I began doing what I suppose you could call leather work when I was 17. I was travelling and hopping trains and I needed to patch my pants pretty often. I'd use scraps I pulled off purses, jackets and boots. I suppose fixing things is a great way to learn how things are made. I wanted to delve further into leather work and there is this awesome Road Warrior, no BS Berliner chick, Esther, who happe
ned to be in San Francisco at the time. She sold her leather work, chainmaille and art work and she agreed to teach me some of what she knew. She was a choice teacher for me and gave me a first-rate foundation for leather work and jewelry making. Some of my favorite memories are hanging out with her learning and working. She moved back to Berlin. Many things I had to learn on my own. I received some help from the local leather company, SH Frank, in San Francisco (since 1857!). Larry, the owner and "guy who sweeps the floors", taught me the use of a few basic leather hand tools. Through a plenty of trial and error, I began to succeed in making some pocket belts, purses, gloves and assorted jewelry. I began selling my items at Haight Street Fair, Art Walks and The Anarchist Book Fair. I moved up to Seattle for awhile and met Savori, an independent artist with a thriving leather shop at Pike Place Market. She let me use space in her workshop and we shared a booth at Pioneer Square Art Walks. She was the first person to set me infront of an industrial sewing machine (which I've still only used a handful of times). She is great to work around, an inspiration as not only a leather worker but also as a successful independent artist. I moved back down to SF and began working at SH Frank, big leather warehouse in the Mission District that I mentioned earlier. I worked there for four years. I learned a lot, a lot about leather. I worked with Interior Designers and Upholsters to help select leather for their projects and taught customers basic leather working skills. I was offered a leather craftsman apprenticeship at CL Leathers in Eureka, CA. The owner, Cornelius is a master leather craftsman from West Berlin. It was an excellent opportunity and I learned a mass of tools and tricks in the short time I spent there. I've just begun putting these tools and tricks to work. I've had a lot of teachers that are quite incredible and who there are no substitutes for. I am eternally grateful. So there you have it, the story of me and my leather habit since 2004. etsy.com/chiraaxoor
instagram: .and.bones.leatherworks
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