How Old were you?

[stelhrse]

Hi. I was just thinking lately about how interests can change with time and, as a empty nester, how has that changed my interests in life. I'm 62 and wanting to devote much more time now to my leather work. Am I getting into this wonderful craft too late? No interest in a brick and mortar shop but, if all goes well, etsy? leather work is an amazing craft. Anyone out there getting started later in life? Thanks all. Any responses appreciated. Best to you and be safe.

[chuck123wapati]

i have done a bit of leatherwork all throughout my life but as i retired i started doing it more to add a bit of cash to the sugar bowl. I'm 62 also and no its not to late to start at all friend.

Good luck!!

 

[rleather]

I also belong to the "59" club. I started in the 7th grade , but life fills time, and only in the last 6-7 years have I really gotten serious in the craft. I think as we age that appreciation factor greatly increases. I believe you are at a perfect time in your life to do well . 

[Sheilajeanne]

I first got interested in leather work when I was in Junior High. I would have been about 12 years old. I made a number of different items, using home-made tools I cobbled together from nails and bits of scrap metal. I still have one of them, a knife sheath. 

We had a Radio Shack/Tandy store at a mall not to far from our home, My parents tried to encourage my interest, but had no idea how to go about it. They bought me a piece of chrome tanned leather, but there were no tools to go with it, and no instructions. I had no idea what to do with it. It was too small to make a pair of moccasins, and too thick for a wallet or change purse. Eventually I gave it away.

Around 2010, I started working with dogs in a big way, and decided I wanted to know how to make dog leashes and collars. An employee at the local Tandy's showed me a beginner's kit, and told me about their 8 weeks of free classes. It was instant love.

My biggest regret is that my parents hadn't bought me that beginners kit. I would have gotten involved in the hobby at a time when Al Stohlman was still alive, and probably actually met him in person. I've heard he was an excellent teacher, and a great inspiration to many people. Leatherworking might have become a career rather than a hobby for my retirement years!

Here's that knife sheath! I still remember how sore my fingers got trying to do a saddle stitch with hand sewing needles! I think I did have an awl, which helped a bit. I also made the knife handle, but some idjit left it sitting on top of a red-hot woodstove, and it got burned. 

 

Edited July 26, 2021 by Sheilajeanne

[DJole]

13 minutes ago, Sheilajeanne said:

I first got interested in leather work when I was in Junior High. I would have been about 12 years old. I made a number of different items, using home-made tools I cobbled together from nails and bits of scrap metal. I still have one of them, a knife sheath.

.... 

Here's that knife sheath! I still remember how sore my fingers got trying to do a saddle stitch with hand sewing needles! I think I did have an awl, which helped a bit. I also made the knife handle, but some idjit left it sitting on top of a red-hot woodstove, and it got burned. 

I am astounded to see the knife sheath and knife still around, after years of use and abuse!  I still have the luggage tag I made from a kit during 7th grade shop, back in 77-78, with some pretty bad attempt at floral tooling. 
I think that the emphasis on western floral was too soon, so that in my mind leatherwork equaled floral tooling, which I didn't find appealing. 

[Sheilajeanne]

Well, I don't use it much anymore since the handle got burned. I am afraid it will fall apart.   I made the handle because I was doing a lot of whittling/wood carving during those years, and got sick of doctoring the blisters the standard jack knife handles raised on my fingers!

The blade is a very good one - German Solingen (sp?) steel!

[chrisash]

Never had any thought of leather work apart from making one knife sheath whilst in the Royal Navy in the 1960's. started from fresh three years ago when i retired, watched mega video's on YouTube and Nigel's , now doing the odd belt or wallet and a few chrome leather ladies handbags, presently at 74 going on 75  and discovered on the way i am crap at tooling and doubt will ever be any better, but that's life can't be good at everything

Edited July 26, 2021 by chrisash

[Tugadude]

I honestly don't remember exactly when I began.  Maybe a sign of getting old!  But around age 50 +/-

[zuludog]

Who knows how or why people choose hobbies & interests? Why does one person make model ships; another collect stamps; another go soapbox cart racing; or someone else is very keen on opera and the theatre?

My father in law was having a tidy out, and offered me an old knife.....a Mora; rusty, the sheath was ragged, and being a Scandinavian style it didn't have finger guard, which I didn't like.

 I mentioned this to a colleague at work, who went shooting and did other outdoor stuff; he suggested that I could fit a new handle, and gave me a catalogue of an outdoor accessories supplier, which included knife making. This looked an interesting idea, and I found the British Blades Forum, since closed down

I realised I would have to make a new sheath, but had no idea of how to do it, and I was till working, so didn't have much time, though I did collect a hawthorn branch, already fallen, on one of my hiking trips

A couple of years later I took early retirement at 61, and started on the knife by fitting a new handle......got a leathercraft book from the library, which was very helpful.......bought a starter kit from Tandy when they still had a store in UK, and found a day long sheath making course at The Identity Store, since changed their name to Identity Leathercraft. The course was good, much better then just learning from YouTube

After that it was a case of improving my skills, acquiring new tools, and so on. At first leatherwork was just a means to an end for making the sheaths, but I've become more interested, and make sheaths, belts & wallets  

I've combined the two hobbies, by making some of my own leatherworking knives, and other tools, and their sheaths

Edited July 26, 2021 by zuludog

[MarlinDave]

I started late 50 s with an interest in holsters and being left handed could not find or afford what I wanted. I have not made anything sellable but several quite useful items, some in hard to find styles. Most friends who see them can’t believe I am capable. I often make a nice (for me) item then try to tool it and get a lower quality result. I should probably just stick to plain leather. 

Edited July 26, 2021 by 327fed