Craft Lake City Workshop: Handmade Leather Book Covers

Craft Lake City Workshop: Handmade Leather Book Covers – Inspired by the American Revolution

Inspired by Ken Burns’ upcoming PBS documentary , this hands-on, 2-hour craft workshop invites you to explore early American leathercraft at the PBS Utah Studio.

Join local artisan Stephanie Mma-Powell of Powell Supply as she guides you in crafting a durable leather book cover in the style of 18th- and 19th-century America, when handmade covers protected journals, ledgers and personal writings across the colonies.Learn usable techniques early American leatherworkers practiced, including cutting, punching, shaping and decorative stamping. Create a reusable leather sleeve that fits most standard notebooks and experience the feel of traditional craftsmanship.

You’ll leave with:

• A finished leather book cover

• Practical techniques you can reuse at home

• A relaxed creative experience with natural leather

Learn You will explore how early American leatherworkers created everyday objects and get a feel for the simple techniques they used. Stephanie will guide you through cutting, punching, shaping and basic decorative stamping as you make a reusable leather sleeve that fits most standard notebooks.

You’ll leave with a finished book cover, practical leatherworking skills and a hands-on experience connected to the craftsmanship of the time. Perfect for crafters, creatives and anyone interested in traditional making. All materials included, no experience needed.

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Ken Burns’ The American Revolution is PBS's six-part, twelve-hour series on America’s founding struggle coming Fall of 2025. The documentary will present the story of the men and women of the Revolutionary generation, their humanity in victory and defeat, and the crisis that they lived through. By weaving together accounts of American political leaders and their British counterparts with the perspectives of the so-called ordinary people who waged and witnessed war, The American Revolution will be an expansive, evenhanded look at the virtues and the contradictions in the fight for independence and the birth of the United States.

Learn more about the documentary here.

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About The Instructor: As a maker who combines a love for the outdoors with her engineering background, Stephanie creates functional leather accessories built to last. Currently based in Utah, Stephanie has spent the past two years expanding her experience in designing and hand crafting aesthetic leather pieces. In her workshops, she guides students through approachable techniques while encouraging creativity and craftsmanship.

@powellsupplyco

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About Craft Lake City: Craft Lake City® is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with the mission to educate, promote and inspire local artisans while elevating the creative culture of the Utah arts community through science, technology and art. Craft Lake City offers year-round community craft workshops taught by Utah’s top artisans. craftlakecity.com

About PBS Utah: We are Utah's storytellers. Our talented staff of television and digital media professionals are uniquely qualified to produce compelling content on subjects of importance to Utahns. We have a combined 150 + years of local programming experience rooted in journalistic integrity, innovative storytelling techniques, and exceptionally high production values. Many of our award-winning, local productions have aired nationally on PBS.

About Handwork in America: Craft in America announced the launch of Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national Semiquincentennial initiative to showcase the importance of the handmade, both throughout our history and in contemporary life.Handwork 2026 will be a year-long collaboration among organizations, educators, and makers to celebrate the diversity of the crafts that define America, bringing compelling stories and underrepresented art and artists into the spotlight.

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Craft Lake City Workshop Policies:

Attendance: Please note that all workshop participants are required to arrive 15 minutes prior to the workshop start time. Upon arrival, attendees will check in with a Craft Lake City representative, gather necessary supplies from the instructor, and select a seat. All workshop attendees must be in their preferred seats no later than five minutes prior to the workshop start time. Craft Lake City strives to provide high-quality making experiences in every workshop, and this policy is designed to give you adequate time to learn, create, and enjoy your craft.

Waitlist Policy: Due to the popularity of Craft Lake City’s workshops, our programs often sell out. However, spots occasionally become available if participants are unable to attend, and those spots are filled by individuals on our waitlist. If you wish to be added to our waitlist, please arrive 15 minutes prior to the workshop and check in with a Craft Lake City representative. You will be added to the waitlist in priority order based on the time you arrive (first come first served). Five minutes prior to the workshop start time, Craft Lake City will begin to invite waitlisted individuals to purchase workshop tickets on site and take the place of absent participants. Please note that Craft Lake City cannot guarantee a spot to those on the waitlist.

Cancellation and Transfer Policy: While we cannot offer refunds or exchanges, your ticket is transferable. If for any reason you are unable to attend a workshop for which you have purchased a ticket, we encourage you to transfer your ticket to a friend, family member, or another individual interested in the workshop. The individual attending in your place must arrive 15 minutes prior to the workshop start time and present proof of purchase in the form of a printed or electronic ticket and the name of the ticket holder to a Craft Lake City representative on site.

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