More of her videos can be seen at http://www.justalittlereview.com/
On December 13th, 2023 I hit the road with all of my belongings and said bye to my parents, family and friends in Santa Barbara. Just for now, see ya next season kind of thing because I’ll be back down to SB to visit the HOMER MAKER @homermaker store in Montecito sometime next month. So, I headed North on the 101 where I picked up Kiel Johnson @kieljohnson a long time friend and college buddy back from the Long beach state days now living in San Luis Obispo CA. he’s also down for a good road trip, especially if it involves what he calls, and I quote’ “a life chapter flip” which I’m guessing is a reference to the thousands of books he reads every year. That man wakes up at 3am and powers through the pages like a soldier’s duty. Anyhow, it took a few days to get set up, but I now live and work in Portland, OR. And I’m proud to announce that I feel quite comfortable here. As my mom pointed out, Oregon is in my blood. She was born in Eugene OR before her family moved to Santa Barbara a long time ago so we have lots of family in the area near Astoria. Portland is a great city and I can’t wait to see what develops here, so please reach out if you are in the area so we can connect!
More updates will be coming in the near future, like: where will my design studio be set up? Will there ever be a retail store in Portland for Make Smith?
All these questions will remain in development over time… but in the meantime, the website is live and I am shipping products now after the Holiday vacation. Please feel free to check the website if there is something you would like to purchase, and just DM me and we can work it out. The above image is the first piece I've made in my new Portland OR custom leather crafting studio.
Cheers!
Steven
]]>We thought we would share a little history and shed transparency around the high quality English Bridal leather we use in our prodcuts. We have been using Wickett & Craig English Bridle leather for all of our belts, key chains and bag strapping. Labor-intensive and incredibly appealing, English Bridle is a traditional leather with a variety of uses, from classic equestrian gear to high-end leather goods. Drum dyed and hot stuffed, English Bridle is smooth, flexible yet durable.
Founded in 1867, Wickett & Craig is a world premiere vegetable tannery. A labor-intensive method that requires skilled workers, veg-tanning is a natural, eco-friendly process that produces deep-colored leathers of superior quality. We’ve been perfecting the art of leather making for more than a 150 years. Watch the story of our company.
Wickett & Craig | Superior Leather Since 1867 from Wickett & Craig on Vimeo.
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We've always thought that getting the right fit on a new leather belt was a pretty easy thing, however, shopping at home and online can be challenging. So, here is a quick video demonstrating how easy it is to grab a measurement of an old belt. This measurement we will use in building your new leather belt.
photos by Willhouse Creative
]]>1. Here is an example what can be made:
2. There is a full how-to video on the Joanne's Website under projects:
3. Pattern: You'll notice there are a few different styles... some cover the nose a bit better, and some make use of pleats. To access the patterns, click here.
4. You need to buy supplies, call GRANT HOUSE SEWING
http://www.granthousesewingmachines.com/
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"Fred G. Soria died peacefully in his home in Fort Bragg, Calif., where he lived the last four years of his life. Fred was born and raised in Santa Barbara to Mexican immigrants. He graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1940 and moved to San Francisco to attend college before being drafted into the armed forces in 1941. Upon completion of U.S. Air Force cadet training, Fred was assigned to Pauling Convalescent Hospital in Pauling, New York as an occupational therapist, where he oversaw the activities of the wounded soldiers, taught Spanish lessons, arts and crafts, and worked as an interpreter. At the time of his discharge on Feb. 14, 1946, he was Chief Occupational Therapist. Fred then returned to Santa Barbara and briefly owned a saddle shop, creating beautiful, hand-carved saddles and other leather goods. Fred was a talented artist and developed a national reputation for his hand-tooled leather saddles and handbags." (exerpt taken from https://www.advocate-news.com/2010/12/29/fred-soria/)
I shot this photo of his personal hand-tooled leather photo journal during the service of his passing in 2012. I had to reconstruct some of the pixels here on the stitching because it was a little deteriorated. But you can see the excellent knife carving technique and a blend of military and traditional oak leaf with a California poppy in the corners, and a few acorns trickled in. This is a great piece. Thanks for your service uncle Fred.
