Below are messages left by some of my customers. If you've previously had work undertaken by the Leather Workshop please email me with your comments.
04 July 2010
Martin. The suitcase was safely received. It is excellent- I am very pleased with it. Thank you for your hard work. I am happy to be a reference or example, if this helps you. Regards Ed
20 April 2010
Dear Martin, Just a quick note to echo what I said on the phone. Thanks so very much for the lovely job you did on my old suitcase. Even though you sent me photos of the process, I was taken aback at how beautiful it looked when I got it home. The new handle looks like its been part of the case all its life and the new locks and hasps are far better than the old ones were, but what really struck me is the finish. What was a light, scuffed and scratched surface scarred by a century of use is now a deep, luxurious brown, no doubt what it looked like originally. My great grandfathers initials have come up beautifully, and Im looking forward to seeing what my grandfather thinks when he sees it. Meanwhile, my father is also delighted with the renovation of his briefcase. I know it turned into quite a big job, but to look at it now you would never think there had been a problem. It still retains that look of well used leather, but now without the injuries suffered along the way. All in all, you have two very happy customers here. Already Im planning to send you my other case, so dont do anything foolish like retire. We need to hold on to craftsmen like you. Very best, Richard and David Brearley
14 January 2010
Dear Martin, The handbag arrived today and I am extremely pleased with the result. Whilst you havent been able to recapture the original very high gloss, the new look is wonderful, very classy and discreet, and will give the bag a longer working life as its much more appropriate for its reluctantly maturing owner. Thank you very much for all your hard work. Kind regards, Mac Macmillan
02 January 2010
Dear Martin, Just a note to confirm safe receipt, with thanks, of my top hat, binocular and suit cases. As only to be expected they are fantastic and I am extremely pleased with their renovation/repair. As always many thanks. Thank you also for the pot of cream – very much appreciated. I shall probably give you a buzz in the New Year to catch up! All best Alexander
08 December 2009
My dear Martin, I cannot thank you enough for your wonderful work on my two boxes. When I sent them to you they were in a pretty sorry state and I rather expected you to tell me that they were beyond reasonable repair. The 1888 black writing slope had belonged to my grandmothers family but was less of a slope and more a collection of disembodied parts but under your careful skill and attention you have restored it to its former glory, and I can now imagine my great grandmother penning letters to her numerous offspring on it as she travelled far and wide as the newly married vicars wife. The second box, a gentlemans travelling stationery case, was in a desperate state, and I think only its sentimental attachment had saved it from the dump. My grandmother had cherished it in all its torn state because it had belonged to her grandfather and then to her father, and we know that it travelled extensively in Europe with great grandpa, and even went with him to China twice in the 1900s. It was already quite battered when I was first introduced to it and subsequent years had not been kind to it, but it has stayed with me given to me by grandma when I went to University, and hiding treasured letters under a forlorn and tatty exterior. I seriously doubted whether it would survive the journey to North Wales but it arrived safely and, undaunted by the task ahead, you gave me hope that it might survive a few years yet. In the event it needed to be completely dismantled and painstakingly rebuilt preserving the original interior intact and restoring the exterior to the fine article it once was. I would not have believed such a transformation was possible. And yet it has lost none of its antiquity and for the first time I see it as it must have been when in regular travelling use. Martin, I am so grateful to you. I sent you two battered relics and thanks to your patience and skill, you have returned to me two beautiful items which are now worthy of passing on to the next generation With my sincere thanks and all good wishes Katew
01 December 2009
Dear Martin, The suitcase has arrived safely and looks really beautiful. It has acquired a wonderful rich, aged patina and is barely recognisable as the battered, broken, mouldy wreck I sent you. I am particularly delighted with the initials on the case which were not visible before and have emerged in the restoration. They are my grandfather’s initials, “WDW” and bring the case alive. I am very grateful to you for a lovely piece of work. Best wishes Christine Tomkins
28 July 2009
Dear Martin, The postman has just delivered my husband’s wallet, and I hasten to say a very big thank-you to you for renovating it so beautifully and for giving it a new lease of life. It is something my son treasures, and I know he will be thrilled to be able to use it for years to come when we were afraid it was finished. With very many thanks and kind regards, Sara.
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