"Each wallet is made by hand."

   One of the best tools that grandpa Soria setup up here in our arsenal of leather working gear, is this wonderful Fortuna Belt Cutting machine. It really helps to make quicker and easier work of cutting the belt strips off of the large hides. Since we use such thick 9-11 Oz. vegetable tanned leather hides for our belts, they can be very difficult from being so stiff, to cut one at a time with a hand drawn leather belt cutter. So, with added leverage and motor power, we are able to slice 4-8 blanks at one time. Not to mention, the added level of precision means less wasted leather. Often times with a hand-drawn belt cutters it can be easy to veer off the coarse of cutting in a straight line which would change the width of the belt being cut, making it unsuitable with which to make a complete finished belt. Anyhow, Grandpa would be proud. He would always say,

"Work smarter, not harder."

photos by Willhouse Creative

Okay Maker Folks! Here's your time to jump in and help. If you have a sewing machine and you're not afraid of learning a new pattern, you local hospital is in need of your help. "With overrun hospitals facing an acute shortage of masks, people are pulling out their sewing machines to fill the void." According to the New York Times, they can use all the help they can get. So, below we have a few resources to get your started. 

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/

In celebration of Veterans Day weekend, we wanted to honor the vets in our family, and the ones in yours. Fred Soria was the original leather craftsman in our family, who over the years, taught us the leather trade. Fred served in WW2 in the Air force. After completeing his tour in Europe and returning home to the U.S.A. he worked for Dick May Saddlery in Santa Barbara Ca. (see images below of two saddles that Fred Soria hand tooled). They are now on display at the Carriage Museum in Santa Barbara CA. (Circa 1950-1955)

"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.