leather all the way back to Adam and Eve. After they sinned and were removed from the Garden of Eden it’s said that God made them garments from skin and clothed them. What type of skin? It doesn’t say, but I’m guessing it might have been a lamb or something similar. So regardless of what point in history you go back to, leather has been around a long time and will probably be around until the end of civilization itself. But what has made this material so appealing throughout the ages? Perhaps this blog is not intended to completely answer that question, but feel free to add to it with your comments below… So for now, let's talk about the pros and cons of crafting with leather. I think the best way to tackle this topic, is to simply look at the qualities of the material and it applications. In this blog I’m only going to be focusing on vegetable tanned leather, since this is what was used historically. Chrome tanned leather didn’t come along until the 1800’s. The Pros – It’s an eco-friendly and natural resource – No harmful chemicals are used in the tanning process. It has a very pleasant fragrance - Natural rich earthly scent that doesn't overwhelm. It is ideal for use in art or craft – Images can be carved and tooled into the surface of the leather to transform this material into literal works of art It can be wetted and molded into any shape or form you want. Magnificent statues and pieces of art have been molded with leather throughout the centuries, such as in the image to the right. It can be stained or dyed to any color you want It’s extremely durable and can last a lifetime (Special emphasis on Vegetable tanned leather) It’s not that expensive… - You might be surprised to here me say that, but considering what leather is and how much you can buy for the price, it really isn’t that expensive. Since leather is a natural resource, it’s prices will fluctuate from time to time. But regardless, I still think it’s a very affordable craft material that is unmatched by any other. It’s compatible – Leather is also very compatible with other textile materials, wood, and more. Leather takes on beautiful properties as it ages and antiques - As leather is exposed to natural elements, such as sunlight, moisture, and oils from our hands, over time the leather will take on a beautiful natural patina tan that only adds to it beauty and look. Cons – Leather requires a little upkeep – Compared to other textiles leather actually requires much less upkeep to maintain, but in order to keep it clean it’s best to protect your leather goods with leather care products from time to time. Best not to get it wet! – Leather can handle some moisture but being a natural material it’s best not to leave it in the rain if you really want it to last. Shopping for leather – One of the biggest complaints people have when buying vegetable tanned leather is that it has some scaring on the leathers top surface. But this is unavoidable since the leather is a natural material. So, if the animal is raised on the free-range, then it’s going to have some scaring from bug bites, barbed wire fences, branding marks, or other animal bites. In some ways I think these marks lend character and beauty to the properties of the leather, but if you are shopping for perfection, then there are more expensive hides that can be purchased. Top quality hides are usually made from animals that are raised in protective environments where their exposure to harmful conditions are removed. These hides are of course very beautiful, but also very costly. Sometimes it’s more affordable to buy 2 hides of a cheaper leather with scars than it is to buy 1 piece of hi-quality leather. I guess it just depends on what you are making and what the job demands. It’s a less known craft niche – Some may see this as a pro or a con, but I think the leathercraft industry doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Considering everything that can be done with leather and rich history of the craft I hope to see it become one of the most popular crafts the world has to offer. So as far as I can tell the pros, far outweigh the cons... What do you think?

Oak Leaf Vegetable tanned leather side for sale. 8-9 oz (3.1-3.5mm) leather thickness per the label, backside is marked 25.2 square feet. (floor tiles are 18" tiles for reference). This side is fairly clean and large, as can be seen in the photos. The backside is fairly smooth. I have more leather than I can use right now, so I'm selling off some pieces such as this when I have the time. This is Tandy item #9157-58 8/9 oz Veg Side per the labels, their price $205-$270 plus tax. This is Tandy's nicer Oak Leaf tooling leather. My price: $185 plus shipping. YinTx

Hey guys! Just thought this community would appreciate this. A short video giving some insight on the mindset of a super successful creator. (Film director and leather craftsman). Enjoy! You can check out more of Benito's work at @bennyboyindustries on instagram!

Hey guys! Just thought this community would appreciate this. A short video giving some insight on the mindset of a super successful creator. (Film director and leather craftsman). Enjoy! You can check out more of Benito's work at @bennyboyindustries on instagram!

Hi Everyone! I am looking to make some soft tote bags and would love to use only vegetable tanned leather. I am using Wickett and Craig bridle for my straps, but for the body of the bag I would like to use something softer and more pliable, but still veg tanned. I am wondering if there are any distributors or tanneries left in the US that have 3-4oz soft milled vegetable tanned leather available in pre-dyed neutral colors (brown, tan, black, grey, etc)? The only thing that I can find so far is un-dyed soft milled sides. Thanks very much in advance for your help!

Hi Guys, i hope somebody can help me since im still a very new in leather craft. I used to read this forum and helps me alot. Thanks for your sharing but im not sure what i want to know is ever been discuss, or maybe i skipped. ok here is my question. Currently im doing some wallet and card case (my aim is bag) and i found the vegtan leather was scratches all the way (light scratches) i want to try to remove the scratches. is there any solution for me to remove the scratches? i read some said to remove the stain they using alcohol is that trus? or should i dye the leather? any suggestion is very acceptable im still learning. Thankss

So here's the playing card suit coasters in all their wobbly glory! I think it's pretty easy to tell which one I started with and which one I ended on, my stamping made progress as I developed a bit of technique. I loathe the number four, so I made a fifth coaster with all the suits on it, and managed to make a horrible looking club, but meh. The big version of the club turned out nicely so I'll take it. These were all carved/stamped on pre-dyed chestnut veg tanned scraps, it took some doing to get five coasters somewhat close to the same thickness. Several coats of watered down resolene went on them, and the edges were burnished (badly) with a felt wheel with my dremel knock-off. Looks better than when I started in any case.

Hi, I've asked this question in the paints/ dyes forum but haven't had any luck. I'm interested in painting designs on veg tanned leather for use in making baby moccasins. I haven't ordered the leather yet and so have not been able to experiment with dye or paint options. The dye would have to withstand the elements (outdoor shoe) but most importantly it needs to be non-toxic, should it end up in baby's mouth. Some dyes/ pigments I've been thinking about - henna, annatto, indigo, walnut, pecan, beats. Has anyone had experience using these, or similar? I'm especially keen on the idea of using indigo. Since I'm using veg tanned leather, does this mean it would not have to be heat set? Any suggestions for oil to use? Obviously, I still have a lot to learn about leather. I haven't seen any walnut dye available commercially; only recipes for making it yourself. I'd love to be able to find something in powder form- just add water. Perhaps I am totally naive about how involved the process will be- hoping to just paint it on with a brush like water colour. Angelus leather dye and paint seems to be quite commonly used (I love that you can use it in a refillable pen). I can't find any information on the ingredients though. Would love some advice.This is the leather I'm using (I assume it's unsealed) http://www.vegetable-tanned-leather.com/ecopell-kollektionen/ecopell-nappa and the suede http://www.vegetable-tanned-leather.com/ecopell-kollektionen/ecopell-velour and a pic of my moccasins (chrome tanned) Thank you!