How about a small shop update next week? A few new purses, cuffs and bracelet bars... Next Friday June 29th at noon (MST) be there or be square.
I couldn't resist sneaking a few cuffs in between orders... Fairly certain I'm going to have to keep one of these for myself!
When your purse matches your jewelry...
I have been seriously craving some more cowhide bags lately. As soon as I finish up a few more customs, I will be making a few more up for y'all. Promise.
Feels good to have a few small areas to tool before pounding on a pair of fenders...
Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day. I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way...
A little #turquoiseandtooledleathertuesday eye candy to power us through the rest of the day... Who else needed a little inspiration?
I've been putting this saddle seat off long enough. Full-carved saddles are A LOT of work! Not sure how saddlemakers do it one after the next... I'm ready to get back to some purses (and I haven't even started on fenders and swells, lol). Well, wish me luck. May my hammer fly and my hands not cramp and may the leather stay perfectly cased...
Sometimes the best things are born from mistakes. A few weeks ago, I tooled and painted a custom tally book cover only to discover that I had mis-measured irreparably. So, I tooled and painted another cover and transformed the original mistake into a zippered wallet. Wallets are a item I've skirted around for a while, wanting to design something unique and functional. This may not exactly be the one but I feel I'm finally on the right path. I'm still tweaking the dimensions and trying to wrap my head around zippers but I should soon have wallets available to purchase and order. Stay tuned...
Looking forward to this new week. Fingers crossed, I'll be wrapping up several custom orders and maybe even starting some new ones. Looking forward to having more free time to polish up some new ideas...
Hopefully all the tooled leather and turquoise distracted you from the antique paste under my fingernails... Or maybe y'all never would have noticed if I hadn't pointed it out. Either way, I'm proud of what my callused, nail-bitten, obviously not-manicured fingers created. Next photo shoot, though, I promise to wash a little better. 🤦
While the rest of you are enjoying a relaxing Saturday morning, I'll be here tapping away on custom orders...
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten...
So many new designs coming out of my latest round of custom orders. This wide purse strap is officially one of my all-time favorites. Can't wait to show you it on the purse!
Just finished this custom bet and I'm in love! Hope to have a few more available at the NFR... Hopefully with some @turquoiseandcompany buckles... What do y'all think?
Sharp blades bring me joy. Love using my Leather Wranglers swivel knife. Any other favorite swivel knife makers y'all enjoy using??
A few weeks ago I splurged on three more bison hides and I can not wait to start using them! Clutches, Totes, Manos, some new purse styles, pillows... What else can I make with bison fur?? Thoughts anyone? Until then, I have two more bison purses available in my online shop...
In honor of Turquoise and Tooled Leather Tuesday...
Oh Monday, Monday...
Custom tally book... Loving all the details on this one!
But the most beautiful things in life are not just things. They're people and places, memories and pictures. They're feelings and moments and smiles and laughter.
I could spend the rest of my summer Saturdays sipping lemonade on this dreamy wrap-around porch... And carrying this clutch. I hope somebody orders another one like it soon because these are some of my favorite colors. Sigh....
I was completely baffled at how this purse hadn't sold yet when I realized, I forgot to list it! So... Now (finally) available! Tap the photo for pricing and details... Embroidery by @76andriveted
These tooled leather cuffs disappeared quickly, but fear not, I will have more available soon...
#westernwednesday here we come... And speaking of fringe... Do you Love it or think Eh, it's kinda annoying?
A Mano in the making... Raw veg tanned leather looks so pretty just before it gets oiled, don't you think?
When I'm not busy making purses (which is never) I help my saddle-making hubby make his things prettier, shall we say. The heavy leather is a dream to tool, giving my designs depth and dimension I can only dream of on lighter leather. And the space... The wide open spaces of blank leather yearning to be filled with flowers and swirls is wonderful. I'm excited to be working on my our first FULLY-carved saddle. At least that's what I'm telling myself. I'm sure that will change in the coming days... In fact, I know it will when I'm standing on my head tooling on the swells. But for now we'll stick with Sarah is excited... One of these days, I'm going to have to teach Matt to tool his own saddles, lol.
Quality means doing things right when nobody is looking. -henry ford
Beautiful inside and out.
Just in time for Father's Day... Who knows of a long legged guitar picking man in need of one of these tooled leather adjustable guitar straps this year?
Thick, fluffy, wonderfully unique, and only ONE remaining in my online shop... Grab a beautiful bison purse while you still can...
I have grand plans for many more of these shopper bags in the future. What do you think about them? 1.Yes, please! 2.They're nice but not for me. or... 3.Um, no Sarah.
