Apis Leather

Apis Leather A hobbyist leatherworker making handcrafted bespoke items to order.

All items are made from premium full-grain leather, are hand cut, hand stitched and hand finished - not a machine in sight!

12/07/2022

Evening all! Apologies for the infrequency of posts lately - leatherwork isn't really a summer hobby...

I'm often asked how I make some of the products on this page so I thought I'd have a go at making a video. I was asked to make a few leather belts a while ago and had a go at filming the process. When I watched the clips back I noticed that the clips were terribly filmed! I was going to just bin it and start again, but I thought I may as well stick them together and put them on here.

If I do this again I promise I'll put more effort into filming and editing :)

The belt in this video is yours Bekah Kent!

Sometimes it's fun to make things that are more ornamental than practical... 🦕
08/01/2022

Sometimes it's fun to make things that are more ornamental than practical... 🦕

Belts are now available! £20Belts made to measure. I'm using high grade vegetable tanned leather at around 3.5-4mm thick...
02/01/2022

Belts are now available! £20

Belts made to measure. I'm using high grade vegetable tanned leather at around 3.5-4mm thick. The buckles I use are solid brass or stainless steel, with matching rivets. If you have a specific buckle you like, then I can make the belt to fit that! All of these belts are 32mm wide (1.25 inch), but again, they can be whatever width you like (if I can find a buckle!)

The belts can be any colour (if I don't have the dye then I can order it for a small fee - ie. we'll split the cost of the dye).

If you would like a belt, measure the length of your current favourite belt from the inside of the buckle to the most used hole and I'll make it the same size.

This is a bit more of an unusual one... a sword sheath! I'd always wanted to make a sheath, so when the opportunity aros...
01/12/2021

This is a bit more of an unusual one... a sword sheath!

I'd always wanted to make a sheath, so when the opportunity arose I couldn't turn it down.

The sheath is for a decorative scimitar style sword, which isn't sharp, so I wanted to keep the weight of the leather down so it's not too bulky to carry.

I can make a sheath for a sharp blade, but I'd have to use a higher weight leather, with a wedge inserted around the perimeter so the blade doesn't slice the stiches!

The sheath is engraved with a Cedar tree at the request of the client!

So keeping with yesterday's wallet theme, here's another. This is a different design to usual. It's a full size wallet w...
30/11/2021

So keeping with yesterday's wallet theme, here's another.

This is a different design to usual. It's a full size wallet with a nappa lambskin lined note section, 8 card slots and 2 hidden internal pockets!

This is significantly more time (and material) consuming than the standard vertical wallet, but it's only £20 more at £50!

The problem with making lots of Christmas gifts at the moment is that I can't show any photos! I don't want to ruin the ...
29/11/2021

The problem with making lots of Christmas gifts at the moment is that I can't show any photos! I don't want to ruin the surprise for the recipient...

Well I have just finished making a few wallets for a customer, but fancied a new one myself. I went with a black and orange design. What do you think??

I've been asked: "what can you engrave?" Well the answer is pretty much anything. This is a makeup bag which I was asked...
28/11/2021

I've been asked: "what can you engrave?" Well the answer is pretty much anything.

This is a makeup bag which I was asked to make as a present, but the design was hand-drawn by the client on paper. I scanned it, edited it on the computer, then laser etched it into the leather. I was very pleased with the result!

Here's a sneaky behind-the-scenes look at how I make a wallet. The first picture shows me "skiving" or thinning the leat...
27/11/2021

Here's a sneaky behind-the-scenes look at how I make a wallet.

The first picture shows me "skiving" or thinning the leather, so it's not too thick at the edges, and the second shows the stitching process.

Apparently a clean workspace boosts productivity. That might be where I'm going wrong.

New Tools!Thanks to your support I reinvest the small profits into new tools and leather.One of the best parts of leathe...
26/11/2021

New Tools!

Thanks to your support I reinvest the small profits into new tools and leather.

One of the best parts of leatherwork is that as soon as I get some new tools, I can use them to make a case!

You can't just push a needle through leather, so these pricking irons punch the holes which I then stitch through.

Turns out they're quite sharp; I immediately cut myself with them...

I'm back! Sorry it's been a while. Work, numerous weddings, and life got in the way of posting for a few weeks, but now ...
25/11/2021

I'm back!

Sorry it's been a while. Work, numerous weddings, and life got in the way of posting for a few weeks, but now I'm back and bigger than ever.

I may not have been posting, but I've still been crafting behind the scenes, trying to keep on top of the orders in the background - now I'm up to date and ready for Christmas orders! If you would like to place an order to be ready for Christmas get in touch ASAP!

I've made quite a few new things during the posting hiatus, I'll post photos over the next few days of those items. If you would like some inspiration, just click on the Apis Leather page and scroll down to find something for that special person. Get in touch through Facebook messenger if you see something that you like!

If you've got this far through this wordy post then you can be the first to hear that, due to popular demand, I've recently started making belts! I've bought some thick leather and been quietly practising to make sure that I'm 100% happy with the product before I list them for sale. Stay tuned!

Leather Bookmarks - £10The bookmarks in the photos are the same design, but one has been left with a natural colour, and...
05/08/2021

Leather Bookmarks - £10

The bookmarks in the photos are the same design, but one has been left with a natural colour, and the other hand-dyed with light brown. Both have been personalised with initials and a Yorkshire Rose.

Feel free to drop me a message if you would like something similar. I can change the design, colour, thickness, and engrave with anything you'd like!

If you intend to order more than one I can offer a discount - they're far faster to make when I make a few at once!

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but I've been busy behind the scenes! Another order completed... Ladies handbag wi...
21/07/2021

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but I've been busy behind the scenes!

Another order completed... Ladies handbag with a matching glasses case 😎

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OX12

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