A significant donation of leatherworking tools and supplies has been made to the Rocky Mountain Folk School — a partner organization of the Grand Lake Creative District — by a long-time enthusiast of the craft.

The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, developed a passion for leatherwork stemming from childhood and honed her skills over several decades.

After a career change in the 1970s, the donor was inspired to take up the hobby by observing artisans at Silver Dollar City in Missouri. Despite having no formal training, she dedicated years of her life to the art form. She relied on local crafters and employees from the Tandy Leather leatherworking company for tips and techniques to hone her craft.

“For me, the most glorious part of crafting was creating a picture on leather,” she remembered. “To take a smooth piece of leather, to carve a curve and bring a petal to the foreground, to tap a beveler along a cut and make a background recede, to shade a horse’s muscle and highlight his strength, then to enhance the beauty of the artwork with finishes — that process was the most rewarding. I would sit back with a smile, breathing in the aromas surrounding me, and be grateful to all those who helped bring my childhood love into being.”

Facing declining dexterity, the donor sought a suitable recipient for her extensive collection of tools. After exploring various options, the Rocky Mountain Folk School, with its mission to preserve traditional arts and crafts and foster creative learning, emerged as an ideal match. The school’s focus on heritage skills and community engagement resonated with the donor’s own journey of learning and appreciation for craftsmanship.

“This was exactly the atmosphere I would have been a part of if I lived in the area,” she said. “We honor the past and share this knowledge forward by mentoring new generations and helping ignite a similar spark that lights their own creative experience.”

The Rocky Mountain Folk School is dedicated to honoring and teaching traditional arts and will use the donated equipment in its workshops and classes, which will eventually be held at the new Creative Hub Workshop being built in Grand Lake.

“This donation will directly support the school’s efforts to provide hands-on learning experiences in leatherworking, ensuring that these valuable skills are passed on to future generations,” said Heather Schumann, the folk school’s interim program coordinator. “The equipment will provide our students with exceptional resources as they explore this timeless craft.”

The donation underscores the importance of community support in preserving traditional skills and inspiring creative expression. Rocky Mountain Folk School aims to create a space where individuals can connect with their heritage through hands-on learning and develop a lifelong appreciation for craftsmanship. They promoted a new executive director, Gillian Butler Horne, in March.

The donor reinforces the school’s mission beautifully by saying, “Give yourself the gift of possibilities. Watch and listen. Try a skill. Be patient with yourself. If you find that leather tooling isn’t a perfect fit for you, try another craft. Perhaps clay, or wood, or paints, or words, or machines … just keep learning.”

To learn more or donate to Rocky Mountain Folk School, go to RockyMountainFolkSchool.org. To discover more about the Grand Lake Creative District, visit GrandLakeCreativeDistrict.org.