torterena

Long time debated, long time postponed, long time searched for an adequate successor...but in the end the decision was made: our old, worn out red leather sofa must vanish. After 20 years of a good service! The day the removal men came I set my eyes on the “old lady” and I had a brilliant idea. Why not cut scraps of the leather and use them for small projects? Generally, as far as crafting goes, leather goods had intimidated me because I hadn't any experience in this field nor had I the needed tools. But...well, I seem to repeat it all the time that we are living in a great era when it comes to a quick access to information. One click and you are inspired by thousands and thousand of photos, video tutorials, information where to find the needed materials, users-comments and tips...I hardly could wait to start experimenting. In the meantime the mission was accomplished and I enjoyed the work very much. The biggest piece of leather turned into a functional shoulder bag to store my laptop. The life of several pairs of shoes which were already destined for the bin (too worn out to be worn) was prolonged by adding small leather decoration. A lovely mix-media (leather+ cork+ wool) pillow found a place on the new sofa and the smallest object in the project: a hairpin, got a feminine look thanks to small flowers. My resume: leather is a very interesting material to craft with and you can obtain really great results. But I can't deny the fact: if you wish to create some superior items, you have to own a lot of special equipment. Surely, you can find in your household several tools which may be used as substitutes but the majority you will have to buy. I came to the following conclusion: I would love to experiment more with this material if I could obtain from somewhere recycled leather pieces. My eyes are actually wide open for abandoned sofas on the roadside waiting to be collected. So, wish me good luck! Smile.