Some More Old Stuff

This is a Bible cover I did a while back.  He wanted a slip on cover that had handles and his brand on the front.  The full basket stamp turned out looking really good, classic and simple.  I was worried about this one because I didn't have the Bible in hand to fit it to, just dimensions over the phone, but it worked out fine in the end.  Hope you like it, RW

Name Droppin'

A little name droppin' to pay some respect to one the guys that has supported me out on the road.  Of course this is the western swingingest, fiddlinest, chainsaw carvingest, creator of the uniquest things to ever come out of Manchaca or anywhere, Doug Moreland.  My wife and I went down to see them yesterday to check out all the happenings at his Cattlelacs gallery.  They have really grown since the last time I was down there.  The place looks great and has all kinds of great chainsaw art for purchase.  I strongly urge you to go check this place out.  A little slice of Americana right outside of Austin.  In a world that is being built like a mall, it's great to have places like Doug's that aren't exactly status quo.

Doug is also an excellent musician.   He has put together a great band, the Flying Armadillos, which can lay out some of the best stuff being played around right now.  They had the first of hopefully many "Woodshend Concerts" last night.  Please go out and support these guy's so they are able to keep up doing what they love.  Doug and Suzan have helped me out for a while now.  Doug has a guitar strap and photo album for his shop from us and they were more than willing to let me display some of my stuff in Cattlelacs a while back.  This post is just a little way for me to say thanks to them for helping me and give credit to them for what they have created out in Manchaca.  Keep up with what's going on at Cattlelacs from the link on the side of my page or just go by and pay them a visit.  Later, RW

Spur Straps

Well I finished up the spur straps I was working on (the bottom pair).  I think they turned out ok.  I tried out my new light box on these photos.  It's still throwing some bad shadows so I'll play with that a little more, maybe I'll turn myself into some kind of photog before this is all over.  I'm going to find a different backdrop that doesn't wrinkle first.

I have all three pair of these on hand right now or I can make new ones with your brand.  All of my spur straps are hand cut since I don't have the luxury of a clicker, so I can adjust patterns a little if needed.  I have a few different patterns if none of these suit you.  Give us a call and we'll figure out what we can do.  Thanks for looking, more to come soon.  RW

And Now for Something Completely Different

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My mentor and very good friend, Cash Cooper, calls me one day with his feet kicked back in the California sand and says "Hey I've got a project I want you to be a part of.  I'm gonna take a side of leather and cut it up like a giant puzzle, then I'm sending the pieces to different toolers I know and let each of them tool one.  I'll get them all back and put the puzzle back together and put it in my shop as a showpiece."  Of course I jump on the prospect because I have seen some of the work that these other guys can do and it would be great to have my stuff displayed beside them.  So the end result of all of this is the top picture.  I'm waiting for a complete picture from Cash of the puzzle reassembled.  Word is that he entered it in a leather trade show out in Ventura, CA and won 1st place. 

A little later I was talking to Sam Cortina, from Kings X leather in Round Rock.  He is a member of the leather guild in Austin and we get to talking and they are doing what they called a quilt.  Same concept as the puzzle and, when finished, it will be displayed in the Tandy Leather store in Austin.  He invited me to also be a part of theirs.  What I came up with on that one is in the bottom picture.

I'm blessed to have these contacts plus the many other folks I've met through the leather trade.  There are a lot of good people out there beating on dead cows.  That sounds a lot more violent that "tooling leather", I guess we better stick with "tooling" so PETA doesn't get upset.  I've got some fully tooled spur straps on the bench right now waiting for oil and finish.  Hopefully I will get a spur strap column  up by next week.  Take care, RW

"Waiter, Check Please"

What has happened to the check?  Everyone is in too much of a hurry to write out a check anymore.  "Why don't you just swipe a card, old man."  The check doesn't give you 5% cash back I guess. 

Here at the Barely Running, we remember the days of the check; so now we bring you our selection of checkbook covers.  These were also done for a trade show table and, as of right now, they are in stock.  If your old checks are cold and lonely, forgotten in a drawer, do them a favor and buy them a new coat today.

Custom Made in the USA

Customizing.  It's that special touch that makes it yours.  Here are a few examples of different ways to add lettering to a belt or any other item. 

The initials in the top pic are made to look like they are on top of the tooling, they will "stick out" if want to look at it that way.  The letters on the bottom belts are "pressed in".  The way that this is done will inherently make them darker than the untouched leather around them.  If you desire an even darker look, we can dye the letters. 

