This weekend’s giveaway is from Alejandro Ortega, 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 a 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(including a weekend at the MN Renaissance Festival), holiday fairs (including two Waldorf schools), a couple of natural toy stores and nearby Waldorf school fundraisers, 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 a three-piece set that children of all ages will enjoy: a turquoise handled SWORD with a Unicorn emblem, a pair of turquoise laced WRIST CUFFS to protect oneself from the enemy’s blows, and a turquoise laced ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ CROWN. 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 SmallThings2013. This offer is good through this Thursday, November 21st.
For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post. Comments are closed. The winner is Rhonda, “I have been admiring Alejandro’s work for awhile now… such amazing craftsmanship and a real sense for the adventuresome play so necessary for young boys. I would absolutely love to put some of his items under the Christmas tree this year! Thanks for posting about his work!!”
Thanks, Alejandro!
My daughter would love these additions to her dress up collection! Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d love to win this its so unique! I hope I’m so lucky! I have a few princes loving to play and a fair maiden always into the rough and tumbles! so beautiful and thank you!
I’ve never seen anything like this before! I’d love to know more about how these are made.
The swords are so beautiful! Thank you for the chance at the giveaway!
Oh my! What lovely art/toys. I never imagined a leather crown, but I love it and so would my littles.
I love the mission behind the toys, that they would inspire kids to play together and with their parents!
What beautiful work. These toys would surely be treasured and passed down,
What beautiful craftsmanship, I think any of these leather goods would make great gifts. I would like to get a small sword for my daughter for her next birthday!
I LOVE his leatherwork. We’ve got four little boys at our house that would love this!
i’ve never really thought of using leather to make toys…..awesome! my boys would love playing with the swords!
Amazing work, kids of all ages would love these
I love these swords! My sons would love to play knights with them!
Looks so fun for my son!
Alejandro,
Your work is impeccable and creates a sense of magic for the child who picks your pieces up. You are so talented. Well done.
Katie
These are absolutely gorgeous! I love the leather elephants also!!
Thank you!
Love, love, love the crowns!
His work is wonderful! Such details!!
Oh my goodness — what wonderful toys! I would love to be able to give several of these to my grandchildren!
I bought 2 small swords (for my son and daughter) and 1 large sword (for my husband) one Christmas. They have been toys that have lasted the LONGEST and been loved the BEST in our home! Love his craftsmanship 🙂
I was AMAZED reading about these leather toys! With Christmas fast approaching, they are the perfect gift for little ones… especially pirate kings. :o)
Oh my, my four year old son would love this set!!
How beautiful! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
This is all so great!! I love your blog!
These are absolutely beautiful!
Very special.
Beautiful! My little knight would love this!
These look so wonderful. My boys would adore them.
My son would love these!
Choose me, these are just great. Miss you all.
We love his swords. 3 of my 5 kids got them last year for Christmas. We think they are wonderful toys!
my daughter would love these, thanks!
Where were these when I was a kid? They are awesome!
Wow…those are simply amazing. His leather work is so beautiful. I have two grandsons who would love these. Etsy shop is bookmarked!
Stunning pieces. What a beautiful way to use leather and make toys that will last a lifetime! My son would love to have this.
Love this idea.. Am bookmarking it for the future 🙂
The crown is fantastic!
Wow–these are amazing! Thanks for the chance and I hope to find something we can afford for my middle son for Christmas. 🙂
Beautiful work!!
These look so beautifully crafted! Very nicely done, Alejandro, and such a beautiful family! Thanks for the chance.
What gorgeous toys! My three savages, and even my princess would love these. Thanks for doing the giveway and also informing me about this company!
Hooray for toys that are lovely as well as fun.
to aslan! to narnia!
Such beautiful, creative work.
OMG! This is so neat! Never saw anything like it. Would love to win. Thanks for the chance!
These are so fun. My kids would enjoy playing with them so much.
The leather is so beautiful I just want to run my hands over it. I have 5 boys, these would be toys they would treasure and pass down to the next generation. I am glad to know about these. Thank you. Beth
I love your work in leather- beautiful!
So very beautiful!
Romi
Everything is so beautiful! I want to play too!
I have been looking for a good sword and shield for my 8 yr old grandson. Thank you
Its beautiful work