Hi, I'm Eric, and I want to let you in on something I've been thinking about for a while now.
Every single day, I get questions about leather. What makes good leather? Why does this piece cost more than that one? How do I know if something is really handmade? And honestly, these questions make me happy. They tell me that people care about what they're buying and want to understand what they're getting.
That's exactly why I'm starting this daily series. I want to pull back the curtain and show you what real craftsmanship actually looks like.
What This Series Is Really About
Let me be honest with you. This isn't going to be some boring technical manual filled with industry jargon. I'm not here to lecture you about leather tanning processes that put you to sleep (though we might touch on some of that stuff when it's actually interesting).
Instead, I want to have real conversations about the things I make. About why I choose certain materials. About what makes a belt pouch different from a purse. About why I'm slightly addicted to making journal covers and can't seem to stop.
Each day, I'll focus on something specific. Maybe it's a deep dive into one of my products like the Buffalo Belt Pouch. Maybe it's talking about the difference between genuine hide and those "genuine leather" labels you see at big box stores (spoiler: they're not the same thing). Or maybe it's just me sharing what happened in the workshop that day.
The point is to give you a front-row seat to this craft.
Why I'm Doing This
There's something that bothers me about the leather goods industry. Actually, a lot of things bother me about it, but here's the big one: people have lost touch with what quality really means.
I can't tell you how many times someone has picked up one of my pieces and said, "Wow, this is so much heavier than I expected." Or they run their fingers over the hand stitching and realize for the first time that those aren't just decorative lines, they're actually functional, holding the whole thing together stitch by stitch.
When you buy something mass-produced, you miss all of that. You miss the story. You miss the decisions that went into every cut, every stitch, every edge finish. And honestly, I think that's a shame.
So this series is my attempt to bridge that gap. To help you understand what you're looking at when you see a handmade leather piece. To give you the knowledge to spot quality when you see it, whether it's from me or another maker.
The Adventure-Ready Philosophy
Before we go any further, I need to explain something that guides everything I make. I call it the "adventure-ready" philosophy, though that might sound fancier than it actually is.
Here's what I mean: when I'm designing a piece, I'm not thinking about whether it looks good on a shelf. I'm thinking about whether it'll hold up when you're hiking through the woods. Whether it'll keep your stuff organized when you're traveling. Whether it'll develop a beautiful patina as you actually use it day after day.
Every belt pouch I make needs to handle the weight of your essentials without sagging. Every journal cover needs to protect your pages from the elements. Every wallet needs to fit comfortably in your pocket while holding everything you actually need.
This isn't about making delicate art pieces that you're afraid to touch. This is about creating tools for living.
What We'll Cover in This Series
Let me give you a taste of what's coming. I'm planning to cover things like:
The Materials: Why full-grain leather matters. What "pull-up" leather means. The difference between calf skin and hide. Why I choose certain finishes for certain projects. And yes, why those cheap "genuine leather" products fall apart so quickly.
The Products: Deep dives into my favorite pieces to make. I want to show you inside my handcrafted leather journal covers, explain the design choices behind the belt pouch, and walk you through why the rustic tote has become such a popular piece.
The Process: How I actually make these things. The tools I use. The techniques that have taken me years to perfect. The mistakes I've made and what I learned from them.
The Why: This is the part I'm most excited about. I want to share why I do things the way I do. Why hand stitching matters. Why I choose certain hardware. Why I refuse to cut corners even when it would be easier.
A Quick Word on Honest Materials
You're going to hear me use the phrase "honest materials" a lot in this series. So let me explain what I mean by that.
When I say honest materials, I'm talking about genuine hide and calf skin that doesn't try to be something it's not. It has natural variations in texture. It shows the animal it came from. It ages beautifully instead of falling apart.
Compare that to bonded leather (which is basically leather scraps glued together) or corrected grain leather (where they sand off the natural surface and stamp a fake grain pattern onto it). Those materials are pretending to be something they're not. They're dishonest.
I only work with the real stuff. Full-grain leather that shows its character. Hair-on-hide that keeps its natural beauty. Materials that will last for decades if you take care of them.
How to Get the Most Out of This Series
Here's my suggestion: don't just read these posts and move on. Really look at the photos I share. Ask questions in the comments. If I mention a technique you don't understand, let me know and I'll explain it better.
This is meant to be a conversation, not a lecture. I want to hear what you're curious about. What confuses you. What you've always wondered about leather goods but never thought to ask.
And if you want to see how these concepts apply to actual products, you can always browse the full collection on my website. I've already written some pieces that dig into specific topics, like whether you need a journal cover or notebook cover and how belt pouches compare to purses for adventures.
What Makes This Different
I know there are a lot of leather blogs out there. Some of them are great, full of technical information and beautiful photos. So why should you follow this one?
Because I'm not trying to impress you with how much I know. I'm trying to share what I love. There's a difference.
When I talk about making a wallet, I'm not just listing the steps. I'm telling you about the moment when I realized that adding just one more card slot would make it perfect. About the customer who told me their wallet finally feels like it was made for them. About the satisfaction of finishing an edge just right.
This series is about bringing you into the workshop with me. About making you feel like you're sitting on the workbench, watching me think through each decision, and understanding why it matters.
Starting Tomorrow
Beginning tomorrow, you'll get a new post every day. Some will be longer, some shorter. Some will focus on technique, others on philosophy. But they'll all be honest, straightforward looks at what it means to create handmade leather goods.
I'm genuinely excited about this. I love talking about what I do, and I think you're going to love learning about it. Whether you're considering buying your first handmade piece, you're a fellow maker looking to improve your skills, or you're just curious about craftsmanship in general, there's something here for you.
Thank you for being here at the start of this journey. I can't wait to share what I know with you.
See you tomorrow.