Molded

Please bear with me as I lay a little foundation. I’m going somewhere, I promise, so please stay with me until we get there.

When I started work, as a young man, I followed my Dad’s footsteps into construction.  We were in the insulation business, which believe it or not, has a lot of creative aspects.  I could take pride in a job well done, and at the end of the day, I could step back a see my handiwork.

Later, I transferred to my current line of work as a Safety Officer, which is more hands-off and though busy, at the end of I day I don’t have a product to show for my efforts.  I missed the “I made this” aspect of my old job, and it was hard for me to feel that I was actually accomplishing anything.
So a few years ago I started doing leather work as a hobby.   It’s therapeutic and relaxing, and you end up with something pretty cool, that with care can last a lifetime.

At first, I had no idea what I was doing, I just started trying things. Some worked, some didn’t.  I started out buying bags of remnant leather pieces from the craft store and using mostly basic tools I already had.  It was cheap and fun, and I was making some cool stuff.  I felt like I had a knack for it.

One of the techniques that I used is referred to as Wet Molding.  But I didn’t know what it was called, if I was doing it right or if anyone else did it this way.  I’d seen projects that looked the way I wanted mine to look, so I played with different techniques until I was close.  I also learned that with Leatherworking there are way more opinions than facts.  One professional leather craftsman said, “if you have four leather guys in a room you’ll get at least eight opinions on every subject.”

With wet molding, you use the actual item or a very close replica of it to mold the project to, such as a pistol if you are making a holster.
My method is to wrap my item as thinly, yet as waterproof as I can with plastic wrap or aluminum foil so that all the contours, crevices and indentions are visible, but the pistol is not damaged.
Then I thoroughly soak the leather with warm water.
I put the leather into position around my item and begin to squeeze and shape the leather around the item.  As the leather slowly dries it accepts and holds the shape.
I use a few tools, the tip of a deer horn among others, but mostly I use my fingers tips to massage the leather into the deeper creases and contours, slowly over a long period rubbing, squeezing, caressing the leather until it is shaped the way I want it and tightly fits the item that it will house.  I become very familiar with the shape of both the leather and the item within.
Finally, after I’m satisfied with the shapes and appearance, I place it somewhere to completely dry.
This is one of the earlier steps in the total process of completing a wet mold project.  There are several steps before this one and many more after before you have a finished product.  But the molding process is crucial to the outcome and appearance of the final product.

Now, we are called to be Holy. There are many Ideas and Opinions about what Holiness is, but we know that we are called and instructed to be Holy.
1 Peter 1 15-17
15. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

I fancy myself a leather guy, so I probably have at least 2 opinions of what Holiness is, but let me walk you through one of them.  A lot of people tie Holiness to a dress code and modesty is a very important byproduct of Holiness. But Holiness is much, much more than a dress code.

When you place yourself, wholly and completely into the Master’s Hands. When He fills your life inside and out until you mold to His will and His ways. When his Handprints are own everything you do and say. When you are molded into His form and His shape.  When you can tell whats on the inside by looking at the outside, and nothing of this world fits inside anymore.  Sharing His characteristics to the point that it’s hard to tell where He stops and you begin.  That, to me, is Holiness.

When you look at one of my Holsters, and you know what kind of gun it was made for, I know I know I’ve done my job.
Likewise, when the world looks at all aspects of your life, and they know, for sure and for certain Who you belong to and What you were made for, That is Holiness!

Thanks for sticking it out, hope it was worth the wait.
God Bless You Richly,
Greg

Author: Greg Fee

I'm a Husband, Father, Pawpaw and Pastor. I love spending time with my grand-buddies. A minister since 1988, I have been blessed to work in several churches around the U.S and currently am blessed to pastor an Awesome Church. I've also had the pleasure of ministering in faraway places while traveling for work. Some of my greatest honors have been the relationships I gained with several of the modern-day Heros of the Faith, the ministering families all around the world. Several years ago I started working with leather as a means to fight boredom while working in remote areas. It swiftly became a passion that I want to share as well. My plan is to keep spreading God's Love through the written and preached word, through walking the walk, and to keep making cool stuff along the way. Check that out at whisper_n_jack on Instagram View all posts by Greg Fee