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Still Climbing
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — I got started in leatherwork because I needed something no one made. My first knife sheath...
Donald Medaris
Jul 24, 20252 min read
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Synthetic Leather Experiments: A New Chapter?
Today, something a little different is on the bench — the first prototype of a synthetic leather made from recycled memory foam...
Donald Medaris
Jul 23, 20252 min read
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Cheap Tools That Overperform
When you’re just getting into leatherwork, it’s easy to think you need to drop hundreds of dollars on “professional-grade” gear. But the...
Donald Medaris
Jul 22, 20252 min read
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It’s Okay to Evolve
A collection of leather keychains finds a home in the "Graveyard Bin," where unsold products are stored. When I first started building...
Donald Medaris
Jul 21, 20252 min read
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Grateful for the Small Things (and the Big Ones Too)
Today I’m sitting with a lot of gratitude — not for flashy wins or big milestones, but for the people closest to me who quietly amaze me...
Donald Medaris
Jul 20, 20251 min read
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So You Wanna Work Leather?
One of the most common questions I get is:
“What should I make first?”
My go-to answer: a minimalist wallet or business card holder.
Donald Medaris
Jul 19, 20252 min read
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Custom Commissions Are Open at Legacy Leather Co.
Ordering from me doesn’t start with a “Buy Now” button. It starts with a conversation . I want to know you — not just what item you...
Donald Medaris
Jul 18, 20252 min read
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First Class, First Spark
Before I ever taught a leatherworking class, I taught survival skills. It started when my wife gifted me a wilderness survival course...
Donald Medaris
Jul 17, 20252 min read
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The Real Bench
No filters, no cleanup — here’s what’s really going down at the bench today. I’ve got a test piece in progress: a crow standing in front...
Donald Medaris
Jul 16, 20251 min read
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The One Tool That Never Leaves My Bench
If you’ve ever spent more than five minutes in my shop, you’ve probably seen them — in my apron, my belt, under a stack of leather...
Donald Medaris
Jul 15, 20252 min read
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Progress Over Perfection
I still own the first item I ever made — a simple knife sheath. It's rough, full of beginner mistakes, and I absolutely love it. That...
Donald Medaris
Jul 14, 20252 min read
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🌿 Gratitude for the Grind
Leatherworking has become my creative fuel — the thing that grounds me when the world feels chaotic and loud. Over the years, I’ve...
Donald Medaris
Jul 13, 20251 min read
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đź§µ So You Wanna Work Leather?
Getting started in leatherworking does not have to break the bank
Donald Medaris
Jul 12, 20252 min read
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Why I Only Make Custom Leather Goods
In a world of mass production and fast fashion, there's something sacred about slowing down and making something just for you. At Legacy...
Donald Medaris
Jul 11, 20252 min read
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Why I Work With Leather
It didn’t start in a studio. It started in the woods. Back then, I was a wilderness survival instructor — living by the rule of...
Donald Medaris
Jul 10, 20254 min read
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