Leathercraft classes are held every Saturday morning from 8.30am SHARP -12.45pm, with "Beginners Classes" and "Optimum Open Classes" every month, along with specialty classes slotted in throughout the calendar year.
Included regularly are Belt/Dog Collar workshops and Carving & Tooling Workshops. There are also regular Jandal making workshops (simple sandals or thongs) with Mario Dato.
BEGINNERS
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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. (Shoe workshops are less than 21 days prior to workshop.)
Closed in shoes are MANDATORY
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You can keep it plain in a cool colour or add bling to a pre-coloured belt length/dog collar to call your own. Your choice.
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.)
Saturday 19th June 2021 BOOK HERE
OR
Saturday 21st August 2021 BOOK SOON
Time: 8.30am SHARP to 12.45pm
Where: Birdsall's workshop
Cost: $75.00 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.
Harness needles and thread if you're stitching.
Suede if you're lining
Required:
Your imagination!
Perhaps an old collar you'd like to replicate.
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Swivel knife
Modelling tool
Mallet or Maul
Edge creaser
Marble slab
Strop
Some tools will be available in the workshop to be shared amongst students. Bring your own tools if you have them.***WORKSHOP SPECIAL KIT***
Purchase a complete set of required tools, (normal RRP @ $225.00) for the super discounted price of $187.00!
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Learn how to assemble your own wallet from scratch, with pre cut components out of the best skin to make wallets…...quality Kangaroo.
Roo has the rigidity, strength and firmness, whilst being very thin, which is perfect for wallet making.
You will be shown how to skive leather edges with the best handmade skiving knife on the market.
You will learn all skills required including creating your stitching margin, glueing, hole punching, stitching, burnishing, and trimming which will in turn make this compact wallet come to life.
You will also have instructions to follow which come with our kits. Learn tricks you may not have thought of, like how to stop your cards falling to the bottom of the wallet pockets, skiving the edges to get your wallet thin as possible and reduce bulk.
When: Saturday, 29th May 2021 BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30 SHARP— 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s Taren Point workshop
Cost: $150.00 for a 7 hour workshop
Supplied:
Some tools will be available in the workshop to be shared amongst students but there may not be enough to share so please bring your own tools if you have them.
If not, take advantage of the Workshop Special Tool Kit normally retailing at approx. $76.00 but discounted to $68.50
You get:
Dates have been secured for April….. (Course will be postponed if Covid restrictions tighten)
All skill levels can join one of Queensland’s finest plaiters, Bill Webb and learn how to plait a kangaroo whip over three days.
You will learn from scratch how to cut from the hide, skive the edges and plait around a core to create a beautiful, practical whip using quality hand stuffed Kangaroo leather.
Bill will take you through all of those processes with detailed explanations to produce some fine neat plaiting and what pitfalls to look for. When you prepare your lace, you will learn about proper lubricants whilst plaiting to keep your project smooth and flowing.
When: Fri - Sun 25th - 27th June 2021 BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30am SHARP — 4.30pm
Where: Birdsall’s Taren Point workshop
Cost: $540.00 for a 3 day workshop & your take home Roo whip
Supplied
Required
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MAKE A CUSTOM 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 a 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.
Time: 8.30am SHARP — 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s workshop
Cost: $150.00 for a 7 hour workshop and your custom sheath
Supplied:
Required:
Wouldn’t you love to make this quirky triangular accessory to go with your best outfits?! Otherwise a great gift!
A rewarding workshop where hand stitching is foremost and you will be using our beautiful soft goat retan skins and line your bag with suede. (pig split)
A plain colour goat skin will be provided for the workshop, with many choices of leathers in store to make future bags with.
(If you prefer a different leather, you can choose and purchase leather on the day, and you will still receive the workshop leather in your workshop fee)
You will learn the best way to glue pig split suede to your leathers to line the bag
The entire project will be hand sewn using saddle stitch and baseball stitch with waxed thread to assemble the bag and zipper. We will then attach hardware at the finale.
Please be aware that you may not finish sewing in class but you will have the skills and instruction to complete at home.
When: Saturday, June 12th 2021 BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30 SHARP— 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s Taren Point workshop
Cost: $150.00 for a 7 hour workshop
Supplied:
* Most tools will be provided to share in the classroom but bring your own if you have them.
ONE-DAY JANDAL MAKING (LEATHER THONGS OR SIMPLE SUMMER SANDALS) WITH MARIO DATO
New dates available..... Back by popular demand!
Would you like to learn how to make, AND walk away with a brand new pair of custom made leather thongs (Jandals)?
Master Italian shoemaker, Mario Dato, who has over 50 years experience will show you how to cut, shape, dye and assemble some simple, comfortable footwear, namely leather thongs. Different simple designs are permitted, subject to Mario's approval.
You need to email Silvia with your current thongs size, and make sure you have closed in footwear on the day, hair tied back and no loose clothing, as you will be using machinery in the workshop.
Cost is inclusive of:
Full days tuition
Use of all tools
Leather and components
Extra tools can be purchased at Birdsalls, or bring your own tools if you have them.
When: Saturday 17th April BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30am SHARP till 2.30pm
Where: Birdsalls workshop
Cost: $140.00 for a 6 hour workshop and a pair of shoes!
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. (Shoe workshops are less than 21 days prior to workshop.)
Closed in shoes are MANDATORY
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New accommodation has been sourced at the nearby Caringbah Hotel which is literally only 5 minutes away by car, and boasts some very nice, affordable double ($118) or twin queen ($136) rooms at reasonable rates. With your accommodation, you get a complimentary breakfast box, complimentary drink on arrival and 10% off your dining. Some marvellous incentives to take a leather holiday!!
Please email your initial enquiry to Silvia
THE STUDIO DOUBLE ROOM
Accommodates up to two guests with one double bed.
Each room features air conditioning, TV, free Wi-Fi access, en-suite bathroom with walk-in shower, a bar fridge, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Rooms are serviced daily. Complimentary breakfast box and drink included, and a 10% discount at the restaurant.
Monday to Thursday $ 108.00
Friday to Saturday $118.00
Sunday $108.00
THE STUDIO TWIN QUEEN ROOM
Features two queen beds, private ensuite, air-conditioning, digital TV, access to free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Rooms are serviced daily. Complimentary breakfast box and drink included, and a 10% discount at the restaurante.
Monday to Thursday $ 126.00
Friday to Saturday $135.90
Sunday $126.00
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