Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Courses FAQ

Question: If I come on a course, where can I stay overnight ?
Answer: Visit www.visittetbury.co.uk  There are local bed & breakfast places as well as self catering cottages and hotels.

Question: How can I get to Tetbury by public transport?
Answer: The nearest train station is Kemble, about 6 miles north of Tetbury. Visit www.thetrainline.com for information.
The nearest National Express coach stops are Cirencester, Chippenham and Stroud.
If you need a taxi from the station or coach stops please contact us.

Q. When and how do I pay for a course ?

A. To secure an available place on a course you need to book through the web site. This can be by credit/debit card or bank transfer. The balance of the course tuition fee is due no later than 42 days before the course start date. If the balance is not paid we reserve the right to cancel your booking.

Q: If I travel by car, where can I park?
A:The workshop is situated on the B4014 Tetbury to Malmesbury road within walking distance of the town centre. You can park in Silver Street or the long stay car park which is a 5 minute walk away.

Q: What time do we start and finish each day?
A: Daily session times are 9.00 am to 5.15pm each day except Sundays which are 9.00am to 5.00pm

Q: Do I need to bring food?
A: No. Lunch, as well as morning and afternoon refreshments are provided. If you have any dietary restrictions, you will need to let us know before the start of a course.

Q. Should I bring any tools to a course?
A: A basic set of tools is provided for each student to use while on a course. You can bring tools you already have, but if you do not already have tools, we recommend you wait until coming on a course before buying any.

Q. What if I can not attend a course after booking ?
A. See our Terms & Conditions for details.

Q. Do you ever cancel a course ?
A. Yes, sometimes we cancel a course no later than 28 days before a course is due to start if we receive insufficient bookings. Course deposits are then refunded using the original payment method . For the first time in 2013, we had to move a course due to bad weather. If this happens again, you would  have the option of a full refund or to transfer to the new date.

News & Views

Leather Related News

MacGregor and Michael – where to see our work

A range of work made by MacGregor & Michael is available from their shop at 37 Silver Street, Tetbury, Glos. GL8 8DL. UK. Tel: ( 0044) 01666 502179

Opening hours 10 am -5 pm,  Wednesday – Saturday.

We were featured in Country Life ( September 28 th, 2011 issue) in a feature on the Cotswolds.

 

 Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen  

If you are interested in contemporary crafts visit the new shop in Cheltenham which opened on 5 October 2013, next to The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum.

Its open 6 days a week, 10 am – 5pm. We have work in the shop.

The Guild at 51

51 Clarence Street

Cheltenham GL50 3JT

Tel: 01242 245215

www.guildcrafts.org.uk

Craft Skills Workshops

A series of 1 day workshops run by members of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen on Fridays during 2015 at The Wilson, Cheltenham Art gallery & Museum.

 

Chipping Campden Summer Show 

August 15th to 20th. Open 10 am – 6 pm ( except Wednesday 20th 10 am – 4 pm)

High quality crafts from members of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen ( MacGregor and Michael will be there !)

Town Hall, Chipping Campden, Glos. GL55 6AT

 

Ring 01242 245215 or visit www.guildcrafts.org.uk

 

Place to stay in Tetbury 2013

Field View, 4 Cottons Lane, Tetbury, GL8 8DP

Traditional 19th Centuary Stone built cottage, sleeps between 2 to 4 people, located within 5 minutes walk of the centre of Tetbury and workshop.  Tastefully modernised while still retaining character and key features, enjoys views over the fields and river and it’s own terraced garden.  Contains one single bedroom, one double bedroom, with access to single loft bedroom, bathroom, fitted kitchen, lounge/diner with log burner.  Instant hot water with combi boiler and central heating, microwave, washing machine, TV and internet access.  Bookings for week long or week-end stays depending on season and availability.  For prices and availability contact Tanya Adams www.fieldviewtetbury.co.uk or call 07811 176898.
Leather Shows

‘Le Cuir a Paris’ twice a year  at Paris Nord Villepinte.    www.lecuiraparis.com

‘Lineapelle’ leather fair twice a year in Bologna, Italy. www.lineapelle-fair.com

New Web Sites

Ian Beaumont and Louise Drover are a highly skilled couple who specialise in the conservation of leather and paper. See their new web site at www.leatherconservation.org.uk

See Kate Langley’s new web site www.langleyleatherwork.com

Publications

M.de Garsault’s 1767 ‘ Art of the Shoemaker ‘ – an annotated translation by D.A. Saguto.

For as long as we have known him, Al Saguto has been working on the translation of this remarkable work. It is now completed and published by Texas Tech University Press. ( www.ttup.ttu.edu). Its a wonderful book and we highly recommend it .

