Peter's Bark - Leather Goods

What inspired you to start this business?

At first, leatherworking was just a hobby that allowed me to work with my hands (I'm an engineer by day). But I realized that there is something in the touch, feel, and smells of a well-constructed, handmade leather product that transforms the ordinary and elevates the in-the-hand feel. And I landed on the idea of further elevating the experience with trying to integrate the depth and richness of our Catholic faith with the timeless beauty of handcrafted leather products, in products that you touch everyday.

How does your faith shape your work?

Our hope is that our products will serve as a form of evangelization through the display of small stamps of wisdom that remind us of the richness and beauty of Christ's church and its 2000 years of Tradition. Taking cues from St. Benedict and St. Joseph, our company was founded on the belief that faith and craftsmanship go hand in hand. We take pride in creating products that are not only beautiful and functional but also reflect the timeless values of our Catholic faith. I aim to be very intentional with the scripture, quote, or themes that I stamp in each of my products. For example, our leather belt is based off of the "Belt of Truth" mentioned in the Armor of God in Ephesians, and our leather keychain references the "Keys of the kingdom" given to St. Peter.

What's a favorite patron saint or scripture?

Obviously St. Peter is a patron saint, but I would also add the example of St. Joseph The Worker, craftsman, and father. I'm a big Memento Mori guy. A favorite scripture would be Psalm 90:12 - "Make us know the shortness of our life/ that we may gain wisdom of heart." As a cancer survivor, this scripture resonates with Stephen Covey's idea "Begin With The End in Mind" - Acknowledging and accepting our mortality can serve as a helpful reminder to keep our focus on what's important in this life: becoming a Saint!

What's one thing you'd like customers to know?

I believe that if doing our job correctly is not limited to making intentional, beautiful handmade leathergoods, but also focusing on connection with our customers as community as Pope Leo's emphasizes in Magnifica Humanitas. In addition to constructing our leathergoods, we at Peter's Bark make it a point to be responsive to feedback, emails, and strive to live the values of our Faith.