Floral Tooling Foundations

Description

Don Gonzales

Prescott Resort – Arizona Room

Thursday 02/25 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Beginner/Intermediate

Workshop Description: Build a strong foundation in Western floral tooling with Don Gonzales. This hands-on class walks students through Don’s process for creating clean, dimensional floral carving from start to finish. Students will learn proper casing, swivel knife control, beveling, pear shading, thumbprints, backgrounding, decorative cuts, and how each step works together to create depth, movement, and a clean finished piece. The focus isn’t just on which tool to use, but why, where, and how to use it effectively. Don will demonstrate each step and work with students as they tool the class pattern alongside him. This class is designed for newer leatherworkers as well as those who have been tooling for a while but want to strengthen their fundamentals and improve the overall quality of their floral work.

Materials to bring: Floral carving and stamping tools, tooling stone, mallet/maul, swivel knife, spray bottle or sponge & water dish, and a strop.

Workshop Instructor: Don Gonzales become interested in leathercraft while in 8th grade, when a friend’s father shared some simple skills with him. He went from making sheaths and belts and saddle repairs to eventually owning his own shop and going full-time in 2004. He credits Jimmy Plantt for many life lessons and skills learned, in addition to those from his many online friends. In October of 2020, Don launched a new, weekly podcast, Lost Trade. Don lives in Moulton, Texas.

Workshop Sponsors: Hermann Oak Leather Co.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• There is a $25 administration fee for canceling a workshop.

• The cost of each workshop will be refunded minus the $25 fee.

• No refunds for workshops after Wednesday, December 30, 2026.