Hi, I’m Nicholas N. Goforth, a New Mexico crafter with 20 years of experience in leatherworking, woodworking, and bookbinding.
Inspired by a Santa Fe market, I turned my passion into AwlTool.com, launched in 2025, to share tutorials and handcrafted goods.
My work reflects New Mexico’s desert beauty, using tools like PB SWISS and C.S. Osborne awls, connecting artisans globally.
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Table of Contents
My Journey
Starting Out in New Mexico
Back when I was 25, I felt stuck in an Albuquerque office job. In 2005, I visited the Santa Fe Artisan Market and found Desert Hide Crafts’ leather stall. The smell of tanned hides and neat stitches grabbed me.
I bought a leatherworking kit and started my crafting journey, not knowing it would shape my life. I’ve since explored shops across New Mexico, like DL Leatherworks and Tandy Leather, learning from their expertise.
Learning Leatherworking
I began with small projects, keychains and wallets, using vegetable-tanned leather from Santa Fe Leather Co. My first big project was a journal cover for my mom, stitched with a C.S. Osborne awl.
It was tough; I poked my fingers a lot! But books like The Leatherworking Handbook helped me master saddle stitching and tooling.
My designs, with desert cactus and turquoise inlays, started selling at Albuquerque’s Rail Yards Market. I love using tools like Stanley and WUTA awls for precision.
Check AwlTool.com Best Awl Tool in 2025 for my top picks!
Diving into Woodworking:
My 30s, I got curious about woodworking. A friend at Taos Woodworks showed me the ropes in 2010. Wood was harder than leather, it needed exact cuts.
I started with a cedar box, its grain like New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains, using a Dasco Pro awl for details. I studied with local artisans and read Lost Art Press books.
My mesquite desks, sold at Nob Hill Shop, blend leather accents and desert vibes. I’ve visited shops like THE TANDY LEATHER and even Oregon Leather Co. in the Pacific Northwest to source materials.
Mastering Bookbinding
In 2015, I took a class at Santa Fe’s Artisan Haven and fell in love with bookbinding. It mixed my leather and wood skills perfectly. My first book, a poetry collection for a friend, had a mesquite cover and leather spine, stitched with a Clover awl.
Each stitch felt calm, like saving New Mexico’s stories. My sketchbooks, sold at Paper & Thread Studio, use exposed stitching.
I’ve checked out shops in subregions like Kentucky’s Renna Leather and Oregon’s Orox Leather for inspiration.
Want to learn? Join AwlTool.com Crafting Community!
Launching AwlTool.com
In 2015, a fire destroyed a mentor’s workshop in the Jemez Mountains. It hit me hard, our craft could disappear. So, in 2025, I launched AwlTool.com to share tutorials on leatherworking, woodworking, and bookbinding, plus sell my creations.
It’s my way to keep New Mexico’s artisan spirit alive. I use tools like Dritz and Malco awls, sourced from shops like Craft Supply Emporium. The site’s FAQ answers common questions, and the Privacy Policy keeps you safe.
Exploring the USA
I’ve traveled to shops in subregions like New Hampshire’s Howards Leather, Oregon’s Portland Leather Goods, and Nebraska’s local suppliers to learn new techniques.
From Colorado to Louisiana, Mississippi to Wisconsin, I’ve visited places like Overland in Taos and Shamrock FSW in New Mexico. Each shop, from Massachusetts’ craft stores to Idaho’s lumber yards, taught me something new.
My work reflects these influences, blending New Mexico’s desert with universal craft.
Today at 45
My Albuquerque workshop is my happy place, filled with leather from DL Leatherworks, mesquite from Rio Grande Lumber, and books for Paper & Thread Studio.
My hands, rough from years with PB SWISS TOOLS and KALIONE awls, craft journals, desks, and sketchbooks. AwlTool.com connects crafters worldwide, but I’m rooted in New Mexico’s tough, creative heart.
Got questions? Reach out via AwlTool.com Contact Us page. Curious about partnerships? See our Affiliates Disclaimer.
Why It Matters
Crafting is my life’s work, one stitch, one grain, one page at a time. AwlTool.com isn’t just a shop; it’s a community for anyone who loves making things.
From New Mexico to California, Tennessee to Minnesota, I’m sharing the skills I’ve learned over 20 years.
Join me at AwlTool.com and let’s create something amazing together!