Syracuse
Peace Council
924 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203
spc(a)peacecouncil.net, (315)
472-5478
Plowshares
Craftsfair
& Winter Peace Festival
FEATURED CRAFTSPERSON
Ralph
Minnifield: Leatherworker
by Lea Abe
"Once I got the bug, I just couldn't do anything else," Ralph Minnifield says of his passion: crafting leather goods.
You can find Ralph, along with some 120 other craftspeople at the Syracuse Peace Council's Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival at Nottingham High School on December 2-3 (Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm, Sunday, 11 am - 5 pm). Minnifield says that Plowshares is his favorite craftsfair describing the environment as mild, laid back and relaxing, the entertainment as great and the food delicious.
Minnifield, 65, of 1207 Almond St in Syracuse, has a simple lifestyle that consists of crafting leather art while enjoying life. "I don't need an easy chair, it makes me lazy," he says. Minnifield says his house is his shop and that's all he needs. He doesn't have luxury furniture or fancy end tables; he is surrounded by his love for crafting leather. Minnifield is not the kind of guy who lounges around and waits for life to come to him; he gets out and finds it Instead of being inside in the spring and summer, Minnifield goes to the park, opens the back doors of his van and gets to work on various crafts like book covers, bracelets or backpacks.
Leather crafting is an easy skill to learn, but it takes time and patience and it doesn't hurt when your teacher is your best friend. "Jim and I are like family," he says of the man who taught him how to make and love his work. "I'm at all of his family functions and when I'm not, I'm in trouble. The same goes for Jim with my family."
About 20 years ago, Minnifield was a truck driver for a Syracuse company. Since he was frequently taking 2-3 day trips for work, he needed a sturdy bag for his overnight stays. "I ordered a leather backpack from Jim and I've had it ever since." Jim DeWitt, of Syracuse, has a leather shop on James Street, where Minnifield ordered his bag. At that point this was the only contact between these two men.
After being injured on the job, Minnifield took a series of tests to find out what he should do with his life. The tests told him that he should look into something in the arts. Then one day Minnifield was walking down James St. and recognized the name of DeWitt's leather shop and went in. When he asked DeWitt if he'd teach him how to make leather goods, DeWitt responded, "I can teach you how to fish, but I can't feed you." This is how Minnifield's career after retirement as well as a life-long friendship began.
Minnifield participates in three local craftsfairs annually, making enough money at each to pay his expenses and order more supplies. This year will be the 16th or 17th year for Minnifield at Plowshares. "I'm looking forward to meeting new crafters this year. The fair is definitely growing, but they don't forget about their roots. That's the beauty of Plowshares," Minnifield said of the upcoming show.
There are people all over the place willing to help you with anything that you need. His best helper though is his granddaughter. She is only 13-year-old, but she is the head of the family business, with help from her mom, Minnifield's daughter. Today, the three work as a team, Minnifield being the artist and the women of the family running the rest of the business. "I'm from the old school. I'm tough, but I'm fair. I let her know when she's wrong and she learns," Minnifield says of his granddaughter. For the past six years, Minnifield's granddaughter has been helping with the business doing bookkeeping, set-up and break-down, she learns how to work with the public and is gaining valuable experience dealing with money transactions and custom orders.
Minnifield's leather business fits perfectly with the family friendliness of Plowshares. He says that this fair is a great opportunity to get feedback from other craftspeople and enjoys the interaction with his customers, especially when he is able to share his craft with other people. "I show the kids how to make little things, like leather bracelets."
Some of the other crafts Minnifield makes include: belts, wallets, jewelry
boxes, masks, backpacks, belts, purses, Bible covers, key chains, bracelets,
hair barrettes, notebook covers and he also takes special orders from
people at his exhibits. These goods range from $3 - $175. Minnifield uses
materials that he purchases right here in Syracuse and he also orders
from California.
Minnifield says that he'd like to start teaching a beginners class to
youth and senior citizen groups. He says that it's never too late to learn.
Minnifield is constantly looking around him for new ideas. "I'd like
to learn how to make some of the things that I always see, like leather
hats and sandals. I'm an artist, I'm always an artist."