A New Addition to the Studio

I've only gone and bought myself a clicker press!

I've wanted one for years. It all started after watching another bag maker on YouTube using an attachment in a rivet press to cut small leather and vinyl shapes. Naturally, I disappeared down an internet rabbit hole trying to find something similar that would fit my own rivet press. No luck.

What I did discover, though, was clicker presses.

I watched video after video of people effortlessly cutting everything from tiny strap ends to entire bag panels and even shoe soles. They looked absolutely brilliant... right up until I saw the prices. Many of them cost thousands of pounds. I'm sure they're worth every penny if you're using one all day, every day, but for my little studio they were firmly in the "I don't think so" category.

So I forgot about them.

Well... almost.

Every now and then I'd spot one online, usually on AliExpress, but there was always a catch. Either the postage cost more than the press itself, or they simply wouldn't ship to the UK. Given that these things weigh an absolute ton, I suppose that's understandable.

Then, the other day, one appeared with UK stock at a reasonable price.

Let's just say my credit card didn't put up much of a fight.

It arrived on Saturday, my cutting dies turned up today, and, naturally, everything else had to wait while I had a play.

Cue excited squeal...

One of the first dies I tried was something I've had my eye on for a while. They're shaped rather like a figure of eight, but once the leather is cut, each piece folds to create a link that connects with the next, almost like a chain. I bought two sizes, and I think the smaller one is going to make some lovely straps for smaller bags.

I enthusiastically attacked my box of leather offcuts without giving the slightest thought to how many links I'd actually need. I was having far too much fun for sensible things like maths.

Eventually I thought I'd best check, so I stopped to work it out. It turns out I'd need around fifty of the larger links—or about eighty of the smaller ones—to make a 120 cm shoulder strap.

Needless to say, I didn't have nearly enough scrap leather to finish one.

Rather than cutting into fresh leather, I've decided this will become a long-term little project. Every time I finish another commission or bag, any suitable offcuts will be turned into more links until, one day, there are enough to become a colourful patchwork strap.

I rather like the thought that each little piece of leather will have started life as part of something else. It feels like a lovely way to give those offcuts a second chance while creating something unique.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go looking for excuses to use my new press...