Skip to content
Find a Workshop
Find a Workshop

Hand Stitching & Tooling: Intro to Basic Leather Working

Paul Andrew Wandless・Leather Working・Fall Legacy November 12-15, 2026

Workshop Description

This leather craft workshop introduces the foundational skills needed to start exploring the world of leather working, making it great for beginners and those new to the craft. Students will learn basic hand stitching and tooling, and how to design patterns to make templates, focusing on small bags and cases for hand stitching. Tooling and stamping will be taught to emboss and decorate the surface of the leather, allowing students to create their own custom relief. Each process will be mastered by creating a leather good that incorporates the newly introduced techniques.

Artist Bio

Paul Andrew Wandless is an artist, author, and educator whose work in clay, prints, and sculptures has been widely exhibited since 1995, including a solo exhibition at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and as a featured artist at the Racine Museum of Art. His pieces are held in prestigious collections, including the Racine Museum of Art and the Tweed Museum of Art. Wandless has authored four books, including the essential Image Transfer on Clay, co-authored Alternative Kilns & Firing Techniques, and is a contributing author to ten additional books. With over 31 published articles and a featured instructional DVD, he has shared his art and techniques in over 100 workshops across the U.S. He earned his BFA from the University of Delaware, an MA from Minnesota State University-Mankato, and an MFA from Arizona State University.