Leather Case Making

Instructor: Gordon Andrus
Course Length: 8 hours | Lessons: 59
Skill Level: Advanced

Learn the lost art of case making. 

For artisans who strive for unparalleled craftsmanship, this in-depth course with master leather craftsman Gordon Andrus will push your skills to the highest level. You'll learn the precision techniques needed to create a fully custom leather box case, from constructing the original form to tooling a unique, one-of-a-kind design.

This is not just a project—it’s an artistic journey, designed for those who want to create bespoke leatherwork that stands apart in quality and detail. If you’re ready to refine your craft and produce exceptional, heirloom-quality pieces, this course will give you the skills and insight to make it happen.

About the Instructor:

Gordon Andrus is an artist, craftsman, and author. He has been working leather since the mid-1970's when his grandmother, Vera Rees Tippetts, sent him home with a handful of tools that had belonged to Vaughn Tippetts, his grandfather.

In 1981 Gordon worked for a short stint at the old Keystone Brothers shop in Denver, Colorado. Gordon went on to study art and design at Utah State University earning a Bachelor of Fine Art degree in 1986.

While in college Gordon worked at the Cache Valley Horseman in Logan, Utah. While working there for Mark Broughton, Gordon built his first saddle using Marks saddle school notes from Jesse Smith.

After college Gordon went on to earn a master’s degree in fine art from Alfred University in Alfred, New York in 1990. Gordon spent 12 years working with draft and saddle horses in the 1990's and early 2000's. He managed the carriage horse operation at Greenfield Village, a historic site established by Henry Ford, before relocating with his family to Cody, Wyoming in 2002 where he set up shop full time working in his own saddlery, Sage Creek Stock Saddle Co.

In 2011 Gordon and his wife Maryanne moved again to Hoytsville in Summit County, Utah, where they are able to be closer to parents and other family. Gordon credits noted Utah horseman Bud Hendrickson for giving him a start with horses. "Bud trained horses for many disciplines, and I'm very grateful for the hours I was able to spend with him in my youth."