Remembering Lemon: Turning a Much-Loved Dog Collar into Leather Keepsakes

Some commissions are about making something new. Others are about keeping something that matters. This project was one of the second kind.

A customer called Rachel got in touch with me about her dog, Lemon, who had recently passed away. She still had Lemon's old collar, the one he'd worn on every walk, and she couldn't bring herself to put it in a drawer and forget about it. She asked if I could turn it into a bracelet and a couple of keychains so she could keep a piece of Lemon close every day.

I said yes straight away.

A collar with a story

A dog collar isn't just a strip of leather. It's worn in by years of walks, muddy fields, sofa naps and being grabbed at the door when the post arrived. The marks, the creases and the softness all come from a life lived together. That's exactly what makes it worth keeping, and it's what I wanted to hold on to.

So before I cut anything, I spent time looking at the collar and planning how to get the most out of it. With a limited amount of leather and no second chances, every cut had to count.

From collar to keepsakes

I carefully took the collar apart and cleaned and conditioned the leather, keeping the wear and character that made it Lemon's. From there, I planned the pieces around the best sections of the collar:

• A bracelet, so she can wear a part of Lemon every day.
• A couple of keychains, so Lemon can come along on every trip out of the door, just like he always did. They could also be shared with family who loved him too.

Each piece was finished by hand in my Norfolk workshop with the same care I put into everything I make. With a job like this, it matters even more.

Why these projects mean so much

I started LW Leatherworking because I believe leather goods should last and carry a story. Projects like this are the clearest reminder of why. The leather in these keepsakes has already been part of a life. Now it gets to carry on being part of one.

Handing these pieces back is always emotional, and it's a real privilege to be trusted with something so personal. Thank you for letting me be part of remembering Lemon.

Have something you'd like to keep?

If you have an old collar, lead, belt, strap or any other leather item with memories attached, I'd be glad to talk about turning it into something you can keep and use every day. Every item is different, so get in touch through my bespoke projects page and we'll work out what's possible together.