Leatherworker
More Info
I design and make bags using high quality leather, ranging from thicker hides that need to be hand stitched, sumptuous softer leathers and colourful suedes. I like to combine different types of leather into my designs and also incorporate other materials such as a ceramic button or a piece of worn sea glass to use as a fastener. I make belts using vegetable tanned saddlery hides and have just started using oak bark tanned leather. The leather comes from a tannery in Devon and it is strong, yet supple, with a beautiful grain.
I trained in the 1980s at Cordwainers Technical College in London. The three year City and Guilds course covered designing and making leather goods and saddlery. I very much enjoyed the creative design process from sketching out the initial design, working out and cutting the patterns, choosing materials and finally making and seeing the end result. The saddlery course focussed on using traditional tools and techniques. Although I did not pursue a career in saddlery, the course provided me with valuable skills, particularly hand stitching which I continue to use in my work.
Contact Details
Address:
17 Council Villas,Oakwood Road, Sling,GL16 8JH
Email: jspoole@live.com
Phone Number: 07597329006
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