From Raw Hide to Rainbow Dreams

This week on the bench, I’m crafting something truly special: a Mandala Round Bag for Kirsten in Germany, brought to life in the colors that speak directly to her soul.

A mandala is more than just a pattern — it’s a symbol of wholeness, unity, and the cosmic cycles that tie all living things together. At its heart, it represents the journey inward, toward balance and harmony.

This one will bloom into a rainbow mandala, each hue holding its own energy:

• Red for grounding and passion

• Orange for creativity and joy

• Yellow for clarity and optimism

• Green for growth and compassion

• Blue for peace and truth

• Indigo for intuition

• Violet for spiritual connection

The turquoise body of the bag is no accident, turquoise is a color long associated with healing, protection, and the open flow of creativity. Together, the rainbow mandala on turquoise becomes more than leather and dye, it becomes a talisman, a wearable reminder of light, energy, and the beauty of a balanced life.

From bare veg-tan leather to hand-tooled petals, from careful cuts to vibrant dyes, this bag is the kind of project that reminds me why I fell in love with leatherwork in the first place — it’s art, craft, and meaning all stitched into one.