New to the forum and wanted to introduce myself

[Second_Chance_Leather]

My name is Brent Snow, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

I have been working with leather (just as a hobby) for the past 7 years or so. 

I work mainly with upcycled Chrome-tanned leather (upholstery leather) that is laminated so that it is stiffer (much like a medium stiff Veg-tanned), which I then use to make small items. 

At this point in my life (55 now), I am trying to find something that I want to do when I retire. I was thinking of doing leatherwork as a side hustle, but to be honest, the more I look into it, the more disapointed i become. I am not someone who has the desire to interact with people or run a business or deal with the public, but I am someone who enjoys creating, crafting, and even stitching (nothing bttter then needing to hand stitch a strap or belt and 3 hour podcast).

I guessI am trying to see what other people are doing and how they are doing it. I am looking for ideas, inspiration, and even some new friends who share the same passion(s) as I do. 

So, if anyone loves computers (IT administration) and leatherwork, please hit me up I would like to get acquainted. 

[Mulesaw]

Welcome to the forum.

Lots of inspiration to be found, no matter what you like 🙂

You mention that you would like to do leather work as a side hustle, I get that you don't like to deal to much with the public or run a business, but.. 
Unless you can use all the leather items that you create yourself or gift it off to families, you will end up having stuff all over. (Based on experience from my other hobby which is woodworking/cabinetmaking).

A solution could be in doing leather repairs. I have a small company with my son, where I do the leather work part. I am not a trained saddle maker, but I can do most repair jobs on saddles except for restocking them with wool. 

A lot of people are daunted by the thought of sewing leather, and while it might be more fun to craft something new, there is also a satisfaction in repairing something so it works well again. 
An advantage (to me) is that repair jobs are very seldom exactly like, so I don't risk making 25 of the same thing in a row, but, one week I can repair a saddle flap, and the next week a stitching in a computer bag or a set of chaps etc. It is just a side hustle, but it is a really nice feeling to be able to immerse myself in a good leather repair project and being paid for sewing and sitting and listening to a podcast or the gentle snoring of our dog at the same time.

Most of my customers know of me from word of mouth, as I don't do any advertising. Equestrians often need a lot of leather work to be repaired, people with vintage motorcycles (1950'ies and older) are also possible sources of potential customers, for saddle bags, seat repairs etc. 

I don't repair leather items exclusively, also horse blankets and replacement of zippers in riding boots etc. I do like to create new things as well, but selling new leather products is difficult in my area, so that is one of the reasons for the repair business. 

Brgds Jonas

 

[chuck123wapati]

11 hours ago, Second_Chance_Leather said:

My name is Brent Snow, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

I have been working with leather (just as a hobby) for the past 7 years or so. 

I work mainly with upcycled Chrome-tanned leather (upholstery leather) that is laminated so that it is stiffer (much like a medium stiff Veg-tanned), which I then use to make small items. 

At this point in my life (55 now), I am trying to find something that I want to do when I retire. I was thinking of doing leatherwork as a side hustle, but to be honest, the more I look into it, the more disapointed i become. I am not someone who has the desire to interact with people or run a business or deal with the public, but I am someone who enjoys creating, crafting, and even stitching (nothing bttter then needing to hand stitch a strap or belt and 3 hour podcast).

I guessI am trying to see what other people are doing and how they are doing it. I am looking for ideas, inspiration, and even some new friends who share the same passion(s) as I do. 

So, if anyone loves computers (IT administration) and leatherwork, please hit me up I would like to get acquainted. 

Welcome!!!

I retired about ten years ago, or more. I do what comes to mind at the moment. I have taken up just learning new stuff, so leather is not the world to me. Last year, for example i deciced i wanted to make clay pots out of local clay, so i did it, found clay, cleaned clay, built a raku kiln, and made pots both in a fire pit and the kiln. I forge and make tools, knives, and just about anything I need. I learn to make lol. Last winter i rebuilt two bamboo fly rods. I still need to make the cases, this fall, tanning leather hair on, and moccasins. I've got two staves of wood drying for making bows this spring, some staves for arrows, also i learned to make arrows a few years back. Just live, man!!!! 

[Second_Chance_Leather]

1 hour ago, Mulesaw said:

Welcome to the forum.

Lots of inspiration to be found, no matter what you like 🙂

You mention that you would like to do leather work as a side hustle, I get that you don't like to deal to much with the public or run a business, but.. 
Unless you can use all the leather items that you create yourself or gift it off to families, you will end up having stuff all over. (Based on experience from my other hobby which is woodworking/cabinetmaking).

A solution could be in doing leather repairs. I have a small company with my son, where I do the leather work part. I am not a trained saddle maker, but I can do most repair jobs on saddles except for restocking them with wool. 

A lot of people are daunted by the thought of sewing leather, and while it might be more fun to craft something new, there is also a satisfaction in repairing something so it works well again. 
An advantage (to me) is that repair jobs are very seldom exactly like, so I don't risk making 25 of the same thing in a row, but, one week I can repair a saddle flap, and the next week a stitching in a computer bag or a set of chaps etc. It is just a side hustle, but it is a really nice feeling to be able to immerse myself in a good leather repair project and being paid for sewing and sitting and listening to a podcast or the gentle snoring of our dog at the same time.

