Archive

Leather is one of the most amazing materials to work with.

Our Two-day introduction workshop is aimed at beginners interested in gaining a good basic understanding of the leather working skills & techniques used in making a variety of small leather goods.

Over the two days, you’ll be making 2 or 3 items, such a card holder, key-rings and a belt or a coin purse, (specific items can be chosen on the day.) These will show you the different skills and techniques required for leather working.

During the course,  you will cover the following:

• Different types of leathers and its uses
• Tanneries and suppliers
• Understanding the process of making leather goods
• Intro to pattern making.
• Cutting – Dyeing – Stitching and finishing the leather
• Beveling – Creasing – Burnishing and other skills
• Leather after care
• General Q/A

You will be shown traditional methods and techniques which you will then use to make your own items and take them home. The skills and techniques learnt will help jump start your leather working journey, in addition to all tools and materials to use during the workshop along with course notes and information including recommended reading and a list of suppliers, with an opportunity to purchase a full beginners kit to take home with you (contain everything what need to get started, fixed cost of £100).

Class Dates (Saturday, Sunday):
February: 15 , 16

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

Price: £165 + £35 Material cost

Leather is one of the most amazing materials to work with.

Our Two-day introduction workshop is aimed at beginners interested in gaining a good basic understanding of the leather working skills & techniques used in making a variety of small leather goods.

Over the two days, you’ll be making 2 or 3 items, such a card holder, key-rings and a belt or a coin purse, (specific items can be chosen on the day.) These will show you the different skills and techniques required for leather working.

During the course,  you will cover the following:

• Different types of leathers and its uses
• Tanneries and suppliers
• Understanding the process of making leather goods
• Intro to pattern making.
• Cutting – Dyeing – Stitching and finishing the leather
• Beveling – Creasing – Burnishing and other skills
• Leather after care
• General Q/A

You will be shown traditional methods and techniques which you will then use to make your own items and take them home. The skills and techniques learnt will help jump start your leather working journey, in addition to all tools and materials to use during the workshop along with course notes and information including recommended reading and a list of suppliers, with an opportunity to purchase a full beginners kit to take home with you (contain everything what need to get started, fixed cost of £100).

Class Dates (Saturday, Sunday):
April: 12, 13

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

Price: £165 + £35 Material cost

Practical Leather Conservation Course for Historic Leather.

Tutor: Theo Sturge ACR

Overview

This course is intended for experienced conservators/restorers and students of conservation. A considerable knowledge of conservation is assumed. It is not intended for those without prior experience.

An introductory course to some of the techniques more commonly used in leather conservation. The course will include theory and practical experimentation. The course will aim to provide participants with a range of techniques for use on a wide variety of leather artefacts.  In this course, the student will gain PRACTICAL skills in the conservation of historic leather.  In addition to learning the different types of ‘leather’ the student will learn about how to restore the colour to leather, to make small repairs, how to gild leather and many other practical skills.  The details of the four day course are provided next.

Topics to be covered include:

• Methods of repair, including the choice of repair materials and adhesives, with hints and tips on getting the best results. Repair materials including leather and woven and non-woven fabrics will be considered.
• Gap filling with Beva 371, leather, Japanese tissue paper etc.
• Surface finishes and dressings.
• Cleaning.
• Humidification to allow reshaping.
• Dying leather and toning in areas of damage to match the surrounding colour.
• Leather working techniques. To include skiving with an English knife, basic saddle stitching with two needles, and skived joints.

Make a piece of gilt leather.

The following is an outline of the programme.

Day 1. Tuesday Morning

• Introductions.
• Case study.
• What goes wrong with leather.
• Leather as a material. Some basic properties which can affect its use in conservation.
• What is gilt leather?

Afternoon

Introduction to practical exercises. The leather working skills – sewing and skiving – are not programmed for a specific time but can be fitted in when you have a little spare time.

Practical session:

• Start making your gilt leather by applying silver leaf.
• Make Beva 371 filler.
• Prepare Beva 371 on Reemay.

• Prepare Lascaux dispersions on Reemay for solvent reactivation tomorrow.
• Look at the identification of leather samples.

Day 2. Wednesday Morning

• Case studies
• Adhesives used for leather.

Afternoon.

• Mould your gilt leather or decorate with punches.
• Try different adhesives and repair materials. Adhesives include: Lascaux acrylic dispersions, Evacon-R, Beva Film, solid Beva 371 and starch paste. Also, solvent reactivation. Repair materials include: Leather, Reemay, Japanese paper and silk.

Day 3. Thursday Morning

• Case studies
• Repair materials. Colouring leather. Gap filling.

Afternoon

• Finish adhesive trials from yesterday.
• Dying / colouring leather.
• Varnish your gilt leather.
• Gap filling with solid Beva 371 – including Russia leather and a hole in crocodile.

