The Journal — Leather Knowledge from the Bench

• Leather Care in Vancouver Rain: Wallet GuideWet leather wallet? Full-grain and Chromexcel need different care in Vancouver rain. Real tips from a Vancouver leather workshop. Call (250) 719-1332.
• Full-Grain vs Genuine Leather: A Cutter's GuideFull-grain vs genuine leather, explained by a working leatherworker. How to tell the grades apart in a store, and which actually holds up. Call (250) 719-1332.
• What Is Patina on Leather | Veg-Tan GuideWhat is patina on leather, in plain words. How veg-tan darkens, what speeds it up, why it's a feature. Made by one maker in East Vancouver. Call (250) 719-1332.
• How a Custom Leather Commission Works | Rogue ArtisanThe real process for commissioning custom leather in Vancouver: brief, design, quote, build, pickup or shipping. From $40 to $265. Call (250) 719-1332.
• Horween Chromexcel Explained: A Leatherworker's TakeWhat Horween Chromexcel actually is, why I use it for wallets and bags, and how it differs from veg-tan. Pull-up, break-in, and honest handling notes from the bench.
• Made in Canada Leather Goods | Rogue Artisan VancouverWhat made-in-Canada actually means for leather goods, how to verify a real bench, and why Rogue Artisan builds in East Vancouver. Call (250) 719-1332.
• Leather Wallet Sizing Guide – Bifold, Long & Card HolderLearn how many cards fit, size differences, pocket feel and break‑in for full‑grain wallets. Get the right fit and contact Gordon for a custom piece.
• Hot-Foil Stamping on Leather | Rogue Artisan VancouverA working leatherworker explains hot-foil stamping on leather — the press, foil, temperature, dwell time, and how a gold monogram ages after years of pocket carry. Call.
• Saddle Stitching by Hand — Why Two Needles Beat a MachineHand saddle stitching locks every stitch independently. When a thread wears, the seam holds. Here's how it works, what it takes, and why it outlasts a lockstitch.
• Cutting Leather from a Full Hide: A Maker's GuideHow a working leatherworker cuts panels from a full hide: reading grain, scars, and tightness so your wallet or belt ages well. By Gordon at Rogue Artisan.
• Skiving & Leather Edge Finishing: Why Edges FailSkiving leather panels thin, burnishing edges, and why cheap leather goods crack at the seams. A working guide from a Vancouver bench. Call (250) 719-1332.
• Building a Leather Stamping Jig | Rogue ArtisanHow a one-man shop builds a stamping jig for square, repeatable alignment — and why making your own tools is part of the job.
• How a Leather Wallet Is Made – Rogue ArtisanWatch the step‑by‑step process of cutting, skiving, stitching and finishing a custom leather wallet. Contact me to start your own piece.
• Bench Log: Leather Tote Build | Rogue Artisan VancouverA real bench-log of a leather tote build in East Vancouver — long cuts, big panels, saddle-stitched seams. By Gordon Mielke. Call (250) 719-1332.
• Bench Log: Custom Knife Sheath | Rogue ArtisanWatch a custom leather knife sheath take shape in an East Vancouver workshop — wet-forming, saddle stitching, and how to commission one for your blade. Call (250) 719-1332.
• Bench Log: Leather Pouch Build — Gussets, Sizing & UseHow a custom leather pouch comes together — gusset types, sizing around real carry, and what the bench clips show. One maker, East Vancouver.
• Bench Log: Card Wallet Build — Pocket Counts & Break-InHow a minimal card wallet comes together on the bench — pocket sizing for Compass Cards, saddle stitch details, and what break-in actually looks like.
• Bench Log: Burgundy Bifold – Colour in Daylight vs Shop LightSee how burgundy leather reads in natural sun versus workshop light, and why colour choice changes with patina. Get in touch to discuss your bifold.
• Bench Log: Awl Guard Key Fob — Rivets vs Stitching for HardwareSee how I set hardware on small leather pieces like the awl guard key fob — why even gift-scale work takes real bench time. Get in touch to talk details.