Materials

Metal Work

To ensure quality, I use .925 sterling silver with fine silver in my designs. When seeking a golden hue, I turn to jeweler's brass because of its resemblance to radiant yellow gold when polished.

Natural Stones

As an artist, my creations are deeply rooted in the natural beauty of our Earth, with a particular passion for working with natural stones. Among these, turquoise holds a special place in my heart. Cherished across cultures worldwide for thousands of years, it is well-known for its breathtaking blue-green tones, but it also captivates in a diverse array of colors and patterns, each unique to its geological origins, from the rugged landscapes of America to the tranquil mountains of China. I take pride in sourcing high-quality stones from trusted American lapidaries, ensuring every piece tells a story as rich and unique as the land from which it was born.

​Leather

Premium full-grain European vegetable-tanned leather is used in most of Ninth House Collection's custom leather goods. I've worked with different types of leather, and European veg-tanned is my favorite to tool and stain. It has a lovely flexible, soft texture. Occasionally, chrome or oil-tanned pre-finished leather may be used in some items that don't require tooling.

Vegetable tanning is an old-world, natural method of tanning leather. The technique utilizes plant-based tannic acids from matter such as tree bark, leaves, and fruits. This traditional slow-tanning process produces durable leather with natural, warm tones. It can take skilled artisans a couple of months to complete the process.

Chrome-tanned leather makes up the majority of the world's leather and is what you'll find in mass-produced items. This is the "quick serve" method of tanning. The leather is dyed using chemicals and acids, making it less environmentally friendly, but cheaper and easier to produce since it only takes a day or two to complete. Occasionally, I will source remnant lots that help reduce waste when I use this type of leather. Oil-tanned leather is chrome tanned that has been treated to make it more water resistant. Aside from cost and production time, the major benefit of chrome-tanned leather is it is water-resistant.

Full-grain leather still has its top surface which has not been sanded and treated to remove the natural irregularities for a more uniform appearance. This leather without the top layer is called top-grain and is often what you see in mass-produced products, but it is less durable than full-grain leather. Full-grain leathers are the strongest, age like fine wine, and produce items with unique characteristics.

Hardware

​A mixture of vintage deadstock (old, but previously unused), antique, and new components adorn Ninth House Collection's leather products. Hunting for new pieces to incorporate into the collection is one of my favorite parts of this endeavor.

 

Learn more about my Process and how your items are handcrafted.