My grandma and mom were big influences regarding my sewing skills. When I was about 10-11, they taught me to hand sew and then machine sewing. As a teen, I often made my own dresses and skirts as well as curtains and such for my bedroom.

When Chris started with his tooling again, we didn’t have a sewing machine for leather and he needed his first belt hand sewn and he asked me “Hey, can you sew?” Of course I can, but never sewed leather before and was up for the challenge. His buddy showed us how to do a basic saddle stitch and I was off.

After stitching his things for awhile, I had the idea of creating a small tote for myself because I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted in a store. And that’s how “my side” of Montana Lace Custom Leather started… I realized after making my tote that I truly enjoyed creating bags with or without a pattern and figuring out the process (typically while I was creating) that worked.

Each item I create is with intention of the person I’m making it for or who I think it will be for. The joy I get from creating something that will bring someone else joy is priceless.