I first learned how to sew on a harness stitcher in the summer of 1979 in Twin Falls, Idaho. The shop I worked for was a high quality holster production outfit owned by Chet Hillman. Chet had a contract to make the Thompson Center Contender holsters back in the day when silhouette shooting was popular. […]
The Work of Our Hands
I’m violating some of my ‘rules’ with regard to decoration on this year’s TCAA saddle. The color on the flowers is something I’ve done before, but have never been very fond of the idea. I reduced the color so that after oiling and antiquing, it should be subtle. I’ve done some experimenting on some scrap […]
Hand sewing
These days I look for opportunities to sew things by hand. Here’s a few nuggets I learned from Jean Luc Parisot in France four years ago…1. Fold your buckle ends around so that the grain side is against the hardware. This provides for a bit of added durability. 2. Hand sewing allows you to get […]
Hot Oil Treatment
In recent visits with the current CEO Shep Hermann at Hermann Oak Leather , the saddlemakers of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association have discussed recommendations on care and maintenance of saddles. Shep recommends neatsfoot oil…the best of which is available through Weaver Leather under the “Shep’s” label. (It is a coincidence that the outfit making […]
Inspiration
Inspiration comes from many sources. It’s getting harder to keep track of where all the ideas come from. This year’s TCAA saddle is well under way and as I’m ‘stealing’ time from other projects to get it completed by the early August deadline. I’ve had this Al Tietjen stainless steel cheek bit (that I […]
Saddle Butter
The great Ray Holes of Grangeville, Idaho developed a leather conditioner he called “Saddle Butter” many years ago. It has a combination of beeswax, neatsfoot oil, carnauba wax and a variety of other ingredients. I’ve used it liberally over the years on new and used saddles. The saddle will never be cleaner than when it […]
Collective Bargaining
It was January 2013 in Mesa, Arizona at the High Noon Show and Sale where we hosted the first annual TCAA Emerging Artist Competition. The participants wanted a thorough critique of the work they had on display. My colleague Rick Bean and I obliged. It turned into a no-holds-barred process that the saddlemakers in attendance […]
Wagonhound Saddle
Over the years I’ve been very fortunate to have accumulated many great customers. Art Nicholas and the Wagonhound Ranch has been one of them. This world class ranch is located near Douglas, Wyoming and features top shelf big game hunts, horses, and cattle. Art and his staff have been working toward a production sale for […]
Rawhide Cantle Binding
Cal DeCora was one of my first saddle customers after I moved to Salmon, Idaho twenty-nine years ago (1 April 1984). Recently he brought the last two saddles I made him in to be cleaned and oiled. One of the benefits of longevity in the saddle biz is that you get to see how saddles […]
Discover the Sharp End
I finally replaced my broken ax handle so that I could split some kindling for my stove in the shop. Working on that ax head reminded me of an analogy that I used in a speech delivered to a Toastmasters International group some twenty years ago. When you’re getting started, sometimes you pick up your […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Next Page »