Van Der Spek Day: First stages of my custom binders

I am not one to dither over designs or leathers. I tend to know what I want as soon as I see it, so I looked at the leathers, leaning very much towards pink or teal ostrich. Then I drooled over the black buffalo. But I am not really a person who uses black or colours much – not even in shoes or handbags or binders. THEN I spotted this leather hiding away on a shelf. Thick, heavily marked rich caramel saddle leather. It was very thick and had range marks and spots all over it. But I wanted it. Petra was amazed I chose it with so many range marks because most people don’t like them, but I just knew I wanted it.

Here are some pictures of the leather. I loved it on sight. Petra has said that she can get this leather again and without the spots on it. So if you like it but would like leather that is less battered and loved looking, you can ask her.

I chose the leather and JP, the brilliant cutter, let me choose which parts I wanted, cut them for me and placed them in the shape of the binder, like a puzzle. JP was so friendly and had me in stitches telling me about his life. I am sure he won’t mind me telling you that he is 77 and has been working with leather all his life. There are fewer and fewer master craftsmen like that around today. I watched him do three binders – one was a white ostrich, one was yellow and grey ostrich and the third one was mine.