Wood… or Leather?

The Story Behind CHUMA SERIES I

At first glance, most people think the buttons are wood.

That reaction has become surprisingly common whenever I share these layered pieces — buttons, pendants, clasps — handcrafted from leather and shaped entirely by hand.

But they are not wood.

They are leather.

And the story behind CHUMA SERIES I begins with remnants.

The Leather

Years ago, I was commissioned to create custom leather mic stand covers for country music...

A custom leather necklace inspired by transformation—hand-braided from fine leather and woven around African Turquoise stones. This behind-the-scenes story reveals the challenges, breakthroughs, and artistry behind a one-of-a-kind commission.

The Story Behind Three Custom Cremation Bracelets for a Family

A Cremation Bracelet Story: Three Generations, One Memory

Several years ago, a young man named Nik contacted me with a deeply personal request.

His family had recently lost someone very important to them...

From Raw Copper Wire to Wearable Art: Inside My Spiral Earring Process

Every finished piece of jewelry begins somewhere.

For my Arial Spiral Tassel Earrings, that beginning is a length of raw copper wire.

What looks effortless when worn takes intention, heat, pressure, patience, and a practiced hand.

Here’s what that process looks like inside my studio.

Forming the Spiral

Intro

A well-made leather eye patch should look intentional, comfortable, and refined — not like a costume piece. It’s a small project that combines precision cutting, edge finishing, strap construction, and decorative structural stitching.

In this tutorial, I walk through how to build a professional-quality leather eye patch using clean edgework, a miter joint strap, and a traditional flat ladder stitch braid. These are real techniques I use in custom leather commissions — scaled down into a project that’s both practical and skill-building.

Whether you're building...