Christmas Custom Leatherwork Orders Close Soon

Fall is here again and the leaves are turning, and that means Christmas isn’t that far off.  It also means it is time to get your orders in for custom leatherwork and still have them guaranteed in time for Christmas! 

A custom leatherwork notebook with floral carving.
My World Leather Debut entry, a custom made leather notebook cover.

Christmas orders take time to make and there aren’t many slots available in my order books.  If you ware looking for a custom leatherwork item to be that special gift for this Christmas now is the time to contact me.  There is a deadline of Nov 8th to place an order in time for delivery by Christmas.  After that date I can’t guarantee delivery in time for Christmas, but I will do everything I can to complete an item in time to ship for Christmas.

As a maker of fine leather belts, wallets, notebooks and handbags, I always strive for being unique and of the highest quality for every item I make.  Each of my items are made by hand by myself, Bob Blea, maker and leather artist.  Any gifts I make for you will be unique and the highest quality possible or your money back.

Everyone wants a unique Christmas gift to give their loved ones.  If your gift ideas include a custom leatherwork creation, it’s not too late to place an order with me and have your idea become a reality.  But be sure to place your order soon!  Time is running out and it can take several weeks to make some items.  Quality takes time!  That’s why it’s important to contact me as soon as possible.  I would be thrilled to make a custom leather wallet, leather notebook, belt or handbag for you or your loved one.

Northwest Style floral vine design on a custom leather belt.
Custom Leather Belt with Vine Design

And as another option, please check out my shop for items I currently have in stock.  There may be something there that is completed and ready to ship that will make the perfect gift.

Don’t delay!  Get your Christmas custom leatherwork order in today!

 

Happy National Leathercraft Day!

Did you know that August 15th is National Leathercraft Day?  It is a celebration founded in 2018 by Tandy Leather to celebrate the rich history, artistry, and skills of leathercrafting.

Stamping a basket stamp design on a leather wallet.
Stamping a basket weave design into leather.

So how to celebrate this day that is so important to what I do?  For starters if you have a Tandy Leather store near you, try stoping in to find a cool kit to build, discover some really cool leather,  or discover the rich world of leather crafting if your just getting started.  They also have a large sale going on this weekend to promote Leathercraft Day.  There are also on line leather suppliers like Springfield Leather that are having massive sales for National Leathercraft Day to promote this day dedicated to the leather craft.

Also, check out the resources section of my website for tutorials and tips on leather crafting.  You can also follow me on social media (on Instagram @bobbleacandbleather or on Facebook @C and B Leather) to see more tips, techniques or just to follow my work.  I’m also open to any questions you may have.

Creating in leather can be a very rewarding hobby or even a side business.  Making leather and creating things out of leather is probably one of the oldest skills known to man but despite that fact crafting items in leather is still as important today as it has ever been.  Leather is also an up cycled material.  Cow hides are a byproduct of the meat industry and if they were not made into leather they would end up as a waste product in a landfill.  So by creating in leather you are putting an age old product to good use, and you just might be making a work of art.

If there is anything I can craft for you from leather contact me and we can come up with a way to make your vision a reality!

The Quiet Luxury Trend and how it Effects Leather Workers

The Quiet Luxury Trend

In the midst of difficult economic times, rising inflation and some of the highest interest rates in decades, it easy to say that consumers in the US are under pressure.  From groceries to gasoline to electricity, costs are up across the board and families in the US are definitely feeling the pinch.  The leather goods business is not immune to these effects.  I’ve personally seen my orders slow down the past year while the costs of raw materials has increased.

A leather money clip with a black lizard skin inlay.
Leather Money Clip with Lizard Skin Inlay

One trend that is currently appearing in the US economy is the Quiet Luxury Trend (its also sometime called the ‘Stealth Wealth’ trend) and in may be a direct result of the tightening in the economy.  It generally refers to a shift in luxury item purchases away from flashy designer logos or traditional high end brand names in favor of less flashy, more understated items and more thoughtful shopping.  It has also been described as avoiding flashy brand logos and focusing more on the quality of an item and whether or not it fits your lifestyle. The quiet luxury trend also has been described as still using expensive materials but in muted tones or less flashy ways.  Some analysts have even claimed that this trend is partially driven by the wealthy looking to avoid flaunting their wealth at a time when many others are struggling to pay the bills and living paycheck to paycheck.

So does this effect leather workers?

So how does this trend away from flashy luxury affect the business of most leather workers?  Maybe not much and it really depends on who your target customers are.  If you are a saddle maker and much of your business is saddles and working gear for cowboys, you probably won’t see much effect.  If you are making high end notebooks, wallets and handbags (like much of my business is) it could be an issue.  If people are not looking for flashy luxury leather items it may make some of our customers think twice before they purchase a fully carved leather handbag or bifold wallet.  

There are a couple of ways you can approach this trend.  You can make more muted and less flashy versions of your standard products.  Maybe you use less flashy hardware or a more subtle leather to make your item.  In my case I’m exploring items that have less carving and focus more on the quality of the leather.  I’ve got a clutch wallet in the works now that fits this bill.  Or maybe you continue doing things they way you have been.  If you have established a customer base already they most likely come to you because of the style or look your leather work has now, and they are more likely to choose your work because they know your quality and will pay for your work.  So you wouldn’t want to alienate these loyal customers just because of a current hot trend.  

Perhaps the best approach to this quiet luxury trend is to experiment with more subtle items.  That’s what I’m trying now with items that focus on the luxury look and feel of the leather instead of the intricate work of the carving or stamping.  But I won’t be giving up leather carving.  I’ve already got enough orders for carved items (plus a few cool ideas I want to try) to keep me busy throughout the summer.  And then we’ll see what new fashion trend comes around the fall.

Leather Clutch Wallet made from blue embossed crocodile
Blue leather clutch wallet.

Outstanding Custom Leather Belts

Making Outstanding Custom Leather Belts


Leather belts can be a very personal part of your wardrobe.  They can range from a plain but elegant dress belt to something carved and personalized with your name, and anything in between. 

Here at C and B Leather, while we can make a plain dress belt for you our specialty is a more personalized and artistic approach.  Our custom leather belts are made of Full Grain leather and usually have a design stamped or carved onto the belt.  The leather we use is tanned by a specific process that allows us to make carving designs on the surface of the belt that have depth and will show off the artwork extremely well.  It’s also leather that will last for many year’s of service.

Many of the belts that you get at departments stores or big box general merchandise stores are made with lower quality leathers.  They will be marked as Genuine Leather, which is actually a very low grade of leather.  It is also usually just a thin leather outer layer and the bulk of the inside may be a fabric or even cardboard! See my recent blog post about the different kinds of leather that you will find in most retail stores.  Genuine Leather doesn’t wear well and it cracks and breaks after only a little while of use.  It is an inexpensive product but its also not something that will last.

The Full Grain leather we use has all the strength and durability that leather is known for.  Each belt is made to fit your waist.  We tailor it to your measurements.  After carving or stamping your custom design into the leather, we treat it with multiple finish steps, each applied by hand, to enhance the artwork while conditioning and protecting the leather.  This allows your belt to have many years of looking good and serving you well.

 

Quality Custom Leather Belts are available now!

If you are ready for a quality custom made leather belt, tailored to your waist and that fits your style, we are glad to help.  Contact us with your ideas so we can get the process started.

Hand carved leather belt with floral design and silver and turquoise buckle
Hand carved leather belt with floral design and silver and turquoise buckle