INFO ON CLASSES
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.
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'll be working on a pre coloured belt length and can add bling to decorate if you wish. 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 30th July 2022 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.
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 @ $252.00) for the super discounted price of $199.00!
*****************************************************************************************Steampunk or not!
Going to Ironfest, Winterfest, the Medieval Faire, Comicon, Supanova, or just anywhere you want to make a statement?
For those Steampunkers / Cosplayers (Literally "Costume Play") / Medieval Re-enactors & Sci Fi fans out there, and as shows like Game of Thrones come to the fore, this is the workshop for you, and it’s a lot of fun!
With this genre of costume making, leather is a huge component, and people are flocking to the re-enactment movement and love anything that is as authentic as it comes.
Hence here is the easy-to-make Top Hat where the steampunk theme and cogs are optional! Put some thought into what hat band you may like. Perhaps a vivid exotic snake or eel skin!
You will be taken through the paces in this full day workshop, including cutting out your template, colouring, stitching and assembling your top hat to your desires. Be prepared to work at a fast pace!
You will be shown tips and tricks and also pitfalls with assembly. You can assemble with kangaroo lace or waxed thread and learn the procedure to make yourself another top hat with ease.
When: Saturday, 9th July 2022 BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30am — 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop
Cost: $198.00 for a 7 hour workshop and a top hat
How: Book on-line @ www.birdsall-leather.com.au
Supplied
(Not cogs or hatband)
Required
Hat band choice
Bring your lunch
What is Steampunk? “Its a genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features steam-powered machinery rather than advanced technology. Its essence is neo-Victorian vintage fashion with a modern sassy twist."
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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: To be advised
Time: 8.30 SHARP— 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s Taren Point workshop
Cost: $150.00 for a 8 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. $86.50 but discounted to $77.00
You get:
Come and make some really cool looking bracelets which can have either twisted or plaited strands and dyed in your own colour choices.
These funky bracelets are based on the wonderful creations of Dave Mangino and are made from fine natural kangaroo leather and completed with a secret plait closure.
Once you’ve made one and refined your skills, make another or more in different colours or use your imagination with different twists or braids.
They’ll make a great addition to your wardrobe accessories or even better, great gift ideas! Nothing like a handmade gift for someone special!
When: Saturday, 16th July 2022 BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30am SHARP — 1.30pm
Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop
Cost: $95.00 for a 5 hour workshop
Supplied:
Strips of natural kangaroo leather
Stainless steel keeper
Dyes
Antique and Sealer
Cutting mat
Rags, newspaper & rubber gloves
Required:
Stanley knife or Snap Cutter*
Edge beveller*
Edge slicker*
* = Some tools will be available in the workshop to be shared amongst students.
Bring your own tools if you have them.
Tool List
Purchase a tool kit for discounted price of $55.00 (Retail $62.00) Red items not included.
Sharp Stanley knife
Lacing fid
Scratch awl
Ruler (preferably cork backed)
Green self-healing cutting mat A4
LeatherCement (white glue) or Contact Adhesive
Gum Tragacanth
Canvas or denim piece
Daubers
(NOT INCLUDED in tool kit)
G Clamps for plaiting
Round end punch
Pliers big and small
Disposable gloves, rags and newspaper, Cotton buds
Dyes / Hammer
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This has to be one of the most creative and rewarding workshops which is just plain fun!
Bring your kids (over 8 yrs) with you!
Discover this interesting technique, using marbling gel and dyes to create awesome artwork, on the wonderful medium of leather!
Once you refine your marbling skills on leather test pieces, you’ll be marbling this neat little decorative credit card or business card holder with your final marbled piece. You can then apply marbling to any future project you desire!
Your white powdered marbling compound will be mixed with water the night before, ready to use. It will resemble wallpaper glue in its clear paste form. Once you add colour and imagination, watch your cool creations evolve and come to life. They really are amazing!
