Eastern Carolina Leather Guild

04/24/2024

It’s an honor and privilege to be making these for the K9’s for Garner Police Department !!! craft

03/26/2024

A few pics from our guild meeting this month. Skipper showing everyone how important keeping your tools sharp is and some awesome techniques…. You can’t beat decades of experience!!! Thank you everyone that came out hope to see you next month and many more. please excuse my child under the table 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

03/15/2024

03/15/2024

03/15/2024

03/13/2024

Did some rearranging in the shop!!

02/20/2024

This is one of the 4 different workshops I get to teach at the Norcross (Atlanta) Tandy Store the first weekend in March. I know space is limited, so get you seat saved quick. Registration info is on the flyer.

02/17/2024

Thank you to all that came to our first meeting last night! Spread the word and see you next month!!!

02/16/2024

Leather work can be intimidating. For the beginner looking at the wide assortments of tools, dies, patterns, and leather not knowing where to start it can be down right scary. For the seasoned leather crafter when a new project walks in the door that intimidation suddenly presents itself as a rush of enthusiasm, that's when you remember that this is more than a job or a hobby, it's a labor of love. We talked last night about leather workers being a dyeing breed, and if we are honest about it, we as a group are part of the problem. We forget what it's like to be the beginner, we forget having to learn our craft, and we forget that the torch has been passed onto us to now be the teachers. I was blessed, and I truly mean this, to grow up in a saddle shop. To get to meet and connect with some truly amazing craftsmen over the last 33 years, but I would never call myself an expert, because everyday I learn something new. I posted this picture because it was a "first" for me. My first time making a holster with kangaroo leather. I look at it often because I see so many flaws in it. It reminds me that even though I have a lot to offer as a teacher, I still have a lot to learn as a student. I hope all of us use this opportunity that Chris has given us with this guild to both teach and learn so that this craft that we all love continues on into the future. Never be afraid to ask questions here or in the meetings. None of us came out of the womb knowing how to do what we do, we all had to learn.

Kangaroo leather isn't something we use everyday, but you know it's going to be a great day when we do.

02/14/2024

I know everyone in the group “specializes” in different areas of leather craft. I thought it would be cool to show others our most used tools. Here’s mine, the trusty strap cutter. During our busy season it’s not uncommon for me to cut 15 hides a day with it.

Matt