The Bush Tannery

**RE-STOCKED and available now for your 💋 lips, 👋 limbs and leather 👢... .
*Handmade all natural leather balms in two convenient sizes
Shoot me a personal message if you'd like to get your hands on some for winter. These are limited batches as some ingredients are from really small suppliers. .
- 'Original' size tins are $30 (100g) .
- 'Travellers' size tins are $20 (60g) .
*Plus postage.
NOTE: I'm throwing in a free Lemon Myrtle 🍋 🌲 lip balm with the first 5 orders 😉
Thanks for supporting my small business as always,
With gratitude,
Josh
Ps. If you are curious about the tanning and leathercrafting side of the business I have a workshop at CERES Melbourne coming up that I will post about in the coming weeks. You can get on their website to book in advance. It's an introductory workshop using waste rabbit hides and learning the fundamentals of traditional tanning. Happy Tanning and crafting! Stay warm and healthy ❤️

3 more workshops coming up to learn how to make your own natural and ethical handmade leathers.... See post for more info :)

The Bush Tannery on Instagram: ""I'm still tanning... yeah.. yeah.. yeah!" - Elton John . 3 more workshops coming up before the end of the year: . . **Learn how to transform your own animal hides into an all natural and ethical textile here in... The Bush Tannery shared a post on Instagram: ""I'm still tanning... yeah.. yeah.. yeah!" - Elton John . 3 more workshops coming up before the end of the year: . . **Learn how to transform your own animal hides into an all natural and ethical textile here in Victoria, Australia: . . 1. Saturday 17th....

🔪🦌🐇 Awesome group today teaching 'Intro to Traditional Tanning Methods'....at CERES in Melbourne, Victoria.
If you're keen to learn tanning (making your own natural leathers at home), the next workshop is 'Ethical Fish Leather Tanning' on Sunday the 2nd of May @ CERES again. 10-4pm.
Note: No previous experience necessary 😉
**Booking through the Ceres Programs Website.
Happy Tanning,
Josh 🙏🏼

First workshop of the year 'Intro to Traditional Tanning Methods coming up in a couple of weeks 😄
This workshop is a great taster for those wanting to learn how to transform waste animal skins (rabbit, deer, goats, foxes etc), naturally into leathers and versatile textiles (also great for people who have started tanning and needing a few tips face-to-face).
----------> SWIPE RIGHT FOR MORE PHOTOS
**Bookings through CERES Environment Park online.
**I will be running this intro workshop again in Spring and also for those interested specifically in waste Fish Leather I will be running a separate workshop in May and again in Spring.
Hope to see some of you who have been asking for workshops there 😉,
Josh 🙏🏼
P.s. first workshop is already half booked so please book at your earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

👏🏻 A piece of bark tan leather from The Bush Tannery being put to the test in Canada.

This piece was gifted to fellow tanner and former student Danielle

In the photo it's being cut by a friend who hand made a tanning tool for her (see more info about that below).

**It's beautiful to see the threads of craft connecting us all over the planet 🌍😉🙏🏼


• • • • • •
I have been gifted a hand crafted hide tanning tool. This ulu- inspired softening and scraping tool was made by

It brought me to tears~ to see his skills and meticulous crafting~ and to know how well it will serve me.

Made of 7 layers of steel, filed down to a perfect edge. The handle of maple and birch bark layers. The sheath, shown in the last photo, with the constellation, sweetly etched in.
(Also in that photo is an awl I commissioned him to make, which I’ll speak to in another post).

It is really nice to have a tool with a good edge, that is a more manageable size for my hands.

Many thanks for your skillful work Graham.

🎙🎥 Sustainability. Collaboration. And working with First Peoples ✊🏻✊🏾
*See more info below and be sure to check out Craft Victoria online. (Especially for those based in Vic. - They're doing some great stuff!).
*Thanks again 😉🙏🏼


• • • • • •
Craft

Thank you Eliza and the very supportive team at Craft Vic for inviting us to talk today for Craft's Making It symposium presenting the personal journey of innovative craft makers and creative industry success stories. Super inspiring discussion talking Collaboration, Sustainability and working with First Nations communities featuring 💖🤩💖bloody superstars! Xx

💭💫🐐 'My grandparents used to tan the goat skins in the village... Unfortunately we have lost that knowledge'...
After 6 months of emailing back and forth it was great to catch up with Makhosi from Lupane State University in Zimbabwe, Africa 🇿🇼 🇿🇦
Makhosi is a lecturer in Traditional African Foods and Food Science and contacted me to discuss a potential project to address the waste goat skins he was seeing not being utilised in the local villages.
We discussed sustainability, the effects of fast fashion, food systems and culturally safe practices..
Excited to see this seed grow...
*Will post updates down the track.
With gratitude for the crafting journey,
Josh 🙏🏼

💭Join us for our panel discussion in a couple of weeks....💬😁
*see details below..

• • • • • •
COLLABORATION, WORKING WITH FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES AND SUSTAINABILITY: Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond from fashion label VERMIN discuss collaboration, working with First Nations communities and sustainability with Josh McLean from The Bush Tannery and Toad Busting artists Simone Agius from Simétrie and Kate Geck.

Join Craft and an impressive line-up of guests for our upcoming ‘Making It’ craft symposium. Presenting the personal journey of innovative craft makers and creative industry success stories, ‘Making It’ represents the diversity of professional craft practice today and includes inspiring keynote speakers, panel discussions and conversations.

The stories and insights of the presenters will be of interest to craft practitioners at all career stages, reflecting on issues facing the creative sector today and what it means to be a part of our craft and design community.

This not-to-be-missed event will be presented online and available to ticket holders from 21 – 24 February 2021. Head to our link in bio or craft.org.au/makingit to find out more and to grab your ticket

Panel Discussion: Collaboration, working with First Nations communities and sustainability
Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond from VERMIN discuss collaboration, working with First Nations communities and sustainability with Josh McLean from The Bush Tannery and Toad Busting artists Simone Agius from Simétrie and Kate Geck.

Presenting our fantastic Panel Discussion Speakers
The Creative Duo behind VERMIN: Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond ,
Josh McLean from The Bush Tannery ,
Simone Agius from Simétrie and Kate Geck.

Image: 'Luxury Island Toad' VERMIN: Lia Tabrah and Perina Drummond. 2020 Created using the Bush Tannery recipe. Photographer: Jasmine Fisher