Indrani Perera

poet, publisher & mentor

Category: Leather Craft

Put a Cog In It

It's been a long, long time since I have made anything. I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever craft again. I really missed making things but I didn't have a reason to – there was nothing in particular that I really needed or wanted. And I have to admit, I've fallen into the habit of buying things at the shops in recent times because I've been time poor. It always seems like a good idea but I end up feeling a little empty when all I am doing is consuming.

All it took to break my crafting drought was to spend time with creative, crafty people. Being surrounded by materials and handmade objects got my imagination going and before long I was asking my friend if I could use some of this leather to make a wrist cuff. It was so good to be working with leather again. Designing a pattern and using graph paper for the first time to make it symmetrical was awesome. Although the advice I had was that once the pattern was transferred to paper and cut out, it would no longer be perfect. And it was true! But I love the finished piece anyway.

Part of the reason I chose to make this particular piece was that it looked super simple – no sewing! Like most things, looks can be deceiving and although this project was relatively straight forward, it did take up more time than I anticipated. Partly because I embellished the original simple design by adding a line all around the edges.

I also decided to stamp some designs on the leather so we headed into the nearby town of Deloraine to find some antique clock pieces. I've had a thing for those steampunk gears for years and had a hankering to add them on to this project. My original idea was to heat the cogs and then place them on the leather to brand it. Apparently this can be super tricky so my friend's mum suggested I wet the leather and stamp it instead. It was a great idea and I am super happy with how it turned out.

Once the cuff was scribed, stamped and all the edges bevelled, it was time to dye the leather. Another first for me – I usually leave my pieces raw and let time leave it's mark on the surface of the project. Finally, I conditioned the leather wth a beeswax polish so it wouldn't dry out my skin when I wear it.

I shouldn't stress about not crafting but I do. I always forget that there are times of rest followed by times of action. The lesson here is to trust in the process. In the moment. In where you are and what you need. And sometimes, what you need is to be with other people who are doing the things your soul is longing to do. At least that's how I feel about it!

May 3, 2023
The Travelling Bookshop

When I was making and selling organic perfumes at markets around Melbourne, I longed for a super contained set-up that would be easy to set up and pack down. Having to lug around a heavy table, chair, products, props and all the other necessary paraphernalia is exhausting. It's also disheartening as you create a fabulous stall and then have to take it down again at the end of each day.

I dreamt of being able to pack everything into a single suitcase that I could open up and start selling from. Being me, the suitcase has to be vintage of course! So when I heard I was being featured at Girls on Key in Northcote, I decided to make this dream a reality!

I scored this vintage leather suitcase at Camberwell Market (Melbourne's best flea market) for the bargain price of $5 because it was so battered and beaten up. The stitching around the edges was coming undone, paper was peeling from the interior and one of the the leather hinges propping open the lid was broken. I figured that with my leather working skills I could restore it to some of its former glory. And hello, $5? Once I got it home, however, I got a daunted by the enormity of the task and shoved it on top of a cupboard for a while. My two cats loved the suitcase and started siting on it, bowing the lid so I had to move it somewhere else!

I forgot to take before photos of the suitcase – I've almost finished restoring it in this photo. I really must remember to do that – take before and after shots. It's so easy to forget how much work you've done. If I had a before shot, I would have been able to track my process and get more of a sense of satisfaction as I went along.

The first thing I did was to repair the seams. Years of use had worn away the thread on the top, bottom and edges of the suitcase. Stitching the seams of the suitcase was especially tricky as the leather is so old and fragile that in some places the new stitches would tear right through the leather or it would crumble as I tried to insert the needle. I used PVA glue to stick the leather back on to the suitcase and linen thread from my stash to sew the seams. I definitely got better at it as I went.

The next thing I had to do was to bust out the rivets that were holding the broken lid straps in place. This step almost broke me and I put it in the too-hard basket for ages. After all my hard work of painstakingly stitching the seams back together, I was terrified of messing it up. I bought some tools online that turned out to not be quite the right thing then got some pliers from Bunnings to chop off the head of the rivets only to find I already had a pair in the toolbox at home! After the rivets came off, I repaired the broken straps by stitching new pieces of leather on to the ends.

Note to self: always remember to check what you already have before going out and buying new stuff!

Once that was done, I used some stiff brown paper that a package had been wrapped in to line the inside of the box and cover up the original peeling paper. I cut it all down to size and used PVA glue again to stick it on. I bought a series of little clamps to hold the paper in place while the glue was drying with scraps of leather under the ends of the clamps to stop them damaging the suitcase. I let each section dry for 24 hours before moving on to the next one.

