Leather worker Cory Godbe likes to keep his hands busy.
He is proud of the work he and his wife, Dawn-Marie Godbe, create. But Cory can be shy. That’s why he tends to “doodle” at art festivals and shows. It’s a way to distract himself from the crowds who come to examine the couple’s creations.
Cory was doing just that the Wasatch Back Art Festival in Heber City on Friday. He took out a large piece of leather and carved out various patterns and designs.
If he’s asked about his work, Cory will open up. He invites passers-by to sit with him and learn about leather working. He even encourages them to make their own designs.
“I’m going to help you get started,” he said.
Cory picked out a small, rectangular piece of leather and sprayed it with water to make it more malleable. Then he offered up an array of tools with different patterns: stars, teardrop shapes, flowers. He helped pound the shape into place in the leather until he was satisfied.
If he or his helper slips up, Cory is quick to say that’s all right. His artistic style is similar to painter Bob Ross, who said there were no mistakes, only happy accidents.
“He gave me the greatest gift that a lot of people miss, and that’s the ability to play,” Cory said. “That’s what makes it cool because it’s like we’re playing, right? I want you to do it and play and not be critical.”
Then he put in a key ring and passed it off. A new creation, ready-made at the Godbe’s art festival booth.
Cory said he is the builder, but Dawn-Marie is the artist. The couple are from Emery County but travel across Utah to share their work. They said they were excited about the Wasatch Back Art Festival in Heber City as an opportunity to connect with a different audience.
While Cory likes to make anything and everything, Dawn-Marie said she is most excited about creating guitar straps.
“Because you’re making something for an artist who’s making art,” Dawn-Marie said.
At first, Dawn-Marie and Cory collaborated on simple projects. They learned how to work leather when Cory started making bolt bags for construction work. Then he began asking Dawn-Marie to work in artistic designs. She obliged.
The couple have come a long way since then and even won the Utah Art Festival People’s Choice Award this year.
Jim Sheeran is familiar with starting small, only to work your way up in the art world. The woodworker also appeared at the Wasatch Back Art Festival last weekend.
Sheeran said he started woodworking as a kid. He started making shoebox-sized birdhouses for wrens, chickadees and the like. Decades later, Sheeran’s birdhouses are more like bird mansions.
“This one’s more like a Park City condo,” Sheeran said, pointing to a birdhouse that could be home to a parliament of owls, a few chickens or a small dog.
The woodworker’s birdhouses feature accessories like Barbie-sized toy cars, ringing bells and cats. It’s just because Sheeran said he likes things like cars, bells and cats.
“I like all the little trucks and animals … then I can say OK, I’ve got to build a garage for the truck,” Sheeran said. “Me and my granddaughter have cats, so I put cats on them.”
Sheeran, from the Kamas area, said he grew up on a farm in Minnesota, where his dad was a carpenter. He started woodworking with scrap lumber his father passed on.
Later, Sheeran went into construction himself — a career he did for 50 years. When he retired, he built a woodshop and began building his famous birdhouses.
There are birdhouses big enough for just one or two birds, but the mansion-like birdhouses feature separate rooms for multiple types and groups of birds.
“(They’re) a little more elaborate now. It’s a lot more fun doing these,” Sheeran said.
Sheeran said that he has made about 30 birdhouses a year for 13 years and sells out annually. He has loyal repeat customers and enjoys attending art festivals like the Wasatch Back Art Festival.
Like the Godbes, Sheeran has been recognized for his work. He participated in the Ogden Nature Center’s birdhouse competition in the spring, winning second place out of about 80 other entries.
Sheeran said he plans do keep doing what he loves: incorporating quirky details into magnificent birdhouses. As an artist, Sheeran said it’s his favorite way to be creative.