The top belt also has a finger cut design on the liner.  This is one of those touches that will not be seen when wearing it but adds an extra wow factor to the overall belt.  The top belt is a straight 1 1/2" belt, the bottom pic shows a couple of ranger style belts (1 1/2" belt with 3/4" billets, I believe).

I will apologize now for the quality of some of these older pictures.  I am in the process of building a light box right now that should greatly improve the photos in the future.  Stay tuned.
As always, if you need to get a hold of me, go to my profile and click "email me" or reach me at:
brsaddles(at)gmail(dot)com.  Thanks, RW

Belt Tooling Styles

I guess if you're a hairstylist you probably notice every one's haircut.  Is it good or bad?  Supercuts or paid way too much for? Over gelled, mess that looks like a kindergartner did it.  Or maybe if you were a jewelry maker, you'd probably pay more attention to folks rings or necklaces, stuff like that.  Me, I notice people's belts.  That is just what draws my attention.  The classic slick belt, worn to the point of thinning out and black from wear, not dye.  Folks that change belts to stay up with fashions or folks that don't care one way or the other, they just want something to hold their pants up.  I myself prefer the fully tooled style, with a close second being a well done basket stamped design. 

The designs above are the patterns I do regularly.  Sometimes I change things up a bit, but I really like these designs.  All of my belts are made of quality leather (Hermann Oak or Wickett&Craig), 1 1/2" wide, lined, antiqued, and stitched.  Names, initials, or simple brands can be added to any of these designs.  The two-tone dye on the far left can also be applied to any of the patterns.  Antique is done to all of my belts to bring out the tooling and to give them some worn in "life" look. 

These designs can be done on your choice of a straight belt, a tapered end belt, or a Ranger style belt.  I will be posting more pictures soon to show these different styles along with lettering options and other embellishments.  Like with other things, I try to stay close to traditional.  Contact me for an exact qoute of what you would like.  Thanks for visiting, RW

Holster Galore

Recently, it seems a lot of folks have been asking about holsters.  I love making holsters.  Reason A:  They are challenging, yet fun to make.  Reason B: You have to have the gun to make the holster, so I get to see and handle a lot of different types of guns.  Let's get to the picture info:

Coming in 1st is my father-in-laws Colt Navy.  Love those guns.  This one is a blackpowder, but I really want a conversion one.
Up next is a Jesse James replica style holster I made for my Vaquero but now it holds my Dad's Blackhawk.
Both of those holsters were made using Will Ghormley's patterns.  Excellent patterns if you are in the market for making your own.
Last but not least is my Uncle's 22 holster.  My cousins bought it for him for a gift.  I really liked how that one turned out.

I like to make the old style cowboy holsters.  I really haven't gotten into making newer types that are hard molded to the guns.  If you're in the market for some Cowboy Action Shooting gear or just want some leather to wrap around your single actions, give me a shout.  Until next time, RW

A Few Belts

Here is a selection of belts that we happen to have on hand right now.  These were made for display at a trade show and some were out at Doug Moreland's Cattlelac's gallery in Manchaca for awhile.  If you are looking for a quick gift to someone or yourself, these can be shipped out within a few days if the size is right.

Stop by and see Doug and Suzan in Manchaca next time you're passing through.  They are great people and they have setup a very nice gallery of chainsaw artists down there.  RW

Shave Kit / Travel Bag

Here is a shave kit I made for my Dad.  It was an old Al Stohlman pattern I had always wanted to try.  Tooling pattern is something a buddy of mine and I worked up.  Benefit of having a son that does leather is that you get free stuff when he's playing around!

The Old BR Moves Online

The time has come my friends to venture into the vast darkness of the Internet.

To keep friends, family, customers and people that have never heard of me up to date with the ongoings of the not quite yet world famous Barely Running Saddle Shop, we have decided to place some photos on here to check out.  The plan is to start with photo albums of my older work, update from now and then with new stuff coming off of the bench, provide some step by steps from time to time, and maybe you might catch a glimpse of some ramblings that come through my head.

The Barely Running is primarily a custom leather shop.  We provide quality leather goods such as belts, holsters, photo albums, etc.  We don't keep many things "in stock", due the fact that we make the item when it is ordered.  We do have a few things laying around that we use for display at trade shows and such and those things are always for sale if you are in a bind and need it now. 

Every now and then my mind travels to other things which may show up here such as wood carvings, cartoons, sketches or an occasional poem or story.  Not really any limits to what might cross through the doors here at the BR and I plan on bringing most of that to here.  So please keep an eye on us and if you are interested in purchasing anything, just email me and we can work out what you would like.  Thanks and take care, Randy West