The Towpath Collection – Pittsford in stamped leather – Volume I-C
From the Practice Log – an ongoing series of leather stamping studies. Volume I-C.
A September study.
The Towpath Collection – four stamps drawn from the canal at Pittsford and pressed into small leather goods made to be given. The water and the walk beside it; the boat at the dock and the ground that has carried the canal seventy feet over the valley since 1822.
First, we drew the whole ride as one line: Schoen Place at the near end, Fairport at the far end, Bushnell's Basin ticked along the way, and 13.5 miles there and back written under the water. It runs lengthwise along the luggage tags.
In pale sea-blue, the water's own color.
In honeyed russet, for the towpath in October.
And in deep forest green, the tree cover over the dock.
Next, we made a badge for the pocket: a single tree leaning over the flat water, TAKE THE TOWPATH arced above it. The words are ours – an invitation, and the keychain carries it.
On warm caramel and on forest green.
The same badge sits low in the corner of the toiletry bag, in warm amber. Looks great when stamped onto the leather.
Then we drew the packet boat at its mooring, bow-on, with the fender balls at the nose, the bollards on the dock and the reflection holding still in the water, and gave it the whole floor of the golden tan catchall tray – the place the keys land at the end of the walk.
It looks genuinely beautiful.
And finally, the fact we liked the most. Since 1822 the canal has crossed the Irondequoit valley on the Great Embankment, riding roughly seventy feet above the creek. We drew the boat sailing clear over the valley – our own section, drawn from the story – and pressed it into the corner of the journals, a good cover for writing down plans of that altitude.
On navy, and on pale warm greige like the dock stone.
We made this out of love. Leatherius Woodman is on a mission to create and share artifacts of beauty, craft and love – this study is one of them, and we hope the feeling is mutual. Every image is a render – how we prototype before cutting a die.
If you'd like any of these made real, or anything here changed – say hello through our contact page.
P.S.
