Georgia Vogel of Honeymouth
How did you get started as a leather designer/maker?
I went to the University of Tennessee for both undergrad and grad school and spent extensive time working in taxidermy and exploring natural materials. After college I worked in Brooklyn for an incredibly talented artist who was a jack of all trades of sorts who taught me an exciting and wide variety of processes; I then taught art in the public school system for six years which allowed me a lot of time for experimentation. I've always been a purse-and-shoe gal, so working with leather and transitioning into accessory design was a natural and exciting process for me and has kind of felt like all my years and experiences as an artist have culminated into this one perfect niche.
What do you make, and how?
We make all kinds of leather goods, ranging from smaller items like jewelry and wallets to larger items like handbags, messenger bags, and luggage. Everything is made right here in Knoxville in our workshop in the Old City by myself and two other wildly talented leather workers, one of whom is a former student of mine, and the other one of my greatest friends who I met in art school.
Where are your products offered for sale?
We sell our leather goods in our shop at 125 S. Central Street and on our website, as well as a small collection in the Visit Knoxville Gift Shop inside the Visitors Center. We also sell wholesale to a few stores around the country and will be selling a capsule collection in an incredible store in Manhattan called Flying Solo starting this spring! shophoneymouth.com/
Brief Bio:
Born and raised in Knoxville, Georgia Vogel has spent most of her adult life here. She currently lives in South Knox with her husband and their large brood of animals “who we love more than anything on earth. Dozer, our Lab/Dane mix is also our shop dog, and he lives the dream of getting pets and attention from customers all day!”
David Tuttle of TuttleBear Custom Restoration
How did you get started as a leather designer/maker?
I grew up in Boy Scouts and love camping and the outdoors. And I’ve always had an appreciation for antiques and vintage items. I started restoring straight razors and pipes, and three years ago got into axes and hatchets with leather accompaniments. As I continued restoring and making, they started piling up – my wife encouraged me to see if others had interest in what I was doing.
What do you make, and how?
I go to flea markets and estates sales and buy old axes/hatchets in all kinds of conditions. I restore the head and do all-new handles out of Appalachian hickory sourced locally from a sawmill in Loudon and make the sheaths out of vegetable tanned leather. I also offer smaller items like knife sheaths and cup sleeves. I use a lot of traditional tools -- some of my hand tools are 100 years old. It’s a work of passion, I love doing it; it makes me extremely happy.
Where are your products offered for sale?
Instagram, Facebook, and markets. I also have a booth at Bargain Hunters Antique Mall on Chapman Highway. I do take commissions and have done some precious family heirlooms: a father’s axe, a great-grandfather’s hammer.
Brief bio:
Originally from Springville, NY, David Tuttle grew up in an outdoorsy family. Bicycles -- from BMX to bikepacking -- were the focus of his life, and he is a master bike mechanic. He moved here nine years ago with his girlfriend Nikki -- now his wife of eight years. “We were looking to move out of New York, and Knoxville was amazing. I came down to visit for a couple of weeks; two months later we’re moving down here! I have to really give a big shout out to my friend Stephanie Carlson at SoKno Sourdough -- she started the first market for us at Alliance Brewery. The Maker Community is very supportive.”
Victoria Bottoms of Hot Mess Leather Goods
How did you get started as a leather designer/maker?
My cousin Erin Kalb has a leathercraft business, Olio Revival. She and I have very different styles, and I kept trying to tweak her bags to make them my style. When I kept asking her to make me different things, she said, “you know, you could probably learn how to do this.” I’ve always loved bags; I have a slight bag addiction. I already understood the construction and how things were shaped, so I watched a whole lot of YouTube videos, learning how to dye, sew, punch 10,000 holes before you sew. I started it right at the beginning of COVID; my daughter was about five months old and as much as I love my daughter, I was about to lose my mind. I needed a hobby. I call my business Hot Mess because I am a hot mess and I’m totally okay with that. I wanted something that was approachable to people -- something that you can look at it and kind of laugh. It’s okay that your life’s kind of a mess and that you’re kind of snarky.
What do you make and how?
Leather bags, keychains, belts, tags, jewelry. Everything is hand dyed. I make things for two reasons: I want to make it, or someone has requested it. I make items for cosplay; someone says “hey, I would love this random thing,” and I figure it out. Somebody gives me an idea and it’s okay, like … go!
Where are your products offered for sale? Instagram
Brief bio:
Born in Virginia, Victoria Bottoms grew up in and around Knoxville, going to three different elementary schools and two different high schools. She earned a degree in communications from UT and currently works from home for a mortgage company. “I grew up in a family of artists -- my grandmother is a professional artist and art teacher in Michigan who helped start the Ann Arbor Art Fair.” Bottoms says it took her a while to find her own way to art. She lives in Knoxville with husband David and daughter Della.