When: TO BE ADVISED
Time: 8.30am SHARP — 2.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop
Cost: $130.00 for a 5 hour workshop and a take home card holder & test pieces
Supplied:
1.2mm leather
Perspex piece/tray
Marbling compound
Dyes
Pipettes
A3 paper
Mink Oil or Carnauba Cream
Small easy snap & setter
Bring from Home:
Swirling implements (old comb, needles, paint brush ends, skewers, anything thin and pointy!)
Some tools available to share in classroom
What a great way to use up your off cuts and scrap leather in this practical and attractive little Wristlet Purse by Don Gonzales.
Similar to a pencil case size, use leather we provide in this workshop or bring your own offcuts of veg, chrome, hairhide or exotics to pimp up your purse!
(You will still receive our leather components in kit form to make another)
A rewarding workshop where you will cut out your pieces, secure, punch holes and stitch, learn how to place and sew a zipper and depending on the thickness of your purse, turn your piece inside out or stitch on the outside. Also would make a great pencil case or makeup purse! Possibilties are endless!
The entire project will be hand sewn using saddle stitch with waxed thread.
We will be using shaped punches to create filigree on our veg component to decorate and perhaps adding some bling.
Learn the art of bloodknots using your chrome tanned leather in a 3-fold for neat edges. Gotta Love blood knots!
When: Saturday 13th August 2022 BOOK HERE
Time: 8.30— 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop
Cost: $185.00 for a 7 hour workshop
Supplied:
Required:
Bring your lunch or take advantage of our lunch special
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: DATES TO BE ADVISED
Time: 8.30 SHARP — 2.30pm
Cost: $290.00 for 12 hrs tuition and your take home drawstring bag
Supplied:
Required:
Learn the intricacies of plaiting in this introductory workshop where you make this very cool hatband that demonstrates round, flat plait, gumnuts and turks heads!
Long time plaiter, Owen Harshorn has been plaiting leather for over 40 years. Learn skills from the master to be able to handle 4.7mm lace, which makes it nice and easy for you to pick up.
You'll start with 4 strands, moving onto 6, completing round and flat plaiting. Be patient to master your turks head and gumnuts, if Owen thinks you’re up for the challenge.
When: Saturday 24th September BOOK SOON
Time: 8.30am SHARP — 3.00pm
Cost: $115.00 for a 6 hour workshop and some take home masterpeices
BRING YOUR LUNCH
Supplied:
10 mtrs of 4.7mm lace
Braiding clamp
Braiding lubricant
Tools Required:
Sharp knife (Stanley, break off, etc)
Lacing fid
A small amount of items are available in the Craftroom to be shared amongst all students.
Skiving skills are an advantage!!
If you would like to learn the art of leather rose making, come and join in on a very satisfying class.
You will learn to skive, colour, wet mould and assemble a realistic rose that is secured on its own stem and will last forever. Your rose will come complete with a ladybird!
Skiving skills are definitely an advantage but not mandatory. Brush up on those skills before coming to class if you can, otherwise you’ll be shown the art of skiving with a scalpel where your skills just get better with practice.
We dye our petals in a colour of your choice in a bath of dye and mould them as they are drying out. Then comes assembly which is a whole lot of fun and extremely satisfying to see your rose come to life! Learn some tricks to make your rose look realistic.
These pretty roses are lovely around the home, or make a beautiful gift.
When: Returning in 2023
Time: 8.30 sharp to 4.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s upstairs workshop
Cost: $160.00 for a 6 hour workshop
Supplied:
Required:
Some tools available to share in classroom
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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: Saturday 10th September BOOK SOON
Time: 8.30am SHARP — 5.00pm
Where: Birdsall’s Taren Point workshop
Cost: $165.00 for a 7 hour workshop and your custom sheath
Supplied:
Required
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
CARRINGBAH HOTEL - 9526 1166
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 $ 112.00
Friday to Saturday $125.00
Sunday $112.00
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 $ 130.00
Friday to Saturday $143.00
Sunday $130.00
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