Sunday, April 18, 2010

Moving Up the Leather Ladder

I graduated early from high school, gathering all of my credits as fast as I could! I was determined to be on my own, an adult in my own mind, ready for whatever the world had to dish out! I moved to Boulder, Colorado and started my first semester at The University of Colorado. I was simply getting the basics out of the way so that I could move on to Colorado State University where I would study science and horticulture. Yes...my passion had become plants. I loved them like they were my little babies. I gingerly cleaned leaves and gently swabbed off mealy bugs, giving them all the TLC I possibly could. My apartment was a jungle.

Like everyone else though, I needed money. Leather was what I understood, so I started to look in that arena. I found a job hand crafting leather goods, but it was nothing I had ever done before. The company was called Remington West and there were six of us working out of the owner's home, all of us college age. This point would come into play much later in my life, as life marches full circle.

Remington West produced hand sewn and laced deerskin halter tops, men's and  ladies leather vests and purses and backpacks. It was a workroom and my job was paid on commission, per finished piece. The vests and bags were sewn on an industrial sewing machine. There was a person to cut patterns, a person to pound on the hardware and Indian nickle buttons, a couple of sewers and me. I took the halter tops from start to finish. I found the perfect position from which to cut the hides so that the jagged edges were at the bottom. I learned how to cut three feet of lacing from one three inch square. I punched holes and adorned them with pheasant feathers, falling gracefully from the necks. I glued turquoise cabochons and surrounded them with leather ovals that I hand laced over the turquoise. I laced the front seams and braided lacing for a criss cross tie across the back.

When they asked me to draw around the necks and seams and then hand burn the design in, I balked. "I can't draw," I told them over and over." I don't want to, please don't make me." My reluctance fell on deaf ears. It was part of my job and I hated it! I started slowly with viney flower designs and far away mountain ranges. The burner had to be used with a very light touch. Deerskin is so soft and draws in immediately when touched.

The designs were drawn on with a brown marker and the burning replaced the marker. Here is an example of the deerskin with the design drawn on, ready to burn. All of the pieces I made were sold and we didn't have the kind of camera access that we have today, so I have only my memories of my creations. Digging through a box of leather scrap a few years ago I found this.


I looked at it and laughed. I felt the embarrassment of those days when I begged not to have to draw. Then I took it and placed it right next to my desk where I do most of my work, to remind me of how far I've come. The pink quote tacked up next to it reads, "Personality is more important than beauty, but imagination is more important than both of them."


I look at it lovingly now and with compassion for the little girl I was then. I am the eagle now...soaring high.

15 comments:

  1. Great post. It was nice getting a little insight as to who you are.

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  2. What a beautiful story, did you end up completing your horticulture and science degrees?

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  3. I think that, a lot of the time, we're the last to know that we have artistic talent. We grow up believing that there are Artists and The Rest of Us and it's hard to see beyond that delineation...

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  4. Thank you for sharing such sweet memories! I agree, we are the eagles now:)!!!

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  5. How cool to have found something you can touch and see that connects to the past you, what a treasure. You have come a long way, and it's really interesting to see how everything we do in life becomes woven in to the quilt of who we are and who we are still to become.
    It just goes to show that sometimes you think you can't do something, but if you jump in and just do it, you might find that you are actually rather good at it.
    Great post! :o)

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  6. I crochet. When I look back at things I made when a teenager or young mom in my twenties, they seem dated and only so so. I like your take on the eagle, keep on soaring!!!

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  7. Thank you all for sharing with me. I so enjoy reading what my posts mean to all of you! No, I didn't get my horticulture degree, but it did lead to another design twist! More later!:)

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  8. I so understand and relate to the thought that "I just can't do that!" And then one day, I told myself "what is the harm if you just try it?" That was the most defining moment for me, was just finally doing it (teaching myself mosaic craft). Producing for many years is what gives you the ability to look back and see how far you have defined your craft, and possibly yourself. Our art can't not show our personality and growth. Problem is, we are the only ones who know how far we've come. By the looks of things, Terrie, you have come amazingly far, and we are the blessed recipients!

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  9. I love reading your posts- brings back memories of those years gone by-

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  10. Recently I've redirected my art pursuits and am so much happier, I'm still surprised, lol.

    Thanks for sharing this with us. :)

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  11. Such wonderful memories you've shared. We all
    have that eagle just waiting to burst out, no
    matter how long it takes.

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  12. Beautiful, it's nice to know a little more about you! Thank-you for sharing.

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  13. Thank you for sharing, it is wonderful to get to know you better!

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  14. What a wonderful story, Terrie! You keep soaring like that eagle!!

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  15. so happy that you reshared this - it makes me feel even closer to you - my best friend (who died at the young age of 35) liked to do beadwork and leather work. I loved the story-

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