Edith Melchior-Hawkins

• Member of the Canadian Society for Creative Leathercraft - Tillsonburg Branch
• Achieved Associate designation 1956
• Achieved Fellowship April 12, 1958
• Executive Council – 1971 -1972
• Lifetime Membership April 25 1992

Edith Melchior-Hawkins 1922 -1995 Accomplished Leathercraft Artisan

Edith made her life as a Tobacco farmer just outside of Port Burwell, Ontario with her husband Mario Melchior. Along with the various household chores and the daily rigors of maintaining the tobacco farm, Edith found the time to make dresses and clothing for her two daughters Shirley and Marg. One of Edith’s favorite interests was Leathercraft to which she had excelled. In 1955 and 1956, she was fortunate to have trained under Robert Muma and was awarded a Certificate of Merit from Mumart Studios of Creative Leathercraft. She won many awards and ribbons over the years. As she became a proficient Leathercrafter, she shared her talents with others and began to teach folks the skills of leathercraft. Shirley and Marg often remember 6 or 7 people in their home learning the craft from Edith. They still have the teaching aids she used to help new comers to the trade.

You will see from the photos, Edith’s level of skill she possessed. The fit and finish are far superior from most leather work done today. These items were made in the 1950’s – 1960’s. After 60 years, these items have aged so well, they will serve very well for generations to come.

The love of the arts was shared by both her daughters, Shirley and Marg. Both ladies did have their chores around the farm, and there was many. They always made time to sew a new dress or do something creative. As Shirley explained, Marg has the natural artistic talent while she had to work extra hard. It was Marg however, that took up leathercraft. Learning from her mother in the 1970’s, Marg did leathercraft for about 3 years making purses, wallets, key cases, belts and also recovered a Western saddle. It was through doing leather work that led her to her lifelong career. From sewing change pockets for wallets led to repairing canvas tents and fabric camping trailers which branched into truck tarpaulins and Industrial sewing.

Marg Hornsby, mother of two daughters, Grandmother of two, is an Entrepreneur whom started her own business in 1975, “Hornsby Canvas and Tarpaulin Ltd”. After 47 years, she has turned the reins over to her daughter. Marg is not really retired, just changing phases to try her hand at quilting.

Shirley Biro chose a different career from the arts. As a mother of three girls, and a Grandmother to eleven, is now a retired Registered Nurse. She went to Fanshawe College in the late 1980’s and received a designation as a Canadian Certified Occupation Health Nurse (CCOHN), which is the highest certification for an OHN, at that time. She recalls working in the off season for Imperial Tobacco before it shut down it’s processing plant in Aylmer.

Thank you to both Shirley and Marg for sharing your Mother, Edith’s work with us. Edith’s Leather work is truly inspirational.