Every artist, entrepreneur, and dreamer knows this truth: there are seasons of abundance, and there are seasons when things feel unbearably dry. My journey as a leather artist has been no different.

When I first started in 2005, I had no idea just how winding and difficult this path would be. Life tested me with more than just the ups and downs of business—deep personal losses, painful endings, and challenges that at times felt impossible to overcome. There were stretches when it felt like I was trudging through fire, just trying to make it through another day.

And yet—those moments are where strength is forged.

What has kept me moving forward isn’t just the love of creating (though I do feel I was born to create). It’s the understanding that every closed door and every setback has led me here, to this work. Jobs I loved ended through layoffs, moves, or circumstances beyond my control. Opportunities that could have changed everything slipped through my hands. And still, the path in front of me remained the same—this is the road I was meant to walk.

Over time, I realized that the valleys are not punishment—they are training grounds. They’ve made me resilient, resourceful, disciplined, and determined. They’ve shaped me into a warrior in my own right.

I lean on routines to stay grounded—morning rituals, spiritual practices, prayer, scripture, and meditation. I guard my energy carefully, surrounding myself with only a small circle of people I trust, and focusing my time on what helps me grow instead of what distracts me. When things feel slow, I take it one step at a time, one day at a time, and remind myself that obstacles don’t define me—I am more than whatever stands in my way.

For me, self-employment is as much about mindset as it is about craft. I’ve learned that true security doesn’t come from a paycheck, a title, or outside validation. It comes from knowing who I am, from listening to God’s direction, and from the strength I carry within. My joy, peace, and sense of purpose don’t come from what happens around me—they’re rooted in what happens inside me.

This is the same energy that inspires my designs. Every neckpiece and piece of jewelry, every fringe earring, every woven pendant carries with it the story of resilience. The ZANTA Leather Neckpiece [beautiful] embodies power and edge—a reminder that beauty can be fierce. The ZARA Leather Neckpiece [radiant] took over 15 hours to create, each stitch and braid a meditation on patience, discipline, and light shining through the darkness. Even my LATIFAH Lamb Suede Fringe Hoops [elegant], with their playful movement, are rooted in the idea that strength can also be soft, feminine, and free.

These pieces aren’t just accessories. They are armor. They are lineage. They are stories of women (and men) who rise—again and again—through every season, every valley, every trial.

So when the barren times come—and they always do—I remind myself of this truth:
I was created for this.
I am equipped for this.
And I will rise, again and again.

♥

Lisa

Continue reading Part II: The Hands That Heal — How Love, Pain, and Leather Shaped My Story, Part II