Leather Workshop by Maketh Project at Naiise

I enjoyed my experience making leather coin pouch, cardholder, key tab and bracelet earlier this year and decided to try my hands at another workshop. This time, it was to make a leather notebook and passport holder. Instead of signing up with Bynd Artisan, I chose a Naiise and Maketh Project collaboration held at the former's The Cathay branch. The instructors were late and came in with toolkits containing all the tools and materials needed. There were three shades of leather and several thread colours for us to choose. Papers with pre-punched holes were also provided for the notebook. Instead of drawing on the insides of the leather using pen and plastic templates, we drew on the outside of the leather with pencil (so the markings could be erased after) and cardboard templates. A metal ruler was used to guide the cutting with a penknife and I realised it was easier to cut the leather I chose for my notebook than the one I chose for my passport holder with card slot.

Bynd Artisan Leather Workshop

Chanced upon Bynd Artisan, which builds on its founding company's legacy of making and designing books by hand, when I was shopping at Tangs Orchard. As the customised notebooks are bound by twin-wire, chose to buy its book jacket and fitted a journal in instead. Made of natural-grained cowhide leather with suede inner lining and linen thread stitching, the book holder came with a leather bookmarker. With name embossed on the inside of the book jacket so the customisation was subtle, it was prettily packaged – placed in a leather box with black paper, and made an elegant gift. When I knew Bynd Artisan also shares its book-binding and leather-making expertise with hobbyists and aspiring craftsmen, I have been keeping a lookout for its workshops. There were a few times that I could make it but was too slow in booking so the timeslot was no longer available. Finally, the stars were aligned last month for me to sign up for its Leather Qudro Workshop this month. Attended the workshop opposite Holland Village, along Jalan Merah Saga at Chip Bee Gardens where The Daily Scoop was, to learn the fundamental techniques of working with leather.