TS_P09: Leather Tooling 101: Halloween Coaster Workshop

Get into the Halloween spirit while learning the fundamentals of traditional leather tooling! In this beginner-friendly workshop, you'll learn how to prepare and case vegetable-tanned leather, use common leather stamps, control your striking pressure, lay out patterns, and create clean, consistent impressions. Once your tooling is complete, we'll move into finishing techniques, including applying leather dye, using a protective resist, antiquing to bring out all those stamped details, and sealing your finished work. No previous leatherworking experience is required, and all materials are included.

By the end of the workshop, you'll leave with a set of four handmade Halloween-themed coasters, each featuring a tooled leather center set into a finished wooden coaster with a protective backing. You'll have several Halloween designs and patterns to choose from, giving you plenty of room to make your set your own while practicing different tooling techniques.

The 4-hour class is intentionally relaxed, giving you time to learn, experiment, ask questions, and—most importantly—have some fun hitting leather with a hammer!

Age: Recommended for ages 17 and up.

Prerequisites: None

Instructor: Michael Ramsey