Hi! I’m Judy—maker and creative behind J. Durie Leather Studio. I currently work from my home studio in the beautiful state of Minnesota. Yes, I admit to loving even the winter months. You could say I’m a northern girl, through and through!

My creative journey over the last fifteen years has seen me work a variety of mediums, including textiles (one-of-a-kind handbags) and digital media. About seven years ago, I asked my dad to give me “leather lessons,” and I found my home! Leather working lines up so well with what’s important to me creatively.

Heritage (generational) craft

The materials, tools, and techniques of leather craft have been used for generations—they are tried and true. I love being part of that tradition, as it has been passed down to me through my dad. I’m also blessed with an artistic heritage that includes musicians, painters, writers, photographers, dancers, and more. Their story is part of my story as a creative.

Natural materials

Leather is a natural material. It tells the story of an animal, complete with scratches, bug bites, and fat wrinkles! I use full-grain leather from cows, bison, and water buffalo. Not only does leather tell the story of a previous life, each leather item also tells the story of the owner as it ages and begins to reflect experiences and adventures lived.

Slow process

There’s something about making things by hand, one-at-a-time. The process connects each piece with my story and even with my artistic heritage. There’s nothing wrong with finding ways to make the process more efficient with various machines…it’s just not my way. The slow process of making each cut, hole, stitch, etc. is life-giving to me. I also just like the way it looks!

Long-lasting

Leather items that use quality materials and proven techniques can easily outlast their maker. I’ve even been known to tell people, “If you love to change your bag with the fashion trends, my work probably isn’t your thing.” My leather items are made to be used and loved for many years. It’s important to me that we learn to buy less, even if it means spending more in the short term. That philosophy also extends to the materials I choose. You may even see some quality reclaimed items make their way into my work from time to time!

Personality

Making each item unique is one of the most enjoyable parts of my creative process. I know every leather hide is unique, but I like to take it a step further by adding unexpected details to my work. It could be unique stitching, added color, tooling, fun hardware…the ideas are endless. For some reason, making the same item over and over has never appealed to me!