Working Together

Samples of different shades of leather and a metal tool on a cutting mat.

Step 1: What do you want?

Maybe you have a specific idea already, maybe you want to explore your options, or maybe you don’t even know what options you have. No matter what, I will personally work with you on every detail. Don’t know what kind of leather would be best? I’ll walk you through the characteristics of each one. Want a specific kind of leather? I have an extensive library of suppliers all over the world and will do everything I can to find it.

The same goes for all the other elements:

  • Dye color: I will mix and test the dye until it matches your vision. Match it to your shoes, your favorite color, something you’ve seen on TV, or even your favorite recliner (you wouldn’t be the first). If the leather will take it, I’ll make it.

  • Thread: Matching, complementary, or contrast; sleek or bold; I will show you options and demonstrate them on your leather.

  • Condition & Finish: I will walk you through their characteristics and show you what they look like—as always, on your leather.

  • Tooling & Stamping: Mottos, monograms, logos, patterns, and seals. I will either have your leather tooled or get a custom stamp made to give you the personalization you want.

In short, I want to give you the most bespoke, custom, and personalized experience and product that can be had anywhere. Not just a belt or wallet, but your belt or wallet, one of a kind, to accompany you for years to come.

Close-up of hand dyed black leather and a wooden object on a black cutting mat with grid lines, with blurred chairs in the background.

Step 2: Pattern Drafting

As we confirm your measurements, needs, or desires, I will begin constructing a unique pattern made specifically for you. Do you want a wallet that fits Japanese yen and British pounds? I’ve done that. Interchangeable belt buckles? No problem. An SD card holder, a mask for your specific hatchet, a cover for your favorite notebook? Any and all of these and more, made for you.

Close-up of hand cut leather patterns

Step 3: Making It

The worst part of the process for you: having to wait. I promise you it will be worth it. As you can read in my About section, leather-work plays third fiddle to a full time occupation and family life, but I will keep you updated throughout the process and send you sneak peeks as I finish major steps. Cutting, dyeing, stitching, beveling, sanding, burnishing, conditioning, and finishing, all done with hand tools and a drill press—they take time, like all good things. Soon enough, you’ll receive the Flying Monk box in your mail and will get to enjoy your piece for years to come.

A metal compass tool on a black cutting mat with white grid lines, part of a clear glass dish, and a black textured surface nearby.

Step 4: Packaging and Shipping

I keep my packaging pretty simple, because I don’t want a significant portion of your cost to go to anything you’ll be discarding within minutes of arrival. A sturdy cardboard box, plenty of packing paper to keep your piece safe, and a note from me.

I ship in the US and internationally by all the usual methods. Small goods (wallets, belts, and the like) ship free to the lower 48 states. Larger items (corset or lifting belts, large notebook covers, or bags) and international orders will be charged to you, though I will find the most affordable option for each shipment.

A black delivery truck parked on a street partly obscured by green leaves in the foreground, with trees and buildings in the background.
Open black bespoke hand stitched leather wallet resting on a weathered wooden surface.