LA area Leatherworkers?

[rdb]

The wife and I are considering another big adventure, a possible move to the La area. So, of course I want to know the leatherwork scene. What are the possible sales sites, fairs, etc.

I heard Venice Beach has only a few slots that go in a lottery on tuesday nights, so that doesn't sounf like a permanent type venue for sales. Are there some good places to sell out from your shop or residence?

I could ask a hundred questions, but you get the idea, I hope...

Thanx ahead of time!!!

[King's X]

Gotta check in on Al Shelton's Studio, the Autry Museum and while you are there I would rather head south to Newport Beach or Huntington then Venice. Too many people for me. Maybe Santa Monica Pier, maybe. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

[MADMAX22]

Thats odd, most people that include "move" and "LA" in the same sentence are going somewhere else.

Going from NC to la I would definatly try and take a trip to check it out first unless youve allready been there.

Sorry I cant add anything as far as leatherwork and sales go.

[rdb]

Thanx King'sX, and Madmaxx.

I'll check out the southerly places, as you suggested.

I do plan to make some trips, but, I have a brudder in law, already there, so that's half the acclimation adjustment.

The prices outside LA aren't too bad, but then the TRAFFIC to LA!. Inside of LA, I'm not sure. We thought getting a liveable warehouse type situation might be good. We could have our workshop, and a live there too, then go out to the different venues to sell, and work up a little reputation. But finding a spot to live is the least problem. Mostly I was concerned with the venues, like craft malls or fairs, etc. What's the competition like there? Are there 12 leatherworkers at every event, or just one , etc... Who are the most accessible leather suppliers?

Just hoping someone might share their experiences there. Preciate the replies so far. Everything helps

PS: I wouldn't miss anything to do with Gene Autry, you can betcha bottom dollar....Why did he wear the double holster rig, with only one sidearm????

[Jordan]

Lived there most of my years, Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre (great places but very pricy), Hacienda Heights, Whittier (uptown was very cool in the 70's), Covina, Hemet, Idyllwild (wonderful artistic touristy). The beachs are like everyplace else about an hour away if traffic is moving! We are still trying to sell here in Utah to move back for awhile untill we find a place around Tuscon. Lots and Lots of people, can get claustriphobic at times. We left 13yrs ago so our kids could do jr. high and High school without all the gangs and such. Didn't help to much as Utah has it's own set of wannabe's. Funny though they wouldn't survive 10 seconds in socal. They would run right out of thier baggy pants hi-tailing it back. LOL. Western museum is by the LA Zoo and Autrey is out in Victorville area.

Edited August 16, 2009 by Jordan

[King's X]

I have a sister in Rancho Cucamonga. It is a nice and quiet place, I really like it. I almost moved their until this job came through here in TX. I would move to Rancho in a hard beat if a job came up. I just had a semi friend get a job in Upland and she was born/raised here in TX. I spoke with her just recently and she loves it. Now, Upland is between LA and San Bernadino.

The sister is talking about moving here to TX. She has a beautiful home, affordable, more than LA. Unfortunately, it takes her 1 1/2 hours to drive 24 miles.

I believe we have a few members here from that area. Kustom? Harvey? I can't remember right now. Anyways, try them. I know that Anne (N) is a valley girl and she moved from Ft. Worth. Stand Bear Trading is in the valley, but check in with them.

Good luck.

[rdb]

thanx guys!

Jordan, I didn't know all those areas, so, I'll have some research to do...thanx

[Ian]

For my money, I'd choose the San Diego area.

The Hollywood area is cool and funky (and expensive) , but beyond that it's solid traffic 24/7. I stayed at Universal City and drove out to Anneheim 2 days in a row. OMG I have never seen so many cars in my life - 10 lanes, bumper to bumper for as far as the eye can see. Interesting though, the motorcyclists split lanes, so while you're sitting there, the bikes roar between the lanes, inches from the cars on either side - gave me cold chills, and I guess there are LOTS of crashes.

When I was in San Diego, I explored the outlying areas and found some cool little towns in the valleys - kind of dumpy - just like I like them, but the locals tell me it is over 100 degrees most of the summer, so I ruled out that option as a place to move.

But, no, Dave, I wouldn't move to LA, myself. Any place affordable really sucks. Long beach is expensive too, but it might be possible to find an affordable pocket that isn't over-run with gangs. If I were you, I'd find an out of the way town to live and travel to were you're looking to sell. With the average price of a house on the coast at 400,000, you'd have to sell a lot of belts and stuff.

[Kustom]

rdb,

When you come out to LA we have hang out! There's tons of farmer's markets out here, different days of the week too, not just weekends that you can sell at if you want to. Are you planning in specializing in a certain niche of leather goods?

Steve

[Cobra Steve]

RDB, hey buddy, some of the places in the San Fernando Valley are nice too, besides, it can't be all bad if you were close to me!! lol Steve

[rdb]

Yep, Ian, that's what everyone tells me. If I had my way, I'ld be back up in Ma...but the wife says no more winters for her.

Kustom, it may be sooner than you think...lol

Steve, I've already google earthed you. You guys will probably be the first to see me, if the move happens.

[HARVEY]

Well, here's some demographic information for you:

City of Los Angeles is 454 square miles. Population is around 4 million.

