Mackenzie Crable lives and works in the small town of Edwall, located about 35 miles from Spokane, Washington. “It’s very rural, very windy, with lots of farming land. I can’t see my neighbor,” she said.
But when it comes to the unique inner landscape which stirs the soul and brings direction to one’s lifework, Mackenzie, 25, described a black leather suitcase given to her years ago by an uncle who had experience working with leather.
As fate would have it, the mysterious black suitcase contained handfuls of leather tools — edgers, conchos, key fobs and stampers. Amazingly, the suitcase also held old, how-to leathercraft books, like , a pattern book by F.O. Baird. And, there were books by renowned leatherworker, Al Stohlman, whose works include,, and , titles that are still sought today.