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Class dates and time:
July 13th, 2019 (6 spots total)
July 20th, 2019 (6 spots total)
2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Class description:
We'll be starting out by learning how to make leather bracelets. Some bracelets will have buckles, some will have snaps and others will have button studs. We will learn various cutting, hand stitching and riveting techniques, but mostly we will have a good time in a fun creative environment. All materials will be provided.
More info and sign up page, here.
]]>We've got very exciting news! We are announcing a new class called "Tiny Book Making". In this private group class we will focus on constructing handmade small books that can be used for taking notes, sketching ideas, drawing pictures, or scrap booking travel plans in a diary style.
Our classes focus will be on leather crafting, but we have design each assignment to emphasize interaction between students to encourage team building. You can watch a video of ProCore, a software development company taking over our workshop with their 15 employees - Watch a little video here. Also, plenty of time will be made of exploring in our old world craft shop for socializing. Most groups bring in cheese and meat plats for snacks and wine or soft drinks.
Corporate team building activities can be scheduled any day of the week, and we can host up to 15 attendees/students at one time. Classes usually last approximately one to three hours. Starting from scratch we will teach each student or to construct a tiny leather book. We will finish each piece with a hand stamped personal touch. Most students choose to punch into their journal or sketch book their initials or last name.
Some examples of what students have made range from hanging tiny holiday ornamental books, poetry books, sketch books, recipe books, etc. Each student will make at least one of these examples, but most finish around three finished projects per class.
You choose the date and time. Reach out to us and we will organize a time for your team to come in and take over our workshop location in downtown Santa Barbara. Check out the actual class sign up page, here!
]]>PRICE: $125 Buy Tickets Here
THE LOW DOWN: Special guest band, Pancho & The Wizards, will be performing from 4-6 p.m., followed by a private sit-down dinner at 6:30 after doors close. The Coterie Club will be catering a Chinese Dim Sum style, 5+ course tasting, paired with a selection of natural wines, while spinning vinyl plays in the background. Join us for a night you won't forget!
WHEN: Saturday - February 2nd @ 5pm
WHAT: Live music by Pancho & The Wizards, food by The Coterie Club, wine and Chinese Dim Sum.
WHERE: Back Patio at Make Smith and Warbler Records
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We all know how quickly those Christmas gifts add up! But the holidays don't have to burn a hole in your pocket. No matter what your price range is, Make Smith has got something for you. We've broken down some of our favorite items by price to make your shopping experience as easy as possible. Take a peak!
Leather storage caddy (medium) - 50
Dog leash - 50
Leather coin purse - 45
Single pocket card sleeve - 42
"Spanish Whip" Cologne for men and women- 42
Leather key chain with clip - 40
Custom embossed luggage tag - 38
Custom key chain - 35
"Not yours" luggage tags - 30
Incense holder - 30
Leather storage caddy (small) - 25
Key chains ("baby mama", "baby daddy", "fuck it") - 24
Make Smith t-shirt - 22
Leather fortune cookie - 4
Leather gift certificate - 25
Intro:
You only get one shot at a first impression! Make yours the best it can be by adding our Single Pocked Card Sleeves to your life. Say so long to those annoying bent corners and hello to new crisp and clean edges. Handmade with the finest leather, it is a simple yet effective way to show off not only your professionalism, but your style. Buy one now >>> $42
Development:
Our inspiration behind the single pocket card sleeve came from mere supply and demand. We received many requests for the most minimal accessory that could still get the job done. With this in mind, our goal was to simply make the pocket sleeve tall enough to protect the corners of a business card but small enough that it could still fit in the front pocket.
Features:
Our card sleeve is a single pocket capable of holding the width of eight credit cards. Made with water resistant leather and high strength nylon thread, we guarantee your card sleeve will be sturdy and long lasting.
Examples. business cards, credit cards, wallet, etc.
