Making the Mark
This year, BayouLife Magazine asked the community of talented makers to submit their hand-crafted goods for our inaugural Making the Mark competition. In the following pages, you will meet this year’s winners in each category: Craft, Apothecary, Outdoor, Home, Fashion, Food and Drink. Thank you for all the wonderful submissions. Profiles by Meredith McKinnie Photography by Kelly Moore Clark
Meet the Maker: Chris McElroy C R A F T C AT E G O R Y
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aised in Start, Louisiana, Chris McElroy is drawn to historical crafts such as silversmithing, blacksmithing, and leatherworking. The desire to preserve older crafts and work with his hands comes from within. Chris describes leatherworking as a “combination of art and function. The work is often created with a focus on function, but through creative avenues, the product becomes a work of art.” He began working with leather nine years ago and has fashioned western-style holsters, knife sheaths, spur straps, pistol holsters, belts, and rifle slings - primarily as gifts. For those interested in leatherworking, Chris encourages newcomers to trust the process. “Don’t let your mistakes discourage you.” The personal touches that distinguish leather products are often achieved through trial and error. The practice of leatherworking is becoming more popular as online communities grow and local communities take interest. As a college student, Chris needed a bag for his laptop and books. Bags can be expensive and are often not well made. The larger bag he created is more structured and formal in style, but practical for school. Combining his passion with his immediate need is the impulse of a maker. Chris is a graduate of LA Tech in Animal Science and is currently pursuing a second degree in Cyber Engineering. He and his wife Sarah have two children, Lilly and Luke.
