Meet the team
Beastie
Mischief maker; “stop it’s tea time” alarm clock; the photogenic one!
Becc
Leather worker; webmaster; everything else!
Family Beginnings
Sheffield in the 1970s: dad bought mum a leather carving kit as a gift. They both enjoyed the craft, and it became a lucrative hobby and family business, taking us to craft fayres and various festivals including Greenbelt festival in the 1980s and 90s as “The Leatherman” (nothing to do with the tool).
In the 1990s, after a relocation to Cornwall, various barn building projects took over and eventual ill health and building related injury brought an ‘end’ to the Leatherman.
False start!
A decade later burnout and a bullying headteacher forced me to abandon my career in teaching. The Doc suggested I start drinking (!!!) and take up a hobby (believe me, even primary teachers need to learn to switch off)! Since the tools had only been put away for study, they weren’t that dusty, and I restarted the business under the name “Cornish Leather Craft”.
By the following September I’d even managed a few festivals, with the help of friends and family.
Off to Grenbelt!
Looe Music Festival
We got a comission for a guitar strap from a lovely lady at Looe Music Festival whose partner was playing Main Stage, and another a few years later to celebrate a new album!
Unfortunately, as my mental health improved my finances deteriorated, making full time work necessary.
The patterns and paperwork were put away and it became an expensive hobby again for a while…
Reeboot and Rebrand!
Happy Bully was born late in 2021 when a friend asked me to look at some leather accessories for XL dogs.
In 2022 with another illness stopping employment, but being unable to sit still, I had time to work on these and a few more ideas.
The Cornish Leather Craft website was looking as tired as me. Websites are nothing like they were 20 years ago. (Roll on web3! Go on – educate yourself!) Tastes styles and tech have evolved, but leather is timeless, so a rethink was needed.
During one of my chaotic creative sessions, thinking about different product lines, bike gear was thrown into the mix inspired by my tank strap and bike/teacher bag. My bike was called Raven (see below) so Moto-Ravn was suggsted. The Ravn just fit with everything else, not least with this shot at the business also being against all odds! (Financially, physically and mentally empty!)
April 2023 I went live with the new website, organised so that I can add the new lines as they develop.
Look out for the different logos across the website that mark our different lines and services! Or check our “services” page
Future Plans
I have a few refinements to make on a couple of other products. Plenty new ideas to try out… and the Moto Ravn line to develop.
Go check the blog or Social Media to stay up to date. We’re also looking to move the blog over to our ravnsw.crypto space, when the platform is eventually developed (12 months and waiting, unstoppable domains have um, stopped!)
Happy to accept cryptocurrency as payment – at the moment it’s message me, waiting on a platform to integrate with the webshop.
Finally – I’ve started a channel over on You Tube – looking at workshops irl and online… watch this space!
Why the Ravn?
I always loved the story of Elijah being fed by crows in a drought (found in Kings 17 the bible). Some years ago I was able to pass my bike test and get a “big girl” bike, against all odds, and despite a disastrous start aged 16-21!
She seemed like a miraculous provision, so I called her Raven.
I have been blessed since with my Beastie Guen, and my van, and with time to recover and rebuild, so again, against all odds!