]]>Intro:
The possibility of the airport loosing our luggage, or even worse, someone else accidentally taking it is a fear we all know to well. Worry no more! Keep your luggage and information safe with our stylish, handmade leather Deluxe Luggage Tags. With a hidden, business card-sized pouch, these are the tags every traveling professional needs. Personal embossing available. Buy one now >>> $72
Development:
Our idea of the perfect luggage tag is a mixture of style and security. It was our goal to make a tag that could hide your identify but have a chic look. We made the panel just big enough for custom embossing so you have the choice of what gets seen on the outside.
Features:
A small business card sized pouch is secured by leather privacy flap and a solid brass buckle.
Examples. suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks, briefcases, travel totes, etc.
]]>Intro:
We all know that frustrating moment when you can't remember that brilliant idea you had earlier in the day. Rid yourself of this dilemma with the Field Notes Case! Make your wallet your notebook and keep it in your back pocket. Problem solved!. Buy one now >>> $110
Development:
Productivity and inspiration doesn't end in the office. Designed with utility in mind, we wanted to make something small enough to be convenient but big enough to carry the essentials. Made for anyone from the artists needing a portable sketchbook, the architect using field notes on the job site, or for the professional who needs to have their credit cards, business cards, and agenda all in one place.
Features:
It's equipped with 4 card holders, a secret pouch in the back, and a pen holder. Included is a field notes booklet. Also it's perfectly sized to be used as a passport case.
Examples. To-Do list, calendar, notebook, wallet, sketchpad, passport case, planner, etc.
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Intro: There is nothing more infuriating than being a craftsman in a rush with no time to pack up your essentials. So say goodbye to messy craft tools and your most prized pens or paint brushes at the bottom of a bag, and say hello to the Utility Roll-Up Pouch. Build your ideal “on-the-go travel” kit and put an end to organizational caused headaches for good. Buy one now >>> $110
Development:
We don’t need to tell you that there is a long standing relationship between the nomadically inclined crafter and his tools. Designed with organization in mind, we crafted this all purpose pouch for those who choose to the use the world as their workspace. Whether mechanic or artist, this is a pouch with as many diverse uses as your interests. It’s your sidekick that can fit just about anywhere, so your studio is ready to go when you are.
Features:
Its equipped with 4 horizontal mount tools access loops and a extra wide pouch, Perfect for multiple pairs of scissors, a dozen or so pens, and lots of room for tools.
Examples. Artist tool roll, motorcycle tool kit, pen set, paintbrush set, miscellaneous car pouch, clutch, wallet, etc.
]]>Still looking for that perfect gift? We understand... Some people are terribly hard to shop for, but we love them all the same. Give them the gift of unlimited options, to pick and choose as they please, with a Make Smith gift certificate. We ditched the plastic and created the gift certificate to be a work of art on its own--sleek and smooth, . Meticulously crafted and cut from the highest quality USA cattle hides and hand-gilded with a gold leaf letterpress machine. Rest easy...you've found the perfect solution.
*When guests come in to spend these bills, they can exchange it for the value of the printed note for any in-stock item. We them recycle the leather bill back into circulation.
Check them out: https://makesmith.com/collections/all-products/products/make-smith-money-100
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Sep 16, 2018
We had the pleasure of hosting Sonia from "Just a little Review" and showing here around our shop. Take a look at the video interview we did with her, part one, and part two is the product review of some of our top sellers.
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Check out our short film shot by Datsu Films. A fun, in-depth look into our process, and the amount of time and dedication it took into making this bag a reality. Tough at times to balance originality and keeping our customers happy, was the main challenge, but we think we nailed it.
Introduction:
We finally “buckled” down and designed a messenger bag to rival all messenger bags. Combining our key components—Durability, Minimalism, and Style—we created a hybrid case that could accommodate any lifestyle. Easily transition from biking down the main drag to business meetings in the office, with the new Laptop Messenger Bag.
