We recently connected with Joy Bridge-Huber and have shared our conversation below.

Joy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

So as a single parent I have always ‘made’ some of the things we needed for costumes, dress up, school projects, etc. out of necessity mainly. I have always been a bit artistically inclined but did not have the nerve to pursue as an income but ended up ‘monetizing’ many of my hobbies from sewing to painting furniture, as others always asked to have something similar done. After my kids were grown, I was helping my grandkids make leather belts for 4H and really liked doing so. I took a class at my local Tandy store in 2019 and have been hooked ever since. But that was just scratching the surface of the craft. I spent many hours the next two years on my computer searching out better learning resources, tools, supplies, etc. I think what I like most about leatherwork is that there are soooo many variants of the craft and there is so much to learn that I never get bored with it.

Most of what I do is Western themed. My dad was a cowboy and I grew up with horses when I was young. However our lifestyle changed and never really got to go back to that lifestyle. My daughter and family farm and ranch so now I have that connection again. I have had to purchase many more tools, knives, sewing machines, etc. than I realized I would need starting out. I also made many mistakes and even made purchasing mistakes. That is just part of the journey though. Fortunately I did find some great teaching resources out there. I have learned how to cut, tool, paint, and construct leather items that I would never have dreamed possible a few years ago! As I started sharing things I had made for family I started getting other requests so started sharing on social media and then added a Shopify page to sell items and take custom orders. I am still in the ‘starter’ phase and learn new techniques and small things with each project.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a mom of 3 grown children, one daughter and two sons. I now live in Omaha and also work full time in IT. My daughter and family farms/ranches in Western NE. One son is a State Trooper in NE and the other an Agronomist in Wyoming, both married to wonderful girls! My grandkids are heavily involved in 4h and showing animals. A few years ago I was visiting and they all wanted to make leather belts for fair that year. We went to Cheyenne, bought the supplies and dove in. It was not nearly as easy as we all thought it was going to be and learned quite a bit. When I returned to Omaha, I found we had a Tandy store and they offered ‘leather tooling’ classes. I bought a beginners kit, took a class, and was hooked. I made a few really ugly things for the grandkids at first but kept trying and trying to get better. Then the pandemic hit, all that time isolated was spent looking for better learning resources and trying to replicate the look of pieces that I liked.

I started sharing pieces I had made on Social media and had some interest and sold a few things. I was encouraged by that so I started a Shopify page to sell from. I also signed up for a couple of Craft shows. Those went well so I kept making things and practicing and buying better tools to keep improving what I make. However, Social Media is hard……hard to keep up and devote enough time to keep growing. I contacted an ‘influencer’ in the area and worked with her to make a ‘special, one of a kind’ bag for her that she would share and then I would also get the professional photos to use. One of the best steps that I have taken!!

She sent me photos of her and her husband out riding and asked if I could replicate that look, but in the meantime they had changed horses, so I needed to match the horses to the current horses they rode. I worked on that piece at least two months but it turned out amazing! She shared with her followers and that has really helped grow my following.

Leather is a big investment. I try my best to provide each custom order exactly the vision they have and make it to the best quality that I can. I think that is where starting this later in life has been beneficial with my sewing, painting, and making experience. I also know what it is like to receive something ‘less that expected’ and never want a customer to have that kind of disappointment!

Tools that you use do make a difference. I add one at a time as I can. I now have two industrial sewing machines that each have a specific purpose. I worked with one until I felt I was selling enough to justify the second. The leather you use makes a difference as well. I use the best material that I can but also try to match to a customer’s budget! Not everyone can afford a ‘statement’ piece but sometimes need a special gift within a specific budget.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

For now, this is an expensive hobby that my current job funds! However, it is starting to pay for itself and gets better each month. I am currently working on trying to make my side hustle my full time job within the next year and fully believe this will happen! My first industrial sewing machine I bought on a payment plan with low interest fixed payments. When that one was paid off, I bought my second. I add leather tools one at a time as I can afford to replace cheap ones that I started with. Cheap tools can get you started but you learn the difference that good tools make after you use one!!

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I really like Business Boutique by Christy Wright. Start small with what you have and keep improving and building your skills as resources as you can. Most importantly just start. Her famous quote is ‘Do it scared!’.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jhuberleatherdesigns.com
• Instagram: @j.huberleatherdesigns
• Facebook: @j.huberleatherdesigns