I’m looking for a good book regarding the use of leather in jewelry.
I’ve been searching Amazon
not been rated. I’d like to get into mixed media jewelry, and
realize most on this forum are into the lapidary, but I’m hoping
someone has gone this route and can offer some advice.
Also, regarding tools, I’ve been researching leather holepunches and
other tools, and am also in the same quandary.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks ahead,
Miachelle
Hi Miachelle,
In a previous incarnation I was a saddlemaker. I still keep current
on what is is happening in that little world…
To my knowledge, though there have been quite a few books on leather
craft, and a few more on the saddlemaking specialty, I’ve never seen
or heard of one that goes into the jewelry uses for leather.
I would guess that if you want to pursue this direction you’ll be
able to write your own.
If you have specific questions as to suppliers, types/kinds of
leathers and tannage I might be able to help you… It has been over
25 years since this kind of work was a major part of my income - but
I am seriously giving some thought to going back to doing a bit of
it.
We used to produce a small line of exotic leather inlaid sterling
products including rings, bracelets, pendants, and earrings. It did
all right back then, but there were other items we made that had
higher demand and we gradually phased them out.
Nowadays, you might have to consider the politically correct BS -
even though leather is not quite the same as fur - it is an animal
product… Perhaps stick with “printed” (on cowhide) imitations of
exotics?
There was a time when we used to tan our own snake skins. Now,
selling rattlesnake and other snake/reptile skin products is
regulated by state and origin.
There was also a time - not so long ago - when you could actually
ride horses on the beach and sleep there. When you didn’t need a
“permit” to camp in a public park…
Brian P. Marshall
Stockton Jewelry Arts School
Stockton, CA USA
209-477-0550
instructor@jewelryartschool.com
Hi Miachelle
I know you wanted something more comprehensive but there is a book
called Crafts: Contemporary Design and Technique. It is written by
Alice Sprintzen and published by Davis. It has a chapter about
leather in general and three great pictures of jewelry work by Daphne
Lingwood. It might be a place to get started as there are
instructions about stamping, embossing and wet forming leather that
are all pretty interesting. Some of the wet formed masks shown are
incredible.
Linda M
I'm looking for a good book regarding the use of leather in jewelry. I've been searching Amazon, but most of the leathercraft books have not been rated. I'd like to get into mixed media jewelry, and realize most on this forum are into the lapidary, but I'm hoping someone has gone this route and can offer some advice. Also, regarding tools, I've been researching leather holepunches and other tools, and am also in the same quandary.
Here, I feel I can actually help out. I came into jewelry work via
making findings for my leather pieces.
A good basic book for leather that I can recommend is Leather as Art and Craft by Thelma Newman. She gives good basic on
selecting and working with leather. Beyond that, you cannot go wrong
with the various booklets written for Tandy Leather by the late Al
Stohlman.
Initially, the tools you can get from sources like The Leather
Factory or Tandy leather will do nicely. As you get a feel for what
you are doing, you will want to graduate to tools made by companies
like Osborne.
Really the basic tools you need are a good sharp knife (a utility
knife will work just fine), a rotary punch or set of punches, and the
tools for your chosen assembly methods. Everything else are
expansions and specializations on those.
Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
@Ron_Charlotte1 OR afn03234@afn.org
Miachelle,
I can’t help with the request for a book or books that mix leather
into jewelry. It is done. I can make ear rings that look just like a
bird’s feather out of a small piece of leather. Now for the hole
punches, there are two companies that I know about (probably more)
that have web sites and will send catalogues. The first is Tandy
Leather Factory at www.tandyleatherfactory.com, and the second is
Hide Crafter Leather Company at www.hidecrafter.com. Both stores have
a large selection of hole punches, and it would quickly become a
question of which would (or could) supply the product at a price you
would be comfortable paying. Hide Crafter does have (at this time) a
larger inventory in the local store than Tandy Leather Factory. Don’t
work for either place, just a satisfied customer of both.