Development:
Designing the Laptop Messenger Bag took time, and not just a few months, a few years! After long hours and countless ideas, we finally landed on a style and design that we not only loved, but which we knew our customers had been asking for. A hybrid of something minimal in weight and size, but with a certain amount of refinement—to take it off the road and into the office. Using malleable leather that is soft to the touch and as durable as they come, this leather piece only stands to get better as the years go by. This is a look into the future of Make Smith as a brand in the modern era with an age old craft.
Laptop Messenger Bag :: $550 SHOP NOW >>>
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1st Year GIVEAWAY!
In October of 2017, we opened our first retail store at our new home in the Presidio Neighborhood, the heart of Santa Barbara. To celebrate, we’ll be honoring two of our classic products with this giveaway.
We will be giving away one of our Classic Leather Tote Bag and a Classic handmade Leather Belt!
To enter:
1. Like the instagrams of Facebook post!
2. Repost the photo of your desired choice and tell us why you like the product.
3. Then, If you want the tote, add #makesmithclassictote. If you want the belt, add #makesmithclassicbelt.
4.The two lucky winners, inside the USA only, will be chosen at random, announced and tagged on Monday, Oct. 8th at 7pm PST.
Winner Selection Method:
The participants enter by following our stated rules via Instagram or Facebook. Any deviation from the rules may disqualify you from entering.
We number all participants by the order they entered.
Then, we will use googles random number generator to choose the winner.
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The First Thursday in September swing by the Make Smith Workshop to listen and learn from local crafts people of varying disciplines who have pursued their passions. It’s the CraftTALK series, and sit alongside a wonderful group of Makers, and artisans. Please join us for a night of classic show-and-tell and hands on learning from our featured guest Jason Brad Cooper.
RSVP to our first CraftTALK on September 9th @ 7pm.
Brad Cooper began working leather at age 12 and started his apprenticeship in saddlery with Wendy Allen during his sophomore year in high school. After learning the cutting saddle trade Cooper began making saddles for other disciplines including roping, reining and barrel racing. Cooper is credited with having built over 600 saddles and has recently set up his shop in the Santa Ynez Valley (900 McMurray Rd. Unit 1 Buelton, CA 93427).
Info: If you haven’t yet heard, MAKE SMITH is launching a show-and-tell series, set to occur every First Thursday, which features local MAKERS, artisans, craft-driven folk and students alike. Our intention is to given these like minded individuals a platform to show off their hard word and accomplishments, while encouraging others to do the same. We hope to bring light to the truly inspiring nature of these creative individuals who were bold enough to take their passions to the next level, and encourage others to do the same.
15 min talk based on photos, 15min show-and-tell of goods, 15min Question & Answer with audience, followed by a 30min casual refreshment mixer.
Thursday, July 5th @7pm
Please Join us at our first ever CraftTALK featuring George Pipires (Bar Manager at Finch & Fork). He will be warming up our leather workshop with a series of handmade cocktails, from a welcoming reshment to an interactive cocktail demo you can make at home. Our audience will be asked to participate; pour, stir, shake and sip. More surprises to come on Thursday, July 5th. Lite oredouves will be served and prepared by Executive Chef Peter Cham.
]]>If you can't make it into the shop, but still want to order a custom belt, here is how we would like to get your fit right. We take time making your belt and size it down to the inch to ensure accurate measurement and perfect fit.
It is a common misconception that your pant size is the same as your belt size. In fact, our belt size is usually 2-4 inches larger than your pant size. It varies depending on clothing brand, how tight someone wears their belt, and how thick the fabric of your pants are. Here are some quick and easy ways to get your accurate belt measurement to get your perfect belt fit.
To make sure we craft your perfect belt, the most important thing to do is get the right waist measurement. There are two ways to do this. First, if you have a belt that fits right already, lie the belt down on a flat, clean surface. Straighten the belt out so it lies flat. Now with a tape measure and calculate the length from the middle point of the metal buckle to the belt notch that fits you best. That distance is your belt size in inches. Second, if you don't have a belt that fits right, take a string and wrap it around your waist pinching it at the point where the loose end wraps around your waist and meets back at the long end of the string. Use a tape measure to calculate this length in inches, that is your belt size.
