Last week, over the course of four days, six participants from across the country gathered in our Charlotte, North Carolina studio to gain knowledge and community. With folks from Montana, Maine, Connecticut, and North Carolina coming together, this workshop became more than just a class — it became a shared experience of dedication, patience, and artistry.

The process began with the foundation of our craft, cardboard templates meticulously measured and cut to determine the satchel’s shape. Each participant, whether seasoned in leatherwork or touching full-grain leather for the first time, learned that every little millimeter and cut mattered. The templates set their foundation, ensuring that the vision for the bag would translate into something tangible and structurally sound.

As the days unfolded, those flat patterns became the parts of our No. 4313 Minimalist Satchel, carefully cut by hand. There’s something transformative about watching raw material yield to craftsmanship — the smell of leather filling the air, the no-so-quiet focus of six minds considering their work, all while laughing in the comfort of community.

Hand-stitching followed — a rhythm of needle and waxed thread pulling through each hand-punched hole, a meditative process that stitched more than just leather. It stitched patience into the satchels, connection into the room, and a sense of pride into each participant. No machines, no shortcuts — just their own hands guiding every stitch.

By the middle of the fourth day, what had once been cardboard templates had transformed into finished satchels — each one distinct, marked by the colorful choices and character of its maker. These weren’t just bags , they were skillsets and memories built from the ground up.

The ColsenKeane School of Leather is about more than leatherworking. It’s about slowing down, stepping away from the noise, and rediscovering what it means to make something with your own hands. It's about learning what it means to experience the world in real time. Watching strangers come together — from different corners of the country — reminded us why we do what we do at ColsenKeane.

The satchels that left our shop weren’t just pieces of leather stitched together. They carried with them the weight of four days spent learning, creating, and connecting. These satchels are a testament to the beauty of what can be made when patience meets purpose at The School of Leather.