Leather Love
The Secret Sauce - How I Stiffen Leather
WHAT IS IN THE SPRAY BOTTLE?
I get asked this question more than any other: "What is actually in that spray bottle?"
For over 20 years, this "secret sauce" has been the backbone of my studio work. It is the exact solution I rely on to wet-mold leather, stiffen delicate flower petals, and give my dragon scales their signature hardened shape.
Depending on the project, I’ll sometimes add a small extra ingredient as...
2025 HOLIDAY SHIPPING & ORDERING DATES
Hello Leather Art Lovers!
It is that time of the year again and boy, it got here fast!
No matter the season upon us, I am committed to creating your leather art pieces and shipping them off to their intended destination in a timely manner. To ensure their arrival for Christmas, please take a look at the schedule below before placing your order. Thank you!
Should you have any concern about receiving your order in time, please upgrade your choice of shipping method. This can be done during the checkout process....
The Hands That Heal: How Love, Pain, and Leather Shaped My Story (Part II)
Reflections on Growth, Grace, and the Unexpected Ways Art Becomes a Lifeline.
After sharing my last reflection on staying strong through life’s storms, [Part I: “Where Strength Is Forged in the Fire”], a young woman I once mentored reached out with a message that moved me to tears. Her words reminded me that the lessons we learn in struggle don’t stop with us — they ripple outward, shaping others in ways we might never see. This follow-up is a story about that ripple — about growth, grace, and...
When Chargebacks Hurt Creators: The Hidden Cost of “Friendly Fraud” for Handmade Businesses
By Lisa M. Cantalupo
Leather Artist | Where Leather Meets Lineage
A leather artist’s perspective on fairness, integrity, and the human impact of chargeback abuse.
Each handmade piece begins here — one cut, one stitch, one story at a time.
Rising Through the Slumps: Finding Strength in the Valleys
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...