Black Orchard Leather

My little book binding nook.

I'm trying to find a slim book case t.o go at the back of the table to put all my paper and fabrics on just to finish it off.

Ah natural light. I need more plants now...... :)

This is where my journey into leatherwork began.

On a whim I decided I needed to learn how to make a book and what better book to replicate than River Song's Diary from Dr Who.

It feels exciting to revisit my bookbinding journey because I never reached my full potential.

Maybe I'll make another one of these soon....

As another Monday rolls around I've decided to spend the day at home sorting out my new home workspace. A desk by the window is first on the list of priorities so I can shoot nice, well lit videos. After that, shelving.

You may ask why I'm doing all this when I have a studio already. My wife and I share a car which she needs to use for commuting certain days in the week. My studio is a 25 minute drive away (Or multiple buses) so when I can't get there I need to be able to use my time productively. Bookbinding is something which requires only a table and stacks of paper, so it's a relatively clean craft (Apart from the glue), and can be done at home.

It's funny how things in life go in cycles. Ten years since practically leaving bookbinding behind, I have a renewed passion for working with paper again. It's the perfect craft to slot into a gap which has been created in my life by simple circumstances. I suppose being a jack of all trades is fairly useful after all.

As difficult as making a living as a creative is, it's essential to my mental health. Whatever craft I focus on, I can't see that ever stopping because being busy keeps me sane. Over the past four years I've been struggling to get enough orders to cover my outgoings and it continues to be so difficult. I've been flailing around trying to find the one thing to somehow kickstart my income and I'm very aware from the outside I've looked like moderately unhinged.In reality I've been doing the only thing I know how, digging in, thinking up potential ways to fix this business and above all, moving forward. Resilience is my super power.

The pulling together of my many creative skills onto one website is refreshing and I'm excited to share it with you as soon as it's done. Before I can launch I need to make a batch of notebooks and journals to fill that section and get my blog set up. I love to ramble about my creative journey and this platform isn't possibly the best way to get my story across. It's a bit too temporary so a permanent blog feels like the best way to go. I love words as much as I love creating art and there's a buring desire in me to do soemthing with that passion too.

Onwards and upwards! Books AHOY!!

Question....

Would you like to read a much more wordy account of my journey like this on my blog?

Thanks to you all for your input on making the decision for the choice of my new brand colour scheme. Green won out on the public vote but it was very close so I'm trying on the green logo for size.

:)

Morning all!

Sunday roundup time.

I've whittled down my branding colour choices to these two now. I do love the orange in my current logo but I don't think it's the right colour for the image I want my business to have. It's maybe a bit too immature? Does that make sense?

I want something to give a feel of quality and reliability.

Yesterday I was leaning towards the green because as you all know I love nature but today I'm thinking the teal is the way to go because it's calming and reminds me of the ocean.

Let me know your favourite!

I promise this will be the last question on this!

I've been looking for the perfect writing bureau for ages, so when this little beauty popped up on Facebook marketplace, I grabbed it before anyone else could get their greasy hands on it@

I'm officially resurrecting my bookbinding business, so the plan is to use this lovely bureau to film videos and take photos of all the books I make.

Hopefully I'll finally be able to create the look I've always been after and it'll appeal to a whole fresh range of people.

Would you add a green leather pad on the drop down front shelf? 🤔

I've settled on this logo as my new branding but I'm struggling to decide which colour to use.

Which is your favourite from that selection?

In the spirit of varying my output on here to more than just leather stuff, here's a new t-shirt design I made.

It's available to order via the link in the first comment below.

I went on a roadtrip to buy leather.

On the drive there I debated on whether to throw caution to the wind and buy a ton of new hides, but common sense prevailed for a change and I bought just the one to test out first. Better to make some samples to be sure it does everything I need it to before I drop a huge wedge of credit on the full range of colours.

