About the Artist:
Libby Ferrara resides in Southcentral Alaska were she works as a self employed artist and net mender (www.hungtoughnets.com). In the net mending off-season Libby is able to focus on her art full time, creating high-quality handmade leathergoods and jewelry, from her studio in Seward, Alaska. Stray Goose Studio began with the idea of creating a line of products that could uphold meticulous design ethics despite the challenges of a seasonal, migratory, lifestyle and limited space. This resulted in Libby developing a love for hand stitching leather as well as exploring alternative jewelry materials. Inspired by the natural world as well as a desire to live a meaningful and simplistic life Stray Goose Studio designs incorporate sustainably sourced leathers, fibers and metals, salvaged twines, glass beads, thread and many processes to make original functional objects and adornments. As a maker Libby likes to think of the products she makes becoming so integrated with the life of the person who chooses them that they gain purpose beyond utilitarian function. She believes that to be surrounded by beautifully useful things beautifully enriches daily life.
Leathergoods:
Materials:
Stray Goose Studio Leather Goods are 100% handcrafted from excellent materials of US origin—including the linen thread and beeswax!
High quality, environmentally safe vegetable tanned cowhide is sourced from Wickett & Craig, the oldest tannery in the country. Used in its natural color and finish this leather has been through the least recourse consuming processes possible in order to have a smaller impact on our planet.
Stray Goose Studio’s salmon leathers are even more extraordinary in their origin. Sourced from fish caught by the artist while seining in the sustainable commercial salmon fishery of Prince William Sound in Alaska, the skins later used for leather are taken from the salmon prepared to feed the crew. After the fishing season is over the reserved skins are then tanned by hand, in house, using a recipe of all organic ingredients. The result is a one of a kind leather that, despite its almost translucence, is as durable as it is beautiful.
Process:
Each Stray Goose Studio leather product is hand cut, hand stamped with original hand carved designs, hand beveled-edged-punched, hand saddle stitched with hand waxed linen and hand burnished to become a fine object that will stand the test of time. Created one at a time or in small batches, each item is inherently unique—becoming more so with use. Over time the leather will gradually conform to fit its contents perfectly and the natural, un-dyed color will darken to develop a rich patina and story that is completely yours.
Jewelry:
Stray Goose Studio Jewelry often combines unusual materials with simple and elegant design principles to make unique lightweight pieces. Artist Libby Ferrara is inspired to make by the endless beautiful details in the natural world—like the perfectly aligned scales of a fish—and by the desire for things in our manmade world to also be beautiful and as perfect as they can be.
At her bench Libby employs a formal metalsmithing background alongside self taught skills such as leather tanning, decorative knot tying and beading. Conceptually her work is currently influenced by experiences of coastal life and work in Alaska—which is visibly evident in the usage of salvaged hanging twines, scale pattern motifs and handmade salmon leather. Other materials often found in Stray Goose Studio Jewelry include sustainable sterling silver and other metals of USA origin as well as tiny Japanese glass beads and nylon thread.
Product Care:
Leather:
Both cowhide and salmon, is an organic material that requires some maintenance to say strong and flexible. If well cared for your Stray Goose Studio handcrafted leather goods will last many, many years. How and when to treat your leather goods depends on their condition and use but it’s not terribly difficult or scientific! Abrasion and oxidization are the biggest causes of leather degeneration and neither of these is avoidable; you are going to use your leather and it will be exposed to the elements. You can, however limit the effects of these forces by following these guidelines:
-If your leather becomes wet (oops, you took it swimming!) allow it to dry slowly, away from any heat source (patience is a virtue…) in order to preserve its texture. Once dry, if it seems dry you can then condition it as described bellow.
-If your leather becomes dry (you forgot your wallet on the dash of your hot car while backpacking and thankfully it was still there but now its all parched…) first clean it, if necessary, and then rehydrate it with a natural leather conditioner. If you want to make your own conditioner melt 1 part organic beeswax with 1 part pure coconut oil in a double boiler. Once melted, mix together and poor into a jar to cool before using. To apply, rub just enough to appear noticeably moistened into the leather with a soft cloth.
-If your leather gets dirty (it’s life, everything gets dirty) use a soft brush or cloth to remove surface dirt. If it’s wet and dirty let it dry first. If the kind of dirty is a stain it may be possible to gently spot wash with a mild soap and water but this could just as easily make things worse. Most good things in life have some cosmetic damage and still work great—the best option may be to consider it additional character.
Jewelry:
It needs to be cared for too! To ensure your jewelry lasts in it’s original state avoid getting it wet if components include leather. If your jewelry is leather see the guidelines above on leather care. The metal components holding your jewelry together may tarnish or oxidize with time. There is nothing harmful about this. However, if you prefer it stay shiny clean with a polishing rag or paper but avoid chemical silver polishes as it could damage the other materials.
