Halfway to Heaven Leathersmith

05/28/2026

Finally got back to this project that’s been in the works for a while! I am using a pattern that I’ve used previously as the foundation of this piece, but I’m also going off-script to make some custom pieces that fit the project a little bit better. It’ll take about 16 miles of thread to sew this thing together, but I like how it’s shaping up!

05/21/2026

A new custom item off the bench: a badge wallet. This thing is a beast by design with a card/document slot with an 8oz welt, the badge window slot with an 8oz welt and 8oz badge anchor and an ID card slot with a 5/6oz welt. The original badge wallet that this replaces was filled to bursting, so extra heavy welts will allow for room for necessaries while maintaining strength and integrity that will last for ages!

05/19/2026

This custom sketchbook cover was made for my coworker who is an incredible artist. She just completed a mural at our place of work before she leaves us to begin a new adventure with her family. It was great to get to come up with a design that captures some of her favorite things. I’ll definitely be doing more color splash work in the future! Fun!

05/02/2026

Check out what the Ogres are cooking up now!! 🤩

Something new is coming!
Over the past few months, we've been working behind the scenes on something built specifically for makers - materials that aren't just cut and sold but selected for movement, character, and story! This is the start of TOF MERCANTILE CO. More coming soon!

04/03/2026

👀
https://www.stargazette.com/story/news/nation/2026/04/02/tyrannosaurus-rex-handbag-auction-synthetic-skin/89421475007/?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcAQ81BRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeyd7v8AaQZd7NPufgXPx-3QiS3s1DAIdfU3Dje0KJoR7W-BNqsoUz18TAe_A_aem_eGXT3_h4l2T9i4C_tRpY9Q

Scientists created lab-grown leather inspired by reconstructed T. rex protein sequences. A "T-Rex" handbag went on display in Amsterdam on April 2.

02/24/2026

I’m not yet sure what this will become (journal cover? Album cover? Purse decorative element?) but after a couple weeks of analysis-paralysis on how to proceed with color and design, I put dye to leather and got it (nearly) done in just a couple of hours. Pattern to leather: 1 hour; Swivel cuts: 1 hour; Decorative stamping: .5 hour; Fine-lining black dye 3 hours; Contrast and background dye: 1 hour; Gold Accents: .5 hour… Seven total bench hours total. Be like a crow - find joy in unexpected little things, chat loudly with your friends often and wander down roads with less focus on the destination.

02/24/2026

I got started and couldn’t stop! I have no idea what this is going on, but time will tell! 🖤🐦‍⬛ 🖤🐦‍⬛🖤

02/24/2026

When I was 5, I told my Mom I wanted to be a rodeo clown… little do I know I’d be white-knuckling it trying to fine-line this piece with my five year old across from me “coloring”… aka: “wiggling the table in every possible direction.” 😅

Lots more work to do now that I have pulled myself out of analysis-paralysis and just put some dye to leather. I have no idea how this thing is going to turn out. I really am just along for the ride. 😬

02/22/2026

Newest item off the bench: an HTH exclusive crossbody essentials bag. Room for your phone, wallet, keys and the 74 other small things in your purse that you can’t be without! The strap measures 50”-57” long for at-the-hip wear for most folks. The bag measures 8.5x7.25x1.25” and has a magnetic snap closure.

This bag is made from full grain cowhide pull-up leather. Pull-up is a high-quality, aniline-dyed leather finished with oils and waxes that lighten in color when stretched, bent, or scratched, creating a rustic, distressed, or "lived-in" patina. It is known for its durability, soft feel, and ability to self-heal minor marks as oils redistribute, making it ideal for boots, bags, and furniture. The two-tone motif is achieved by hand dying elements a darker color. The color variation you see in the lighter pull-up leather is natural to the hide.

Tulip Festival - Wamego, KS

02/12/2026

Working on some new patterns for the Tulip Festival - Wamego, KS 2026! This will be a simple crossbody essentials purse with some vintage flair owing to the oil tanned pull-up leather I’m using. Pull up leather is aniline dyed and finished with wax or oil that lightens in color as the leather moves and wears. It’s a fantastic type of leather for daily-use items because the patina just gets better and better! More pics to come!
Many, many thanks to The Ogre's Forge for including HTH items in their display at the festival - now for the third year in a row!
🤎🌷🤎