I grew up on a small ranch in sunny San Diego, California. My mother passed on her love for art and I spent many days working alongside my grandfather in his workshop. I’ve always loved animals, especially dogs, and began fostering and training rescue dogs at a young age.
Throughout my life, I struggled with some health issues. A charming Golden Retriever named Riley stepped into my life, trained to protect and serve. He’s also incredibly goofy, a real entertainer, and quite full of himself. The tasks he was trained to perform have given me independence, but the bond we share has made the biggest impact on my life.
I wanted something special to mark the day we graduated as a service dog team. While searching, I stumbled upon tooled leather products and was enchanted with the process. I crafted my first pet collar in 2012, and KoKoLati Leather was born!
The response I received after posting that collar on Facebook has forever changed my life. I have been so overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who have followed me on this journey. I have met so many wonderful people and their lovely dogs, heard such powerful stories of the pet-human bond, and made great friends along the way. Every time I receive a picture of a dog in their collar, or hear feedback from a happy customer, my day has been made!
Celebrating 10 years in the craft of leather tooling!
Each year my passion grows for this craft. My eyes are open to more possibilities than ever before. I am eager to continue learning and growing for many years to come.
A special thanks to Tom Morgan who has mentored me in this craft and all the talented artists who inspire me daily!
