I make what I want, when I want, out of the finest materials . . .
I've been doing it since I was 16 years old. Back then--in Houston in the late 70's--I made mainly snakeskin belts with stylin' buckles that lasted forever. Urban Cowboy was big, and almost everything I made was sold in an upscale shop in River Oaks, the Houston equivalent of Beverly Hills.
Once in college, girls and partying (and enough studying to get into law school) occupied most of my time, distracting me from the craft. I still managed to make some leather goods now and then for my own use and as gifts for friends and family. In fact, my grandfather wore a python belt I made for him everyday until the day he died. I still have it - the belt that is, not my grandfather . . .
I will never own a sewing machine. I cut and stitch everything by hand until my fingers are numb. It's a slow, painstaking process that may take ten times as long to make something, but the finished product has an organic beauty and expression that defies time and place. And it will outlast any of us . . .
I have a wonderful family (so they keep telling me), great friends, a successful career in commercial real estate and work pro bono to help those in need. I've been lucky in life, and I've followed my passions rather than money. My love of design and craftsmanship, together with many lengthy sojourns in faraway lands, have helped shape my esthetic and devotion to quality. I devote the same level of energy and skill towards building award-winning commercial projects as I do towards building my next shoulder bag.
The wonder of cyberspace and social media have allowed me to reach out to all of you. If you see something you like here, please let me know. And if you see something you want and it's tagged as "available", please contact me right away. Every piece is unique and gets better with age, just like you . . .
David Sheldon
Austin, Texas
January 13, 2011
