Leathersmith expert calls BYU Makerspace a hidden gem on campus

(As) humans, we are born to create, George Wait, a Brigham Young University student studying product design, said. The maker space exists to help people nurture creativity (and) to help them create and to grow."

Wait has been practicing leatherworking for more than six years and was deemed the leather expert by BYU Makerspace manager Jed Johnston. By working in the makerspace, Wait has been able to expand his skillset and share his leatherworking talents with other students.

Leatherworking began as a hobby for Wait in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up in rural West Virginia, Wait explained that he was feeling a little isolated (and) needed some new hobbies to kind of freshen things up."

After turning to the source of all great making knowledge, YouTube, Wait said, he discovered tutorials for basic leatherworking. It kind of set me down a road of making things and creating. It's been very fulfilling, he said.

With time and practice, Wait began to take on bigger projects advancing from smaller pieces, such as wallets, to more complicated objects.

I've done full briefcases and bags (and) quite a few doctors' satchels, he said. I have done a couple of projects with exotic leathers, like an alligator wallet from an alligator my dad shot. That was a pretty fun project, Wait said.

Wait described such exotic leathers as a bit harder to work because it's so textured," but he continued, I think one of the reasons people like alligator leather so much is it's so beautiful."

Through this hobby, Wait was able to learn the ropes of networking and eventually began selling his projects. He earned money off of commission sales, and partnered with local small businesses in West Virginia that catered to the American-style crafts Wait made.

I had a friend back home who was studying graphic design, and so they designed me a logo. I had another friend who made me a promo video who's a videographer, and I made them a belt (in exchange for his services), Wait said.

Wait expressed that his journey into leatherworking taught him lessons and skills that he lives by daily.

I realized pretty early on that if you're given a cool opportunity, you kind of have to grab it and go for it. If you meet someone who has connections, you can't just meet them and then hope that an opportunity will fall into your lap. You have to seize the day, Wait exclaimed.

Wait has worked at the BYU Maker space on the fourth floor of the Harold B. Lee Library for more than a year now. The space offers services such as 3D printers and scanners, book binding equipment, sewing machines, laser cutters, virtual reality and gaming consoles.

People gotta come to the maker space. It's a great spot on campus. I think it's a hidden gem. Wait said. It's very rare that people have these opportunities in college to be able to use expensive equipment, cutting-edge technology and to be able to work on projects.

Skye Seamons, a book-binding and sewing instructor at the BYU Makerspace, also mentioned, I think that we are literally one of the coolest parts on campus. We're always getting new things, new tools and trying to make this space better and more usable."

Wait, alongside Seamons and other student instructors, will be sharing their expertise in leatherwork and other skills in guided workshops at the BYU Makerspace in the coming weeks. Reservations for future events at the BYU Makerspace can be made on the Harold B. Lee Library website.

"People will find that they're more creative than they think they are, and we're here to support those projects and help people grow, Wait said.