Classes & Workshops

       SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW INDIVIDUAL CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Check out and book Beginner classes and workshops on specific projects in the

WORKSHOP & CLASS BOOKINGS tab on the left hand side! 

ALL SATURDAY CLASSES COMMENCE AT 8.30 SHARP!!

Please note that any scheduled dates for future classes should be definite, but are subject to change, if need be.

INFO ON CLASSES

Leathercraft classes are held every Saturday morning from 8.30am SHARP -12.45pm, with "Beginners Classes" every month, along with specialty classes slotted in throughout the calendar year.

Included regularly are Belt/Dog Collar workshops and Carving & Tooling workshops. 

Beginners Class - Introduction to Leatherwork teaches you the basic fundamentals of traditional leatherwork including tool uses and a tour of the store, introducing different leathers and what's available to you.  These 4 hour classes are $80.00 each.  Beginners to advanced are all welcome. Bookings for all classes are essential and can be booked individually, by the lesson. Its not mandatory to do the Beginners first, but it comes highly recommended!!!

Optimum Open Classes are the next best thing to private tuition (without private fees) and let you work on your specific project and you are guided step by step.  Held on Tuesdays and Fridays:  Max 4 students from one to four hours @ $40/hr, commencing at 10am.  One student only - reverts to private tuition rates of $60/hr.  Contact Silvia direct to book into these classes silvia@birdsall-leather.com.au

Private Tuition is one-on-one training where you have the tutor all to yourself for maximum tuition. The rate is $60 per hour for one on one with Silvia Guerrera. Contact Silvia direct to book silvia@birdsall-leather.com.au

Please Note:  Optimum Open Classes and Private Tuition, can revert back to $15 room hire rates if you work independently, after been given a task to do, and the tutor returns to her desk to complete her own work, so your class time can be made up of full fees and room hire fees.  This can mean longer time in the classroom if youre on a budget!

Room Hire rates are $15/hr but come with no tutor.  You must have a basic understanding of leatherwork and the classroom.

BEGINNERS - INTRODUCTION TO LEATHERWORK

 
This class opens your eyes to what's available to you, and comes highly recommended. You only need one lesson to set you on your way.

      

OPTIMUM OPEN CLASS - TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS**
Maximum 4 students.  These subsequent classes can be any project you like (within reason) and you will be guided on the day.  This can include carving, bevelling and setting hardware like rivets, studs (baby dots), buckles and keepers, and new projects of your choice will be easy, like belts, journal covers, handbags, almost anything...

OPEN CLASS IMPORTANT INFO!

Book Beginners HERE.    

Book Open Classes at silvia@birdsall-leather.com.au      

ALL WORKSHOPS REQUIRE:

• Bookings are Essential

• Payment in full is required in advance to secure your spot. Credit card, Direct Deposit or cash are acceptable.

• A non-refundable 20% booking fee is applicable for cancellations less than 7 days prior to workshop.

• Closed in shoes are MANDATORY

PARKING: 

Parking on the grounds is strictly 2 hours.  Students for classes are required to park on the street.  Ample street parking is available on Saturday mornings. 

****************************************

BELT MAKING OR DOG COLLARS!

The principals of making belts or dog collars are the same, only one is shorter!  Learn the basics of how to get your measurements right, work through the steps in order and then decorate to your liking.

You'll be working on a pre coloured belt length and can add bling to decorate if you wish.  Your choice. 

             

• Belt length coloured in 1½" width (38mm) or similar sizing
• Standard nickle plated full buckle, or half buckle and keeper.
• Conditioners, edge finishes,
• All tools
• Please note:  At extra cost, brass, trophy and special buckles are all available in store, plus any extra conchos or embellishments or bling!

• IMPORTANT:  Please have the waist or hip measurement of the person you are making the belt for!  This is mandatory for the right fit!
• Your imagination!

OR YOU CAN MAKE A CUSTOM DOG COLLAR  

Have you ever wanted to personalise a collar for your dog, making it just the way you want?

In this workshop, you will walk away with your own handmade collar complete with extra hardware like conchos and studs if you wish. Your choice. 

  
Loads of options to choose from including brass hardware for dogs who enjoy the water.  Cost includes a 4-hour workshop, leather, standard buckles & hardware, and use of all tools & dyes.

Important!!  Please have your dog's neck measurement or an old collar to measure from.

(Please note that a basic dog collar will be completed in 4 hours, however, if extra embellishments & stitching are chosen, the project may not be completed in one day.)

