Find of the Week 2/1/12

After leaving Polo Ralph Lauren, Tielor McBride set out making leather goods. In an interview for Etsy he discusses his journey. 

Apart from creating things, what do you do?
I live in Brooklyn in what used to be an old hardware store and find myself devoting a lot of time to renovating it. Even though it is a rental, I have laid linoleum-checkered tile floors, installed vintage cabinets and shelving, and designed a custom gold-leaf chandelier. I want it to be perfect, but my definition of that is always changing so there is always room for improvement. Having a richly layered atmosphere means a lot to me and serves as inspiration for future projects.

 When did you know you were an artist/maker?
In general, I don’t consider them on the same level. I don’t use the word “artist” lightly, and I’ve got a long way to go before I’m there. I became a maker when I understood that old saying, “If you want something, make it yourself.” I realized it gives you freedom from the conventional consumer-product relationship. I think some people of my generation haven’t recognized that yet.

For the rest of the article and to view Tielor's leather works, visit Etsy.