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 wasn’t born out of a love for leather; it was born out of necessity. I needed something to carry my tools, to keep things together and at hand. Simple. Functional. Real.

But as I kept going, something started to shift.

I realized that the desire for something unique isn’t just mine — it’s shared by so many people. Whether it’s fashion, function, or just personal style, there’s this near-universal longing for something that’s yours. Not off-the-rack. Not cookie-cutter. Yours.

And that’s where I found my purpose as a maker. I could help people fill that gap — create something functional, sure, but more than that... something that speaks to who they are.

Still Searching for That Moment

If I’m being honest — and I always am with you, — I’m still chasing that “big moment.” That moment where someone picks up a piece I made and doesn’t just say, “Cool wallet,” but feels something deeper. Where they see the hours, the passion, the imperfections, and go: “Damn, this is real. This is art.”

There are folks who get it, who really see the heart in my work. And I’m grateful for every one of them. But I’ll be straight with you — I’m still climbing. Still looking for that break, that spotlight, that moment where the world says, “Yeah, this guy’s got something to say.”

Why I Keep Going

I keep at it because I love the process. I love the rhythm of it. I love the feel of the leather, the sound of the mallet, the way a piece comes together in your hands after hours of sweat and second-guessing.

But underneath all of that, every maker — whether they admit it or not — wants to be seen. Not in a vanity way, but in a soul way. We want our work to be recognized not just as a product, but as a reflection of who we are.

I’m still working toward that. And I probably always will be.

So here I am — still climbing. Still punching, cutting, stitching. Still showing up every day in the shop, heart on my sleeve, hope in my chest, trying to make something meaningful.

And if you’re out there climbing too — keep going. We’ll get there.