Developing my inner maker enriches my soul

[GGTBod]

Folks who have come to know me on BCUK over the years shared with me my discover that i needed to make things with my hands, you all shared with me my joy as i found that i could carve wood and actually make things with basic hand tools, I am always expanding and working on my maker skills, I have just spent 3 days under the tutor of a master craftsman in the art of leather work in Scotland learning the ancient craft, to me it was not about coming away with an end piece it was about learning the skills, many folks attend training with Hamish from Half-Goat Leatherwork to learn to make a specific item like a sporran or satchel but I went to learn skills, the best part about this approach for both myself and Hamish was we got to mess about a lot learning, but as Hamish is a true professional we also made some stuff.


Firstly I made a leather drinking tankard, perfect for frosty ales and ciders and mead, the tankard incorporates many techniques and types of stitching that can be used to make all manner of leather items, when learning with Hamish he also makes his own version of what he is showing you to make so you literally have a one to one masterclass all hands on, we done 3 x 10 hr shifts over 3 days in total just teaching me things and practising the art.


So please once again my brothers and sisters of BCUK i'd like you to share with me the discover that I can also work leather with traditional tools, all carving designs came from my mind with inspiration from tribal things shared on the internet, the face design is the human soul with eyes shut but with the minds eye wide open, the pineal gland see's all.

Anyhoo it's picture time





All finished waxed n waterproof (ciderproof too)



What a truly amazing time I had, really really blew me away how enjoyable and engrossing the art of leather working is, especially when you have a great teacher like Hamish, thanks again my friend it was an honour to learn with you.

Watch this space, did i mention I was there for 3 days training with Hamish? This was day 1, more to come soon

 

[GGTBod]

Did I mention that this was all done just on day 1 and that I was training for 3 days?


On day two and three I set about designing and making a sheath for my favourite wood working knife, many folks on BCUK will not be aware of my life long affinity and connection to all things Mycological, understanding this may help you appreciate this design with me and understand the power and significance to me of it, especially those that know of my life long connection with the spiritual fungi like the Psilocybe Semilanceata, without these plants teachers I would not be alive today, this I am in no amount of doubt about as they saved my life and changed it forever for the better.

Pictcha time (i know i know shameless punning)



So I would like to introduce you all to my new branch of my hobbies that is to develop into a way of life, you have witnessed the birth of Liberty Cap Leatherwork by R M Bodley.

 

[GGTBod]

All fixed thank you invisible fixing pixies

 

[GGTBod]

hhhhhhh broke again, is it just me?

 

[sunndog]

Great work dude

I'd love to be good at leatherwork. If i ever did a course i reckon hamish would be the man

 

[GGTBod]

Great work dude

I'd love to be good at leatherwork. If i ever did a course i reckon hamish would be the man

That would be a wise move I had a great time

 

[sunndog]

Oh forgot to say, the links in your second post are coming up as invalid

 

[GGTBod]

Thanks for letting me know sunndog it's totallybizarre but very glad to see it working again,


edit to put my dummy firmly back in

 

[Leshy]

Awesomeness!!!

Great work!!!

 

[GGTBod]

Hopefully i have now fixed the images in the second post, feel like i am banging my head against a wall here

 

[sunndog]

Thanks for letting me know sunndog it's totallybizarre, took me bloody ages to load them up over my antique speed internet connection, what a bummer, certainly wont be fannying about trying to upload loads of images on here anytime soon after that pal-lava, shame i love this forum but that has just bugged me good style, can't afford to waste the RSI injury in my wrists and hands for no results

Yeah i get it mate, goes from fun to a chore in a second eh

 

[GGTBod]

Aye mate i had a spell a while back where the sharing side became tedious and a chore and took more time than the fun and i decided if i was to continue with it I had to make it less time consuming, so i share but not if it gets in the way, we were videoing loads of the leatherwork and anytime the cameras became noticed and demanded we stop work and give them time rather than just being passively recording and they got switched off and put away, gonna make some great videos soon

 

[GGTBod]

Roll on payday, i'm sitting here like a junkie jonesing for a fix, need some leather and a piece of antler in my hands

 

[GGTBod]

had some fun confusion with this thread hahahaha moving from locked area to not, can everyone here see this now?

 

[Robson Valley]

All is well again.

 

[GGTBod]

Awesome thanks for helping me out letting me know when and when you could and couldn't see it, me and M got it in the end

 

[bopdude]

awesome jobs mate, love the tankard

 

[Alan 13~7]

Wow GGT impressive work indeed, thanks for sharing, did you do anything else with your time in Scotland?

 

[GGTBod]

Thanks gents, aye Alan you could say that, currently trying to get my head around the best way to share it all, started in Carlisle with my mtb n trailer n kit about 2 weeks before this stuff happened, also was lucky enough to attend the west Highland Bushcraft Gathering on Loch Etive, lots of video to work with

 

[Dreadhead]

Thanks for the write-up mate. It's so rewarding when people take to leatherwork with the same passion as you have. It's going to be great watching your own style and skills emerge, and see what youcome up with in the future. Keep up the good work