These are some photos taken during my last couple of trips. Why aren’t there more? …because that would mean I’d have to put down my coffee cup and get up out of my chair. (Please note… even Lee Cooke, a local Austin dignitary, scored only one out of two.)
Visit my Flickr page to add some comments and notes of your own.
I like Austin, not just for all the chorizo tacos and free wifi …but because it’s a big city that keeps its sense of possibility.
My last trip to Austin was in October. Here are a few photos I took at Uncommon Objects. I go every time I’m in town, even if my suitcase is full.
(You can see more photos of Uncommon Objects here.)
Uncommon Objects
1512 South Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 442-4000
www.uncommonobjects.com
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)
Abilene bootmaker, Brian C. Thomas won the Professionals’ Choice Award on October 8th, 2005, at the 17th Annual Boot and Saddlemakers Roundup in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The award is given annually to a single bootmaker whose handmade cowboy boots exhibit the greatest artistry and craftsmanship.
Thomas’s boot was chosen from a field of approximately 30 pairs built by bootmakers from across the United States. The judges for this category are master bootmakers each with over 20 years experience. Tex Robin, one of this year’s judges, reported that the panel carefully examined each boot entry top to bottom…and then stitch by stitch.
Journeyman:
Larry Binford (Navasota, TX) Winner
Chuck Deats (Centennial, CO) Runner-Up
Working Cowboy Boot:
Terry Young (Paducah, TX) Winner
Dew Westover (Vernon, TX) Runner-Up
Artistry:
Bill Niemczyk (Granby, CT) Winner
Mike Spikes (Henrietta, TX) Runner-Up
Top Stitching:
Mike Spikes (Henrietta, TX) Winner
Open:
Bill Niemczyk (Granby, CT) Winner
Dew Westover (Vernon,TX) Runner-Up
Masters:
Carl Chappell (Saint Jo, TX) Winner
Read more about this winning boot.
Professional’s Choice:
Brian Thomas (Abilene TX) Winner
Bill Niemczyk (Granby, CT) Runner-Up
For more information about this or next year’s contest, please contact Mr. Gary Cunningham at cunninghamtx@hotmail.com, or (940) 691-6750.
