Hide Tanning course with Theresa!!!

Dave Budd

Gold Trader
Staff member
Jan 8, 2006
2,910
337
45
Dartmoor (Devon)
www.davebudd.com
Dr Theresa Kamper is running one of her fabulous Hide Tanning courses in my woods this October and there are spaces going spare! I know people said that they wanted to do the course at the Moot, but failed to book for whatever reason; so here is a second chance. :)

Theresa is providing the hides (deer I think), equipment and her amazing expertise. I'm providing the venue and between us the entertainment :cool: So if you fancy a go at processing a skin in a beautiful woodland setting down in Devon with the two of us, then please let me know ASAP

Date: October 7th-9th
Venue: Nr Exeter in Devon (My Gaff!)
Price £280


A little right up provided by Dr T along with a family friendly photo showing both the product that you can make on the course (the skin) and an idea of the clothing that you could use it for (if a tank top, skirt and boots are your thing!).

tanning course by buddknives, on Flickr

Before the advent of modern tanning agents, humans were turning raw skin into usable leather products using materials readily available to them from the surrounding environment. Come learn the progression of this process from raw skin to beautiful, usable, finished leather! I have been tanning skins using traditional technologies for over twenty years. I originally come from the state of Wyoming, in the United States, where I was lucky enough to grow up as part of a family of outdoor enthusiasts. Part of this enthusiasm extended to hunting. Learning to tan was a natural offshoot of my attempt to use as much of an animal as possible. It had the added bonus of producing a beautiful end product.
I am an avid practitioner of traditional living skills of all kinds and have followed this interest into the academic field of Experimental Archaeology, in which I hold a Masters degree from the University of Exeter. I have recently finished a PhD from the same institution, on the microscopic analysis of prehistoric tanning technologies. I have been teaching various tanning technologies including fat tan, vegetable tan, alum taw and rawhide production for the past five years to groups ranging from avid bush crafters to University students to. I draw on my extensive personal experience to provide a broad understanding of the tanning process, from skin morphology to helpful hints in dealing with the numerous and frustrating problems which are often encountered when first learning to tan (and often long after!).
In addition to enthusiastic instruction I provide comfortable, easy to use tools and detailed handouts covering the tanning process, as well as ethnographic anecdotes and a list of helpful literature for those who wish to further their own knowledge of tanning! So, please join me for a course sure to contain plenty of memorable moments, lots of practical information and, provided that you put in the work, one that will see you heading home with a fantastic piece of traditionally tanned leather!
 

David Willis

Member
Nov 29, 2005
36
0
64
Buckinghamshire
A fabulous weekend of hide tanning - learning about the chemistry, understanding the process and getting stuck into the practical. Thoughout the weekend, we transformed a few roe deer skins into beautifully soft buckskin - thank you Theresa Kamper and Dave Budd for an inspiring course and friendly evenings around the campfire.
 

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