An Interesting Turn of events

There's a New Artist at Divella Designs… and I Work for Him Now!

Well, this is an interesting turn of events.

For years, Divella Designs has been my little corner of the creative world. I've been happily working away in my studio, sawing, soldering, hammering, enameling, and occasionally muttering a few choice words when something doesn't go quite as planned.

And then David decided to get serious about leatherwork.

Now, somehow, I've acquired a second job. 😂

You see, David makes the leather goods. He cuts the leather, prepares the pieces, punches the stitching holes, and painstakingly saddle-stitches everything by hand.

And me? Well, I get to source the leather (we choose the colors and textures together… mostly), photograph everything, edit the photos, write the product descriptions, create the website listings, figure out the shipping, and handle the marketing.

I'm beginning to think he got the better end of this arrangement!

From Leather Cuffs to Hand-Stitched Totes

David's leatherwork isn't entirely new around here. He's been making leather cuffs and card cases for a while now, each one reflecting his appreciation for simple, practical designs and traditional handwork.

But lately, he's taken things a bit further.

Meet the leather totes!

These bags are made from genuine leather, with clean lines, beautiful colors, and plenty of character. Each measures approximately 12" wide by 13" tall, and every stitch is done by hand using the traditional saddle-stitching technique.

No sewing machine. No assembly line. Just David, his tools, some leather, and a whole lot of patience.

The first totes arrived in three gorgeous colors: Purple, Dark Teal, and Rust.

And because neither of us seems capable of leaving well enough alone, we've already been looking at more colors and textures.

Which means more leather samples to order, more decisions to make, and probably more work for yours truly.

Two Artists, Two Very Different Materials

It's actually been fun watching David's leatherwork develop alongside my jewelry.

We may work with different materials, but we share an appreciation for making things by hand. There's something satisfying about taking raw materials and slowly turning them into something beautiful and useful.

Of course, our approaches aren't exactly identical.

I'm usually surrounded by bits of silver, copper, gemstones, and an impressive collection of tools. David has his leather, needles, thread, and his own growing assortment of equipment.

Between the two of us, I'm not sure there's a work surface left in the house that hasn't been claimed by one project or another.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, What's Next?

The leather totes have officially joined the growing collection of handmade goods at Divella Designs, alongside David's cuffs and card cases.

Since each bag is made by hand, we're keeping production small, with some options made to order. It's a slower approach, but that's the beauty of handmade work. There's no rush to churn out hundreds of identical pieces.

As for me, I'll still be doing what I love at my jewelry bench.

I'll just be squeezing in a few more photography sessions, website updates, and leather-related discussions along the way.

I suppose I should ask David when payday is.

Or at least negotiate for a new pair of shoes. 😂

You can explore David's leatherwork right here at Divella Designs, where it seems we now have two makers under one roof.

And one slightly overworked marketing department.