The final step was to attach new rivets to the leather straps and hope that my measurements were right and the lid would stay open.

As I was working on bringing this suitcase back to life I imagined what it would have been like to have the skills to make it in the first place. I pictured a workshop in the 1930s filled with tools, cardboard, leather and fastenings. I could almost smell the leather and hear the sounds of a busy workshop filled with people making suitcases. I would love to be able to make something like this from scratch.

The things we make are precious. We need to treat them with respect and take care of them because the resources on our planet are finite. The amount of waste we create breaks my heart. Instead of throwing things out, we should be repairing them and breathing new life into them. And if we can't repair them, salvage what ew can from them. Cut off the old buttons from a shirt and use the fabric for rags. You know, all that thrifty stuff our nanas used to do because they couldn't just order a new one online.

This project was my first ever restoration job and it really tested my ingenuity and skills. I had to keep reminding myself that I only paid $5 for the suitcase and that if I messed it up it wouldn't be big deal. Except of course I knew it would be because of the time and love I had already invested in it. In bringing it back to life, I became attached to it and couldn't imagine throwing it out or failing. It was the thought of having to throw it out that kept me going.

Imagine a world where we all repaired the things that were broken (including ourselves) instead of throwing them away.

July 28, 2021
Craft Is Good

You'll be pleased to know that I do actually love the leather pouch I made when I was in Tassie. It's filled with so many happy memories of the people and place where I made it. It helped me to write and post about all the things that went wrong. Somehow acknowledging all my mistakes and dissatisfactions released them into the atmosphere so I could then focus on all the good things and there are so many!

My friend taught me so many cool new things. I got to do some leather carving and stamping using some funky tools. I'm positive I have some stamping tools in a box somewhere at home (bonus!). I discovered a new tool – a style – which you can use to get your design from paper and on to leather. I used the style to carve the design on the lid of the pouch and the stamping tools to create the flower underneath.

The pouch and straps are made from cow hide. The toggle, hook and gusset are made from kangaroo skin. The toggle is made out of one piece of leather cut and rolled in an ingenious way. I LOVE elegant design. And making it yourself and this toggle does with of those things. I never would have known about it if I hadn't been doing craft with my friend. Working with other people is so good – you get a fresh perspective and new design ideas.

I cut my first ever straps, sewed on a buckle and made a keeper for the buckle. For some reason I had convinced myself it was all too hard to do and I've been avoiding both for years. But really, like most things, it was super easy once I knew how.

I am super grateful for all of N's time, skills and knowledge. Most of all for his generosity in sharing his materials, tools and time. He was the best teacher – patient, funny and kind. And I have the most beautiful pouch to remind me every day that life is good and people are kind.

December 21, 2020
Craft Lessons

I had the best time in Tassie. The highlight of course was all the craft I got to do with my friend's 14 year old son. He's into all the crafts I love – leathercraft and woodwork – with the added bonus of being into blacksmithing, something I'd love to learn but haven't yet had the chance to explore. He has lessons with a local, self-taught blacksmith and has made his own forge. Unfortunately on this trip we didn't have time to fire up the forge but I definitely plan on going back next year for a blacksmithing lesson.

I am incredibly envious of his outdoor campfire with homemade bench and tripod where he often cooks his lunch. Then there's the shed complete with workbench, vice and wood stove in one corner. And of course the forge under the eaves of the shed. Watching over everything is the surrounding bush and the scree on the mountain.

He's making the most amazing leather bags and pouches as well as carving spoons of all kinds from wood on their property, forging pendants and tongs and making Viking chess sets. I could happily spend a long time looking at all the incredible things he's made.

Of course I wanted to make one of everything when I saw all his incredible handmade items but I settled on a leather pouch, a mini book and a needle holder made out of huon pine. It was a tad ambitious trying to cram it all into two and a half days and I made many mistakes along the way!

I managed to sew the straps on to the pouch backwards and the front went all wonky. I discovered both mistakes late at night when I thought I had finally finished the pouch. The next morning I got up super early to make the mini book while everyone was asleep. All was going well until it came time to cut the slits on the cover for the strap and I did them the wrong way. It was the ingenious strap design that I fell in love with in the first place (I love elegant and functional design) and I really wanted to make it work but I couldn't see how. I was super bummed at this point. Both the things I had attempted came up duds.

