I get asked this question all the time. Usually, while I’m in somewhat ironic locations… like at the airport while I’m waiting in line for my favorite discount airline, or at a taco stand while I’m eating something that cost a dollar and is wrapped in white paper…Everybody wants to know who makes the “Most Expensive Cowboy Boots?”
Writer Neal Santelmann of Forbes.com provides us with the answer and the pictures …no doubt, inspiring big dreams and even bigger purchases.
Marty: “Hey Evan, do you think all these boots will fit in the car?”
Evan: “Oh yeah…just stack ’em up like cordwood.”
Me: “Yee-haw!!“
I’m headed to Austin, TX tomorrow morning. Too late for the SXSW festivities and too late get this t-shirt I found online… rats, it woulda been perfect.
But, I’m going to have a blast anyway. Marty and I photographing boots for my book. Lots and lots of boots. I’ll be making stops at Texas Traditions, Dave Little’s Boot Company and some of the best collectors’ closets in Austin. Stay tuned.
As I’ve been bounty-huntin’ cowboy boots for my book… I’ve discovered that a handful of the boots I want to photograph are currently being “held hostage” in Houston’s Center for Contemporary Craft …part of an exhibit called COWBOY: Craft of the American West.
The show features handmade cowboy gear …including cowboy boots crafted by Ray Dorwart (Guthrie, OK), Stephanie Ferguson (Millsap, TX), Bob McClean (Sedona, AZ) and Gary & Clara McGlasson (Spokane, WA.)
Visit the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft before March 26th, 2006 ….or catch a glimpse of a few of the items included in this photo slideshow.
Otherwise you may have to wait until my book comes out next Spring!
Contact Numbers:
· Ray Dorwart (405) 282-1258 (Click here for website)
· Stephanie Ferguson (817) 341-9700
· Bob McLean (520) 281-0512 (…now at Paul Bond Boots)
· Gary & Clara McGlasson (509) 891-1756
(Photo courtesy of Houston Center for Contemporary Craft.)
The 18th Annual Boot & Saddlemakers Trade Show Round Up will be held October 6-7, 2006 in Wichita Falls, Texas.
I look forward to the Round Up every year.
Here’s the informal schedule…Friday morning, you get a quick nod, hug, or handshake from even your closest friends… ‘cuz everybody is staring down at the asphalt searching around for the good swapmeet stuff. After 3pm on Saturday everybody’s too busy looking for last minute deals on leather, no time for long goodbyes.
Ahhh… but in all that time in-between, there’s plenty of room for drinking coffee and catching up with all the folks you haven’t seen since last year.
For more information visit www.bootandsaddlemakertradeshow.com. To pre-register contact Kathy Kimmel at kimmels@comanchetx.com, or (325) 356-3197.
(Bootmakers will want to keep their eye on the customcowboybootsandshoesforum.com for more updates and photos.)
Here’s some 2005 photos:
Thirty-two saddles were entered in this year’s contest.
Bootmaker Duck Menzies (Temple, TX)
Jeff Farmer from Sun City Leather (El Paso,TX)
