LESYA KRASNIKOVA  - LEATHER

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A native of Crimea, Lesya came to the United States almost 20 years ago to pursue international studies in San Antonio, Texas. After working in public and private sectors, Lesya and her husband, Michael, decided to leave professional work environment and start building new skills to live a more balanced life. This decision took them back to Crimea where they lived by the Black Sea shore for two years. During this time, they planted a small orchard and established a vegetable garden at their family's house. Despite loving their slow life in Crimea, Lesya and Michael, and now with their son, Leonardo, returned back to Texas with a promise that it is only temporary and that they would leave the big city in a few years.
 
No time was wasted and both started acquiring new skills – Michael started working with wood and leather, and Lesya pursued pottery to outfit their new home with handmade dishes – still in line with their goal to live off the land and work with their hands. A few short years later, they established a small home business, Sova Artisan Goods, crafting and selling handmade wood, leather and ceramic goods. Their love for homegrown produce continued and Texas climate allowed for a year-round production of vegetables.
 
Still pursuing a dream to live on a few acres and homestead, for several years now they had looked at many states and small communities as their possible new home. And then Lesya sought an opportunity to serve an AmeriCorps term with a non-profit (a long wish of hers) and that is what brought them to the Mancos Valley in 2019. Lesya and her family love it here thus far.
 
While pottery was Lesya's original pursuit, she loved working with leather and often assisted Michael with the process, and eventually took over the production and design. For the past 6 years she has been crafting both ceramic and leather goods shipped all over the world and the US. Sova Artisan Goods specializes in custom design utilizing premium vegetable tanned leather. Each item is cut, dyed, and stitched by hand with linen and Kevlar threads. Although custom journal covers are most frequently requested, Sova Artisans make luggage, bags, wallets, belts, hip pouches, clutches, artist portfolios and many other leather goods with quality and utility in mind. 
 
Lesya and her family are delighted to be part of the communities of artisans and Mancos and hope to stay a while.

Lesya can be reached at ohlesya@gmail.com