Rosanna Clare - Journey to working with leather
“I didn’t want to become one of those teachers who didn’t care so I came back to the UK to do something different. I’d reached my now or never moment.
Sometimes I have to pinch myself! From Tuesday to Saturday - I get to make my own bags and teach others to do the same, I live in beautiful Surrey and I’m making a living!”
Rosanna Clare shifted slowly and surely from work that she didn’t enjoy to work that she knew she’d love.
Overview of earlier career
Almost immediately after starting my degree in graphic design, I knew I should have done something more 3D. That said, I made the most of it by choosing 3D projects.
After qualifying, I began to apply for graphic design jobs but my heart wasn’t in it. I was a bit lost career-wise. Some friends were teachers and I wondered if that would work for me. I thought maybe I could teach Design Technology.
But I needed to figure out if I liked kids enough to spend all day with them...so I spent 3 months working at an adventure centre in Torquay which was an experience. Then I spent a few days observing in a school and thought “I could do this!”
Before I considered teaching, not long after graduating, I was wondering around Spitalfields market in London and was blown away by some of the work of fashion graduates work for sale, mainly leather goods and bags. They were a bit out of my price range however but around the next corner a stallholder happened to be selling leather hides at a reasonable price so I bought a couple of pieces. As my mum is an amazing seamstress, I asked her to teach me how to use a sewing machine and I started sew leather - it was certainly a baptism by fire.
I loved it so much, I applied to a Leather Bag Making 1 year course in London (heart-led decision) and a 1 year PGCE (teacher training course) in Bristol.
I got accepted into both but my head won the battle and I did the teacher training to become a Design Technology Teacher
After 5 years of teaching I got itchy feet and decided to take a year out and embarked on a Masters Degree in Textile Design.
This course reignited my desire to design and make and explore materials, specifically leather and wood, in more depth. After the course I took a part time teaching job and worked on my designs but after a few months I realized I couldn’t afford to do both whilst living in London and took a full time teaching job with a promotion.
The trigger for change?
I’d bought a flat in London and felt trapped.
Teaching was becoming more and more stressful. My boss was a nightmare, the kids were awful. I saw an advertisement for a job in Switzerland and thought that would either be the solution or it would give me the opportunity to save to fund something else.
Teaching was definitely easier in Switzerland and the kids were nicer. Life was good outside of work as I enjoyed skiing and the outdoors but I was essentially bored of teaching school kids a rather dry curriculum and I didn’t want to become one of those teachers who didn’t care so I came back to the UK to do something different.
All the while I was teaching I kept up my ‘hobby’ of leatherwork and making bags. Mostly being self-taught but also having attended a couple of weekend courses back in the UK my confidence in my ability grew.
I had reached my now or never moment.
First steps
I knew the only way to give my venture a chance was to minimize the initial costs and overheads so I moved in with Mum and Dad in Kent where I shared my mum’s studio (Mum is a water colour painter and picture framer) for two years whilst I developed my products, brand and started teaching courses.
Then my partner got a job near Guildford and I knew about the studios at Smithbrook Kilns so I had a look at a vacant unit, fell in love with it and that was it!
I knew it would be hard at first with a lot more overheads with rent and bills but having established my business over the previous two years in Kent, I knew I could do it.
I had saved up some money whilst working in Switzerland so I had a buffer to help with costs and launching myself full-time into the business. It was a risk but it paid off.
What Rosanna learned
If your heart’s not in it, it’s just not going to work.
I am finally doing something I love but it hasn’t been a smooth journey. Moving back in with my parents in my 30s wasn’t ideal - but it wasn’t bad either! The two years flew by and it gave me the financial freedom to invest time and money in new tools, designs and courses.
There’s no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Lots of the skills I learned and practised for years in my teaching career have been extremely valuable - especially in my leather-making courses. Being able to comfortably structure a class for 15 novices so that they all leave having personally crafted an item that they can feel proud of is easy for me with my years of teaching in a classroom with up to 25 kids at a time!
Making a career change gradually reduces the chances of early failure
From full-time teaching to overseas teaching (and saving up a little freedom fund) to part-time teaching mixed with leather work (whilst living with my parents) to full-time running my own leather-craft business. That sort of slow evolution meant that I could test everything without having to risk everything. It worked for me.
It can be lonely setting up by yourself - find like-minds.
Some networking can be uncomfortable but with a few spot-on recommendations, I’ve found groups of like-minded people who are on the same journey. I’m loving The Design Trust which runs training for creative business owners and The Surrey Hills Enterprises has been a really valuable network for me.
The freedom is lovely.
I enjoy managing my own time and being my own boss. I love that my year plan isn’t set in stone as it used to be in my old world.
My brain is very stimulated!
As a sole business owner, I need to be a jack of all trades BUT I have had to learn what I need to outsource. For me that includes all the accounting and getting help with marketing - none of which I’ve ever had any experience of.
It takes time to see what works but trying lots of different things and assessing what works is the only way.
It has taken me 4 years to see the patterns and to test what works in marketing and sales. I’ve invested in trade shows, lots of different types of workshops, contributing to Upcycling TV programmes like “Money for Nothing”, different social media strategies, creating commissions and working with new non-leather alternatives as well as offering a popular repair service.
Seek advice early.
There is so much advice out there - much of it for free. I’ve been astounded by the kindness of other local businesses and by how much you can learn, for not very much money.
How it feels on the days when Rosanna knows she has made the right decision?
Sometimes I have to pinch myself!
From Tuesday to Saturday - I get to make my own bags and teach others to do the same, I live in beautiful Surrey and I’m making a living!
Sundays are my days off to spend with my partner and Mondays are admin and social media days which are less fun but necessary.
Regrets?
None - I don’t miss teaching in schools at all. I used to feel utterly exhausted at the end of the week and now I don’t.
I do feel the need to give back now that my business is more stable and I’m experimenting with ways to make that work.
Learn more about Rosanna’s workshops or commission her to make you a bespoke hand bag - as I did!
Learn more about Rosanna, her workshops and her commissions.
Website Courses: https://rosannaclare.co.uk/workshops/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosannaclareleatherworkshops
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosanna_clare/
Wokshop Videos: https://youtu.be/NRbA5wjjavc
Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/rosannaclared
Money for nothing: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b077nzdc
