Evancliffe Leathercraft

Evancliffe Leathercraft was created by Clive & Wendy Elsdon in 2014.

An interest in leatherwork lead us both to enrol on and successfully complete the first Creative Craft Leathercraft course at Northumberland College’s Hexham centre. Clive has a background in Architectural Design with a career as an Architectural Technician / Architectural Designer while Wendy is a qualified Teacher, Forest School Leader and Beach School Leader.

Both have a passion for heritage crafts and, for example, have qualifications in Dry Stone Walling as well as Leatherwork.

Leather Products:

We personally hand craft every item, mostly from quality veg tan leather, which is then dyed to the required colour. Stitching is entirely by hand using traditional saddle stitch or similar methods such as box and butt stitch.

Much of the work we undertake is to order, each item being unique, however we have also developed a range of handcrafted leather products as well. These vary from contemporary modern items for special occasions to everyday use to items specifically for Railways, Re-enactors and LARP enthusiasts.

Our hand crafted leatherwork includes Belts, Bags, Purses, Leather Hand Bound Journals and more. We have made bespoke items including a tiny golf bag to hold a vintage golf themed manicure set, leather cases to carry explosives and detonators in a mine, a leather advent calendar as a third wedding anniversary present, replacement watch straps for unusual watches and single line token holders both for use on heritage railways and the national network.

• Online leather goods shop
• Bespoke design service
• Items made to order
• Commissions Undertaken
• Wide range of leatherwork courses available
• 1:1 tuition
• Traditional leatherwork
• Heritage skills
• Restorations

Leather Repairs:

We can also give your old leather goods some TLC and help them last for many more years to come. We are also often asked to repair relatively new leather goods that have failed in some way. Leatherwork repairs range from simply re-stitching a piece of leatherwork to making replacement leather pieces and / or sourcing replacement fittings.

We believe in the strength of hand stitching, so even if you bring a machine stitched item to us we will carefully repair it by hand ensuring the work we complete will last.

We have repaired many things including an almost new “designer” bag that had faulty stitching, a guitar case, a Briefcase used by a Royal Navy Officer during WWII, Railway Leatherwork, Watch Straps, and more.

Leatherwork Training Workshops:

We offer a wide range of leatherwork training workshops to suit everyone.

For example. students can learn to make a Leather Belt, a Hand Bound Leather Journal, a Possibles Pouch or Learn about Wet Moulding & Stamping. We have also recently added a wire wrapped jewellery workshop.

We are constantly developing new workshops, so if what you want to make is not on the list, please contact us to discuss the possibilities. Our training workshops are usually run from our Weardale base which has stunning views
overlooking Weardale in County Durham.

In addition to scheduled workshops, Evancliffe Leathercraft can deliver Bespoke 1-2-1 Workshops. Wendy’s professional background in Teaching has ensured that Evancliffe Leathercraft’s workshops have been developed with learning in mind.

Activities:

We are passionate about passing on the skills of leatherworking. This means that as well as running our own Training Workshops we often demonstrate and provide hands-on leatherwork activities. This has led to museums, organisations and groups asking us to attend to demonstrate and run activities for visitors at their venues or events.

Our Hands-On Leather Stamping Activity can operate as a stand-alone attraction at events. Adults and Children alike can have a go at creating their own unique decorated leatherwork item. Participants will be able to choose what they want to decorate from a number of pre-cut shapes including Wristbands, Bookmarks, Key Rings, Hair Barrettes and Seasonal / Themed Shapes. A number of different stamps and tools are available so that people can create their own unique designs. Items are then finished in a choice of colours.

Trade memberships / Awards / Qualifications

QCF Level 2 Creative Craft Leathercraft
Heritage Crafts Association
Platinum Students Choice Award Craft Courses
Weardale Visitors Network
Craft Courses: /providers/evancliffe-leathercraft/reviews
The British Craft House: /shop/evancliffe-leathercraft

Contact

19 Holywood, Wolsingham, Bishop Auckland, County Durham. DL13 3HE

Telephone: 01388 526641 / 07801 255633

Email: welcome@evancliffeleather.co.uk

Website: www.evancliffeleather.co.uk

Social Media

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/evancliffeleather

Twitter: @EvancliffeLeath

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LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/evancliffe-leathercraft