Northwest Leather Celebration
Education
Education is one of the highlights of the weekend at Northwest Leather Celebration. We offer 90-minute class sessions Friday through Sunday in four educational tracks: Relationships, BDSM Technique, Building Community, and Bootblacking.
Download the Class Schedule here: Class Schedule
Bri Burning (she/they) is your International Person of Leather 2020-2023 and Northwest Person of Leather 2019! Bri is a leather little, genderqueer femme, proud Indigenous Mexican, s-type, and Ma’am to one. They have been active in the SF/Bay Area kink/Leather community since 2010 and started their journey as a presenter in 2015 at the SF Citadel and Dark Odyssey Surrender. Her passion in kink & Leather education continuously grows in topics such as self-care, power exchange, age play, and service—which she spreads like glitter!
Let’s talk about how to prepare for the unexpected! We will go over negotiating being in a relationship with people who are running for a title, have earned a title, and or maybe thinking about the title system. Share stories of the glimmer moments that added joy to our lives and the struggle moments that were hard to move through. This facilitated discussion is an opportunity to share, listen, and grow together. Join us!
AJ, your International Community Bootblack 2019, continues to serve the Leather and BDSM communities in the Southeast region. AJ has been a part of the Florida Leather community since 2014 and fell in love with Bootblacking after seeing a steamy poolside scene. Learning through books, online resources, and the community at large, AJ took a chance and entered FLSb-FCBB; the rest is history! Since the Pandemic, AJ has shared the passion for Bootblacking on a smaller scale by mentoring new Bootblacks in a one-on-one setting.
Imagine yourself in a dark, seedy Leather Bar, your senses taking in the sights and sounds of the night. Lo and behold, you spot someone off in the corner, sitting in a throne-like chair with someone kneeling before them. At first, you think perhaps it is a Dominate initiating a scene, but the Bootblack really starts the scene! So, bring in a pair of boots for this hands-on class. You will learn about the basics of leather care and leave with a mini kit of your own to allow your inner Bootblack Shine through!
Buck is an accomplished bootblack and kink educator, with over 15 years of experience in the scene, and 13 years as a bootblack. He has been teaching bootblacking and leather care on TikTok since April 2022, and has taught kink and play classes for events and clubs such as Wicked in the West, Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert, and GearUp Weekend. A versatile switch, Buck finds enjoyment in prioritizing connected experiences when engaging in play regardless of the position and role he finds himself in.
Although bootblacking might look like it's all about the leather, there's so much that goes on under the surface. In this class, we'll discuss how to create a connected and intimate experience at the bootblacking stand. If you're interested in moving your bootblacking past the technical and into the sensual, then this will be a class you'll want to sit in on.
Dominex Victoria Xy is the Leather privateer, you’re trans muscle fem Dominex and NW Person of Leather 2023! For over a decade, they have participated in non-monogamy, kink, leather, and LGBTIAQ+ communities. Having pursued a degree in Public Health Education with a minor in gender, sexuality, and Queer Studies from OHSU, Victoria runs their own company doing life coaching and education, specializing in relationships, sexual health, kink, queer, and DEI; as well as corporate consulting.
We have many terms in sex-positive and alternative communities, with seemingly more and more coming out every day. Let’s take a moment to explore some of these labels, terms, and concepts people use and how they are experienced by each individual person. Whether you’re trying to learn, curious/exploring, or from “a different generation” we can support ourselves and the community by creating understanding of the various expressions we have in this day in age.
Daddy 12 Volt is a four-time leather title holder who has been a sadistic BDSM player and educator since 2006 with expertise in "violent" wand, flogging, and tactile play. He is a member of The 15 Association and is Sir to two boys.
It's a pain to travel with fragile and expensive electrical toys! In this class, I will teach you how to make your own violet wand toys and use basic household items from the craft store, hardware store, and the party store to light up your sub's evening. You'll never see a birthday party or after-Christmas clearance sale the same way again!
Daisy Blue (They/Them) is a seasoned and active Bootblack. Though they have been participating in kink since 2014, Daisy began their Bootblack and Leather journey in 2017 in Nashville, which they currently call home. Daisy is a member of the Nashville BDSM Community Center, The Mark by CPI, and leads the volunteer CPI House Bootblack Team. They also spearhead a monthly boot lab for the greater Nashville area and help lead Nashville Hot Leather, a CPI special interest group.
Have you ever wanted to change the color of your favorite leather boots? Maybe that tan purse has some discoloration, and you want to dye it black. This class will cover all things dyeing: from stripping (how, with what, and where?) to selecting your dye, to protecting your final project. And, of course, always safety first!
Ivarr B. (EE-vahr) – he / him – is a pan, polyam, sadistic Leather Daddy, cigar snob, and most of all, a proud member of the Osage Nation. He also served as Mr. Oregon State Leather 2019/2020. His kinky roots started in Oklahoma many years ago but Portland, OR has been home since 2018. He loves to play rough, teach, and hold up mirrors to Leather and kink communities in the hope of making them better.
This is a facilitated discussion covering uncomfortable, emotional topics. The intent is to offer a space to learn, share, and be better. It starts with the experiences of Ivarr B., a proud member of the Osage Nation and dedicated Leatherman, and offers gathered wisdom about what it means to be Native and Leather. Bring your questions and check any fragile egos at the door while we consider Native visibility and identity in Leather spaces.
