WELCOME TO MY WORLD OF LEATHER
The original craft of survival for mankind and still relevant today
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ABOUT ME
Hi I'm Fiona Thomson, the creative at In Hide Leatherworks. I have a passion for leather and creating unique and interesting items, especially handcrafting leather bags. In our modern, plastic, mass produced age it is often hard to find that handcrafted bag, belt or leather good that truly works for you. As you can see in the Gallery, all my work is of the highest handcrafted quality, produced here in Hamilton, New Zealand from my small home-based workshop. I love the texture and durability of leather I love the fact and article can be soft and almost sensual to the feel but another type of leather can be hard practical and working in an industrial context. Vegetable tanning was the orginal form of preserving for clothes and shelter still the best for belts and knife sheaves. Chrome tanning is chemical based tanning which is a lot quicker to produce and allows for mass production and introduces colours and textures thru technology advancement over the years |
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MY STORY
I grew up in and around Raglan NZ. I moved to Australia when I was 18 and on my travels I was first exposed to `freestyle' leatherwork by an inspired bunch of hippies/boaties in Brisbane. They were making clothes and boots out of bark tanned kangaroo and goat skins all hand stitched and wonderful. On moving to Tasmania I got into ceramics, which I loved, but overnight I turned to leather.
Firstly I put together a sewing kit and saddle stitched my way through metres of waxed thread making purses and bags. I was doing a lot of gardening so I made a hat from a fedora pattern. I stuck with the kangaroo skins - they were light and wore well. I also made up my own pattern for a moulded ladies style which was interesting and well received. I had lots of market stalls around the state including 15 years at Deloraine Craft Fair. I was also a founding member of the Sheffield Womens Shared Workspace which had a showroom and workspace open to the public.
In 2000 when I was visiting my folks in Hamilton I wandered into a local repair shop looking for some saddle soap, well little did I know! Richard taught me about shoe repairs and how to make his range of sandals and shoes. A couple of visits later he offered me his workshop. After much humming and harring I bit the bullet and walked through the door of opportunity and re-located back to NZ after 26 years in Australia.
I grew up in and around Raglan NZ. I moved to Australia when I was 18 and on my travels I was first exposed to `freestyle' leatherwork by an inspired bunch of hippies/boaties in Brisbane. They were making clothes and boots out of bark tanned kangaroo and goat skins all hand stitched and wonderful. On moving to Tasmania I got into ceramics, which I loved, but overnight I turned to leather.
Firstly I put together a sewing kit and saddle stitched my way through metres of waxed thread making purses and bags. I was doing a lot of gardening so I made a hat from a fedora pattern. I stuck with the kangaroo skins - they were light and wore well. I also made up my own pattern for a moulded ladies style which was interesting and well received. I had lots of market stalls around the state including 15 years at Deloraine Craft Fair. I was also a founding member of the Sheffield Womens Shared Workspace which had a showroom and workspace open to the public.
In 2000 when I was visiting my folks in Hamilton I wandered into a local repair shop looking for some saddle soap, well little did I know! Richard taught me about shoe repairs and how to make his range of sandals and shoes. A couple of visits later he offered me his workshop. After much humming and harring I bit the bullet and walked through the door of opportunity and re-located back to NZ after 26 years in Australia.
WORKSHOP AND TRAINING
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FOR THE LOVE OF LEATHER
My interest in leather is like a thirst, I love the beauty and versatility from art pieces to practical tool covers. Also very interested in the old hand machines and tools. Yes I have a sewing machine problem
On a daily basis I plodded away at the bread and butter end to survive but my mind was always wondering off to the never ending list of things I want to make and find out about. After 10 years at Glenview Shopping centre I was exhausted ..over worked unpaid..so decided to sign my lease over to co workers and basically packed up and disappeared to re coup and re cover. So grateful to have time to self care.
I sold my beloved hand made mountain home in Tasmania and proceeded to build a new workshop on my front lawn here in Hillcrest. After 12 months it's a reality and so pleased to be back and creating.
My interest in leather is like a thirst, I love the beauty and versatility from art pieces to practical tool covers. Also very interested in the old hand machines and tools. Yes I have a sewing machine problem
On a daily basis I plodded away at the bread and butter end to survive but my mind was always wondering off to the never ending list of things I want to make and find out about. After 10 years at Glenview Shopping centre I was exhausted ..over worked unpaid..so decided to sign my lease over to co workers and basically packed up and disappeared to re coup and re cover. So grateful to have time to self care.
I sold my beloved hand made mountain home in Tasmania and proceeded to build a new workshop on my front lawn here in Hillcrest. After 12 months it's a reality and so pleased to be back and creating.
