About IRON FILLY Custom Leather

IRON FILLY Custom Leather was created in 2015 on a cattle station in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Phoebe, the youngest daughter, and the tomboy of the family, grew up surrounded by horses on the family's acreage, riding, competing and strapping horses from the age of 5. Growing up so remotely wasn't always easy and the area wasn't always ideal for kids. Life was tough and the family battled through losing a lot from floods and a fire. Phoebe left home at 15. After completing grade 12, automotive TAFE studies and various jobs, Phoebe joined the Australian Defence Force as a Heavy Diesel Fitter. 

A few years after returning from Afghanistan, she turned to working on a Cattle Station 3 hours south of Katherine NT. There she would repair utes and machinery, muster, do bore runs, fence kilometres of new fencelines, control feral animals and work big days of tractor work and branding/processing cattle. Phoebe enjoyed the work and the land and, in the Dry season, phoebe would compete in campdrafts when she could get the chance.

One day she rode out on a buckskin filly she had broken in for the boss, with her gelding in tow behind. The filly stood on a rein and snapped it like straw at the bit. Little did Phoebe know that this would be a pivotal moment in her career and life. After picking the rein up off the ironstone ground and tying it through the bit, she rode home and tried to figure how to repair the rein. On her next 3 hour drive to the nearest town, she bought her first awl, needles and thread and was handed some leather to fix the reins.

From that moment, she became obsessed, studying and admiring leatherwork as she learnt to repair the reins. Phoebe was soon learning how to make different items and took to leathercarving in the same breath.

The broken rein that was stuck between the ironstone ground and the filly's foot was where IRON FILLY Custom Leather began and so aptly named.

Phoebe moved to Goondiwindi Queensland some years later, as a Diesel Fitter, working on Toyotas and tractors and then grain farming/mechanical, whilst leatherworking in any spare time she had. Now Phoebe leatherworks full time, making custom carved items, including chaps, cow horse tack, purses and belts, with ventures into saddle making.

Her carving is unique and her tack is high end quality with waitlists. 

Phoebe lives with her two Quarter Horses Mac and Tommy, her dog Howdy and cat Jolene. She enjoys hunting with her partner, being involved in the cutting or cow horse scenes and helping the local RSL. 

 

You can follow her daily leatherwork updates and videos or discuss an order on Facebook and instagram "IRON FILLY Custom Leather". Wait lists apply.