Ivarr B. (EE-vahr) – he / him – is a sadistic Leather Daddy, cigar snob, and a proud member of the Osage Nation. James - they / ze - is a switchy sadomasochist who studies social revolutions. We bonded over chess, cigars, and a mutual desire to see growth and evolution in our Leather communities. Both of us are sober, queer as folk, food-focused (okay, food-obsessed), and prone to fits of giggling while bratting at one another.
We all fuck up! Let’s discuss how we approach mistakes. What can we do when we cause harm? How do we talk to our friends when they behave dangerously? Can we come back from a mistake? This will be a frank discussion about screwing up, what it looks like to learn and grow from our mistakes, and how we can hold one another accountable AND make room for folx to learn from mistakes.
James Lohikaarme (they / it) is a genderfluid Leather-dragon with roots in California and New Zealand. Switchy, sadistic, and bratty, they have a torrid love affair with sharp pointy things and violent wrestling matches. James is an housing activist and kink event coordinator in the Pacific Northwest with it’s owner, Ivarr Brokksson. James can usually be found making new friends at the cigar lounge, or at home playing D+D with their teenagers.
Leather and kink can require heavy demands of our bodies - but this isn’t just for the physically fit. As we age, we all find our bodies ache, some injuries don’t heal, and there's resulting impact on our dynamics and relationships. Let’s have a conversation about what it’s like to grow old in Leather, how a loved one’s new injury and disability can change our lifestyle, and how we can build supportive communities for this reality.
Marilyn and Rio are the current Northwest Master and slave. Marilyn is a sadist with an intense blood lust and Rio is a service-oriented butch leatherdyke. Marilyn and Rio have judged, emceed, and tallied at numerous contests, and have presented at NWLC, SELF, SWLC, IMsLBB, LLC, the Exiles, and more. Their home club is the Exiles SF, where they spent many years as officers. They are active in MAsT SF, where Marilyn is the Director.
Alignment is critical to successful M/s and D/s relationships. In this class we’ll discuss a number of different personality assessments you can use to both determine and improve alignment. The benefit of using any kind of assessment tool is that it can help you know yourself. Self-knowledge from multiple perspectives can increase your capacity for success in an M/s or D/s relationship.
Master Hines formally joined the BDSM community in 1992 in Atlanta Georgia and moved to the bay area in 2003. Master Hines has presented demonstrations, classes and private workshops throughout the Southeast since 1997 and in the Bay Area since 2000. He is well respected for his flair and artistry with floggers and has given classes on many topics including Flogging, Spirituality and SM, Erotic Knife Play, Rough Body Play, Resistance Play, The SM of Hands, Sensuous Caning and more.
In this class I will discuss what it means to be primal and how to incorporate your animal characteristics into scenes. With the aid of my demo bottoms, I’ll demonstrate some lighter, sensual and erotic ways of playing with your inner animal. Then, for your edification and enjoyment, I will show you a fiercer more beast-like approach to Primal Play. Subjects will include negotiation, rough body play, biting, vampiric feeding and more.
Malcolm entered the lifestyle in 2007 and began an amazing journey of personal growth, Mastery and Leather. Malcolm was involved with Beyond Vanilla for twelve years, and is currently the Co-Producer of the Texas Power Exchange Contest. Farrah is a therapist, sex educator and member of the kink, LGBTQIA+, and polyamorous communities, who combines extensive education in the field of mental health with lived experience, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy.
In this hands-on workshop, we explore fundamentals of effective communication, including active listening, non-verbal communication, and assertiveness. Participants learn how to express themselves clearly, understand others' perspectives, and build rapport with others. We emphasize verbal communication, the importance of tone and adapting communication style to diverse situations. Attendees will learn how to handle difficult conversation, provide feedback, and resolve conflict constructively in a Power Exchange Context
A Power Exchange relationship is filled with constant demands and expectations, the ability to say “no” can be a precious gift to yourself and your partner. “The Gift of No” is a transformative workshop designed to help both In-Charge and Not-In-Charge individuals harness the power of this two-letter word to set boundaries, prioritize self-care, and live a more fulfilling and authentic life.
MissaKay(she/her) is a Poly, Queer, Leatherwoman. Her passion is bringing education to her community. She continuously serves by bringing Leather to the Valley through her Leather Family 'FLAG', serving as TGIF Membership Coordinator, co-facilitating several local discussion/skills-based groups and presenting knives/violet wand at various tasting events. Her friends would warn you not to let her marvelous energy, friendly smile and bubbly personality fool you, her sadism has a tendency to sneak up on many.
An Intro to Non-traditional Topping. Not all Sadism has to look the same. Dark and broody not your jam? Light and Giggly more your speed? Maybe with an added dash of faux sympathy! Always thought you were just a service top or not that much of a sadist? Come explore the fun, humiliating, creative suffering side of sadism with me. You're definitely bound to have a good laugh or two.
I am a womanist and hood feminist raised by parents who taught me the importance of sexual autonomy and body positivity. Currently, I live as a Leatherwoman, committed to TNP pack and the house I founded in 2021: House of Kush. I am a co-founder of APRiL(Asian Pasifika Representation in Leather), coalition partner of NCSF, member of Women of Drummer, LGBTQ2S+ and Leather District, the Exiles, Leatherweek Education Collaboration Director w/ SF Eagle and Folsom, and producer of Ms SF Leather.
This panel is designed to addresses the nuances and intersectionalities of being BIPOC, queer and kinky. Together, we will explore what that means in our region, address fractures and community reach to restore justice and heal.
