Abstract: The present invention includes the application of heat and pressure to a flexible sheet: material, preferably a natural or synthetic animal hide, over a duration of time. A flexible sheet material having a raised design permanently embossed therein includes capturing the flexible sheet material between mating die halves, each die half having either a relief inverse negative of the raised design formed therein, a portion of the raised design having a height out of the plane of the flexible sheet material of an amount greater than or equal to the thickness of the flexible sheet material, and applying heat and pressure to the flexible sheet material through the die halves for a dwell period sufficient to emboss the design into the flexible sheet material. Optionally, the cavity beneath the raised design is back-filled with a flexible solid material. Also provided according to the present invention is an article produced according to the method described herein.