Letterpress business cards for Roslyn Whiting Leathercraft
Roslyn was one of my very first business customers and shares my love of handcrafted sustainable stationery. We’ve worked together a few times in recent years, printing business cards, swing tags and notecards to accompany her beautiful leathergoods.
Roslyn, tell me about your business and what you do!
I am a leatherworker. I make quality leathergoods using traditional methods that have a creative twist. Everything is done by hand from cutting, hand-stitching (there is no sewing machine in my workshop) through to hand finishing the edges.
How did you get into leathergoods and have you always been a maker at heart?
I have always been creative and artistic. I first learnt to hand-tool designs onto leather when I was 13 at a youth camp. I instantly loved it. Have you ever taken to something straight away and felt you could spend hours doing it? That’s how it was for me with leatherwork. I don’t know if it’s because I learnt leatherwork so young but I see leather as something to be creative with as well as being durable.
What inspired you to start your business and how does it feel to be your own boss?
I did an HND in Spatial Design at college. After leaving college l I did various jobs but most were administration jobs and not using my creative side. When I decided to return to work after being a stay-at-home Mum I decided it was my chance to be creative, earn some money and still be around for my children. It is hard sometimes being self-employed as you have to do everything and wear lots of hats. However, I wouldn’t swap it as I’m able to do something I love, have happy customers and still be around for my family.
Your designs are timeless and so elegant. How would you describe your style?
Thanks, I want my customers to enjoy using my products for years so my designs are timeless with a hint of creativity. I believe when you buy something handmade you have the chance to buy something a bit different from the high street. So, I use creative shapes for the pockets of my journals, wallets and card holders. I mould leather to make leaf shaped trays; these can be both decorative and useful. The luxurious feel of my products comes from using only quality leather.
Do you have a favourite piece?
This is a harder question that I thought, I have quite a few favourites. My one favourite piece would have to be a moulded leather waterlily I made quite a few years ago. It was a one off piece for an exhibition. It was great to have the opportunity to be so creative with leather.
I'm always curious about the creative process of other makers, what does your process look like?
Everything is done by hand, which can be labour intensive but means that the time is taken to get it just right for you. For example, for hand-stitching I first mark, using dividers, how far the stitches are going to be from the edge of the leather. I then hit a pricking iron (which looks a bit like a strong fork) into the leather to make the holes for this stitching; this keeps the stitches equally apart and gives the lovely slant of stitching. I then glue the two pieces of leather together matching up the holes. I thread both needles (yep, I stitch with two needles), one at each end of the thread. I then get to finally stitch the item going through each hole with both needles. This gives you a strong stitch, effectively two running stitches. Like with a lot of handcrafted things, a lot of the time is taken in getting everything lined up and ready for the final stage, the stage that everyone sees. It is worth taking the time to get everything just right – that’s where the craftsmanship comes in.
You live in the beautiful Scottish Borders, do you draw inspiration from the landscape?
I am very lucky to live in a village as beautiful as Melrose in the Scottish Borders. There is the famous River Tweed, the Eildon Hills and lots of beautiful surrounding scenery. I love nature, so use the local surrounding countryside as inspiration. There are 3 Eildon Hills and my Leaderfoot card holder has 3 hill shaped pockets creating a distinctive hill valley shape.
I know you share my passion for sustainability. How do you incorporate it into your process and your business as a whole?
Sustainability is very important to me. I only use vegetable tanned leather, which is not only the traditional way of tanning leather using tree bark, it uses less chemicals. I use the offcuts from my larger items to make my smaller items like my page cuffs and keyrings. I reuse any packing I receive from deliveries for my own orders. I buy as local as possible using British tanned and British made buckles. And of course your beautiful stationery which is made using cotton paper.
Why did letterpress printing feel like the right choice for your stationery and what do you feel it brings to your brand?
Both leatherwork and letterpress are traditional crafts, so they just seemed the perfect match. Also, when I hand-tool designs onto leather it is very tactile just like letterpressing. Your skill at making my stationery adds to the quality, luxury feel of my brand.
This or that?
Biscuit or cake? Cake
TV show or movie? Movie
Dogs or cats? Cats (used to be Dogs but now I have a cat it has switched – I know a lot of Dog owners will be thinking how I could switch!!!)
Night in or night out? Night in
Park or beach? Beach
Coast or countryside? Countryside
Family time or me time? Family time
Buy it or DIY it? Buy it
Podcast or playlist? Playlist
Coffee or tea? Tea
Any top tips for others who might be at a similar stage in their business journey?
My top tips (which I need to remember myself) are:
1. Take breaks. When you love what you do it’s so easy to keep working and not take breaks.
2. Be part of a business community. I’m a member of Make it British, they’re a great community of people and run great masterclasses / meet ups every week. It’s great having friends who understand what it’s like running a business.
3. Don’t just rely on social media, have your own website too.
Finally, if people want to learn more about your gorgeous leathergoods, where can they find you online?
The best place is on my website www.roslynwhiting.co.uk
And you can also follow me on Instagram and Pinterest
