HISTORY
Hello, my name is John Sellers. I have been working with leather since the late sixties, when introduced to the craft. Through my teens, I apprenticed with another leather craftsman, learning the time-honored techniques used to create functional, beautiful items from cowhides. We toured eastern states, showing at festivals and craft shows. After we parted company, I continued to work my craft as Little John's Leatherworks for several years. In the late seventies, my wife and I exhibited in mall shows and opened a store in a local Mart, and we created many belts, lamps, saddle seats, wallets, chairs, and several special orders.
As time went on, I took a break from the business, focusing on family, a mortgage, a regular job. I still continued to make the occasional belt or lamp as gifts, but did not show publicly. Several years ago, we started back into the local craft-show scene on a small scale. We acquired an oak peddler's cart from our friend who built it, and have been using it since as the backbone of our display. We have been showing in the mid-Atlantic area, most frequently Tyler State Park, the Philadelphia and Kutztown Folk Festivals, Sugarloaf Craft Shows, and various street fairs and music festivals.
Our work has been well-received by customers. Many say they have not seen this type of leather craft since the seventies. Sometimes people stop in for a plain belt, then add something more decorative. We have been increasing the variety of leather items displayed, and routinely get commissioned to work unique orders - custom hanging lamps, shades for table lamps, leather seats for vintage chairs, specialty belts and guitar straps, and more. We have re-created logos, done military-themed carvings, and matched dining-room decor, having fun while we make our customers smile!