Working With Leather

This can be as simple & basic Or advanced & professional.

There are many books, booklets, pamphlets, reprints, even articles describing how to assemble a simple article cut from a basic design which is purchased as a kit from a supplier. There are even sets of instructions available on the internet.

This is fine for the person who just wants to enjoy making some simple article for themselves or a youngster wanting to make a present for their favourite Aunt.

Should however you wish to make something more complicated, earn an income, make a living at a Craft, become a Craftsman/Artisan, Make & design you own range of Quality Leathergoods, then the above brief explanations are not going to help you.

There used to be some advanced college courses available on the subject. The best of these was offered in the UK by Cordwainers College & students came from all over the World for the 2 year Leathergoods Craft Courses & took the City & Guilds Leather Goods examinations.

Sadly those excellent Craft Courses are now defunct due to lack of Government funding for the college & inability of UK students to obtain grants.

The contents of that course provided the entrants with skills comparable with the excellent Craftsmen employed (& taught) by 'Hermes' in France.

So what was on offer that is not available in the simple instructions readily available? Well how to make your own designs, Produce your own patterns, Cut economically from a skin or hide, estimate & cost the amount of leather used, how to hand sew with two needles & a diamond awl (as a professional leather worker or saddler does). using a 'Harness' Iron' Pare leather & make turnovers, Understand & make use of all construction methods, to name just a few of the more advanced techniques.

The old courses have gone but the skills & technology is now available in my Leather Instruction Manuals of which the first 3 are written & available from my site as e-books. There are however 4 more still to write.

So what makes me different & to be more precise capable of providing this high level of knowledge & skills. I worked in the top UK London Companies as a young man just after the war when the UK leathergoods industry was the best in the world, I made leathergoods for top London Stores, Royalty, Film Stars, Heads of State, Worked my way up from a Craftsman to Works Director. Finishing my career as HOD of the college mentioned earlier & was the City & Guilds Moderator for their 470 Leathergoods course.

To read more about all this & view fuller details of the contents of these manuals & the opportunity to acquire these never before published skills & techniques (Some of them were not even available on the college course), then visit my site.

While you are there take advantage of the free downloads also available & feel free to use the massive research & reference section of the site covering every aspect of this diverse subject.

You can find: Leather Suppliers, Museums, Other Leather Books, Leather Organisations, Manufacturers of Finished Leathergoods, Leather Shops Stores & Malls, Leather Importers & Exporters, & Much, Much More.

Treatment of leather is also dealt with & products are available to enable you to care for those expensive leather items you own as well as advice from experts in this field.

The History of Leathergoods is explored for those who are fascinated by past events. I hope this article & a visit to my site will prove useful & enlightening & I am happy to answer any genuine emails on this very ancient craft.

Regards,

Francis Burdett-Mills MCIPD
info@theleatherconnection.com
URL: http://www.theleatherconnection.com
Blog: http://hidebound.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Retir ed Master Designer Craftsman, Trainer & Lecturer, College H.O.D & City & Guilds Moderator for all UK Leathergoods Courses. The Manuals are compatable with Government e-learning requirements.

