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I enjoy marbling leather!

Hello, I'm Kate and welcome to Tilly and Cindy's leatherwork.

I decided that in 2023 I was going to invest in myself and wanted to learn something new. I undertook a weekend's leatherwork course in London, and I now have a solid foundation of skills, my story has progressed from there.

I have always had an eye for colour, loving its vibrancy and free form. I've never been an artist (never good with pencils). Do you remember the 80s Spin Art toy that you would drop paint onto card held on a spinning platform and create patterns? I feel I am reminiscing in my youth when I play with colour today.

I am inspired by the Turkish Ebru marbling technique, by using carrageenan to enable paint to float on the surface of water to create patterns using a variety of techniques. Every pattern created is unique, due to the way in which each paint interacts, depending on viscosity, some paints can push others out of the way. Instead of capturing the pattern on paper, I use leather to create unique small items.

Each item in my shop is handmade, which includes cutting, gluing, hammering stitching holes, saddle stitching, sanding and burnishing edges. All marbled items are double glossed and beeswaxed to provide waterproof protection and provide a high shine finish.

This is my hobby. I hope that you enjoy these products as much as I enjoy making them.

PS: Who are Tilly and Cindy? My two Hungarian Vizslas, peas in a pod who are my loyal companions when I'm crafting leather.