The County of Los Angeles is much larger population-wise; estimated at about 13 million. (I have no idea as to square mileage). Distance across L.A. County can easily run 45 miles. The area's a B-I-G place.

Neighborhoods run from high-end Beverly Hills and Bel-Air to rent-controlled Santa Monica to totally Hispanic East L.A. to crime- and gang-ridden South-Central Los Angeles (Not that there aren't good people down there, but demographically-speaking the area is lower-income, less-educated and immigrant populations.)

From a leather perspective . . . well, just figure what a city like Chicago, Atlanta, New York is like and you got L.A. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the country. Leather markets run the gamut from the fashion industry to the equestrian industry to custom cars and motorcycles.

Good luck with your research.

Harvey

[rickybobby]

The wife and I are considering another big adventure, a possible move to the La area. So, of course I want to know the leatherwork scene. What are the possible sales sites, fairs, etc.

I heard Venice Beach has only a few slots that go in a lottery on tuesday nights, so that doesn't sounf like a permanent type venue for sales. Are there some good places to sell out from your shop or residence?

I could ask a hundred questions, but you get the idea, I hope...

Thanx ahead of time!!!

rdb,

I would check out the area north of L.A. I lived in Ventura County for many years and drove to L.A. County for work (15years) Ventura county has a good population, some open spaces, it has a much to offer and is 1 hr. drive to downtown L.A.

Look into..

Simi Valley Closest to L.A. County

Moorpark next closest (nice area) can be pricey

Thousand Oaks

Agoura Pricey

Camarillo

Oxnard Look here carefully, some nice, some not so nice

Ventura

Ojai Valley I lived here for many years, some good areas, some not so good. Allways a drive (10 miles) to get to the 101 freeway.

When you live there you adjust your driving, you just leave early morning or drive late night to avoid traffic

I left there and spent 2 years on the Big Island of Hawaii, there was no leather work going on there, Now I am in Phoenix, it feels like the heart of Leather Land !!!

Rick J.

[cybertracy]

Finding a home to "sell" from (and be successful) would probably be costly in the LA area. Try outskirt towns (everything goes by time rather than miles).

Don't discount the northerly places--just a short drive away and you leave the smog and crowd behind you (and cost of living is quite a bit less) About 40 min to an hour (on a good traffic day) away you can land in the coastal towns in Ventura County or a tad further in Santa Barbara--which is stuffed full of smaller shops that will sell on consignment (Ojai Valley is a small little town that does a huge consignment biz). You can still live in LA if you want to, and just take a trip to the outlying, smaller towns to sell your wares. I'm only suggesting shops outside LA because the cost (to you) is normally less and although the popularity is growing fast, the leatherworking skills have not caught up yet (I can only speak for Ventura County and north). In LA you've got a lot more competition.

If you make your way out here (Ventura) stop by the Tandy there and say HI, just a couple miles downtown from us are tons of consignment and "antique" shops and I'd be glad to show you guys around.

If you want any more detail or would like me to do some specific invenstigating for you, just send me an e.mail.

PS: If you are hearing good things about a town or just curious, e.mail the Chamber of Commerce or the Visitor's Bureau for that town and they will be glad to send you a TON of stuff.

[rdb]

Thanx, Harvey, rickybobby, and cybertracy. I know now more than I did before this topic got started. Looks like I'll have some instant friends because of this Forum. Got to love this place.

I have been looking at the outskirts, Riverside was depressing..sheesh so much foreclosures, but the good news seems to be my timing. This maybe the bottom, or close to it, so it's a buyers market for sure. Now, this week, I have to figure how good or bad, my market here in NC is. I will be talking to realtors. That will have a lot to do with what community I zoom in on in LA . Stay tuned. I've made these whim decisions before, some happened real quick, others faded. There's just no accounting for when I get "itchy feet". Damn us hippies....lol

[Schno]

Wow... more talent coming into Los Angeles!

I'd definitely suggest hooking up with Wayne Christensen at Standing Bears Trading Post here in the San Fernando Valley. The Leathercraft Guild runs meetings out of there every other month. They also attend a lot of the local leather outlet events. That should be some good contacts for you. And I'd definitely like to make your acquaintance. I've always enjoyed your work!

[Jordan]

Funny you should mention those durn hippies, I hear rumors that there are a bunch hiding out in Idyllwild, Sierra Madre Canyon, and Walnut Creek up yonder in the north country. Most appear to have been assimilated long long ago, in a galaxy far far away!

[Kustom]

Wow... more talent coming into Los Angeles!

I'd definitely suggest hooking up with Wayne Christensen at Standing Bears Trading Post here in the San Fernando Valley. The Leathercraft Guild runs meetings out of there every other month. They also attend a lot of the local leather outlet events. That should be some good contacts for you. And I'd definitely like to make your acquaintance. I've always enjoyed your work!

Without a doubt Wayne is the man. I've been studying with him for over a year now. He's does more for advancing leatherwork than anyone else in LA that I'm aware of. Besides being a great teacher and teaching four classes a week plus private lessons, he also brings other masters out to LA to teach workshops at Standing Bears. So far I've taking a class with Jeff Moseby, Bob Beard, and I would have taken a class with Al Gould but he had to cancel because of and horse riding injury. If anyone's ripe for an Al Stohlman award it's Wayne.

Edited August 17, 2009 by Kustom