Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Carter.
Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well I originally got the taste for leather working when I was in the cub scouts – through Boy Scouts and stopped around 13/14 years old. Fast forward to 2011, I picked it back up. I was stationed in Hawaii for a unit that was called JPAC ( Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command), it’s probably been renamed something else now. But I picked it back up because I was trying to find something to channel my combat ptsd other then partying and nursing a hangovers all weekend lol. Started making wallets and sheaths and just giving to friends and family and over 15 years later here I am
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been a pretty bump & challenging road. But as along a you stay determined and persistent, you come to realize that they are manageable, Not easy but manageable lol.
I definitely have had Struggles, ranging from ptsd, people not wanting to see you succeed to literally waking up everyday being scared shitless and doing it anyway. Staying postive when everything seems like it’s not working is definitely a strong struggle.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make functional art, be it made from metal, leather or wood im going to make something special out of it!! My goal is to have a certain museum come steal my art in a few centuries hahaha!!
As a veteran I’m known for The Battle of Shok Valley. Which in turn It helped me pick back up leather working to help with my combat ptsd. So for leather making I’m know for my one of a kind exotic leathers. Ever since I was a little kid I always wanted to have that cool exotic leathers vest, wristband, boots, belt and maybe the hat lol. So I always looked when buying leather and leveling up my skills, but never saw anything that wasn’t just plain flat color & texture. Again experience from the Army with camouflage, I took the experience and transferred it to staining & dying leather. There’s more to it than just that.
I have two favorite pieces. The first being I made myself a full alligator belt from lip to tail to make it symbolize the ouroboros. So it’s my ouroboros belt.
The second would be a gator and beaver tail money clip wallet I call – Swamp Thing. For a very durable outer shell & card pockets I used beaver tail, because it’s naturally scratch-resistant and water-resistant, for the interior I used alligator and it’s here’s the cherry on top it’s lined with RFID fabric. So it’s a specialized lining material that blocks electromagnetic signals. So when it folded/ closed you can’t get read.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Love the mix of different cultures and food
The botanical gardens
All the Nature trails
Traffic and the humidity…. I mean some days I wish I had fish gills while I’m walking my dog hahaha
Pricing:
- $200 – $2000+
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thediplomaticarrow?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ETVHD4idC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
