The Blog: Updates from the studio

Two new skills unlocked - Zippers and piping

I've finished another practice project! This one is a small zipper pouch, for toiletries or makeup, with a zipper top and piped edges. Piping is not only a pretty decorative touch, but it can help...

Saddle Stitching - The Process

Do you know why saddle stitching is so time consuming?  In addition to being done entirely by hand, it needs to be done in two steps. The needles used for stitching are blunt. They're not intended ...

Improving!

Not too shabby for student project number three. I saddle stitched this whole clutch by hand and my stitches are even and stitch lines are almost perfectly straight. I made a few mistakes in my ch...

My first-ever tote bag

I just finished my first-ever non-clutch bag! This tote isn’t my design. It’s a practice piece from one of the luxury leatherworking techniques books I’m reading. And it’s very practice-y. The ...

Trying something new

I'm nearly out of clutch frames. I've ordered more, but due to Covid and Chinese New Year and Spring celebrations, they're stuck in a warehouse until the end of March. Ugh.  So, I've decided to us...

Foil printing

A couple of years ago I figured out how to create custom metallic foil prints on leather. I LOVE the way they catch the light with a soft metallic sheen, but it's difficult to catch on camera. I th...

Working with light

I finally did it! The clutch idea I’ve been thinking about and working on for almost a year! I had to learn and figure out and problem solve so many things to make this work, and I nearly threw in...

Are alligator leather bags ethical?

Ohmygod alligator leather. It's just so wonderful. Even though it's timeless and stunning, I wasn't sure how I felt ethically about working with it. So I did a bunch of research. Turns out, it has...

My first-ever custom commissioned clutch

Just completed my first-ever custom art commissioned clutch! My client was inspired by a set of dishes and wanted something similar. But she wanted it to be all black exterior and interior with a...

One of my clutches was featured in Colorado Expression Magazine!

Holy wow! First picture, full page! Check it out here Want a clutch like this one? This one's eelskin, but you can have whatever type and color of leather you want. You can also choose the color of...