About Me :)

Hi! I am a recent high school graduate, Salmon High School Class of 2026, and have answered the question "so what are you going to do after high school?" so many times in the last year. Every answer I gave was different, but I always knew I wanted to try and continue to grow my leatherwork business and skills as a craftsman. I eventually started just answering that question with something along the lines of "well, I know what I want to do-which is eventually be full time building saddles and tack-I just have to figure out how to get there." Although that got many funny looks and reactions, I am working out how to get there, slowly but surely! 

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I have been playing around with leather for a couple years now, but it has been pretty much a year since I started to take it seriously. My first project that wasn't just swivel knife cuts on scrap leather was sewing poorly tooled patches onto a pair of shoes. Beyond my leatherwork, my life consists of working for/with my parents on a ranch in Salmon, Idaho where we raise Aukushi/Angus crosses. I owe my parents and the way they raised me all of the credit for any of my success so far. My mom, Mary Cerise, got me enrolled in a leather working class at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko in 2024, and has been one of my biggest supporters so far. 

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In Idaho, high school seniors must complete a senior project to graduate. Salmon's guidelines are fairly open-ended and leave lots of room to choose something the senior will enjoy. I reached out to Bryce Williams, who lives in Malta ID, and asked if he would mentor me so I could build a saddle. I knew it was something I wanted to do, but I was expecting him to tell me no because at the time I was making keychains, shoe patches, and headstalls so I had very beginner knowledge. When he said yes without any hesitation I was so excited, and started planning what I would build as well as when I would make the trip to work on it. I made five trips in total, and learned so much every time, but those trips and time in Bryce's shop lit a fire under me to start really thinking about how to do this all of the time. Bryce and his wife Alle Williams deserve any of the credit after my parents because the time I got to spend working with them was 100% my favorite experience of high school and completely changed what I wanted to do with my life. 

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I am always open to custom work, just email me at lillyceriseleather@gmail.com or shoot a message to my instagram account @Lilly.cerise.leather. I would love to do some drops of ready to ship items in the future as well! I have been really trying to develop my own personal style as an artist, and would say I have been accomplishing that this far into my leather working career. Please reach out with any questions on my in-stock items as well as custom inquiries!