When:  

Saturday 12th December 2026

Saturday 30th January 2027

Saturday 20th March 2027

Saturday 10th April 2027

  BOOK HERE

• Time:   8.30am SHARP to 12.45pm
• Cost:    $95.00 for a 4 hour workshop
• DID YOU KNOW?  You dont have to wait for this class.  You can make a belt or dog collar in any Open class.
• Supplied:
• Veg tanned strap in pre coloured leather
• Hardware: nickle plated buckle & dee ring
• Tools, Dyes & Conditioner
• Extras:
• Brass & chromed brass hardware available plus loads of conchos and embellishments to choose from.
• Required:
• Your imagination!
• Perhaps an old collar you'd like to replicate.

 ************************************************************************

 CARVING & TOOLING LEATHER

Learn the basic skills of traditional tooling by carving with a swivel knife and using bevelling, background and decorative tools.  
Firstly, you will practice your carving and tooling skills on scrap leather, using a simple craftaid template, with long flowing lines, to get your skills up.
          
                           

Then we will work on a masterpiece from the multitudes of (more simple) Craft Aid templates that you can choose from, on natural veg tanned leather.
pictured above is a beautiful version, tooled by Peter Main, of the craftaid used in this class to help you learn about the tools used for traditional leatherwork.

When:  Saturday 3rd April 2027    BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30am SHARP - 2.00pm
Where: Birdsall's workshop   
Cost:    $100.00 for a 4 hour workshop

**************************************

PLAITING INTRODUCTION WITH JEFF DELANEY

Learn the intricacies of plaiting in this introductory workshop where you make a number of items to get your skills up!

Long time plaiter, Jeff Delaney has been doing leatherwork since his teens.  Learn skills from the master to be able to handle both 4.7mm and 3mm lace respectively.

You will make key rings using flat, square, round, spiral and twisted plaiting methods and a wristband.  You will be guided through each step.   

 Projects can include gumnuts and turks heads and all are using Kangaroo lace in a few chosen colours.

When: 

Saturday 5th December BOOK HERE

Saturday 13th February  BOOK SOON

Time:    8.30am — 4.30pm

Where: Birdsall’s workshop

Cost:    $150.00 for a 7.5 hour workshop and your take home masterpieces

Supplied:

20 mtrs of 4.7mm lace: colours to be shared amongst students

20 mtrs of 3mm lace: colours to be shared amongst students

Braiding lubricant

Key rings 25mm and 15mm

Perma lock needles 1 x Small & 1 x large jumbo

Leather Cement

Stanley knife 

Scratch awl

Lacing fid

Small stub noise pliers

Clips/hooks

Vice  

G clamps 75mm 

Anvil

A small amount of items are available in the Craftroom to be shared amongst all students.

Bring your lunch

*************************************

SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS

Want something different for the kids to do this school holidays?

Lets get the kids off screens and get creative doing leatherwork.

Children 8-12 to be supervised with an adult, and 12 and up can fly solo.

All Tuesdays & Fridays in the School Holidays

First of all, practice on some scrap leather, learning what stamps can do, then work on some masterpiece, fun cut outs.

Once you’ve decorated your pieces, you will learn how to colour with block dyeing, antiquing or using wonderful metallic paints.  All fun stuff over two hours.

* If parents or carers decide to do the workshop as well, then the $35 fee applies, otherwise it is just supervision.

When:  Tuesdays 6th October & 12th January 2027

BOOK HERE

Time:    10.00 am—12.30pm

Cost:    $45.00 for a 2.5 hour workshop per child

Supplied:

• Scrap leather for practice
• Various cut outs to decorate and colour
• Dyes, sealers, conditioners, edge finishes,

Required:

• Your imagination and your attention

**********************************************************

VERONA SHOULDER or CROSS BODY BAG

Known as the Old Jeans Bag from yesteryear,  Now modernised and sprused up to make this attractive and extremely practical handbag that you will decorate with your choice of beautiful mandalas or stamping. Fringing is optional.

It’s the perfect everyday size where you will tool and colour the veg tanned cowhide leather panel and choose your coloured chrome tanned goat skin leather for the base of the bag.  A rewarding workshop!

You will also learn how to block dye or antique, your veg panels and strap and the entire project will be hand sewn using saddle stitch with waxed thread, so you will have homework in between sessions. We will then attach hardware at the finale.  

You will have time to practice stamping before deciding what you like.

 A fun project that needs to have your full attention and a bit of homework to get done in the two days

When:  Saturdays, 7 & 14 November 2026     BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30— 5.00pm—Day 1

            8.30—4.00pm Day 2—or earlier if you’ve finished!

Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop

Cost:    $295.00 for a 2 day workshop ($147/day)

Bring your lunch!

Supplied:

• Natural veg tanned cowhide top panels
• 1” strap (nat veg)
• Chrome tan goat nappa for base pieces (colour choice)
• Rivets, tools, dyes etc
• 20 yds waxed thread

Required:

• Time for homework
• Your imagination!

