After enjoying some homemade berry wine last night, everyone fell asleep while I was left feeling perked up and wide awake!
As I stared at the piece of scoby leather I had been waiting to dry, I realized it was finally ready to be crafted! I decided to put my energy to good use and start creating—what a productive way to kick off 2025!
First, I thought a little wallet would be a great idea. I didn’t intentionally design it for Feng Shui, but it seemed to align with the principles of a fortune wallet. Hopefully, it’ll attract good fortune this year—haha!
From my previous post, you might remember that I dyed the scoby and let it dry. It turned out a bit stiff, so it needed some conditioning.
This dried leather had a delicious, sweet, citrusy aroma that was surprisingly pleasant, adding to the joy of working with it. It’s amazing what fermentation can create—delicious kombucha or nutritious vinegar but also durable, biodegradable materials like scoby leather. It’s a beautiful example of sustainability in action, turning waste into something functional and creative.
To condition the leather, I used a tub of coconut oil and beeswax, along with a brush. The beautiful scarlet red stands out more!
I first brushed the coconut oil on and let it absorb.
Then, I polished it with beeswax. Making it water-resistant.
I removed the excess bits from the leather and planned to stitch the sides with the same colour thread.
I only had enough for a little wallet, but I wanted to craft some jewellery, too.
So, to maximize the material, I decided to make a little wallet and set aside a piece for crafting jewellery.
Next, I started stitching the sides carefully.
I purposely left the rugged edges for some characters.
My bank card fit perfectly.
I could even put a folded note in it.
I added the extra piece in the heart shape to reinforce the weak corner.
With the separated small pieces, I decided to make earrings.
The first design was a heart-dangly one.
It matched nicely with the wallet.
Then, I decided to make a studded pearl encased with scoby leather.
Finally, with the remaining stringy piece, I suspended pink crystal beads.
This one is my favourite, as it dangles and jiggles a lot and dazzles nicely.
I ended up having a creative New Year with a new pair of earrings and a lucky fortune wallet! A positive way to start the year 2025!
Scoby Leather Recipe
Brew 3L of water, add 300g sugar, four green tea bags, and 300ml vinegar, let cool.
Add a scoby and ferment in a wide vessel for 3+ weeks, or until the scoby reaches your desired thickness.
Remove the scoby and dry it for crafting.
Tip: Use the resulting liquid as vinegar for cooking or cleaning.
Happy New Year to everyone, and I wish you all the best this year!
Mariah 😊❤️