Stuck on this gorgeous tote! Black lamb with bright pops of color in the tooled leather top❤️❤️❤️ SOLD
Hi. I'm Sarah. I am the owner, designer, model, website and marketing director, seamstress, tooler and everything else that is Western Skies Handmade. I am also a mother of two and wife to a saddle-making Texas cowboy. I started tooling just three short years ago and am pretty much self taught. I owe my quick progression in part to the fact that besides cooking and cleaning (which I don't absolutely love doing)and playing with my kiddos, there's not too much going on in the high plains of northeastern NM. But with plenty of fresh air, green grass and mountains on the horizon, I am happy to call this life my own. And if you've made it this far, let me know where you are from. I'd love to hear!🌎
Cutting in the design before I start hammering... Someday, I dream of being this fast, lol...
The perfect combination of turquoise and tooled leather...
#thankful
Peek-a-boo!
Tis the season for beautiful bouquet wraps...
Next shop update, I'll be sure to make several of these lil' cowhide clutches... This one sold right away but there WILL be more. For now, we can drool over this one...
Miles of buttery soft fringe cascade down the sides... There is so much to love about this purse. Even better, it's available to purchase!! Tap the photo for deets. This is, hands down, one of my all-time favorites. @pendletonwm out did themselves on this jacquard and the @prairieskyjewelryco turquoise blossom was the icing on the cake.❤️❤️❤️
I'm normally a sucker for bright colors, but these simple two-tone Pendleton jacquards are pretty tempting... Especially with a few sterling conchos thrown on top.
Even though we had a total lack of April showers, the May flowers keep popping up. This is my favorite time of year to go on walks because there is always something new and beautiful and inspiring to be found.
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. -Van Gogh
Keep things simple with the Mano Purse. Love these little bags! Slip on the wrist strap and keep your phone and wallet close at hand...
@jforksdesigns just put up a new blog post interviewing some of her favorite leather workers. I am beyond honored to be included in this talented lineup! Swing on over to her bio and tap the link to read more. And if you aren't already following these other guys, you should check them out! Tap the picture for deets...
Up close and personal... These purses aren't just pretty from a distance. Ribbons, arrow and sunflowers surrounded by swirls look better up close. What are some of your favorite design elements in my tooling?? What do you want to see more of??
Half a lifetime ago, I lived and breathed music. I played flute through college and never dreamed of pounding on leather. Fast forward to today and I still work most days to classical music and it's always fun to discover new ways to mix my two passions. This guitar strap is up for grabs and I am now taking custom orders on them.
Had a blast in Sheridan at the #rockymountainleathertradeshow . It was such a treat to visit with my favorite tool makers and fellow leather workers. Can't wait to get back and start using my new strap/fringe cutter, leathers and tools. A big thank you to all the sellers that make this such a great show to come to! @leatherwranglers @leather_machine_co @barrykingtools @makersleathersupply , American Elk And Deer, Knipshield Knives, Hermann Oak Leather, Wayne Jueschke and many more! And another big thank you @allredleathercompany for driving what didn't fit in my car down to me in NM❤️
This purse was so much fun to design and make. So thankful to have a few beautiful gals to photograph and model it before it got claimed. I'll never make another exactly like it but I do hope to collaborate with @turquoiseandcompany on a few more similar designs in time for the NFR...
Good Morning Sheridan! Looking forward to doing some leather tools shopping today at the #rockymountainleathertradeshow. Hope to run into a few more of you there!
Dreaming of getting back in the studio and carving on some leather but adventure and leather tools still await in Sheridan. Hope to see a few of you there... Who's going to be in town?
I am so in love with these new leather cuffs! If nobody claims this big beauty, I've decided I'm keeping it! Say goodbye to annoying snaps and difficult knots, these fit on just like your favorite sterling cuffs. And they look fabulous alone and layered.
Love the details on this purse. Simple from a distance and anything but up close.
To say that the last few weeks have been crazy would be an incredible understatement. I've driven 1700 miles, had two photoshoots, finished building about 30 new purses, set up, sold at and torn down a booth at Abilene and am about to make my way 700 miles north to shop for new tools and machines at the Rocky Mountain Leather Show in Sheridan. I have made new friends and connections and though I'm slightly sleep deprived and exhausted and miss snuggling with my babies, I can't wait to do it all over again next year. . . . P.S. @lyndseygarber is amazing.
Happy Mother's Day to all of you hard-working Mommas with beautiful babies of your own.
Those of you who can't make it out to Abilene, get ready to shop online. New purses go live tomorrow, May 12th, at 5pm MST. And can we take a moment to appreciate this shot by @denimandvelvet ?! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
So many pretties to shop at the @westernheritageclassic ! Tomorrow is the last day so come on by and snag some tooled leather and turquoise...
On the road today, Abilene bound!! Western Heritage Classic, here we come...
All the pretty details...