Day 4. Friday Morning

• Case studies.
• Cleaning.
• Humidification and reshaping.
• Consolidation.
• Treatment of red rot.
• Finishing leather – dressings, in-painting etc.

Afternoon.

• Repair a hole in a piece of damaged, coloured leather and reinstate the lost colour using two different methods. Insert an inlay if wished and time available.
• Repair a split in some sheepskin as might be found on a flying jacket.
• Optional: Strip line your gilt leather for mounting on a frame.
• Optional: Paint your gilt leather if time allows.

Note: a sandwich lunch is provided to all students.

Tutor: Theo Sturge ACR FIIC. Theo is the UKs most experienced practising leather conservator. In 2000 he established the Sturge Conservation Studio which specialises in historic leather. He teaches internationally. theosturge@leatherconservation.co.uk. 0044 (0) 1604 717929. www.leatherconservation.co.uk

Dates:

From Tuesday 29th October to Friday 1st November 2024, from 9:30 – 16:30

Price (note all prices are in pounds)

• Full price – £640.00 per person
• ICON /BAFRA Member – £560.00 per person
• Deposit – £200.00 per person

We will accept a deposit to hold the spot. The full fee must be paid at the start of the class.

Please fill in the form and click ‘Proceed’ to book your place on the course.

In this course, Ernest will help students of all levels from complete novices to experienced restorers. All types of projects are possible (We do suggest you send a picture of the object if this is your first class with the school). All materials can be provided by the school (although a charge may apply). Ernest will carefully walk the student through every step of  the entire process of restoring their selected project.  Imagine the great feeling one gets from developing the hand skills needed to turn a warn piece of furniture into a thing of beauty.

With over 15 years experience running a very successful restoration business, Ernest is active with ICON (International Conservation) and he has a PhD centered around 18th Century  English and French Furniture.  This means that Ernest has proven himself to meet their very high standards in the restoration of antiques.

Price: £275 (Deposit: £100)

Class Dates (every Friday except during school holidays):

April 19, 26

May  3, 10, 17, 24

June 7, 14, 21, 28

Class Times: All classes start at 09:30 and end at 16:30

This two-day course is aimed at beginners, introducing them to basic leather work techniques and skills which they can then apply to a choice of small projects which can be made over the two days, including belts, keyrings, and card wallets.

During the course we will cover

• Tanning, leather, and uses.

• Equipment and suppliers.

• Choosing leather for your projects.

• Using hardware – poppers, buckles, and rivets.

• Introducing basic pattern making, marking leather, and cutting leather.

• Finishing processes including creasing, bevelling, burnishing, and dying.

• Aftercare and cleaning.

All the tools and materials you will need for the course are supplied by the teacher. You will also receive a set of course notes, including equipment lists and suppliers, to help you continue your leatherworking journey at home. In class, we will cover the essential items you will need to create your leather working tool kit. Please be warned that leather working can be addictive.

Leather is one of the most amazing materials to work with.

Our Two-day introduction workshop is aimed at beginners interested in gaining a good basic understanding of the leather working skills & techniques used in making a variety of small leather goods.

Over the two days, you’ll be making 2 or 3 items, such a card holder, key-rings and a belt or a coin purse, (specific items can be chosen on the day.) These will show you the different skills and techniques required for leather working.

During the course,  you will cover the following:

• Different types of leathers and its uses
• Tanneries and suppliers
• Understanding the process of making leather goods
• Intro to pattern making.
• Cutting – Dying – Stitching and finishing the leather.
• Beveling – Creasing – Burnishing and other skills
• Leather after care
• General Q/A

You will be shown traditional methods and techniques which you will then use to make your own items and take them home. The skills and techniques learnt will help jump start your leather working journey, in addition to all tools and materials to use during the workshop along with course notes and information including recommended reading and a list of suppliers, with an opportunity to purchase a full beginners kit to take home with you (contain everything what need to get started, fixed cost of £100).

Class Dates (Saturday, Sunday):
April: 9, 10

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

Price: £165 + £35 Material cost

Our Three-day intermediate workshop is geared towards those who have attended the beginners class or have some experience with fundamental understanding of basic techniques and looking to take their skills up a level. 

The class will begin by jumping straight in to create a selection of items with various different technical skill requirements such as watch straps, a small handbag or classic bifold wallet. Fundamentals will be expanded on, and more advanced techniques will be taught such as skiving leather, installing gussets and making raised leather elements for these items.

 You will be shown traditional methods and techniques which you will then use to make your own items and take them home.

 All tools and materials to use during the workshop will be supplied. 

You will have an option to purchase a full beginners kit to take home with you, along with some good quality leather and other supplies to get you started on your own (cost of £100).

Class Dates (Friday, Saturday, Sunday):
April: 22, 23, 24

Class Times: All classes start at 9:30 and end at 16:30

Price: £240 + £40 (materials)