A small amount of tools are available in the Craftroom to be shared amongst all students.

Doing the Beginners course first would be an advantage,

********************

CHEYENNE NO-STITCH CLUTCH

Make this gorgeous little clutch in no time and impress your friends!

The Cheyenne clutch design from Tandy has a clever assembly which requires no stitching to hold it together and also boasts a convenient wrist strap.

You will be provided a 45 x 30cm rectangular cut out of 2.2 polished veg tanned cowhide leather in your choice of either tan, brown or black and the simple pattern will be cut out of the shape by you.  There will be enough leather to cut your wrist strap also.  The clutch will be secured with supersized harness post.

15mm holes need tobe punched for this outfit to interlock correctly and holes and edges will need to be burnished for a nice finished look.

A simple bag in fine polished leather, and finished with a nice coat of conditioner before assembly will complete the look.

When:   TO BE ADVISED

Time:    8.30am SHARP—12.45pm

Cost:    $105.00 for 3 hours and your clutch bag

Supplied:

• 45 x 30cm rectangle of 2.2mm polished veg
• All hardware — D ring, harness post, snap & rivets
• Toko Pro and conditioner

Tools will be available to be shared in the classroom.

*********************************************

WRAP AROUND JOURNAL COVER

Make this classic wrap around journal cover to suit a hard cover A5 journal supplied.  A great gift idea too!

This easy pattern will have you making more in this wrap around style.  Using chrome tanned leather which is soft and supple, will need a hard cover book to give it stability.

Learn how to measure correctly to house a journal comfortably and assemble using Irish linen waxed thread.

Then you have the option to have a fancy button on the front to wrap your lace around, or not!  A simple circle with a washer behind will suffice.

You will be shown a range of chrome tanned leathers to choose from to make your initial cover with more to purchase if youd like to make more.

A fun, short class to make a classic project.

When:  Saturday, 17th October 2026    BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30am SHARP—12.00pm

Cost:    $95.00 for 3.5 hours and one or two journal covers

Supplied:

• A5 Journal
• 225 x 50cm precut chrome tanned leather of your choice
• Length of 3mm lace
• Decorative buttons
• Waxed thread

Tools will be available to be shared in the classroom.

**************************************

*********************************************************

THE ELEANA DRAWSTRING BAG

What a satisfying workshop this is, over two sessions, with a little homework in between! 

Come and learn the skills to make this beautiful little drawstring bag come to life.  We will be using Goat Nappa for the gusset pouch, in the colour of your choice and you keep the offcuts.

1.5mm natural veg tanned cowhide will be used for the firm pre-cut handle components and strap, using this great pattern from Eleana Workshop.

You will cut the large oval piece by hand and punch holes and you will be provided with the the small tooling pattern which we will all carve and bevel. 

Don’t worry if youre a beginner, we can practice on some off cut first.  You could even opt for an easier stamped pattern if youre not sure about your carving skills.

Then you have the option of either antiquing or dyeing your natural veg pieces, and then burnishing edges.  Some burnishing and stitching can be completed at home to speed up the process to be able to finish within the two weeks time frame.

Bring any beads with a large inside hole along or we’ll use a leather closure.

There’s some pretty spiffy looking hardware we’ll use to finish of your masterpiece.  Loads of fun!

When:  Saturdays 16th & 23rd January 2027   BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30 SHARP — 2.30pm

Cost:    $290.00 for 12 hrs tuition and your take home drawstring bag

Supplied:

• Goat Nappa in your colour choice, and remnants
• Natural veg tanned components and strap 1.5-2mm
• 2 x Dee rings
• 2 x snaps
• Dyes, sealers, conditioners, edge finishes, rivets, thread, needles

Required:

• A large bead with large interior hole if you have one
• BRING YOUR LUNCH!

**********************************

SWIVEL KNIFE FINESSE - Puppy Time!

If you need some practice getting a handle on your swivel knife, then this is the class for you.

Getting confident with good flow and the right depth with your knife is the key to having a piece you’d be proud of.

Surprisingly, economy swivel knives are ample, with a good, sharp blade being the key.  We will strop our blade at intervals to show the difference between a sharp and dull blade.

We will trace this little fellow onto some 3.5mm natural veg tanned cowhide from brilliant photocopier friendly tracing paper and then after carving, we will accent him just using a pear shader and a modelling tool. 

After that we will antique and learn a great tip to add a bit of colour to his highlights.

There is no bevelling tool use in this workshop.  This will make a perfect wall hanging for you or a gift for someone special!

When:  Saturday 6th February 2027   BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30— 1.30pm

Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop

Cost:    $120.00 for a 5 hour workshop

Supplied:

• 3.5mm natural veg tanned cowhide piece 
• 
  All tools
• 
  Dyes, antiques, sealer & conditioner

 A small amount of tools are available in the Craftroom to be shared

 *****************************************

DRAW STRING DICE POUCH

Attention all D&D Players, Reinactors and Gamers alike!

