Photo submitted to Times Observer Craftsman Chuck Dole is teaching basic leatherworking skills at Audubon Community Nature Center on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 16. You can preview his work at Audubon's Snowflake Local Living Festival, Saturday, Feb. 2.

Learning a skill from an instructor can be much more rewarding than trying to teach yourself.

On Saturday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m., Audubon Community Nature Center is presenting “Leatherworking — An Introduction,” when you can learn to shape, stamp, and finish leather items.

Instructor Chuck Dole has decades of experience working with leather and creates works of art with a practical purpose. You can preview his work at Audubon’s Snowflake Local Living Festival on Saturday, February 2.

All natural, leather is a versatile and sustainable material that can be used for numerous projects.

In this workshop, Dole will teach you how to master the basic leatherworking skills to get you started in this craft. Then you will take home the tools to help you continue your work.

The materials fee includes a kit that contains stamps, leather finish, leather cut-outs, a hammer, and other materials.

Tuition is $28, $21 for members and youth 9-15, with a $24 fee for materials.

Enrollment is limited. Paid reservations are required by Thursday, Feb. 7, and can be made by calling (716) 569-2345 during business hours or online at the Programs page at auduboncnc.org. (From your cell phone, click on Plan Your Visit > Attend a Program > Programs and Workshops/Current Schedule.)

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, N.Y., and Warren.