Most of my customers know of me from word of mouth, as I don't do any advertising. Equestrians often need a lot of leather work to be repaired, people with vintage motorcycles (1950'ies and older) are also possible sources of potential customers, for saddle bags, seat repairs etc. 

I don't repair leather items exclusively, also horse blankets and replacement of zippers in riding boots etc. I do like to create new things as well, but selling new leather products is difficult in my area, so that is one of the reasons for the repair business. 

Brgds Jonas

 

Thank you for the idea... I had not thought about doing repairs, but that sounds like something I would enjoy. 

I find personal enjoyment in fixing things (not sure the reason), but I find myself going out of my way to try and find things to fix for no other reason than I enjoy it. My wife thinks I am crazy when I bring home another discarded stand fan or vacuum cleaner to see if I can give it a second chance. I then turn around and sell it on Facebook for a low price.  It makes me happy because something isn't going to the landfill, and it makes the buyer happy because they get something they need at a reasonable price. 

I have fixed some bags and luggage in the past, and I guess I could expand this in the future. 

[Second_Chance_Leather]

1 hour ago, chuck123wapati said:

Welcome!!!

I retired about ten years ago, or more. I do what comes to mind at the moment. I have taken up just learning new stuff, so leather is not the world to me. Last year, for example i deciced i wanted to make clay pots out of local clay, so i did it, found clay, cleaned clay, built a raku kiln, and made pots both in a fire pit and the kiln. I forge and make tools, knives, and just about anything I need. I learn to make lol. Last winter i rebuilt two bamboo fly rods. I still need to make the cases, this fall, tanning leather hair on, and moccasins. I've got two staves of wood drying for making bows this spring, some staves for arrows, also i learned to make arrows a few years back. Just live, man!!!! 

This is exactly what I am trying to do. I just do not know what to do in the future, and to be honest, retirement scares me.

I know too many people who retire and then waste away because they have no plan, no direction, and nothing to do. I do not want to do that, and so I am trying to find something that will give me a purpose to get out of bed in the morning.  

 

[Darren8306]

When others talk to me about leather, often they are asking about upholstring. Skidoos, boats and even some furniture have all been subjects of interest. Our local upholsterer moved his business away too, so maybe I'm hearing about it more than you would.

In any case welcome, and I hope you not only find something particular and satisfying, but that you share it here.

[rleather]

You are right about needing a plan to keep you going thru retirement. You need to stay mentally and physically sharp.

If you plan on sticking with leather work, think about trying out a local market to get your feet wet and then move on to craft shows, if it floats your boat.

Please keep us up to date on your journey. Welcome to the forum , we are glad you are here!

[chuck123wapati]

21 hours ago, Second_Chance_Leather said:

This is exactly what I am trying to do. I just do not know what to do in the future, and to be honest, retirement scares me.

I know too many people who retire and then waste away because they have no plan, no direction, and nothing to do. I do not want to do that, and so I am trying to find something that will give me a purpose to get out of bed in the morning.  

 

lol that feeling only lasts about a month or two, then you wake up one day with more chores than you had while you were working.

 I burned out from a very high-stress management job, had the time in, 30 years, so one day I cashed out my sick time and vacation and just retired. My kids were in their teens, so we spent the summer raking lawns and such, then a fellow who was remodeling an apartment building hired us as help. I spent the rest of the summer just doing my thing. I could come and go as I pleased and work as long as I wanted, plumbing, painting, sheetrock, etc., and the guy even taught me how to cut and tile showers; he was a retired contractor. Having a job that required no critical thinking and set no limits was the best thing I could have done at the time; it reset me and got me into a routine, and reminded me that a much simpler and easy-going life was possible. I am still up by 4 and start the day with the forum and coffee.

[kgg]

22 hours ago, Second_Chance_Leather said:

I just do not know what to do in the future, and to be honest, retirement scares me.

I threw in towel about 22 years ago and the first thing I done was turned off the computer and threw out the cell phone (it "fell" out of the truck on the highway). Never touched either for 3 years. Done what we were planning for five years, move to another province, build a new house, opened a dog boarding kennel and showed our dogs. A far cry from my engineering background. Should have done it earlier.

I do things that interest me, no deadlines, no boss except for the wife. The hardest part was figuring out my interests and how to combine them, like 3D printing, leather, sewing machines, metal welding, metal lathes etc. which are all interlinked. 

Remember working for the man is just a means to an end. One door closes and another opens.

kgg

Edited Saturday at 01:59 PM by kgg

[Mulesaw]

In Denmark, it is not uncommon to get a "retirement job", I don't know if that is a thing in Canada? It could be janitorial for a small business, maybe 10 hours a week, not enough to get exhausted by, but it gives a little bit of steady income and more importantly a continued connection with the rest of the world. It is just nice to have a new story to tell at home, or have someone that you can tell if you did something interesting in the weekend etc.

If retirement is scary, that might be a way of slowing down. Off course it depends on if you can find a place that has a similar opening that you would like, but I have often thought about that it is a fine way of doing it.

Brgds Jonas