Repair:
Stray Goose Studio strives to make excellent products that stand the test of time but if your Jewelry or Leathergoods need repair to continue beautiful/being useful Stray Goose Studio is happy to do so for a fair cost. To request product repair please fill out a Contact Form (at the top of this page) with “Repair” in the subject line and briefly detail the problem you are having. Stray Goose Studio will do its very best to fix your item:)
Libby Ferrara resides in Southcentral Alaska were she works as a self employed artist and net mender (www.hungtoughnets.com). In the net mending off-season Libby is able to focus on her art full time, creating high-quality handmade leathergoods and jewelry, from her studio in Seward, Alaska. Stray Goose Studio began with the idea of creating a line of products that could uphold meticulous design ethics despite the challenges of a seasonal, migratory, lifestyle and limited space. This resulted in Libby developing a love for hand stitching leather as well as exploring alternative jewelry materials. Inspired by the natural world as well as a desire to live a meaningful and simplistic life Stray Goose Studio designs incorporate sustainably sourced leathers, fibers and metals, salvaged twines, glass beads, thread and many processes to make original functional objects and adornments. As a maker Libby likes to think of the products she makes becoming so integrated with the life of the person who chooses them that they gain purpose beyond utilitarian function. She believes that to be surrounded by beautifully useful things beautifully enriches daily life.
Leathergoods:
Materials:
Stray Goose Studio Leather Goods are 100% handcrafted from excellent materials of US origin—including the linen thread and beeswax!
High quality, environmentally safe vegetable tanned cowhide is sourced from Wickett & Craig, the oldest tannery in the country. Used in its natural color and finish this leather has been through the least recourse consuming processes possible in order to have a smaller impact on our planet.
Stray Goose Studio’s salmon leathers are even more extraordinary in their origin. Sourced from fish caught by the artist while seining in the sustainable commercial salmon fishery of Prince William Sound in Alaska, the skins later used for leather are taken from the salmon prepared to feed the crew. After the fishing season is over the reserved skins are then tanned by hand, in house, using a recipe of all organic ingredients. The result is a one of a kind leather that, despite its almost translucence, is as durable as it is beautiful.
Process:
Each Stray Goose Studio leather product is hand cut, hand stamped with original hand carved designs, hand beveled-edged-punched, hand saddle stitched with hand waxed linen and hand burnished to become a fine object that will stand the test of time. Created one at a time or in small batches, each item is inherently unique—becoming more so with use. Over time the leather will gradually conform to fit its contents perfectly and the natural, un-dyed color will darken to develop a rich patina and story that is completely yours.
Jewelry:
Stray Goose Studio Jewelry often combines unusual materials with simple and elegant design principles to make unique lightweight pieces. Artist Libby Ferrara is inspired to make by the endless beautiful details in the natural world—like the perfectly aligned scales of a fish—and by the desire for things in our manmade world to also be beautiful and as perfect as they can be.
At her bench Libby employs a formal metalsmithing background alongside self taught skills such as leather tanning, decorative knot tying and beading. Conceptually her work is currently influenced by experiences of coastal life and work in Alaska—which is visibly evident in the usage of salvaged hanging twines, scale pattern motifs and handmade salmon leather. Other materials often found in Stray Goose Studio Jewelry include sustainable sterling silver and other metals of USA origin as well as tiny Japanese glass beads and nylon thread.
Product Care:
Leather:
Both cowhide and salmon, is an organic material that requires some maintenance to say strong and flexible. If well cared for your Stray Goose Studio handcrafted leather goods will last many, many years. How and when to treat your leather goods depends on their condition and use but it’s not terribly difficult or scientific! Abrasion and oxidization are the biggest causes of leather degeneration and neither of these is avoidable; you are going to use your leather and it will be exposed to the elements. You can, however limit the effects of these forces by following these guidelines:
-If your leather becomes wet (oops, you took it swimming!) allow it to dry slowly, away from any heat source (patience is a virtue…) in order to preserve its texture. Once dry, if it seems dry you can then condition it as described bellow.
-If your leather becomes dry (you forgot your wallet on the dash of your hot car while backpacking and thankfully it was still there but now its all parched…) first clean it, if necessary, and then rehydrate it with a natural leather conditioner. If you want to make your own conditioner melt 1 part organic beeswax with 1 part pure coconut oil in a double boiler. Once melted, mix together and poor into a jar to cool before using. To apply, rub just enough to appear noticeably moistened into the leather with a soft cloth.
-If your leather gets dirty (it’s life, everything gets dirty) use a soft brush or cloth to remove surface dirt. If it’s wet and dirty let it dry first. If the kind of dirty is a stain it may be possible to gently spot wash with a mild soap and water but this could just as easily make things worse. Most good things in life have some cosmetic damage and still work great—the best option may be to consider it additional character.
Jewelry:
It needs to be cared for too! To ensure your jewelry lasts in it’s original state avoid getting it wet if components include leather. If your jewelry is leather see the guidelines above on leather care. The metal components holding your jewelry together may tarnish or oxidize with time. There is nothing harmful about this. However, if you prefer it stay shiny clean with a polishing rag or paper but avoid chemical silver polishes as it could damage the other materials.
Repair:
Stray Goose Studio strives to make excellent products that stand the test of time but if your Jewelry or Leathergoods need repair to continue beautiful/being useful Stray Goose Studio is happy to do so for a fair cost. To request product repair please fill out a Contact Form (at the top of this page) with “Repair” in the subject line and briefly detail the problem you are having. Stray Goose Studio will do its very best to fix your item:)
For more information on Ferrara's current art making and life visit the "notes" section at the top of this page. Stray Goose Studio can also be found on facebook (where the photo albums include images of work dating back to 2005) and Instagram @straygoosestudio.
If you see something like but it is unavailable in the store feel free to contact Stray Goose Studio directly to discus purchasing options or to propose a possible custom order.
If you see something like but it is unavailable in the store feel free to contact Stray Goose Studio directly to discus purchasing options or to propose a possible custom order.