Welcome

I began my leather journey in 2021 and started taking my craft seriously in 2025, building a brand that fully represents my ideas and values by creating products that are entirely handmade.

Taken literally at face value, a handmade product is something created and crafted by hand. For this business it means participating in the creation of the product at every step - to ensure I can be proud to put my name behind what I can create. To me, handmade represents the spirit, passion, drive, and gumption of the maker who has made the bold decision to listen to an inner voice and put a piece of themselves out into the world. One who is forging the challenging but rewarding path of carving out a life as an entrepreneur and small business owner. Purchasing a handmade item shortens the links in the chain of commerce, connecting you directly to the heart and mind that dreamed your product up and the hands that brought it to life.

I take pride in sourcing the highest quality materials to create an item survivable for generations. Vegetable-Tanned Leather relies on natural tannins derived from plants, trees, and leaves to dye the leather into colors. This is a traditional process that is environmentally friendly, unlike conventional tanning methods that involve using harmful chemicals. By owning a product of SJ Leatherworks, you are supporting centuries-old techniques of how leather was crafted before the use of machines.

- Your Crafter, Timothy St. John