It was when I was having a shower that I realised what I needed to do. (I find showers are so good for inspiration and clarity. I get my best ideas and poems when I'm in the shower.) I figured out I could turn the front of the mini book into the back and sew a little piece of leather over the cuts to hide them. It was a really good reminder to turn my mistakes into opportunities to be creative.

And it was at this point I let go of getting everything made before I left. I realised I'd have to finish / fix my projects when I got home. Especially if I wanted to have time to make a needle holder.

I guess you won't be surprised to learn that didn't turn out quite right either. Somehow the hole I drilled went wonky so we couldn't make it super long. I can get four of the leather craft needles I bought at Simon Martin Whips & Leathercraft into the case so it's not a complete bust at least. And I discovered that I love using a draw knife and it's now on my list of tools to get. I can see many more needle holders in my future!

It was awesome doing so much craft in such a short space of time with such a great craft companion. And I am so grateful for all the lessons a super charged crafting retreat provided. I was reminded of the beauty of letting go, of seizing the opportunity to be creative and of loving the imperfections of my handmade items.

December 20, 2020
And Here It Is…In Brown

I couldn't help myself. I just had to make a version of the blue leather journal in brown. The blue leather clashed terribly with my brown scarf and mittens.

Excitingly, I found the banksia button you can see on the front of the journal in my sewing cupboard when I was looking for something else. I love finding little gifts from past me. She rocks!

The journal is the perfect size to fit one of my eco-dyed notebooks and a sketch folio.

June 30, 2020
Books Within Books

I've recently become obsessed with making leather journals. Since we've been self-isolating I've had a lot more time on my hands to make and also to write. And if you're going to be writing stuff down you definitely need more notebooks to write things in.

Of course once you've made a notebook you then need, ahem, a leather journal to carry it around in. One with compartments for the notebooks plus a little slot for your pens so you can be all neat and organised.

I made this cute little leather journal from vegetable-tanned kangaroo skin I got from Greenhalgh's Tannery about a million years ago (right now I'm feeling super grateful to past me for her most excellent taste in craft materials and good sense in buying up big when she had the time and money). It's to store the sketchfolio I made to store the zen tangles I'm going to draw. I know, nuts. But then I've always loved having lots of little bags which go in a bigger bag and then get put into an even bigger bag. This is just the book version of my bag obsession (hmmm, I'm spotting a theme here. I seem to be quite obsessive lately…)

I love it so much I think I'm going to have to make a brown leather journal to go with the eco-dyed notebook I made a while back. And perhaps some notebooks with blue/grey eco-dyed paper to go in this blue leather journal. After all, a gal's gotta be colour co-ordinated, right?

Like I said, obsessed.

May 26, 2020
Leather Journal

When I make things, they need to have a purpose. I might want a leather pouch to store an almanack for example. Or else I get consumed with the desire to possess something beautiful and feel compelled to make it myself.

The latter was the case with this beautiful hand bound journal. My friend Kate came over to visit recently and she was sewing a journal to use at Uni. I fell in love immediately. The veg tanned cow hide was beautiful as was the stitch on the spine binding the pages to the cover. I was filled with must make!

Luckily for me Kate was happy to barter some leather for an avocado button I had made. You can turn avocado pips into pendants, buttons and earrings with a small knife and a bit of imagination.

When I first started making the journal I got very excited. I was having so much fun and it was so easy. I'd already ear marked money from next pay to buy some leather and was trying to figure out which paper would be the best to use for the pages. Not too heavy and not too light. Something with texture and durability. I imagines making lots of journals and selling them.

And then it took longer than I anticipated. And it got trickier that I first thought. And after that I decided maybe one was enough after all 🙂

April 7, 2020
Sew Slow

I've been spending a lot of time lately creating in the digital space using my thoughts and ideas. If I'm honest I have to admit I'm a bit burnt out. There's only so much staring at a screen (no matter how creative I'm being) I can tolerate before my brain starts to turn to mush.

In the last couple of weeks I've been making a tentative return to hand crafts. It's a strange process. Because it's been so long since I've made anything I feel a bit like a rusty old motor that's finding it hard to kick over. Sure I can produce a spark but getting the engine to rev and catch hold has been more challenging. At first I was feeling frustrated with myself for not being able to dive straight back in. Now that I've realised what's happening I can be easier with myself and take it slowly.

