Introduction

[rayne100]

Hello all-

My name is Jessica and I am a leatherworker at the Nero Emporium. We mainly opperate out of the Tuxedo, NY Renn Faire.

I started out as a costume designer in College but never finished. Had to get a "real job" to pay the bills and would up meeting the wonderful Lady who owns The Nero Emporium. I started learning from her and working with my fiance about 7 years ago.

I am prooud to say that we have learned quickly and have become quite good at Sword sheaths and custome pieces.

Our genre is rennassaince clothing, armor, fantasy and customs.

My project this year is to learn leather carving . I've also heard it called Burnishing and tooling.

My fiance's project this year is learning to mold leather.

If any of you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know. We reside in Nothern NJ (about an hour away from the faire).

I will try to post some of our pieces in the Show Off section.

[pepin1948]

Welcome to a fellow New Jerseyan !!! Although I'm now in PA... I grew up on a horse farm in Hunterdon County, but my mom's family is all from Stanhope, NJ.

[rayne100]

  wildrose said:

Welcome to a fellow New Jerseyan !!! Although I'm now in PA... I grew up on a horse farm in Hunterdon County, but my mom's family is all from Stanhope, NJ.

Good to know that there are leather workers on this side of the country!

I live very close to Hamburg NJ

[Hoyden]

Ohhh another Rennie. My home faire is CTRF

[pepin1948]

I was hoping to sell at CTRF this year, but sadly it didn't work out. I know Brian, the vendor coordinator.

[Hoyden]

  wildrose said:

I was hoping to sell at CTRF this year, but sadly it didn't work out. I know Brian, the vendor coordinator.

I know Brian too. I was the media coordinator last year. My daughter is in the cast, she's the King's trumpeter.

[pepin1948]

Small world! I also know Larry and Leenie from Lusty Leather - vendors there. I actually ran into them at a hotel in CT on my way up to ME - now THAT'S a small world happening! I mean, how many hotels are there, and to see them on the rare event of my vacationing and their coming back to NY from a show themselves!

[Hoyden]

  wildrose said:

Small world! I also know Larry and Leenie from Lusty Leather - vendors there. I actually ran into them at a hotel in CT on my way up to ME - now THAT'S a small world happening! I mean, how many hotels are there, and to see them on the rare event of my vacationing and their coming back to NY from a show themselves!

I know Larry and Leenie too! I think I started them on making quivers. My daughter wanted one for her birthday and I sketched out the design I had in mind while my husband was flying up I84 like a bat out of hell on our way to the faire.

I've bought quite a bit from them Want a bodice, but I want to carve the front panel myself.

Larry has given me some tips on setting rivets on my collars.

[pepin1948]

I usually don't buy something I could make myself, but I did break down and buy one of their pouches. They do a really nice job on formed items - which is something I haven't done yet. I was in the booth next to theirs at the NJRK, and watched them fitting women for bodices. Have you seen that done? They have you wear an old t-shirt, then they duct tape you all over the top for a "mold", then cut it off. Very ingenious!