Make a dice pouch, money or jewelry pouch, or whatever you like pouch!

Now’s the time to make your own unique but appropriate gamers dice pouch for your campaigns and gaming sessions.

Of course you can learn the skills and obtain the pattern to make this pouch to house anything you want!

You’ll have a choice of some lovely chrome tanned leathers for the body of the bag with natural veg on the supporting panel to give your pouch stability. 

You will be tooling the veg section with stamps of your choice, (with nothing too complex to make sure we get the pouch done in a one day session).

Think of some cool design you might want to carve on the veg panel for the next one you make! 

You will learn how to stitch, set eyelets and create the drawstring effect to close the pouch tight.

When:  TO BE ADVISED

Time:    8.30am — 2.30pm

Cost:    $130.00 for a 6 hour workshop and your take home pouch

               Bring your lunch

 Supplied:

• Chrome tan leather for pouch body
• Veg tan strip for support piece
• Eyelets
• Lace
• Thread/needles
• Beads
• Glue/tape

A small amount of tools are available in the Craftroom to be shared amongst all students.

Doing the Beginners course first would be an advantage, but not mandatory!

********************************************

KNIFE & TOOL SHARPENING WITH TIM FILMER

Do you have any perfectly good knives lying around that just won’t cut? Tools that create frustration rather than doing their job? Join expert Knifemaker Tim in this tool and knife sharpening workshop.

Bring all your favourite knives to work on, including cutting, clicking, swivel, skiving, round or any other general-purpose knives. kitchen knives, workshop tools, whatever you need sharpened.

You will learn the basics, starting with the most important question: What is sharp? From there, you’ll learn correct sharpening angles, proper pressure and technique, go over the different methods of sharpening and take home the knowledge of how to create, maintain and repair a sharp edge.

Included in the workshop fee is a bench strop assembled by you and a tin of stropping wax, AND your own folding knife for you to test your new sharpening skills on!

Grinding stones, diamond plates, whetstones and other sharpening equipment will be available to try on the day.

Tim will explain the advantages and pitfalls of certain tools and stones. As well as guide you towards choosing the right equipment for your needs.

Beginners are encouraged and very welcome!

When:  Saturday 6th March 2027         BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30am  SHARP — 12.30pm

Cost:    $130 for 4 hrs tuition, your strop, wax and folding knife.     

Required:

Knives/tools of your choice to sharpen

Included:

1 x bench strop

1 x tin of stropping wax

1 x folding knife

Disclaimer:  Tim Filmer will not be held responsible should anyone injure themselves whilst using knives or sharpening equipment during this workshop

************************************************

**************************************************

TRIFOLD JOURNAL COVER

Make this trendy trifold journal cover to suit 3 x 5 booklets supplied.  A great gift idea too!

This easy cut out will have you making more in this style, using eyelets and elastic. 

Using polished veg tanned cowhide, you will perfect corners and edges and have the option and time to decorate, perhaps with a nice stamped border and/or monogram for a superb gift.

Measurements are crucial to have this beauty sit correctly to hold your journal booklets.

Elastic finishes this cover and there will be a few colours in this leather to choose from.

A fun, short class to make a classic project.

When:  Saturday, 27th February 2027    BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30am SHARP—12.30pm

Cost:    $120.00 for 4 hours and your journal cover

Supplied:

• Precut polished veg tanned cowhide piece
• 3 x A5 journal booklets
• Eyelets
• Length 1.5mm elastic

Tools will be available to be shared in the classroom.

**************************

THE WINONA TOTE BAG

This practical tote is back by popular demand and although time consuming to make with hand sewing, is very rewarding and a nice strong addition to your accessories!

You will be using our supple Casa chrome tanned leather in your pre-ordered choice of colour and be prepared to do some homework in between sessions to finish in time!

So youll prepare the leather before punching holes and stitching your little hearts out!

We shall burnish and prepare some veg tanned straps and assemble them onto the bag with some attractive decorative hardware and you will also learn how to make a gorgeous tassle to hang from the bag.  Of course, this is optional.                                    

You can also make a popular internal pocket and if all homework is done, you may have an early mark before 5pm on the 2nd day!

When:  TO BE ADVISED

Time:    8.30 SHARP — 5.00pm

Cost:    $295.00 for a two day workshop

(less than $150 per full day with materials!)

Supplied:

• Casa chrome tanned cut out in your colour choice
• Veg tanned straps
• Thread
• Double sided tape
• All hardware
• All tools

 Required:

• BRING YOUR LUNCH

Please do your homework to finish on time!