The Journal

Notes from the workshop.

Care guides, gift guides, materials sourcing, and the occasional opinion piece about whether a machine stitch can ever be as good as a saddle stitch (it can't).

Craft · September 14, 2025 · 6 min read

Why we still saddle-stitch every seam by hand

A machine stitch is faster. A saddle stitch lasts longer than the leather itself. Here's why we still choose the slow way.

Care · July 2, 2025 · 8 min read

How to care for full-grain leather (and what to never do)

The short version: condition twice a year, keep it out of standing water, and don't put it near a radiator. The long version is below.

Materials · April 22, 2025 · 5 min read

Where our leather comes from

A short walk through the four tanneries we buy from, and why we don't buy from anyone else.

Gift Guides · November 18, 2024 · 4 min read

Five leather gifts for someone hard to shop for

A short, practical gift guide for the in-laws, the colleague, and the partner who already has everything.

Workshop Notes · August 30, 2024 · 3 min read

Saturday mornings at the shop

Walk-ins, coffee, kids tracing leather scraps on the floor. A short post about why we open the door.

Care · June 11, 2024 · 4 min read

Patina: the best part of a leather wallet

Two photos of the same wallet, four years apart. The leather did all the work.

Care · February 4, 2024 · 3 min read

How to size a leather belt (and why ours run differently)

A two-minute guide to picking the right belt size on the first try.

Workshop Notes · November 21, 2023 · 5 min read

What 'bespoke' actually means at a small shop

We get asked a lot. Here's how a custom order really works — start to finish, no marketing.

The Workshop Letter

One short letter a month from Denise — care notes, a peek at what's on the bench, and the occasional first look at small-batch releases. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

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