Classes & Workshops

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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 $70.00 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. 

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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 15th February  BOOK HERE

• Time:   8.30am SHARP to 12.45pm
• Cost:    $85.00 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.

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 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 18th January 2025             BOOK HERE

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:  Tuesday 15th April    BOOK HERE

Time:    10.00 am—12.30pm

Cost:    $40.00 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

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THE CRISSY BELT POUCH - MEDIEVAL OR NOT!

This great little pouch is a marvelous additional to your belt, medieval or not!

Tracing from a pattern provided, we shall use some authentic chrome tanned leather, namely Soggy Brown, that looks the part, and because of the fact that back in the day, there were no metal closures invented yet, we shall we making our own closure that was used in yesteryear.

The bag (or pouch) will be assembled with 4.7mm lace in a variety of sequences that are in your control.  See what you like the look of!

Being of medieval appearance, theres no need to burnish edges, which is a little harder with crome tanned leather anyway!

When:  Saturday, 22nd February 2025      BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30 SHARP — 2.00pm

Cost:    $120.00 for an 5 hour workshop and your take home pouch!

Supplied:

• Leather cut out in Soggy Brown chrome tanned
• 4.7 lace
• Small length of round lace
• All tools required

Required:

• Your imagination

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"ROCK EMBOSSED" PASSPORT WALLET

Everyone’s travelling these days it seems, so its time to get your documents in order and have a smart cover for your important possession!

Great Gift Idea!

You will learn the art of “rock embossing” using a simple small sharp garden rock which is rolled around on damp natural veg tanned cowhide leather.

Once antiqued, it gives the appearance similar to cork and is quite striking.

The interior is cut from strong kangaroo and you will burnish your interior pieces before assembly with stitching.

This terrific pattern from Weaver Leathercraft is a classic style to hold your passport and other important documents and cards.

When:  Saturday 22nd March 2025     BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30am — 2.00pm

Cost:    $105.00 for a 5.5 hour workshop and your take home passport cover

 Supplied:

• 1.5mm veg tanned cowhide outer
• Veg roo offcuts for interior peices
• Thread/needles
• Dyes
• Tape

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

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LET'S MAKE BABY SHOES!

What beautiful little shoes to make! Great for yours, or a great gift idea for someone’s little one, or a cute addition to sell.

We will be making two pairs out of this Tandy Pattern, one with firmer natural veg soles and the other in the same chrome tanned leather of your choice for a softer sole, for younger babies. 

They are both pre walking shoes and just adorable. They are not newborn size.  You can pick your colour schemes from the abundance of small chrome tanned pieces at your disposal, and accent them with the coloured lace.

There is only one size in this pattern which is very easy to make so being a beginner is not a problem! 

Everything will be provided to make these little beauties and they will be stitched together with mox thread. 

You will have the choice of fringing the cuff or leaving it natural.  A lot of fun!

When:  Saturday, 1st March     BOOK HERE

Time:    8.30 SHARP — 2.00pm

Cost:    $125.00 for an 5.5 hour workshop and 2 pairs of baby shoes

 Supplied:

• Choice of soft chrome tanned leather for uppers
• Natural veg tanned soles
• Metallic paints if you choose
• Lengths of deer lace
• 1.6mm Mox thread
• 1.5mm hole punch

Required:

• Your imagination

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A RANGE OF COMPACT CARD WALLETS

The very popular card wallets are an essential item in the modern age with slimline essentials

 Learn to assemble these great little compact wallets for your cards and notes.  You will receive cut out kits for 4 different types of wallets, namely the Joey, Skippy, Plane and Butterfly card wallets and you will assemble each one in turn.

Adhere with tape, punch holes on a margin line, and stitch in the colour thread of your choice.

This will be a fun class to show you different types of combinations using kangaroo hide, and some decorative leathers.

Any exposed edges will be burnished and youll be shown different ways to get a nice smooth edge.

Lots of skills learned in this workshop to take on to other projects.

When:  TO BE ADVISED

Time:    8.30 SHARP — 2.00pm

Cost:    $145.00 for a 5 hour workshop

Supplied:

• Leather cut outs for 4 card wallets
• Double sided tape
• Linen waxed thread and needles
• Harness posts, easy snaps
• All tools required

Required:

• Any decorative leathers if you have them
• Your imagination

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KNIFE SHEATH WITH BEN DUNCAN

Do you have knives needing custom sheaths?
Or do you want to make a better sheath than the stock standard boring ones that come with some knives?
Or if you're a knife maker, this is the workshop for you.        
       
Join knife maker and leatherworker, Ben Duncan to learn the principles and his precise methods to get the job done.  Starting with design, Ben will show tips and tricks and also pitfalls of sheath making.

In this workshop you will make either a two piece or a fold over sheath for your standard knife. 
You will learn how to make a welt so that that sharp blade will not harm the stitches in your sheath
Bring your favourite standard sized knife to work with, with the full length to not exceed 30cm.
 

You will be working with 3.5mm natural veg tanned cow hide and will be dyeing or antiquing on the day.

You have the choice to decorate your sheath with simple stamping (embossing) prior to colouring.

When: TO BE ADVISED

Time:    8.30am  SHARP — 5.00pm

Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop

Supplied:

• 3.5mm natural veg tanned cowhide
• Waxed thread & needles
• All tools & hardware
• Dyes, antiques, sealers & conditioners

Required

• Your knife
• Closed in shoes!
• Bring your own lunch

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