“Melina is one of the most talented women I have had the privilege to meet and her products are no different. I absolutely LOVE my Melina Be clutch, it’s minimal and classy and pairs with all outfits well! Melina uses the best material and secure hardware for her products! Thank you Melina for designing new world products with an old world feel.”
— Jes D. - Owner of FoCo Organics
Perla Series
A year after I started my Piccola woven series, I moved my leather to the studio to work on new leatherwork series. I sourced some of this leather from the widow of a Harley Davidson leatherworker in Wyoming because I care about reusing existing materials as sustainability is a tenant of my business.
Perla means pearl in Italian, and is the second part of the name of our studio Piccola Perla. The Perla series includes leather pouches, purses, earrings, and book covers. After purchasing an embossing stamp to add my brand in texture to my leather pieces, I started brainstorming with Jes, a local artist and printmaker. We have been stamping my logos and “Joie de Vivre” on the leather pieces that I craft. This process is fun and I am excited to say that all my new leather pieces in the making will be adorned with my embossed logo or name.
At the beginning of 2023 I was gifted a leather sewing machine. I am so excited to experiment with it all year. It is enabling me to work faster and offer more affordable prices to my customers.
Sewing Leather
Since this video was filmed I have acquired a Sailrite heavy duty sewing machine. I have made a couple of purses already. Like this one you can find in my store. I can’t wait to keep showing you as I making more leather goods with my new toy.
The machine below is a Kenmoor my grandmother bought for me twenty years ago. I use it for lining my leather bags & purses with fabric - what the machine is actually built for.
Here is what it looks like when I make my leather creations. I am working on a hand-painted leather book cover.
Custom Leatherwork
I have been collecting leather over the years - from an Italian leather maker I met in Toulouse, markets in France and, recently, from a Wyoming estate sale. I love that this leather is secondhand, so my impact on the environment is minimal, and the scraps are the perfect size for making earrings and bracelets. What might be one person’s trash is my treasure.
Come to my Piccola studio and pick some sourced leather for a handmade bag uniquely designed for you. I can make purses, pouches, handbags, or really anything you’d like. Select the leather, clasps, closures... from brass to silver. I’m excited to collaborate with you on your leather piece.
I can even paint the leather for you before making a piece. See my class schedule to find out how you can be a bigger part of this creative process and make your own custom piece of leatherwork.