For a while now I've thought about using pre-dyed leathers to make my products. I've always used natural veg tan leather and hand dyed it myself but recently, as with most things in the world, the cost of the dyes has more than doubled, making my profit margin evaporate.

The pre-dyed leather is more expensive but not having to dye each piece by hand and then wait for it to dry before adding a few finish coats and then waxing it would save so much time and effort. It does seem very appealing I must admit.

So today I got myself a hide of stunning 'Brandy' coloured leather to try out. The photo really doesn't do this colour justice, it's just beautiful. To me, this is the colour I've always associated with leather.

There are 7 colours in the range, Brandy, Dark Brown, Black, Bordeaux, Dark Green, Navy Blue and Scarlet Red, so if my tests work out then my colour options will be limited to these. I'm on the lookout for a similar leather in yellow and purple.

I haven't been this excited in years to make some samples in this gorgeous leather. I think I'm going to make a journal first, then maybe a saddle bag.

Do you like the Brandy colour as much as me? :)

Evening folks!

How frustrating that Facebook will only allow me to change my page name once every 60 days!

What's an indecisive basket case like me supposed to do??? :)

Well, there's nothing I can do about it except wait patiently (I don't do patiently). I've changed my profile picture to pull all my socials together visually anyway so just ignore the name bit for now....al 5 of you. :)

Anyway, as of this morning I have only one business page on here now. That should be much less confusing for you all and much easier to manage for me.

New website is incoming as soon as I can fill it full of pictures and words.

I bet you've all been wondering where I've been haven't you?

No? Well I'm going to tell you anyway because I've been RESTING!!!

Yes, you read that correctly, I actually took a couple of days off to recharge the old brain cells and spend some time with Mrs Orchard.

We went on a trip to Whitby, which is definitely my favourite seaside destination. It was 12 degrees and raining but those of you who know me well will know that's the PERFECT weather for a day trip in my humble opinion. :)

In other news, I've brought my bookbinding materials home so I can fold paper and glue stuff on an evening while listening to youtube videos - just like the good old days when I first started.

And last but not least. I'm getting closer to finishing my brand new website. Yes I know, it's only a few months since I launched a load of new websites. Well, my big ideas very often take over and when the realisation of the ENORMITY of the task hits, it REALLY hits.

I've had to admit that I'm not 25 anymore and working the 27 hours a day required to make stuff to fill all these websites would end in me expiring in the most unsightly way. No-one wants to see that, they really don't. So I'm going to pretend that never happened and this shiny new, carefully curated website will be my one and only, everything in one place, easy to maintain (he hopes) special place for all my creations.

P.S. I still have a ton of leather scraps taking up space in my studio so who fancies a load of nice classic cross body bags like the ones in the photos?

Comment below and give me a reason to get sewing and clear some space!

I've made these to match the valet trays in the same style.

They could of course be used to hold dice if you're using the trays for gaming...

I'll leave it up to you how you'd use them :)

Oh hello you beautiful piece of tan leather gorgeousness!

I bought this leather to make belts but it was screaming out for me to make a notebook cover so I did.

This is pre dyed 4mm thick hide and it's exceptionally sturdy. I'm going to get my hands on some more of this soon.

https://www.blackorchardleather.com/product/tan-leather-a6-notebook-cover

Oh hello bookbinding how I've missed you. ❤️

This is the first book I've made from scratch in about 8 years and it was so satisfying.

I started with bookbinding back in 2011 so it feels fitting to come full circle in time for my new website.

It also gives me an excuse to buy more fabric which is never a bad thing!

Wordy post alert!!

It's an interesting one though so don't wander off just yet...

As you know I make things from leather and fabric. I also make things from glass, paper, wood and metal. I also like to draw and paint and create surface pattern designs, merch designs and wall art and I'm soon to give signwriting a try.

Would you follow my socials if I was to showcase a variety of all that in one place if it all had the Mr Orchard flavour to it?

