Handmade Portraits: Sunny Rising Leather

[aespo1]

I would rather see the hides get actually used in this manner than just discarded. Such an inspirational art to share with the world, thank you.

[ThePennantMan]

yes...what an angel too....

[isisncali]

You really seem to love your work. You are also very creative. Thanks for sharing and keeping the art alive for us all to enjoy. Peace and blessings. :)

[Jaylasplenty]

This is one of my Favorite Handmade Portraits...She makes lovely stuff, and she is so sincere.

[seraphinapandora]

Beautiful art, and lovely voice!

[MoonlitCraft]

Why can't people put aside the leather issues and just appreciate this woman's talent? She is very talented and is using the hide to create beautiful things people will have forever. It's not like she's wasting the hide.

[redtailedboaz1408]

very nice work and the video was very well made

[key2kevin]

beautiful work

[AkevittApekatt]

What you're doing is cool, but I likely wouldn't buy from someone who purchases new leather. There is a lot of used leather out there that you could recycle, alleviating your demand for animal's skin which may or may not be a bi-product of another industry. Try thift stores or thrift outlet stores. You can get leather for pennies to the dollar (suitcases etc). I think many people share my position on the ethics of contributing to new leather is when there is a surplus available. Think it over!

[CygnusX1X1]

The type of leather crafting represented in this video cant be done using recycled leather from suitcases or similar items. Raw vegetable tanned hides must be used just like the one she selects in the video! Yes the skin IS a by-product of the beef, shoe, fashion, furniture and many other industries. If it were possible to "Reclaim" the leather form your proposed suitcase example, then what do you do with the rest of the suitcase? Throw it away! You Enviro-Wackos need to "Think it over"!

[AkevittApekatt]

I throw away very little from recycled suitcases & other leather goods (jackets, shoes). Usually those things are seams, cheap inner liners (nice ones can be used), and plastic/metal reinforcement spines—the last of which I can recycle in my normal household recycle bin. Zippers & hardware can easily be recycled in creative ways if you have the inclination to put your mind to it. And no, leather is not strictly a byproduct. Wish it were but that's just not the truth. Thought over, but thanks!

[CygnusX1X1]

Actually leather IS STRICTLY a BY-PRODUCT. To clarify my previous comment, leather is a by-product typically from cattle, pigs, kangaroos and an assortment of similar animals. The majority of these animals are slaughtered for their TASTY meat. The leather is from their processed skins which are then USED in the shoe, fashion, furniture, luggage industries as well as the arts, interior design, book binding and hundreds of other professions and applications. Like it or not this will NEVER change.

[AkevittApekatt]

I would love that but simply: Slaughterhouses have a vulgar turnaround that lends not to wearables & fine leathers such as the immaculate hides sold by leather specialists. Generally, meat byproduct leather is used for "everything else" in fashion, & the like. Clean, pure hides come from special farms and are for a market independent of food. I own a jacket made with leather Chanel uses in pret a porter/HC. It is from a private farm in Tuscany and this is representational of the fine leather mkt

[CygnusX1X1]

Oh now I understand! Here I thought you were concerned about recycling or the definition of if leather was a by-product. The reality is that you appreciate leather from animals specifically grown at high end farms to make exclusive name-brand jackets from high end hides to sell in name-brand fashion boutiques. Sunny will be relieved to know she can continue to use the leather she selected for her projects. Your high end leather is not appropriate, suitable nor necessary for her uses and needs!

[AkevittApekatt]

Your reasoning is self-serving and shallow. What should I do with it then? Earlier you suggested that throwing waste leather away would be wasteful. Needless to say non-waste leather shouldn't be thrown away, either, under your reasoning. I subscribe to the same thing. Way to lose the point, though.

[CygnusX1X1]

When I read your original post, I thought you were more concerned that Sunny was not using recycled leather sources. You state that you would not buy from someone using new leather. But in your last comment you make it clear that you have purchased a leather jacket that the source leather was from a dedicated farm that grew animals exclusively to be killed for their high end skins. So you are a hypocrite that likes to suggest to others what to use irregardless of your personal choices.

[CygnusX1X1]

Enlighten me. How is my reasoning self-serving and shallow? Please re-read my comments, you will find I never made suggestions regarding recycling. People that subscribe to the idea of animals being exclusively raised & killed for high end jackets as ethical and react with disdain for people using hides from the food industry for their art / craft as inferior, are self-serving and shallow as well as typical hypocites! But, do tell me how I am wrong in my simpleton logic.

[GeishaCat]

she's such an inspiration! she's awesome!

[cocomajo]

veeery cool video... neat stuff. i grew up in johnstown,pa. you do not have that western pa accent..lol. have a great day!

[lcooke]

I absolutely love these videos! She looks like a "Sunny!" I had no idea what leather tooling looked like, this was very interesting to see :)

[THICKsmartnPRETTY]

ew, look at her reaction when she pulls that skin from the shelf, i could never use or wear leather. wearing skin. it (and her) actually sickins me

[key2kevin]

over reactors like your self sicken me

[iPanickedTGG]

The koi's-and everything else-are beautiful.

[TheBrunoYouKnow]

So awesome! What a great craft :)

[mblaine01]

wow... very cool! Tandy Leather is a total flash back to my childhood in the early 80s. lol

[pghnewlanders]

What great art. We are so proud you are from Pittsburgh. Best of luck.

[LowerMyPressure]

And she does her own music too, folks - what a wonderful talent! Love your work and "Sunny" disposition, the moniker fits oh so well. I've never been to the Tandy in Van Nuys, just to the small one in North Hollywood - I'll have to check it out!

[GeishaCat]

if you want a bigger Tandy Leather to go to there's one over here in Baldwin Park. Its whole warehouse full of leather craft tools and such. a bit out of the way for you but its worth it.

[BlindCharade]

absolutely gorgeous

[Carripolla]

beautiful! inspiring :)

[GhostGirlsays]

is this leather sustainable? i thought leather was really UN-environmentally friendly?

[deadlynightshade21]

Vegetable tanned leather (which is most of what they sell at Tandy,if not all) is better than traditional leather as it doesn't use chromium and other harsh chemicals that ruin the environment. Its probably still not the best thing in the world, but they're improving it.

[clashtheclown]

Do you get sore hands and fingers? I love your personality and your designs!

[soenmynou]

I love this interview!!

[Minkelu]

Really great interview. Sunny's work is beautiful.