Welcome to the first issue of the KosKraft blog.
This space is dedicated to all those who not only use their minds to dream, but use their hands to create from those dreams.
In these days of instant gratification, it's sometimes forgotten how much time and effort is put into actually making something. It's not just the hours put into the jewelry piece, sculpture, or pocketbook, it's more the hours spent thinking, dreaming, planning, experimenting, prototyping, that reflect the true worth. "How long did it take you to make that?" A lifetime.
After the cheez doodle...
As in every Artisan's story, there is a beginning. There is always something, a time or place, a person's influence, a fleeting interest in something, an accident, that begins the journey. I hope those are included in any of the contributions to this series.
In my case, it was the trail to Morocco. There are endless stories to describe that year in the early Seventies, but to save you from hours of listening to this old windbag, I'll just stick to the craft part of the story. Coming out of that smoky Saharan haze, I began the journey back to the US. I had 20 dirhams in my pocket, after paying for the ferry. Things weren't looking too good. Hitching up the Costa del Sol, I stopped in Torremolinos. It was, and still is, a tourist trap.
At that time, it was a blend between the tourist shops, bars, and eateries, and young people spreading out blankets of wares in hopes of a traveler, or two, who might help provide a days meal. It was here I met three young Spaniards. They were busy chatting in that sonic speed that is the Spanish language, and lacing up leather pouches to throw on the blanket when completed. I sat and watched. Long story short, I ended up living with them in an abandoned farmhouse in the hills that look down on the city. We smoked, we worked, we built up stock, traipsed back down to the city, spread out the blankets, shouted at passerbys to come look, and...most especially learned to wrap the blankets up fast, and run from the gendarmes. Oh, what fun.
I still can't believe that was some 43 years ago.
After about 27 other stories, I returned to my hometown. I began making and selling those same pouches to friends and family. Within a few years, I had opened my first Leather shop. Did pretty good for some 5 years.It helped raise my kids in a better manner than most of my friends, at the time. Then, life got in the way. For all the following years, I still practiced the trade, but never full time again, until about 9 years ago. Life got in the way, again, and I was out of work, over 55. Sorry, no doors for you, unless you want to stand at the Walmart ones, greeting people as they walk through them.
So... I thought I would take my woodwork skills, and begin making acoustic guitars. A luthier friend of mine was going to help me get started. We worked out the tools I would need (had most of them already), and materials. It came out to about $1000. In order to get that much, I suggested to him that I make some guitar straps that he could sell to his customers. They sold like hotcakes. Somehow, I never did make any guitars, but here I am, making leather again. I haven't had a paycheck in these past few years, but, what the hell else can I do? Keep on truckin'.
These are the first of those guitar straps, some 10 years ago
All Kossack Artisans are welcome to join the group, just send me a PM.
In the meantime, while we wait to see if this becomes a viable Saturday morning Group, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the KosKatalog. They do yeoman's work in there, and it's about as close to supporting "local" as you can get on the intertubes.
oops, I forgot my links:
Rocky River Leather Co.
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