I like to think I have a recognisable style to everything I make so perhaps I could make ME the brand and people would follow because they actually like the fact that I have an eclectic content?

Please discuss below.

(Some context - I can't afford to pay for multiple websites so having just one would lessen the stress a little while I can figure out a way to make this craft thing pay.

If you would like to support my creative endeavours you can do so by subscribing to my Patreon page and that would go some way to helping me keep my studio. You can find it here https://www.patreon.com/MrOrchard )

I know that the majority of my followers on this page aren't gamers so I just thought I'd show how awesome these are as valet trays for keeping your keys, money, wallets, purses etc., all in one place at home.

They have a wooden base covered in leather so they're super sturdy and have a felt backing to protect whatever surface you place them onto.

The black one was actually supposed to look like a planchette shape (ouija board related) but it sort of came out heart shaped. Either way I think it looks great.

I absolutely LOVE those domed pins around the edge. To me they make these look like they'd sit perfectly next to a beautiful leather Chesterfield chair.

One thing is for sure, they'll last a lifetime!

I have a nice selection of these cute miniature journal pendants in the 'Special Place' now.

www.blackorchardleather.com

I'm off for a wander in the woods to get some video of them now.

Which is your favourite colour?

Here's a beautiful brown leather notebook cover I made.

In the special place this evening or available for thirty five pounds plus delivery direct from here. Message me if you want it :)

For new shapes ready to go for my new collection of dice trays (valet trays).

Which is your favourite?

Making more miniature journal pendants.....

I first made these mini pendant journals around 12 years ago. They function as a usable book too with real paper inside you just need to be able to write very small :)

What do you think? Shall I make some more in different colours?

My job for today was to make a more simple and understated dice tray (valet tray) to add to my collection. In typical form I slightly over engineered it and this is what I created.

I have to say I absolutely love it! The base is made of wood covered in leather, so it's extremely sturdy and durable as well as being beautiful.

I think this would work just as well as a valet tray too, maybe a little smaller?

Comment below and let me know!

I just had my first subscriber on my new Patreon acount!

A random person found me through a TikTok video and wanted to support me with a monthly donation.

I'm strangely uncomfortable with the whole thing but I'm going to stick with it this time and keep creating content. I need to keep learning what works best and hopefully soon I'll be able to produce the quality of videos I really have in mind. We all have to start somewhere!

So if you like the kind of things I make and want to support me with a small monthly subscription (less than £2.50) I would be extremely grateful. I have some big and exciting plans but I can't put them into action till I get the funds so any help will be amazing.

Thanks all!

https://www.patreon.com/MrOrchard

Journals, books and notebooks are GO!

I've found my bookbinding mojo hiding in a box under the desk so expect a healthy stream of new papery awesomeness hitting your screens over the next few weeks.

Next to the box containing my mojo I found my box of brass bits and bobs so I'll be doing a deep dive into there to make some really unique and special things too.

I finished filming my next YouTube video yesterday so I'll be editing that this evening. Spoiler alert, it's not leather or book related but it does feature moss quite heavily....I'll leave you guessing on that one!

Give me a wave if you see this post because I need Facebook and Instagram to sit up and take notice of my awesome creations again!!!

TA x

Hello

As you know I have lots of different creative projects on the go. I've decided to pull ALL of them together for my new Youtube Channel, all under the monicker of The Wonderful World of Mr Orchard.

There are a couple of old videos on there at present and I'll be filling it with all sorts of interesting stuff over the coming months as I film everything I make.

https://www.youtube.com/

If you fancy supporting me in my artistic journey and enabling me to make more intersting content (and pay my studio rent) I also have a new Patreon page which will be filled with exclusive content and behind the scenes stuff.

https://www.patreon.com/MrOrchard

Thanks for looking!

I'm busy creating fancy designs which are available on t-shirts and stickers and all sorts of cool things.

This is my latest effort. A luna moth.

https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/Luna-Moth-by-AndrewOrchard/162013877.IJ6L0