Starting out crafting knives as a hobby in 2018, Sunrise-on-Sea resident Henry Carr has turned his love for creating things into his own small business.
While knives are what started it off, Carr’s creative passion evolved into leather making, and today he offers a wide range of custom, handmade leather products under his business CarrCraft.
“CarrCraft, as it is today, was probably born when I started making knives as a hobby in 2018, but found it difficult to find someone who could make genuine leather sheaths for them,” the 67-year-old said.
“I started making my own sheaths for my knives and very soon was getting requests from family and friends to make them for their knives.
“I soon realised that I actually enjoyed the leather work far more than the knifemaking.
“At this stage I was still working full-time, so this was still just a hobby.
“I soon started diversifying into making other leather items as a challenge to improve my skills.”
Carr, who is originally from Johannesburg, moved to Sunrise-on-Sea after being retrenched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is when CarrCraft truly took off, with Carr setting up a home-based workshop and venturing into the market scene in and around East London.
“This allowed me to be far more creative than the small space my garage had provided in our previous home.
“One of the ways of integrating into a new community is to show what you do, so we joined a market on the East Coast where I could once a week display my work and interact with the locals.
“To have a table of items at the market worth visiting, I was soon making belts, men’s wallets and key rings.
“The range was quickly increased to include baby ‘vellies’, arm bands, messenger bags for ladies and men, note pad covers as well as diaries and journals, coin purses, credit card holders, leather mouse pads, pocket knife and universal multitool pouches and even Bible covers.
“I have also made laptop and tablet covers, mobile phone pouches, neck pen holders and a briefcase,” the father of three and grandfather of six said.
All handmade with vegetable tanned leather, his items are each one-of-a-kind with beautiful detail.
“Each and every leather item I make for sale on our table is handstitched, designed, stamped and dyed by myself.
“I pride myself on my attention to detail and am a bit of a perfectionist.
“Having said that, it has to be appreciated that the items are handmade, and that in itself has certain restrictions, but each item is unique as only a handmade item can be.
“To add to our offerings, my wife also makes fabric, faux leather and leather handbags, but her experience in clothing production makes it easier for her to use machines for these bags.”
He said he enjoyed being creative in various ways, with painting being his first artistic endeavour.
“I started off painting, oil on board, in my 50s and had the privilege of selling my art at auctions, but it was very difficult to say goodbye to an item that took so much of my passion.
“We moved to a smaller home when the children were grown up, and then space became an issue.
“In 2018, the knifemaking seemed to be a good alternative, and that led to where I am today,” he said.
While custom knifemaking was a brief passion, his love of leather work hasn’t faltered.
And even though the process is intricate, Carr loves every minute of it — even when it’s a custom order.
“To make a custom item, I have to have the actual item. This is because the leather has to be wet-moulded to ensure the item fits snugly in the pouch.
“Wet moulding requires that the leather is dampened to make it pliable, then moulded around the item which has been protected with plastic wrap, secured in place and then allowed to dry overnight, thus taking the shape required.
“It then has to be trimmed to size and then added to any other pieces required to complete the holder, and only then can it be dyed, then stitched together.
“The stitching is then flattened out and the edges of the leather are bevelled with a bevelling tool and then hand-sanded.
“The edge and stitch line is then dyed and buffed using beeswax,” Carr said.
Creating his own pattern for belts, wallets, bags and his baby “vellies”, Carr said there was a lot of trial and error involved.
“The whole process can be very time-consuming. And any changes requested require redesigning the pattern.
“As simple as it sounds to the client, it requires careful thought and planning, and sometimes a complete remaking of the pattern.”
He said it was always rewarding finishing a product and seeing it appreciated by others, but the creative process was what truly made him happy.
“I am able to spend many happy hours in the workshop. To assist with the creative process I have my hi-fi playing my Spotify music selection.
“I’m old school, so enjoy the old rock legends. I find the music inspires me and gets the creative juices flowing.
“My greatest pleasure is seeing the completed item knowing it started off as a flat piece of undyed leather and is now a beautiful and useful item that will stand the test of time.
“Of course, it is so rewarding to see someone wearing or using one of my creations when I am out and about. I often proudly say to myself, ‘I made that!’”
To find out more, visit the CarrCraft Facebook page or www.carrcraft.co.za.
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