It All Started With a Belt

When I was very little, my dad had an interest in leatherworking. He became quite proficient at it, but soon other interests took over, and for most of my life, his tools were stored in a box on the top shelf of my parents’ closet.  Here’s a picture of me around that time. 

One of his major projects was a hand-carved belt that he made for my mom. I “borrowed” it as a teenager, and after all these years, it is still gorgeous. Fast-forward to the fall of 2009. I had established myself fully in the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas, and at that time, though I was always busy, I needed an artistic outlet. I asked my dad if I could borrow the leather tools that he had not used in so many years because I wanted to learn about this fascinating art form. He agreed to send me his tools and books, but with the stipulation that this was a loan, not a gift. I was very happy to get started and decided to begin my journey with belts. I made one for each of my parents and grandparents, and when my dad held his admiringly, he told me that the tools he had loaned me were now a gift. This Christmas will mark ten years of leather artistry in my life.

This floral belt was the first one I ever made. Here it is seen with several of my early designs.