Contributing Member UKRay Posted February 15, 2009 Contributing Member Report Posted February 15, 2009 (edited) Last week was very exciting for some of the UK contingent. We (Karl, Terry and Ray) went on a road trip to Devon to visit Steve Brambley's amazing workshop. After meeting Steve for an uproarious lunch in a South Molton pub we went back to his workshop in the wilds of North Devon. The attached pictures tell part of the story, about beautiful old tools, machines and demonstrations, but they don't do justice to Steve's warm welcome and enthusiasm for his work. Steve really is a superb craftsman and his products are an example of everything that is good about British leatherwork today. Check out his website at www.bishnym.com Thanks Steve - a really excellent day! edit: Added a couple more pictures for fun. These were the only 'in focus' pictures I could find of Terry and Karl. Edited February 15, 2009 by UKRay Quote
Members badger Posted February 15, 2009 Members Report Posted February 15, 2009 The trip was great fun. Ray and Terry are good company, we laughed a lot. Steve was so friendly and patient with us. It was a great pleasure to look around his wonderful workshop as he showed us what all the different machines did. Steve's work is so beautiful and well made, it was a great afternoon. I'll post later about the trip to Baker's Tannery in Colyton. Here are a few atmospheric pics of stuff from around Steve's shop. Cheers, Karl Quote
Members celticleather Posted February 15, 2009 Members Report Posted February 15, 2009 I'll second and third all that Karl and Ray have said - Steve's hospitality was superb, and it was extremely kind of him to give up his afternoon to show us around. We are also most grateful to Andrew Parr, MD of Baker's Tannery at Colyton (http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/), who sacrificed several hours to show us around the amazing sights, sounds and smells of the last oak bark tannery in Britain. We all went away laden with butts, shoulders and bellies that will keep us happy for many hours! A couple of pics below, of Steve's wonderful works in Devon (and us!), and Andrew Parr demonstrating the enormous - and pretty scary - leather rolling machine at the tannery. Terry Quote
Members SteveBrambley Posted February 15, 2009 Members Report Posted February 15, 2009 Many thanks guys for all your kind words. I really enjoyed your visit and being able to meet and talk with other enthusiastic and knowledgable leather craftsmen. We had so little time and there was so much ground to cover, I would have liked to have demonstrated more of the machines and perhaps let you have a go with some of them. Maybe next time! Steve Quote
Ambassador Luke Hatley Posted February 15, 2009 Ambassador Report Posted February 15, 2009 HEY I WANTED TO GO ALSO............. Quote
Members CitizenKate Posted February 15, 2009 Members Report Posted February 15, 2009 Great post, guys! Really enjoyed reading about your trip and seeing the photos. Kate Quote
King's X Posted February 15, 2009 Report Posted February 15, 2009 I am envy guys. I would like to take a trip anywhere to visit any leatherworker! Man1 I am glad you enjoyed your trip Greetings from Round Rock, Texas Quote
Members badger Posted February 16, 2009 Members Report Posted February 16, 2009 Here are some pictures from the Baker Tannery at Colyton. It's the last Oak Bark Tannery in operation in the UK, to my knowledge (someone please, please tell me they know of another). It has a strange, haunted quality and is like stepping out of time. Enjoy the pics. Cheers, Karl Quote
Members SteveBrambley Posted February 16, 2009 Members Report Posted February 16, 2009 Great Pics, Karl!! I wish that I had been able to come along as well! Steve Quote
Members badger Posted February 16, 2009 Members Report Posted February 16, 2009 Thanks Steve, We'll be going again, fear not It might be good to get a bigger group together for next time. Any other leatherworkers interested in a visit? Cheers, Karl Quote
mendedbowl Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 wow! Karl you're quite an artistic photographer! thank you for sharing. it looks like all of you had a wonderful time. Steve your workshop is fantastic. hmmm...you guys have got me yearning for a road trip to visit some shops here in america... ken Quote
Members celticleather Posted February 17, 2009 Members Report Posted February 17, 2009 Excellent pics Karl . . . I can almost smell the leather! Terry Quote
Members SteveBrambley Posted February 17, 2009 Members Report Posted February 17, 2009 (edited) wow! Karl you're quite an artistic photographer! thank you for sharing.it looks like all of you had a wonderful time. Steve your workshop is fantastic. hmmm...you guys have got me yearning for a road trip to visit some shops here in america... ken Thanks Ken, if you ever get to the UK you'll have to come around and have a look! That, of course, goes for anyone else as well! Steve Edited February 17, 2009 by SteveBrambley Quote
leatherhead Posted February 18, 2009 Report Posted February 18, 2009 COOL PICS. LOOKED LIKE A LOT OF FUN ! Quote
Members TrooperChuck Posted February 18, 2009 Members Report Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) Dang it! I just counted all my pennies, and I'm gonna have to save a LOT longer before I can go on one of these trips. It looks like it was a fascinating day. Thanks, guys, for sharing the pics. Edited February 18, 2009 by TrooperChuck Quote
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