Dennis Forrester of 21Grams Leather Goods is a leather artist whose work carries both the precision of tattooing and the heart of recovery. What began as a creative outlet during the stillness of the pandemic has evolved into a partnership with Weaver Leather Supply and a life centered around teaching, collaboration, and storytelling through craft. His designs pull from American traditional tattoo imagery - bold lines, timeless symbols, a touch of rebellion - and he’s built a reputation not just for what he makes, but for the way he shares it, with humor, humility, and a real sense of gratitude.

We sit down with Dennis to talk about the long road from tattoo parlors and graffiti walls in Huntington Beach to the leather tent at Maker Camp. We dive into how addiction and art became intertwined, how turning creative energy into tangible craft helped rebuild a sense of purpose, and how a single experiment with tracing paper led to a patented process now in shops around the world. We talk about mentorship, friendship, and the kind of community that shows up for you when you least expect it: from fellow crafters like Ethan Carter and Jay Nielsen to the next generation of artists discovering leather for the first time. 

Just a heads up: there are some swears in this episode, and we do get into some conversations that deal with addiction, mental health struggles, and recovery.

All that said: this one’s raw, funny, and hopeful: a story about making, surviving, and choosing every day to turn experience into art.

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Dennis Forrester - 21Grams Leather Goods

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