THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 27, 1995 TAG: 9501250157
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
Robert and Yvonne Haven first got interested in leatherwork while serving as leaders in their sons' Scouting activities.
``We started from there,'' Yvonne Haven said. ``It began little by little, making and designing billfolds.''
The retired Great Bridge couple have become so skilled at their craft that they will share what they know at a craft class Feb. 15 at the Chesapeake Senior Citizens Center.
The couple, who are originally from Edwardsburg, Mich., honed their skills the old-fashioned way.
``We're self-taught,'' Yvonne Haven said. ``We bought a lot of books and did a lot of reading. After we studied, we then learned by doing and doing and doing, until we got the hang of it.''
And get the hang of it they did. Soon the Havens were churning out the leather goods.
``Most of our past work was done when we lived in Edwardsburg,'' she said. ``Soon we ended up with too many products, and we had no more relations to give them to.''
Loaded down with scores of original billfolds, purses, large wallets, clutch bags, barrettes, tooth-pick holders, miniature canoes and teepees and other decorative and useful items, the Havens began to take their goods to various local and regional craft shows. Their stuff sold.
``We kept making them until we had enough to take to the (craft) shows,'' she said. ``Then we began to sell the items out of our house through word-of-mouth.''
After a while, the Havens abandoned their leather crafting for a while and moved to Wisconsin to be with one of their sons.
``We were getting at that age where we needed to be close to a family member,'' Robert Haven said. ``But the winters up there are too darn cold, so we moved here last July to be with our other son who came here years ago after he got out of the Navy.''
The Havens moved to Great Bridge and soon became involved with the Chesapeake Senior Citizens Center. Knowing that the center is always on the lookout for people with skills to teach, the Havens volunteered their expertise.
``We want to teach it to someone before the craft is lost,'' Yvonne Haven said. ``We want to pass the skill on to others. I'm sure we can teach it.''
The class will be open to people with no prior leather working experience and to those who have done it before. All of the basic steps will be taught by the Havens. Yvonne will teach her particular expertise and her husband will impart his own skill to give students a well-rounded look at leather crafting.
In fact, the Havens recommend the skill to those retired couples looking for an activity to do together.
Robert Haven does the cutting and sewing, and his wife adds the decorative embellishments.
``We couldn't do one without the other,'' she explained. ``He's my 210-pound sewing machine.''
First, Robert Haven cuts a small custom piece from a large piece of raw leather. Then his wife works the leather with her own decorative work where she colors it or dyes it and adds designs either by carving it with a special knife or stamping it on with a hammer and special leather stamp. The item is then put together using a variety of stitching, lacing and sewing techniques.
``We have a full assembly line,'' Robert Haven said. ``We used to go to a lot of craft shows and saw that either the husband or the wife did all of the crafting. But we do it together. This system is great for two people who get along together and kind of complement each other.''
The Havens say the finished product is durable.
``You can make heirlooms,'' she said. ``These leather items last many, many years. The longer you use it the better and more mellow it gets. I have some we have saved for family members. It's an item you can keep for the rest of your life.''
Besides togetherness, the Havens say the skill keeps one alert and the work is great for manual dexterity.
``It's enjoyable to take a piece of raw leather and make anything you want out of it,'' he said.
``It's a lot of fun,'' she said. ``It's great to see a product come out of a piece of flat, tanned cowhide. It's an item that's beautiful, usable and lasts a lifetime.'' MEMO: Great Bridge High School presents ``Faculty Follies'' on Tuesday/ 10
ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
What: Leathercraft classes sponsored by the Senior Citizens
Division of the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department.
Who: Taught by Yvonne J. and Robert N. Haven of Great Bridge.
When: Classes begin Feb. 15, with sessions from 10 a.m. until
noon each Wednesday.
Where: Classes take place at the Chesapeake Senior Citizens'
Center, 100 Outlaw St. Call 543-9211, Ext. 620.
Cost: All classes are free. Register by Feb. 8.
by CNB