Tooled leather is a staple of Western style, and Sandy Crawford’s made a career of it. We talk to her about her leatherworks that fit any cowgirl or cowboy.
For over 50 years, Sandy Crawford has been designing, crafting, and selling handmade leather goods. She has a true passion for Western culture dating back to helping her parents breed and show Hereford cattle.
It was her parents who bought her first leathercraft kit. This hobby-turned-career has carried her from childhood through college, marriage, and beyond. Now her husband, Freeman, and her work are ever-evolving from traditional leather tooling to cowhide to embossed leathers to silversmithing with turquoise. Classic Leather Designs offers everything from a beautifully tooled classic leather wallet to a contemporary leather-and-fringe crossbody.
Cowboys & Indians talked to Crawford about her journey from 4-H leather work to her business, Classic Leather Designs, and more.
Cowboys & Indians: You mention that your leathercraft interest began around age 8 and was nurtured through 4-H and then college. What early lessons or failures from that period still influence how you approach your work today?
Sandy Crawford: I learned early on that good work is the best advertisement and that delivering pieces on time was really important. Most of my work early on was award orders, so I had to take myself out of the equation and just focus on both those who ordered the awards and those who would receive them, which was of utmost importance. Even though every piece was handmade, it can be easy, with so many, to let things slip as “good enough.” I would remind myself that even though it was just one of 75, for me, it might be the first or only award the recipient might ever receive. I still apply that to my work today. It is never about me and always about the person receiving the piece.
C&I: You moved from cattle show awards into Western fashion and interior design markets. What sparked that transition, and how did you build credibility in those new markets?
Crawford: Well, that was all God’s work. My 15-year time span of exhibiting at the National Finals Rodeo provided much inspiration and a market. I have been a ranch girl all my life — my growing-up years, I was more my dad’s boy. Even though I don’t ranch anymore, the love of trappings and the stories of ranch life are in my heart. God just started showing me unique ways to be fashion-forward and still have roots in all my pieces that came from ranch life. I also firmly believe that if one copies other people or trends, the furthest you will ever get is 2nd place. So as I developed an audience at the NFR, I found the folks came to me for something no one else would have.
C&I: Looking ahead, what is the next chapter for Classic Leather Designs? How do you hope to evolve the craftsmanship, product line, or business model in alignment with your story and values?
Crawford: I went through a difficult time when my now late husband, Gary, suffered from Alzheimer’s. I had to quit doing shows and just completely surrender to God to look after me and direct my work. Ever since then, every day begins with a prayer for God to guide and direct and use my gifts and talents to his glory. So to say I really know what it will be, I can’t. I do know that every day is an exciting adventure, and it has been such a blessing. I have remarried a wonderful and talented Christian man, Freeman. He encourages me and is a part of all Classic Leather Designs’ work now. The most exciting thing we are doing right now is incorporating my photography into my leatherwork. So far it has been on furniture and pillows, but I have a thousand ideas stirring around.
C&I: Your story mentions hand-tooling wallets and belts beginning at a young age. Tell us about the first thing you made.
Crawford: The very first thing I remember making that I still have is a wallet. I also still have a camera case that was Grand Champion at the North Dakota State Fair. My family remembers me making key chains that looked like cowboy boots and selling them for a quarter.
C&I: Walk us through your current hand-tooling process — what tools you use, how you prepare the leather, and how you ensure consistency across pieces.
Crawford: Most of my preparation involves picking the right leather for the job, especially the cut from the hide, to make sure it will hold up to wear. I do the typical casing, tooling, and finishing that most leatherworkers do.
C&I: With such a long history of evolving from show awards to Western fashion and interior design work, how do you balance preserving traditional leather-craft methods with innovating new designs or materials?
Crawford: I am a rule breaker, so as I addressed earlier, I love my roots in the West, so there is always something that ties back to that, which is my creative work. Of course, I use some manufactured conchos, etc., but I love finding old, worn-out spur rowels, saddle parts, or other trappings to be part of my pieces. The saying “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” — that’s me.
C&I: How do you select the hides, dyes, finishings, and hardware that go into your pieces? What are your key criteria for quality, durability, and aesthetics in a finished project?
Crawford: It must last for the person purchasing it.
C&I: Custom and award work often demand tight timelines and high standards. How do you manage workflow, prototyping, quality control, and client communication when creating bespoke leather items?
Crawford: Sometimes it is hard. We are at a stage in our lives where I am not taking on many new clients for awards, and the ones I have worked with have pretty much given me a theme and budget and let me play. That is such a blessing. Occasionally, my clients ask for more than I feel comfortable with and I just tell them that it is something I can’t do.
C&I: Looking ahead, what are some new techniques, materials — maybe eco-leathers, exotic hides, digital tooling — or design directions you’re excited to explore within leather craftsmanship? And how will they integrate into the Classic Leather Designs signature aesthetic?
Crawford: I do incorporate some laser engraving, but right now I am mostly focused on integrating my photography into my work. I also work with my favorite silversmith and stonecutter, Adam Fierro, to create beautiful turquoise pieces for conchos and belts.
C&I: What’s your favorite piece you’ve ever made? Why?
Crawford: That is hard to say for sure because most of the time it is something I haven’t done before and it becomes a new favorite. If I had to say one piece, it would be a frame that I made for a painting by Andy Thomas of President Reagan. It is a long story, but I went to an inspirational event that really spoke to me as an American. I still hold the idea in my heart from that day, that we as citizens shouldn’t just wait for the government to fix our country, but should each do our part. From that day forward, I dedicated my booth to American patriotism and my Christian beliefs.
The inspiration to create an art piece with 12 of my favorite quotes from President Reagan began there. The frame, draped with the American flag, was the centerpiece of my exhibit at the NFR every year until I retired from the NFR. President Reagan is one of my heroes and on top of that my father lived in California for a time and one of his jobs was shoeing President Reagan’s horses. I guess that piece really means a lot. I still have prints and will still make that piece on request. I know for a fact that at least two of them are hanging in a few governors’ mansions.
Check out Sandy Crawford’s story and handmade leather works at her website, classicleatherdesigns.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY: (all photos) courtesy Sandy Crawford
