small things

Made by Alejandro {handmade leather toys} giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is from Made by Alejandro.  I am really excited to introduce you to this wonderful shop!

Alejandro Ortega is the artisan toy maker of Made by Alejandro. Together with his four children, a princess and three little savages, they fight to protect their mama from the forces of evil: imagined or eight-legged, it doesn’t matter.


Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, Alejandro Ortega’s introduction to leather began in his junior year of college, while taking a theater class. He was introduced to and gravitated towards the Italian art form, Commedia d’el Arte. In 2007, he traveled to Italy for a month-long Commedia mask making course. Alejandro returned with a better understanding of what leather can do that went beyond just mask making and encouraged him to pursue his love of working with leather. Because mask making is so much fun yet such an involved process, he began doing smaller projects such as bookmarks, knife sheaths, arm bracers, cuffs, 3-ring binders, and beautiful yet practical “tools” that he uses on a daily basis in his other business as a sub-contractor. All of these helped him to get better at the skills he used in mask making but allowed him to change the application. What started as a hobby, turned into a passion for a new art medium: leather.


Alejandro has shared his skills in leather working by taking on a summer intern and by teaching classes such as mask making to adults and teenagers, quiver making to tweens, and leather tooling to children in his homeschool co-op.

The big push of going from leather as a hobby to leather as a career, came after seeing the movie How to Tame Your Dragon. An idea sparked in Alejandro’s head to make some swords and holsters for his two older children. After the first week of ow’s and ouches, he realized the kids needed shields too. At first, his toys were just for fun. He watched his children become the very heroes they admired in the movie. Then, after his friends saw these leather toys, they began placing orders, as well as telling others about his creations. He realized that this had the potential to become more than he had imagined. And within a month, Alejandro found himself with a new title and career as an artisan toymaker. He now sells reenactment toys and other beautiful items at local art fairs, a couple of natural toy stores, an Arts Center gift shop, and online through Etsy.


Before Alejandro makes anything, it has to spark a child’s imagination (starting with his own) and cause children to want to play together, be it with other children, or better yet, their parents. He makes everything by hand and is always looking to improve the way he fabricates his toys. Such as, he’s started to sew all of his swords, daggers, and elephants to ensure they are safe, durable, and will last for years to come. And all of the dyes, stains, and sealers he uses are water-based and eco friendly. This kind of attention to detail has helped make the toys children friendly and parent happy.


Alejandro is excited to giveaway two pieces that have been wildly popular with children of all ages: a classic red handled sword and holster with a Celtic knot emblem (pictured above.) Be you noble or brigand, you will be the talk of the village.

Alejandro is also offering 10% off your entire purchase with the coupon code SmallThings2012. This offer is good through this Thursday, November 15th.

For your chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post!
Comments will close and a winner will be chosen via random number generator on Monday, November 12.  The winner will be announced within this post.

Comments are closed and the winner is Jessica:  “I want these!!!!!! My boys are SOOOOO into medieval knights, they’d love, love, love to have this!!!”

Thank you, Made by Alejandro!

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Comments

  1. Wow, very beautiful and unique! I have toys boys that love swords and crowns and all make believe accessories right now. They’d love those.

  2. This is truly stunning work and I’m sure my daughter would love to be a sword wielding princess w/ this artisan toy! Thanks Ginny & Alejandro for the chance to win!

  11. Wow, that is perfect for my little knights (much better than cardboard and duck tape!) Their store is definitely on my favorites list from now on!

  12. Such an amazing prize and sure wonderful craftsmanship. I will certainly be bookmarking this page.

  13. Well, that looks like it would be at the top of my boys Christmas lists if they had seen it themselves! Beautiful work!

  15. My son would love this. With 3 sisters, he often takes the role of prince…this would help him be the brave knight as well. ( Actually all of my children would love this….love love love this. Imagine that, toys beautiful enough to display!!!)

  20. These are absolutely beautiful! True works of art, I love the detail that goes into these pieces. I love that they are handmade too!

  29. Wow! Either my daughter (the self-proclaimed princess warrior in our home) or my nephew would love these toys! What an exciting hobby turned business … I love how that happens! Well done!

  37. Beautiful toys, thanks for bringing artisans like this to our attention. My boys would love just about everything and anything in these pictures!

  38. I would love a chance to win! My son will turn 5 in a couple weeks and he would go crazy for this! I really appreciate the discount code too. Beautiful and unique work

  39. Great website and lovely leather! I have been following Alejandro all over the web, his work is incredible. I would love to win a set for my little knight.

  42. I am so glad to have discovered these via your blog! I’m putting them on my list for Christmas!!!

    We would love to win a set!

  47. Wow! Most wonderful toy swords ever! And slightly less dangerous to baby sisters than wooden swords! Here’s to Alejandro!