For the Outdoorsmen :: Elk Horn Knife w/ Leather Tooled Sheath (In Store Exclusive)
For the Business Guy :: Classic Leather Belt
For the Handyman :: Roll-Up Utility Pouch
For the Hipster Dude :: Crossbody Soft Briefcase
For the Minimalist Man :: Bill-Fold Wallet
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For the past five years we’ve run a strong campaign with the nonprofit lending program kiva.org to expand our hands on workshop classes, which constantly need more project offerings and to reach a bigger audience. Well, in 2018, we are at it again! And this year, we have some big news! I am very proud to announce that our loan has been endorsed by Springboard for the Arts. They're a Nonprofit located in Saint Paul, MN. With their partnership and leadership, guidance and support we hope to create a stronger campaign for our Kiva loan. Springboard for the Arts' mission is to cultivate a vibrant community by connecting artists with the skills, information and services they need to make a living and a life.
If you're interesting in lending to our Kiva campaign, please visit the link: https://www.kiva.org/lend/1460258
]]>We are excited to announce our most streamlined bag to date, with a bit more flare and a lot more designed convenience. We are now sewing in outside pockets but keeping the same trusty size as our popular Large Tote bag, and leather straps to handle anything life throws at you.
We all know you fell in love with our Large Shopping Tote years ago, with its simple yet stylish design, perfectly sized to fit just about everything. The new Deluxe Tote, comes with the same fine leather and lifetime guarantee, but with a few upgrades that are exactly what you've been missing. Now with a zipper closure and two outer pockets, the Deluxe Tote becomes not just the everyday bag, but the everywhere bag! While it is still ready for the farmers market, beach days, and picnics, now it’s ready for overnight trips and the office, too!
Features:
- Two large front pockets
- Solid Brass Teeth Zipper enclosure
- Rustic Weather resistant leather
- Two internal pockets
- Brass D-Ring and snap hook for keys
- Backed by the Make Smith Lifetime Guarantee (see details)
Deluxe Tote :: $350
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Intro:
It's the traveler's guide to efficiency and style, the only item you'll need from that early morning arrival to late-night departure, the Passport Wallet will never leave your side.
Development:
Find yourself with too many things to carry while trying to catch a flight? You aren't alone. It had to fit all the essentials: passport, cash, credit cards, maybe a boarding pass or two? We crafted something slim and secure, that could fit everything you need safely in your front pocket while running out the door. Acts like a wallet, looks and feels like a passport holder. Ditch the fanny pack and put the Passport Wallet in your pocket.
Features:
With three convenient credit card holders, a cash sleeve, and attached snap enclosure--there is finally a passport case that keeps all your travel must-haves tucked away right in your pocket.
We promise this isn’t just cooler, it’s better.
US Passport Wallet :: $104
]]>THE WORK SHOPS HAVE ARRIVED
The suns out in Santa Barbara, and we are hosting a variety of classes in which students will make their own handcrafted leather goods fitting of the season. Working with special guest crafters, we have a whole new line up of workshop sure to inspire the inner crafts(wo)man in you.
Our curriculum emphasizes DOING to learn, MAKING to be creative, and EMBRACING mistakes to gain experience. We empower our students to craft with their hands, become self sufficient and build confidence.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Build an Axe Workshop :: $120 :: Patrick Melroy
Saturday, March 10th :: 1pm - 5pm
Leather Sandal Making Workshop :: $225 :: Stacey Fulwiler
Sunday, March 18th :: 11am - 5pm
Tooling Workshop :: $95 :: Brad Coperates
Saturday, April 7th :: 4pm - 6pm
Belt Workshop :: $105 :: Steven Soria
Saturday, April 21st :: 2pm - 5pm
Tote Bag Workshop :: $265 :: Steven Soria
Saturday, May 5th :: 2pm - 6pm
*Limited workshop availability. To learn more about each individual workshop please visit our website or call us at 805.699.6296 for more information.
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