Ten of thousands of shoe makers worked in 18th century Paris & London but if any of them wrote about their trade before M.de Garsault’s ‘Art du Cordonnier’ of 1767, nothing has survived. ‘Art of the Shoemaker’ takes us to a world where shoes were made by hand using time honoured techniques.

Al is a fifth generation artisan whose eighteenth century ancestors were shoemakers in Maryland and North Carolina. He is a master boot and shoe maker and has worked for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation since 1990.

‘ The Art and Craft of leather’ by Maria Tresa Lladoi Riba and Eva Pascual i Miro – Published by Barrons.

If you are interested in decorated leather, its history and techniques check out a recently published translation of this  Spanish book

Neil MacGregor

Courses

Also take a look at these courses ‘Guademeci leather art techniques’ with Jorge Centofanti. Courses held at his studio in France.

www.atelierdesarts.net

Other news

If you like our web site take a look at small business specialist Duck On Water who are known for their affordable and dynamic websites: www.duckonwater.co.uk

Visited Paris in September  2012 to buy some crocodile skins for a collection of wallets, belts and key rings we made for The Mint & Co. Visited Hermes factory in Pantin. Travelled north to Lille to buy some lovely linen threads. A successful trip !

In April 2012 visited the leather show in Bologna. Lineapelle is a huge show full of suppliers so its really important to know who and what you are looking for. Bumped into John & Astubal of Bag Icons.com, and Caroline Groves the well known ladies shoemaker. www.carolinegroves.co.uk

In 2009 we made a trip to Barcelona and the Catalonia region of northern Spain where we visited a great leather museum in Vic. They were selling the spanish version of my book and showed us a writing case in their collection made by Neil for their founder Andreu Colomer i Munmany. They interviewed Neil about the leather used to make the case, 200 year old ‘russia’ leather, and why he was commissioned to make it.
Visit : Museu de l’Art de la Pelle ,
Centre Cultural Convent del Carme,
C. Arquebisbe Alemony,5. 08500 ,
Vic, Spain

Tools

Leather Working Tools

Students who attend courses can buy from our small range of tools and materials when they come to the workshop. Over the years we have found it necessary to have certain tools made to our patterns and specifications.

We take care to set awl blades in small awl handles and polish each facet so they penetrate the leathers easily. The Knives are sharpened and the ‘Spring dividers’ are polished and finished ready for use.

Tools made for us in the UK include:

  • Edge Beveller – shaped and polished, the cutting edge is sharpened
  • Race – sharpened and polished

Other tools and materials have been sourced from further afield including linen threads and awl handles from France; awl blades and needles from Germany . We also now have pricking irons specially made for us to our specification.

Our range of tools and materials will soon be available to buy online.Watch this space ! If you sign up to our mailing list you will receive notification .

The Leatherworking Handbook

The Leatherworking Handbook was written as a practical guide for those wishing to make hand stitched leathergoods. It is based upon my own experience and knowledge as a designer/maker, and is the book I wish was available to me when I first started. It was first published in 1993 and it has been continuously in print ever since. As 2013 will be the 20th anniversary of its publication we are planning an event at Walsall Leather Museum in September.

In 2005 the German edition was published followed by the Spanish edition. Approximately 100,000 English language copies have been sold to date which makes The Leatherworking Handbook an international best seller in the world of leather textbooks.
I started running leatherwork courses as a result of the success of the book and the many requests from people from all over the world, who needed help to realise their ambition of becoming designers and makers of hand stitched leathergoods.
Perhaps one day there will be a sequel…….

You can now buy signed copies of The Leatherworking Handbook from Valerie Michael
and have it posted directly to you.

Book Reviews

‘All you need to know’
Reviewer: marcwhiffen , London UK

‘It is often difficult when you approach a subject with little or no knowledge as to the best place to start. This was the same with me and leatherworking.  However, this book has proved to be invaluable to me. It is clear, concise and easy to follow, taking you from the basics to advanced with confidence. There are no corners cut and the manner is authoritative without being intimidating. A thoroughly good manual and an essential for anyone taking up this fascinating craft.’

‘Ideal for the beginner, informative yet accessible.’
Reviewer: Paul New, Wiltshire.UK

‘From fumbling blindly and trying to learn the basics of what seems to be a dying skill I was delighted to discover Valerie Michael’s book. It is well written and illustrated clearly, the background information is useful without being baffling to the novice, and the projects are easy enough for developing essential skills but challenging enough to maintain interest. I feel I am no longer fumbling blindly, and know how to direct my practice of this enjoyable craft. Well done Valerie!,

‘A different perspective than US Western’
Reviewer: Liana Winsauer, USA

‘This book is a welcome addition to my leatherworking library. Particularly since the styles are similar to my own tastes – very plain, but elegant. Very different from the typical US type of leatherworking with lots of tooling, buckstitching, etc. Not that I don’t appreciate that style also – I have a huge stack of Ann & Al Stohlman’s books that I regularly re-read – but it is nice to see something *different*. The techniques, also, are a bit different in some cases, which I also appreciate. As the author is British, some of the terms and tools may seem unfamiliar at first. However, there are either the “American-English” equivalents listed, or it’s clear what is meant from skimming the text. A definite addition to any leatherworkers ‘library.’