Jim Good
Miachelle (leather Jewelry/tools)
While I have seen some books which used a mixed media of Silver,
gold, wood and leather in pieces I have not seen one on strictly
leather.
I do still receive the Tandy Leather catalog which carries a great
deal of tools and materials and this is the web site
Hope this helps.
Terry
Hello,
I have never used pieces of leather in my jewelry, but I’m crazy
about leather cord! At any rate, I don’t know about new books on
leathercraft per se, but I have noticed a lot of older ones in the
local library. I believe leathercrafting was quite popular at one
time, perhaps the 1970’s? I would try your local library just to get
your feet wet. Sometimes older books are really great, and this way
you can “take it for a test drive” for free to get the basics down
before you buy that shiny, new, expensive, tome. I’ve done this many
times, always with good results.
Augest Derenthal
Cry Baby Designs
Hi Miachelle,
I seem to remember that “The Jeweler’s Art: A Multimedia Approach”
by Alice Sprintzen had a nice section on leather jewelry. This is one
of my all-time favorite books, which I found on the shelf in one of
my former libraries.
If you’re interested in multimedia, try your library before you buy.
If you live in an area with a small library, try searching for the
subject “jewelry making” in the catalogs of the larger library
systems, such as: http://www.aclibrary.org/ They now have cover
photos, just like Amazon, and, if you see something interesting, you
can get it through interlibrary loan. I once waited weeks to get one
of Jack Ogden’s books from the Beverly Hills library (!), but it was
worth it.
Good luck!
Lisa Orlando
Albion, CA, US
You know, I’m not for this PC stuff.
We eat cow. Something productive needs to be done with the various
parts. I’m practical in that sense, I guess.
I appreciate all the input so far. I perused Michael’s two leather
project books, and other than the basics of embossing and painting
leather, they gave me nothing for
I have two beautiful Afghani Kunchi pendants, and I think combining
them with leather and sterling silver would make some great jewelry.
There are two books that need to be written that I can see: one on
leather for jewelry, and one on paper clay for jewelry.
Any takers?
Thanks again to everyone for their advice!
My library has one book, which I checked out today. Unfortunately, I
don’t think books on leather are high on the purchase list. 
But, so far there have been some great recommendations, which have
made up for the lack of recommendations on Amazon!
Miachelle
I appreciate all the input so far. I perused Michael's two leather project books, and other than the basics of embossing and painting leather, they gave me nothing for I have two beautiful Afghani Kunchi pendants, and I think combining them with leather and sterling silver would make some great jewelry. There are two books that need to be written that I can see: one on leather for jewelry, and one on paper clay for jewelry.
I don’t know that there’s a books worth of but I might
tackle an article length. I’d welcome any idea of the questions and
sticking points. Leather is a great medium to work in, and adding
nice metal and lapidary work to it is a very old tradition/practice.
Ron Charlotte – Gainesville, FL
@Ron_Charlotte1 OR afn03234@afn.org
Until I read this posting, I’ve just sort of been lurking and
learning (and thanks to all for the really interesting info!).
Now I think I can contribute some, having worked with leather for
more than twenty years. If you wnat to do leather carving, in the
traditional style, any books by Al Stohlman are an excellent place to
start. Tandy Leather Co. has many of his books, and others on the
subject - check their website, or check to see if they have a retail
outlet near you (they have them in almost every state in the U.S.).
The Leather Factory would be another source, and I believe they also
have a website. Both are also great sources for leather tools.
If carving isn’t your “thing” there was a manual published by either
the Army or the Air Force in the mid-twentieth century on working
with leather (you may have to research this a little - I can’t put
my hands on it at this time). I will mention that I started out with
the help of a Tandy Store manager and a few basic tools, a few
scraps of leather, and no one to tell me “You can’t do that!” and
taught myself enough to stay in business for many years, ubtil I got
"hooked" on making jewelry. Still have a lot to learn about that,
but I,m really lovin" it!
Hope this is of some use to you. or feel free to email me if you
have questions and I’ll try to help out.