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:50:43 GMT McCain calms supporters, urges respect for Obama - Los Angeles Times The Associated Press McCain calms supporters, urges respect for Obama Los Angeles Times - 2 hours ago 'NO MA'AM': Sen. John McCain takes a question from a supporter who called Democratic rival Barack Obama an Arab at a town hall meeting in Lakeville, Minn. McCain-Palin's hot rhetoric risks GOP backlash San Francisco Chronicle McCain Lauds and Attacks Obama in Same Day New York Times Boston Globe - Washington Post - Minneapolis Star Tribune - Reuters all 460 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:04:20 GMT Mugabe Hands Ministries to His Party - New York Times Voice of America Mugabe Hands Ministries to His Party New York Times - 52 minutes ago By CELIA DUGGER JOHANNESBURG - In a step likely to lead to the collapse of a painstakingly negotiated power-sharing deal, Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, in office for 28 years, has unilaterally declared that his party will retain the most powerful ... Mugabe 'gives Zanu-PF key posts' BBC News Zimbabwe's Mugabe hands key ministries to his party Reuters United Press International - AFP - Aljazeera.net - The Associated Press all 1,687 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:57:49 GMT Morgan Stanley, Goldman May Gain Investment From US Treasury - Bloomberg Wall Street Journal Blogs Morgan Stanley, Goldman May Gain Investment From US Treasury Bloomberg - 7 hours ago By Christine Harper Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the biggest independent US investment banks, may reap cash infusions as part of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's plan to buy stakes in financial institutions, ... As Stock Falls, Morgan Looks to Japanese Bank New York Times Morgan Stanley hangs on Mitsubishi's $9bn pledge guardian.co.uk Forbes - New York Post - New York Times Blogs - Barron's all 895 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:30:39 GMT Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' - Bloomberg Ottawa Citizen Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' Bloomberg - 7 hours ago By John Brinsley and Rebecca Christie Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) -- US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson indicated that pumping government funds into banks is a priority and said financial markets will remain volatile. US to buy shares in struggling banks Los Angeles Times Obama welcomes Paulson plan to buy equity in firms Reuters MarketWatch - International Herald Tribune - Bizjournals.com - Washington Post all 2,114 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:21:05 GMT Palin violated ethics law, inquiry concludes - International Herald Tribune Washington Post Palin violated ethics law, inquiry concludes International Herald Tribune - 1 hour ago By Serge F. Kovaleski NEW YORK: Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, abused her powers as governor of Alaska by pressuring subordinates to try to get her former brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired, according to an investigation ... Palin ethics lapse cited Los Angeles Times Alaska probe finds Palin 'abused her power' Indian Express Baltimore Sun - Boston Globe - New York Times - Reuters all 4,043 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:58:28 GMT Thai protest leaders released on bail, vow new rallies - AFP GulfNews Thai protest leaders released on bail, vow new rallies AFP - 20 hours ago BANGKOK (AFP) - Leaders of Thai anti-government protests were granted bail Friday after surrendering to police and immediately vowed new rallies, raising fears of mounting turmoil days after deadly street clashes. Video: Raw Video: Tear Gas Fired at Thai Protestors AssociatedPress PAD leaders surrender to Thailand police United Press International The Associated Press - Washington Post - New York Times - International Herald Tribune all 2,495 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:31:03 GMT Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says - Washington Post Washington Post Stevens's Reputation 'Sterling,' Powell Says Washington Post - 8 hours ago By Del Quentin Wilber Former secretary of state Colin L. Powell told jurors in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens yesterday that the powerful Alaska Republican had a "sterling" reputation among the nation's military and political leaders. Reporter's Notebook: Powell Takes the Stand for Stevens FOXNews Powell says Sen. Stevens' integrity "sterling" Reuters CNN - Kansas City infoZine - The Miami Herald - ABC News all 2,865 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:13:53 GMT Clickbank Content Make Money From Home

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Gemstone Collecting

Personally, I have become fascinated with gemstones (precious and semi-precious... Read More

A Playtime Project: The Memory Quilt

A friend recently suggested a use for my daughter's first... Read More

A Brief History of Candles

For centuries man's progress has been lighted by candles. However,... Read More

Using Your Dogs Hair

Dog hair (called chiengora)can be spun into yarn, much like... Read More

Sewing ? A Wonderful Pastime

To think that in the beginning the only sewing patterns... Read More

Craft Crocheting from Your Home

Crocheting is not only a craft but an... Read More

Idle Hands Beget The Devils Work

As a southern girl, sewing was a rite of passage.... Read More

Collectible Action Figures - Is About Fun Memories And More Money

Superhero action figures first stormed the doors of department stores... Read More

Aromatherapy Candles - How to Select the Right Scent

Feel sad, tired, or a little bit stressed? Something as... Read More

Blown Glass: They Do Still Make It Like They Used To

Blown art glass is quickly becoming one of the fastest... Read More

Jewelry Making: Measuring for Bracelets Without a Tape

Your cousin's friend in Saskatchewan has asked you to design... Read More

A Look At Cigar Humidors

Cigar humidors are storage units designed to hold, preserve and... Read More

Be Your Own Way, but Still Use the Safe Tools

It is so often that people are not aware with... Read More

Collecting Depression Glass ? Where to Start

Okay, so you've been bitten by the Depression Glass bug,... Read More

Craft Fairs, Bazaars & Flea Markets?Oh, My!

Many names are associated with events such as these. Craft... Read More

Organize That Stash!

Do you control your stash or does it control you?... Read More

Russian Nesting Dolls - The Beginning

According legend, first nested doll prototype appeared in Russia in... Read More

Woodworking Beginners: Secret Tips To Start Right

Woodworking: Where To Start - Tips From Experienced WoodworkersWoodworking encompasses... Read More

Baby Boomers Need Creative Practical Hobbies

"Well how are you really enjoying your retirement?" I asked... Read More

Rainy Day Fun - Crafts For Kids

Rainy days can be so boring for a child?and just... Read More

Capturing the Craft Show Market

Finding the right product to sell at a craft show... Read More

Roasting Your Own Coffee - A Hobby You Can Love

There is nothing like a cup of coffee that has... Read More

An Easy Way to Understand Your Collectibles

What kind of gifts you often receive? Is it toy... Read More

Weaving Photographs and the Use of a Collage to Give Your Scrapbooks Artistic Flare

For more dramatic results from your photographs, trying weaving two... Read More

Woodworking Tools: Right Selection And Care Will Save You Money, Part 3

Woodworking: Tools Of The Trade, Part 3 - Tools For... Read More