Winter, Spring, Summer & Autumn Schools

5 day courses – 2014

These 5 day courses are open to both beginners and those with experience. The syllabus includes:

Students at summer school

  • Leathers, how to identify them, their qualities & potential
  • How to use and maintain hand tools
  • How to hand-stitch with confidence
  • Techniques for cut edge finishing including bevelling, burnishing and creasing.
  • Paring, including turning edges

Other techniques students could choose to learn are:

  • box & butt stitching for making leather boxes, containers or bags
  • wet moulding pouches and bags
  • bound, turned and piped seams
  • ideas for straps and handles, including ’roundings’
  • attaching locks, straps, bag fasteners and zips

Student at summer school
A range of patterns will be available to use or students can develop their own ideas and work on personal projects eg. bags, belts, dog collars/leads, boxes, ipad/phone cases, briefcases etc. A range of leathers and fittings will be available for students to buy and use.

Materials are not included in the course fee

Dates 2014 Full Fee Deposit
January 20 – 24 £975 £400
March 10 – 14

August 30 – September 3

September 20-24

£975

£975

£975

£400

£400

£400

Small leathergoods

2 day course – 2014

Paring leather
On this course students learn how to make  ‘cut edged’ and ‘turned-edged’ small leathergoods ( folding note-cases/wallets, phone cases, purses etc ) using vegetable tanned leathers.The course syllabus aims to cover:

  • accurate pattern-making, the first step to a successful project
  • hand paring using both a paring knife and a bench mounted paring machine
  • construction options which include cut and turned edges
  • linings – thin leathers and fabric
  • how to hand stitch fine leathers such as calf, goat and pig skins.

Students can expect to make at least 2 finished pieces.

A set of tools are provided for students to use and some can be bought at the end of the course. A list of suppliers is provided for each student to take away.

Materials are not included in the course fee.

Dates 2013 Full Fee Deposit
November 1 -2  £390  £150

Moulded leather flowers

This course is not running during 2014

1 day course

Leather flowers made by students

On these courses, students learn how to create beautiful moulded leather flowers and leaves from vegetable tanned calf. Once dry, they can be coloured or left natural. Moulded leather flowers can be used to make jewellery, to decorate boxes, shoes, bags and frames for pictures and mirrors. No previous experience is needed to enjoy these courses.
These courses have a maximum of 5 students.
Flower making tools will be available to buy.
Basic patterns & materials are included in the course fee

No dates for 2014

Travel Bags

6 day course

This course focuses on making high quality Travel Bags by hand. Students will have the choice of making either a Framed Kit Bag or a Holdall style of travel bag using vegetable tanned leathers. A selection of leathers and linings, plus a small range of Italian frames and metal fittings & zips will be available for students to choose from .

Students will be helped to perfect their hand stitching skills and are introduced to different construction options, determined by their choice of design.These will include paring and edge finishing. Techniques could include: 

  • cut edge
  • piped and turned
  • bound.

Patterns will be available for students to use and copy but it will may be necessary to adapt or create patterns to suit the style of Travel Bag chosen/designed.
A set of bench tools will be provided for each student to use during the course.

This course is only suitable for those with some experience or who have attended at least one of our other courses.

Materials costs are not included in the course fee.

Dates 2014 Full fee      Deposit
August 3 – 8  (Sunday-Friday) £1170 £500

Hand stitched leathergoods

2 day courses – 2014

These  introductory courses are for people with little or no previous experience and for those who want to ‘go back to basics’. Understanding hand stitching and being able to stitch neatly and consistently is the key to these courses.
Student hand stitching

The course syllabus teaches student how to:

  • identify vegetable tanned leathers, and gain an understanding of their qualities & potential
  • maintain hand tools
  • mark around patterns & cut out the leather
  • hand-stitch with confidence
  • finish edges including levelling, bevelling & burnishing cut edged work
  • pare/skive using a paring knife

Possible projects can include belts, bags, dog collars & leads, boxes, purses  etc

There are only 5 students per course so everyone receives individual tuition.
A set of tools is provided for each student to use.
The cost of materials are not included the in the course fee

Dates 2014 Full Fee Deposit
February 1 -2 £390  £150
 July 26 – 27 £390  £150
September 13 – 14

October 4 – 5

£390

£390

 £150

£150

December 6 -7 £390  £150