Innehållsförteckning för April 2025 från Illume

EVERY YEAR, THIS ISSUE HOLDS a special place in my heart. It’s a celebration of the women in leathercraft—the pioneers, the artists, the educators, and the dreamers—who have left their mark on an industry that has long been dominated by men. Their stories of resilience, creativity, and craftsmanship deserve to be told, honored, and remembered. From the moment I saw Ashley Robin’s work, I was mesmerized. Her delicate yet bold designs—like the butterflies hidden within vibrant floral arrangements—are a testament to the beauty that emerges when artistry meets determination. A self-taught artisan, Ashley’s journey is one of courage, proving that passion and perseverance can take you anywhere. Christine Stanley’s name may not be as widely recognized as Al Stohlman or Robert Barr, but make no mistake—her contributions to leathercraft are…

Ever wish you had an extra set of hands when finishing a strap? If so, this wooden belt jig is an invaluable addition to your workbench. Designed with a tapered insert, this belt jig locks a leather strap in place, making it easy to dye and burnish edges with accuracy and precision. Choose from a small option that’s 19-1/4” long or a large option that’s 39-1/2” long. Experience this convenient device for yourself and you’ll wonder why you didn’t invest in one sooner! Visit www.weaverleathersupply.com or call 800-932-8371 to place your order today!…

Liisa Andreassen is the president of Write Away, Inc. (www.writeawayinc.com). She works with custom content publishers, national and regional magazines and B2B publications. She also writes blogs, website content and marketing material for an array of industry niches. She has a Master’s Degree in Media Studies and lives in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, NC with her husband, John. They travel often and enjoy hiking, cooking, SCUBA diving, skiing and clay shooting. WOMEN POWER! This month, Illume dedicates its pages to women and guess what? So, do I (and some husbands too). Like many historically male-dominated industries, the contributions of women within this craft are often overlooked or undervalued. Despite their talent and dedication, women in leathercrafting frequently face challenges related to recognition, visibility and opportunities to excel. One reason…

WANTED NEW SUBSCRIBERS WANTED. Now is the time to renew and see what you have been missing! Give us a call at (435) 565-6052, e-mail: savannah@burns1876.com or visit www.illumeconnect.com. GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Burns 1876 is now hiring saddlemakers, bootmakers, silversmiths, hat makers, and leather craftsman/woman in their manufacturing facilities in Salina, Utah. In-house training provided. Please send your resume and a cover letter to careers@burns1876.com. AMISH CRAFTSMAN LOOKING FOR A WHOLESALE OUTLET. I specialize in dog training products and dog muzzles. I can custom make products to your specs. Jonathan Borntreger, 19563 CTY HWY MM, Wilton, WI. 54670 LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO SELL our high-quality men’s leather belts. Each belt is made in Montana from premium leather sourced from a U.S. tannery. Earn 10% commission on every sale. For more information,…

B. CRAWFORD B. Crawford has written, co-written or ghost-written more than three dozen books over the last thirty years, including Border Radio: Quacks, Yodelers, Pitchmen, Psychics and Other Amazing Broadcasters of the American Airwaves (Univ. of Texas Press: 2002) which he co-wrote with fellow Illume writer Gene Fowler. Crawford is interested in all things authentic and mind-bending. He currently lives in a small town in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where he writes, swims, rides his bike, and drinks tequila. JACEE ALBECHT My journey began with tooling at Burns Saddlery, where I honed my skills and developed a deep appreciation for the craft. Over time, I shifted my focus to creating small leather goods, specializing in items like breast collars, headstalls, gun scabbards, chaps, and a wide variety of custom projects. Growing…

Elevate your designs with our stunning Embossed Leather Collections! Each month, we introduce a fresh color or pattern, perfect for adding texture to your projects. Introducing our new Marrakesh Collection. • Small pattern great for subtle texture• Soft enough for lining• Ideal for crafts, home accessories, fashion accessory manufacturing, interior design, and upholstery Contact us today to explore the latest additions! Call: 972-635-3055 Email: info@texasleathergoods.com Visit: 1224 Capital Drive Carrollton, TX 75006…

When Rosaline “Roz” Kaohn was waiting tables at a restaurant in Conoga Park, California, she had a big problem. She kept misplacing the pens and pencils needed for taking orders. And she complained about it to one of her regulars, a construction worker. Rather than nod along as he munched on his blue plate special, he offered a solution: why not buy or make a durable leather pouch, similar to the one he wore for his pliers, for her ballpoints and yellow eraser heads. Kaohn, tired of tucking her pens in torn shirt pockets, thought that was a good idea. When she finished her shift, she dug through the phonebook and found what she was looking for – Tandy Leather, which Kaohn had never heard of – and paid a…

Hermann Oak® Leather’s Harness, the leather that started it all – heavyweight vegetable tanned hides that boast beautiful hues and a feel reminiscent of the finest vintage harness leathers – giving your projects a touch of old-world elegance. Using only top-grade, heavy U.S. steer hides, along with the finest natural tree bark in their tanning process, creating leather with exceptional richness and texture. The hides are precisely tanned to achieve a firm, strong, and dense fiber structure. Drum-stuffed with heavy tallow, resulting in exceptional weather resistance, thickness, ease of cutting, and long-lasting durability. “Traditional Harness just like your Grandfather used.” Large, long sides with visible defects present. Perfect for reins of all types, heavy belts, tack, leashes, collars and more. Sides in the 4/5oz thickness are great for bags, footwear,…

I’m Noa Greenspan, aka NoaLim, the Exotics Queen. I’m an exotic leather accessories designer, founder of NoaLim, and Creative Director at PanAm Leathers. When asked by Illume, What do you know now, that you didn’t know five years ago?, all I could think of was that five years ago, my life took a strange 18-month, Covid-induced detour. After graduating from FIT, my internship at PanAm became a full-time job, and my dream life of working in leather and fashion was beginning. I imagined trips to Paris and Milan, playing with leather, meeting new people. Five years ago, February 20-21, 2020, I attended Lineapelle in Milan, then popped over to Israel for the weekend, just a few hours away, to visit my family. But Sunday morning, Feb 23, hours before my…