Behind the Scenes

 

 

 

 

 

The beginning of a project starts with picking a pattern. I design all of my patterns. If I ever buy a pattern I always make changes to it so it is unique to North of 55 Leather.

 

 

 

 

 

The next step is picking the right leather. I always keep a good inventory of leather on hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the newest piece of equipment that I have added to my workshop. Most projects I have to thin the edges so seams are not too thick. This was a very long and labour intensive step before I purchased this machine. It also produces a much more consistent edge and seam compared to doing it by hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my main workstation. I spend alot of time in this space. This is where I design my patterns, cut, punch, glue and sometimes stitch my projects. Most of the tools I use each and everyday are in an arms reach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my hand stitching space. (You can see in the background I have to share this space with our exercise equipment). I have two stitching ponies that I use. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is probably the most satisfying and most enjoyable part of leather craft. Hand stitching leather is an aged old tradition that requires a lot of practice and patience. I still hand stitch all of my wallets and some of my bags.

 

 

 

Up until 2024 I hand stitched all of my products. Because of the demand for bags and the amount of time it takes to stitch a bag I made the decision to purchase a TechSew sewing machine in 2024. This has enabled me to keep up with the demand for bags. It has also provided me the opportunity to make bags that I was unable to do with hand stitching.

 

 

 

 

 

A lot of hours are spent sewing. I am still learning new techniques everyday. 

 

(you can also see the sticker of my favourite mustard supplier, Smak Dab) 

 

 

 

 

 

This area is where I keep most of my hardware and dyes. Most of the items I make I dye and burnish the edges. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is where most of the final steps of making an item. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready for a market. I lay out all of my inventory and ensure everything is clearly priced. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything gets put into bins.

 

 

 

 

Once everything is in bins I load it up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also load up all my display items. This is probably what takes the longest to haul from the truck to the market space. Depending on the venue and parking it can take a while to unload.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once everything is unloaded and brought to my space, I start working on the display. It is not always the same from market to market. I will have different items depending on the season or availability. Some market spaces are smaller or larger than others so I have to adapt each market. Some markets take 3-4 hours to set up. 

 

 

 

Long hours, long days and months of work are always worth it when you step back and look at the final display

 

 

 

Lastly, you can always shop online here as well!