Featured Artisans: JungleTribe

In addition to highlighting my own art & craft, I'd also like this blog to be a place to draw attention to other artisans whose work has inspired and influenced me. I plan to especially focus on fellow leatherworkers because 1) leathercraft has become one of my profound joys and 2) it doesn't seem to get nearly enough attention in comparison to other contemporary crafts and artforms.

As my first feature, I'd like to introduce you to the wonderful work of the two nomadic twin brothers, Beau & Dust, of JungleTribe. I'm particularly fond of their Steampunk Militia series of hip bags which feature cabochons of turquoise, brass filigree, and skeleton keys along with their signature use of layers and hardware as design elements. This elegant yet industrial aesthetic is continued in a line of cuff bracelets which they offer in collaboration with RockLove Jewelry.

Being versatile in style, they also create pieces with an edgier, darker and more thickly textured feel under the title of Galactic Gothic Graveyard. Their collective talent isn't limited to leatherwork though, they also make jewelry. To see more of their amazing work, head over to their Etsy shop.

Little Finch • Necklace with Leather, Silk, & Sterling Silver

This little songbird was inspired by the House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) who came to nest in a tree which I can see from the window by my desk at work. I saw them for months darting into and out of the Arborvitae and posing to sing on its branches. I always enjoyed their visits. Although they are native to the US, House Finches were only introduced to the northeastern region where I live in the 1940s, but they have naturalized well and are now very common.

This little finch hangs asymmetrically from a sky blue silk cord strung with beads in colors to compliment his feathers: primarily various shades of warm grey and brown, scarlet red, and black. These beads include labradorite briolettes with brilliant blue flash, freshwater pearls, and glittering swarovski crystals. The necklace closes with a delicate, handmade hook closure of sterling silver.

The House Finch is handcrafted of vegetable-tanned leather which has been carved and tooled into a low-relief sculpture. He was then dyed and painted with acrylics to highlight his plumage, and he has been signed by the artist on the reverse. He's been sealed with a protective coating to help ensure that he sings to you for a long time to come, however, he is not suited to bird baths so do keep him nice and dry.

measurements • necklace is approximately 26"(66cm) long; finch pendant is about 2.5" wide and 2.25" high at its broadest points
materials • hand-carved & painted leather finch; silk cord; sterling silver clasp; labradorite briolettes; freshwater pearls; swarovski crystals; glass beads
price • SOLD!

La Catrina · Leather, Sterling Silver Necklace

Catrina is a representation of Lady Death at her most elegant. Originally depicted in a 1913 etching by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada, she has become an icon and an archetype.

Her face is adorned with designs similar to those found on sugar skulls which are given to both the living and the dead in celebration of the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) holiday. A six-pointed star sits at her crown, a shining anatomical heart floats before her chest, and she is flanked with the outspread wings of a bird of prey. La Catrina hangs delicately from a series of faceted, jet black, glass beads reminiscent of a rosary which are then attached to lengths of soft suede lace. The necklace closes with a handmade hook clasp adorned with the same glass beads.

The main pendant was was hand carved and tooled from vegetable-tanned leather and then dyed and painted. Her eyes and heart have a high gloss finish so they glisten in the light. The front of the pendant is sealed with an acrylic coating to ensure that it stays vibrant for a long time to come, but please keep it dry and out of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to ensure its longevity. It is signed by the artist on the reverse.

measurements • necklace is about 21"(53.3cm) in length; pendant is approximately 3.5"(8.4cm) wide by 3"(7.6cm) long at its broadest points
materials • hand-carved & painted leather, sterling silver wire, glass beads
price • SOLD!

Art & Jewelry at the Riegelsville Gallery

These two bracelets along with two sets of earrings, two matted prints and several postcards of my art are now available through the Riegelsville Gallery & Tattoo Shop. They host a nice selection of other items including jewelry, leather craft, glass, and paintings by additional local artisans, and of course if you're interested in some quality ink I'm sure they'd be happy to assist.

They do not have a website at the moment, but if you happen to be north easternmost section of Bucks County bordering Northampton, drop by for a visit:

Riegelsville Gallery
671 Easton Road (Route 611)
Riegelsville, PA 18077-7219
610-749-2564

She might appear angelic now....

These are two leather pendants on which I'm currently working. I hope to get them completed for Hallowe'en/Samhain/Dia de los Muertos as they have an elegant chthonian theme (although the pendant in progress on the table has more of a creepy-cute look) in keeping with the holiday. The figure in the central pendant looks benign and angelic now, but I have other plans for her!

Perhaps the best $3.00 I've ever spent

I'd been putting buying off an Edge Slicker for a while. I'm not really sure why, but for some reason whenever I was making an order from Tandy Leather I always considered it but never actually went ahead and bought it. Now I see the error of my ways!

I finally purchased one of these white plastic wheels and it is probably the best $3.00 I've ever spent for my crafty endeavors. It's a basic, little tool but it makes such a difference in giving a much more refined, professional look to my leather creations. It's extremely simple to use: slightly wet the edge of the leather, place it in the groove which runs around the whole of the wheel, and then rapidly move the wheel (or the leather) back and forth to burnish the edge of the leather to smooth, rounded finish. Apparently you can also hook one of these wheels up to a power drill to make this process go even faster, but for the size of my projects that really isn't necessary.

If you happen to work with vegetable-tanned leather (I don't have much experience using it with other types of leather) and don't own this or a similar tool, do yourself a favor and get one!

No Postage Required · Leather, Sterling Silver Earrings

Maybe they're love letters, notes from a long-lost friend, or birthday cards from a relative. (Then again these little envelopes may just contain your latest credit card statements, but I'd like to think they're too whimsical for that purpose!) We'll never know for sure, but they contain the potential to symbolize any sort of mail that you might wish to send or receive.

Each miniature, sealed envelope was carved out of vegetable-tanned leather and then subtly stained. They dangle along with olivine freshwater pearls and two different kinds of chain from hand-crafted ear hooks of sterling silver.

measurements • envelopes are approximately 0.875"(2.2cm) long by 0.5"(1.3cm) wide; they dangle about 1.5"(3.8cm) from below the ear hook (not including the chains)

materials • hand-carved and stained leather; sterling silver wire & chain; freshwater pearls

price • SOLD!