January and February have traditionally been my quiet months, although these days it doesn't seem there is much difference throughout the year; I'm just busy all the time. However, busy or not, it is time to make exciting stock for my summer shows. Just in case you don't know, each summer Barefoot Leather trades at lots of lovely medieval fairs around the country. I put up a big marquee on the showground and build a fascinating shop inside. Come and find us, it's a great day out.
I don't sell the same things at shows that you can find on my website. Summer is the time for pretty things, I make lots of hand-tooled handbags, supple, top grain hide belts with lovely brass buckles, hand-braided bracelets, hand tooled archery equipment - the list is enormous. It all gets packed into my van and is taken to showgrounds in Sussex, Somerset, Norfolk, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Devon and Cornwall where I get to meet my customers face to face.
This is such an important part of my business that it needs some explanation.
I love my workshop and making leathergoods. I like the smell of the leather when I open up in the morning and enjoy the pace of the work. It can be busy or, some days, quite slow but it always ends up the same way with a pile of lovely things on the bench ready to send out in the post. My work is rewarding in so many ways, in fact I can't imagine wanting anything different. Except when I pack everything into parcels, post it off and realise that I haven't spoken to anyone except Molly dog for a whole day.
Craft working demands stimulation. Creativity is fueled by sensory input. Frankly, there isn't too much of that when you are working flat out to fill orders!
The shows put me directly in touch with my customers. I get 'face to face' feedback on the things I make. I get suggestions, honest critique, comments and most important of all, I get the reward of seeing my stuff being purchased by 3D people not avatars. It doesn't get any better than that!
The bottom picture, by the way is of undyed old fashioned leather woggles. Yes, I still make them. Someone once said to me: if you don't know what a woggle is then you don't need one. The Scout emblem is a bit of a clue...
