Hand-stitching full-grain leather into pocket-sized heirlooms, John Smith turns the humble wallet into wearable art with character to spare.

Preferred Mediums

• Full-grain leather
  
  
• Hand-stitched wearables (wallets, card holders)
  
  
• Leather jewelry (bracelets, earrings, necklaces)
  
  

Biography

Palm Coast–based leather artisan John Smith spends most evenings threading waxed linen through supple hide, earbuds in, podcasts on, and fingers bravely dodging awls. What began as a stress-relieving hobby quickly became an obsession: creating wallets that feel as personal as a favorite song. Every piece emerging from his bench is built saddle-stitch by stitch—a marathon of precision that can only be done by hand.

John’s material of choice is full-grain leather, prized for its dense fiber structure and legendary longevity. Because the hide’s outermost layer remains intact, it resists wear, develops a rich patina, and keeps daily-carry items safe for decades—qualities celebrated by carry-goods experts worldwide. Imperfections in each hide inspire, rather than frustrate, John; he highlights natural scars and color variation, allowing every wallet to tell its own story of cows, pastures, and craft.

Balancing artisan and entrepreneur, John founded the FullGrainSmith Etsy shop, where sleek product shots meet candid process reels filmed in his garage studio. His marketing background shows in playful copy (“card pockets should never be boring”) and a loyal community who appreciate transparency about sourcing, pricing, and care. While social media fuels sales far beyond Florida, John still believes the best way to experience leather is in person—pressing palm against grain, hearing the subtle creak that signals quality.

Art Box Gallery & Studios champions functional art that blurs craft and design; John’s minimalist wallets fit that curatorial vision perfectly. By elevating an everyday object, he sparks conversations about sustainability, slow fashion, and the joy of owning fewer, better things. Visitors to Art Box will find John’s work alongside ceramics and contemporary mixed media, proof that utility and beauty need not be at odds.

Looking ahead, John plans to expand into small-batch belts and desk accessories using the same rugged, vegetable-tanned hides celebrated for their strength and ability to age gracefully. He also mentors aspiring makers in basic saddle stitching, reminding them that a poked finger is a rite of passage on the road to craftsmanship.

Exhibitions & Achievements

• Founder & maker, FullGrainSmith — Etsy shop and online storefront (2023–present)
  
  
• Debut showing, Art Box Gallery & Studios, St. Augustine, FL (2025)
  
  

Artist Statement

“I make custom leather goods, one stitch at a time—celebrating every natural quirk, happy accident, and perfectly imperfect edge.”

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