How It All Started
Welcome, and thank you for visiting my site! I specialize in creating high-quality leather goods, starting with premium hides and working them into admirable products that you're sure to love. I take great pride in my work, and I hope you enjoy my items as much as I did making them! Please have a look around, and be sure to check out my shop page to see what's currently available. If you like what you see, consider adding me as a favorite to be notified when I add a new listing. You won't be disappointed!
Billy
Short version:
I sold my first leather ID/credit card holder at Thin Ice on Elmwood in Buffalo, hence Buffalo Born Leather, accurate but straightforward.
Much longer version if you have the time and enjoy a good story:
It all started in the fall of 2011 when out of necessity, I couldn't find a simple ID/credit card holder other than the plastic wallet refills you get at the mall. Mine was so cracked, faded, and full of clear tape that I forgot to put it in the front pocket of my jeans before I left my house for the day. I was reapplying another layer of tape the night before since my search for a new one was uneventful earlier in the day, and I forgot to put it back next to my keys. We're all such creatures of habit, or at least I am, but I am thankful for this unfortunate event because this all wouldn't have happened if things were different that morning.
So it's mid-afternoon on this particular day, and I realize that I still needed to stop by the grocery store to get a few things. You would think by this time that I would have discovered that my faithful repaired ID holder wasn't comfortably resting in my front pocket. My assistant, waiting there patiently to be lifted from its dark catacomb to assist me at any time or place with proper identification or to purchase any items that I deem fitting swiftly. But to my surprise, on this particular day, my friend and companion were nowhere to be found! As my heart dropped to the floor, my pulse racing, and a tiny bead of cold sweat started to run down my forehead. I knew I was in trouble. The cashier again tells me my total. I feel the rising tension of the patrons behind me, for they have their faithful friend ready to complete their purchases, and I'm the one standing in the way. Finally, I gather my nerves and politely tell the cashier that I was so sorry for I have misplaced my wallet and could not pay for my things. She told me that she would place my items off to the side and return later in the day if I happened to find my wallet. She eased my mind for a split second since I wasn't purchasing anything perishable, but then again, I realized my wallet is missing, and reality strikes again!
I hurry home hoping that I genuinely didn't lose my dear friend, all the time thinking of the trouble it will be in acquiring replacements. I rush in, keys still swinging in the front lock as the door strikes the stop, moving quickly towards the table where it should have been. As I get closer, I see my ever-loving friend and companion nestled tightly between the salt and pepper shakers and the clear tape I was using the night before in making repairs. I grasp my friend tightly as if we were never to see each other again while moving a chair out to rest my legs. I stayed seated until I had a workable design for a leather ID/credit card holder that I still use today! And I did have enough time to return to the store and pay for my things.
Like most things that I make for myself, I enjoy showing them to my friends & family to get an honest opinion. Everyone knew that I was interested in leather craft and was surprised by my new design's quality and functionality. So I made a few more and took them down to Thin Ice to add to my chainmaille display. The few that I had sold within a few weeks, and the rest is history! I'm relatively new to the leather smith trade. Still, I see significant improvements in my skills and designs as I gain more experience. Thank you for reading my story!
Short version:
I sold my first leather ID/credit card holder at Thin Ice on Elmwood in Buffalo, hence Buffalo Born Leather, accurate but straightforward.
Much longer version if you have the time and enjoy a good story:
It all started in the fall of 2011 when out of necessity, I couldn't find a simple ID/credit card holder other than the plastic wallet refills you get at the mall. Mine was so cracked, faded, and full of clear tape that I forgot to put it in the front pocket of my jeans before I left my house for the day. I was reapplying another layer of tape the night before since my search for a new one was uneventful earlier in the day, and I forgot to put it back next to my keys. We're all such creatures of habit, or at least I am, but I am thankful for this unfortunate event because this all wouldn't have happened if things were different that morning.
So it's mid-afternoon on this particular day, and I realize that I still needed to stop by the grocery store to get a few things. You would think by this time that I would have discovered that my faithful repaired ID holder wasn't comfortably resting in my front pocket. My assistant, waiting there patiently to be lifted from its dark catacomb to assist me at any time or place with proper identification or to purchase any items that I deem fitting swiftly. But to my surprise, on this particular day, my friend and companion were nowhere to be found! As my heart dropped to the floor, my pulse racing, and a tiny bead of cold sweat started to run down my forehead. I knew I was in trouble. The cashier again tells me my total. I feel the rising tension of the patrons behind me, for they have their faithful friend ready to complete their purchases, and I'm the one standing in the way. Finally, I gather my nerves and politely tell the cashier that I was so sorry for I have misplaced my wallet and could not pay for my things. She told me that she would place my items off to the side and return later in the day if I happened to find my wallet. She eased my mind for a split second since I wasn't purchasing anything perishable, but then again, I realized my wallet is missing, and reality strikes again!
I hurry home hoping that I genuinely didn't lose my dear friend, all the time thinking of the trouble it will be in acquiring replacements. I rush in, keys still swinging in the front lock as the door strikes the stop, moving quickly towards the table where it should have been. As I get closer, I see my ever-loving friend and companion nestled tightly between the salt and pepper shakers and the clear tape I was using the night before in making repairs. I grasp my friend tightly as if we were never to see each other again while moving a chair out to rest my legs. I stayed seated until I had a workable design for a leather ID/credit card holder that I still use today! And I did have enough time to return to the store and pay for my things.
Like most things that I make for myself, I enjoy showing them to my friends & family to get an honest opinion. Everyone knew that I was interested in leather craft and was surprised by my new design's quality and functionality. So I made a few more and took them down to Thin Ice to add to my chainmaille display. The few that I had sold within a few weeks, and the rest is history! I'm relatively new to the leather smith trade. Still, I see significant improvements in my skills and designs as I gain more experience. Thank you for reading my story!