Leatherwork And What It Can Do For Me.

[JAZZMAN]

I would just like to talk about why i am getting into leatherwork and what i hope to get out of it, but i would also like to ask how everyone else feels when they do leathercraft and their reasons for doing it. All my life since i can remember i have allways had a feeling inside me which is quite hard to put into words as i am no great wordsmith but i will try anyway. It is like an energy inside me trying to burst it's way out of me, i believe it to be creative energy that most of us have in us but some have it stronger than others. I have been a musician since i was eight years old and have played guitar in various jazz and blues bands over the years. Now after 42 ish years off playing i am now unable to continue playing in bands and the like due to a disbility and so found myself looking around for a new outlet for my creative urge which is still strong within me. I find that even just watching a master craftsman working away in his workshop seems to calm my soul and believe that working away in my own space creating leather goods that will be usefull will not only give me something to fill my time but i also believe that it will be good for my mental state of mind. I firmly believe that building and making useful items with our hands is a basic human function/need that is slowly being lost in our world of instant gratification and fast food.Many people are missing out on the joy that can be had from creating something with our own hands that can be used in everyday life. I firmly believe that creative energy is the same in each person but is just channeled through different mediums wether it be dance, music,woodwork,painting or leatherwork. I have chosen leatherwork as i believe it to be something that can accomodate my limitations set by my disabilites and hope that it will also help to calm my soul and bring some joy back into my life. I would love to hear how leatherwork enhances other peoples lives and what your reasons for doing it are. Peace.

[krappstein]

Well, for me it boils down to two things:

One, it amazes me to be able to make something useful out of raw materials. Be it a wallet, a sheath, a belt or a bag. It doesn't even need to be pretty, and although you may be starting out with haphazard methods and makeshift tools you're still creating something out of nothing. You put your heart and soul, blood, sweat, and tears into it and you make something out of it. Something that is truly yours, because you made it.

And two, it keeps my hands busy and my head clear.

Cheers,

Juan

ETA: when I said "haphazard methods and makeshift tools" I was talking about *my* methods and *my* tools.

Edited November 10, 2014 by krappstein

[JAZZMAN]

Hello juan, nice to meet you, yes making something out of nothing is a big part of it,how long have you been doing leathercraft for? I see you live near the sea that must be wonderful for you i love the sea but sadly live in a town away from the sea. I woulld love to be able to go and be next to the sea any time i wanted.

[Bob Blea]

Jazzman, I'm with you. When I am working on leather it draws on some internal energy that can keep me going for hours late at night. It does effect me when I can't get time to work on leather in some form. I do feel a compelling need to be working on something or learning something, and I have far more ideas in my head that I will be able to make anytime soon. I also agree there is a great feeling when you have created something specific to a customer and their needs that is incredibly rewarding.

Bob

[JAZZMAN]

Hello Bob, nice to meet you, i just looked up where you live, am i right in thinking you live right next to the roosevelt national forest, if you do that must make you a very lucky man indeed from what i can learn on the internet it looks like one of the most beautiful places on earth, you are so lucky, any chance i could come and live in your garden shed please.

[Bob Blea]

Better yet, Google Rocky Mountain National Park. It's about an hour's drive from my house. And I don't think you would want to be in my garden shed the next few days. Low's at night are going to be around 0 deg. F.

[JAZZMAN]

Wow Bob, you are truly blessed, what a fantastic place to raise your kids, i live in a place called Huddersfield, Yorkshire, in England i wonder if you have ever heard of it, It used to be a thriving textile town, sadly now all the mills are now closed down and work is not so easy to find for many, but it's home for me. Here is a link to a song on you tube by a local folk musician about my home town.Hope you like it. Peace.

[krappstein]

Nice to meet you too, Jazzman.

I've been at this as a pasttime for a year and a half or maybe two. It all started because I wanted a pocket sheath for a pen knife and decided to make my own out of some upholstery scraps I got from an acquaintance. No need to tell that first one turned out ugly as sin. Shortly after I bought a cheap awl blade and made a haft for it out of scrap wood, then I got a pair of proper needles and so on. So far I've made maybe a dozen items all for my personal use.

Living by the sea is nice if you don't mind the humid weather and the occasional rainstorm. When I was a child I used to spend the summers at the beach, but as I grew older I guess between study and work didn't give it much thought until recently when a friend got me into fishing. Had almost forgotten how peaceful it is to stare into that blue yonder and hear the roar of the waves.

Hey, I see you live about 50 km north of Sheffield? As a cutlery enthusiast that makes me a little envious.

Cheers

Juan

[JAZZMAN]

Hi Juan, yes growing near sheffield nearly every knife or fork or pair of scissors you used would say made in sheffield on it, again it is something you take for granted until someone like yourself points it out, take care my friend. Peace.

[zuludog]

this is a message for krappstein you might like this website & forum

http://www.britishblades.com

[papaw]

I also started trying to do leather work after becoming disabled, knew I had to have something to replace working a regular job with, and had did some leather work when I was a den leader for my grandsons Cub Scouts. I remembered the joy the boys had doing it and thought it could replace the wood working which was to hard on me. It was a love of working with my hands and a peace of mind that I embraced. I have fun with it and met and talked to people that are so willing to share there skills and knowledge. The peace I get while leather tooling is the real deal as they say.

[krappstein]

Thank you, zuludog. Will look into it. I've been hanging around BladeForums and Armas Blancas but one more forum won't hurt.

[JAZZMAN]

I also started trying to do leather work after becoming disabled, knew I had to have something to replace working a regular job with, and had did some leather work when I was a den leader for my grandsons Cub Scouts. I remembered the joy the boys had doing it and thought it could replace the wood working which was to hard on me. It was a love of working with my hands and a peace of mind that I embraced. I have fun with it and met and talked to people that are so willing to share there skills and knowledge. The peace I get while leather tooling is the real deal as they say.

Hello papaw, that sums it up for me, finding peace, i belive that sometimes calling certain things hobbies almost does them an injustice, something like this can almost replace medication, take care my friend hope to talk more soon.

Edited November 11, 2014 by JAZZMAN

[Bob Blea]

I agree Jazzman, when I'm basket stamping something with it's very repetitive action, it can be very Zen like.