The wonderful things with craft is you can take it with you wherever you go. I did just that with this leather pouch I'm hand sewing. I have a thing for bags and pouches. Especially custom made ones with hidden inner pockets. I'm making this pouch to store copies of the Pocktery Almanack. Next up is a pouch to store my leather tools so I can take them anywhere I need to go. An awl, overstitch wheel, divider, ruler, needle, thread and scissors are all in my basic kit.

What are you making?

March 27, 2020
It’s a Shoe-in

Some people have a love-in. We had a shoe-in.

I spent last weekend teaching a beautiful group of women how to make their own pair of barefoot moccasins from vegetable tanned deerskin. There is something empowering and affirming in creating your own shoes. Or making your own anything really.

You tread more lightly on the planet when you make what you need and when you wear barefoot shoes. The vey act of walking in them changes your gait and your posture. It forces you to walk lightly, feeling the earth under your feet yet cushioned by a layer of leather. Walking becomes an intimate act of joy and connection. And at the same time your feet are warm and protected a little from sharp rocks and sticks.

The weekend went beautifully, co-created with Rita who hosted us happy shoe makers. We shared our stories as we sat and sewed together each day. Ate lunch together in the beautiful garden and frolicked in the grass in handmade shoes.

I hadn't taught some making for almost four years and it felt huge to be running a workshop again. Because it had been so long I was feeling a little nervous going into the weekend. I wasn't sure if I would be able to remember everything and if everyone would be able to make their shoes. Luckily I'm a huge note taker so I had step by step instructions already.

I hate saying should (it implies the stuff you think you ought to be doing but don't really want to be doing and as soon as I start thinking should, I try to stop and not do the should) however, I really should have trusted myself and the process more. The making of shoes is in my hands – they remember what to do because they have done it so many times before. And my brain remembers as well, once I am back in the thick of things.

My lesson from the weekend was to trust the process more and at the same time have faith in my abilities.

May 22, 2019
A Few Of My Favourite Things

I thought I'd pop on the other side of the camera for a change and say "Hi! How are you doing?" I really hope you are well as we dive into the darkest, coldest part of the year.

It's time for me to slow down and reflect on my journey so far. I find it so easy to look forward to the next project, the next creation, the next challenge. I rarely look behind and take the time to say, "Wow! Look at all the amazing things I have done, the places I have been and the people I have met." In this post I'm going to share some of my favourite things with you; most of them I have made myself.

In the first photo I'm wearing a cardigan made for me by my wonderful friend, Catriona the crochet queen. Trina does incredible things with wool and a crochet hook. I'm in awe of her talents. And very warm when wearing one of her handmade pieces! I'm also wearing a pendant I carved from bone during a bone carving workshop held here in Melbourne a couple of years ago. The bone is from a cow and was prepared by the teacher prior to the class. Using bone as a material fits with my ethos of using the whole of an animal we have killed to eat and wasting none of its precious gift.

The green bag you can see in the second photo is from The Village Continuum festival where I have taught shoe making and Introduction to Leather Craft to lots of lovely folk. I got the bag the year I was part of the crew organising the festival and it was a wonderful experience to be co-creating such an amazing event. The bag holds some of my favourite pieces.

Peeping out of the bag on the right are a pair of orange leather shoes. I was inspired to make them after teaching shoe making and seeing the amazing designs created by my students, They're a little scuffed and worn but I love them just them the same. They are my favourite pair of soft soled moccasins. When I wear them my feet feel so loved and held.

Next to the shoes is a wool scarf I dyed at the very first Wild By Nature Village Camp run by Firekeepers. It was my first time teaching eco-dyeing to a large group of people and the first time I dyed wool on an open fire. Lots of firsts! There's been a lot of scarves since then (you can never have too many scarves, right?) but this one is still my favourite!

The basket at the back of the bag is made from raffia given to me by Meli, a very dear friend. Learning a new craft is always a wonderful experience and basket weaving is the most recent addition to my craft skill set.

All these handmade items are wrapped up with memories, song, laughter and love. It's wonderful to have things to wear and use that I have made with other people. Using them connects me to my past, the people I shared it with and the place where we made beautiful and useful objects together.

The third photo is a tiny Australian wildflower. I love the way our native flowers are unobtrusive. To see them you really have to look closely or you will miss them. Like a lot of beauty in life – sit still and look and you will see.

I hope you're well and I really appreciate you taking the time to read my musings on the creative process. Thanks for joining me on my adventures!

June 18, 2018