Casey Jordan

Welcome M Lee! One thing we all like here is pictures, so don't be shy! I would love to see some of your work.

Here's a picture of the bottom brass piece of the big maul. And here's three more I just finished, they are a lot smaller and will be used more often. I will send these to Barry to finish putting them together and two will be going to Japan and one comes back to me for my shows to see if I can sell it.

Welcome to the group! Nice gallery pictures, I like the deer picture - very nice.

Lasse C Welcome to the site! Very nice braiding, keep the pictures coming. I really like the whip on the second page, nice use of colors.

AWESOME !

Welcome Mike! You'll find a lot of good work and helpful people here. Enjoy!

I'm no expert either, but the first thing that come to mind was a pie cutter. Could be wrong, just a guess!

Bevan, where are you? Here's his profile: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showuser=12723 He's a great whip maker!

Here's just a few notes I sent to all last years contestants and makers I have emails for about next years contest. We have kept all the categories from last year and have added one category. We will have Bits, Boots, Braiding, Engraving, Leather Carving, Saddles and Spurs. The dates for next years contest is one month later on June 17-19 which is a Friday - Sunday show. This will not be in conflict with Sheridan Leather show.The new rules and application are up on the website at: www.artofthecowboymakers.com. Please read these on the website to be fully informed. We are still in the process of getting sponsors for next years contest. If you know of someone who might be interested in being a sponsor, please let me know. The exhibit at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame was very well received and a lot of interest from the museum guests. Many pictures were taken at the Cowboy Ball alone. This is great exposure for all makers and sponsors involved. There has been some confusion about NBSSCA's part in this contest. NBSSCA was the event sponsor. This contest is run solely by Art of the Cowboy Makers LLC. NBSSCA and Art of the Cowboy Makers LLC. are two different and separate organizations. Unfortunately, NBSSCA due to financial reasons, has decided not to be a sponsor of this contest in 2011. We sure do appreciate their past sponsorship! I hope this helps clear up the confusion. If you have any questions or comments, PLEASE let me know!

There was a Max B. Golberg in Denver, Colorado from 1900-1937

Nice job, I like the front closure - very good idea!

Nice job Rusty. I'll bet that kept you busy for a while! Looks like time well spent!

Ben, I use the 710 hanpiece. I also have the Magnum handpiece but I prefer the air hose coming out the back of the 710. Just a matter of preferance I guess. I don't have any upgrades on the gravermax.

Thanks everyone for the comments! I didn't win anything in the contest, but I knew I wouldn't when I entered. I entered for the exposure since I'm still pretty new at engraving. It was well worth it since I sold this one and took orders for three more. So, I guess you could say I came out a winner. Ben, I have a Gravermax SC from GRS and engrave under a microscope. I don't get as much time to engrave as I want but it's hard with a real job and doing leatherwork too.

Hope these are clearer!

I'm sorry for the blurry pictures! I'm not sure what happened.

Here's a maul I engraved for the Art of the Cowboy Makers contest. I referenced it in another post and was asked to post pictures. A big "Thanks" to Barry for all his help on this project. He sent it to me in peices, I engraved it and sent it back to him to assemble and he sent it back to me again. We should get frequent flyer miles or something!? I picked his biggest maul, the 96 oz. (6 pound) so I could have more room to engrave. It was my first attempt at curved surfaces. Engraving the nut was like trying to shampoo a cat, and yes I got scratched. I had a lot of fun with people who didn't really know what it was or what it was used for. Depending on where they lived determined what answer ( smart remark) I gave them. Some of the better ones: Wyoming Wife Wacker Hollywood Husband Husher (Endorsed by Sandra Bullock) California Cheater Beater Montana Marriage counseler Texas Timeout.............well you get the picture. I will try to get some better pictures of the rest of the engraving before I send it to the customer.

We finally have confirmed dates for the 2011 Art of the Cowboy Makers contest. It will be June 17-19 which is a Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is no conflict with the Sheridan show. Infact you may enter the same item in our show that you enter in Sheridan. We have added a Leather Carving category for 2011. We have a lot of interest in this category and expect to fill up quickly. The rules for this category are pretty simple: Leather Carvers will be making a binder for a 8 1/2" x 11 3/4" writing pad Maximum size 11" x 14" closed. No kits or pre-made interiors. NO silver on the Leather Carvers entry. Our website has been updated. You can download the rules and application off the website. Any Questions or comments just let me know.

I remember emailing you a while back. I entered the engraving knowing I could not win, but it was well worth it. You have to enter for people to see your work. A lot of items sold out of the contest, not all were winners! You can do it! Casey

Tracy, We would love to have you enter. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Your a lot closer to the event than most people who enter. Quite a few makers were unable to attend in person but managed to get their entry there. Look forward to hearing from you when the applications are complete. Casey

Thanks to Bobby for explaining it so throughly. You know I agree with you. Also you brought up a point that a lot of makers don't think of or just don't get it yet. " Entering is an important part of obtaining name recognition which is so important in marketing." Finally someone else gets it! How true that statement is. Exposure is very critical if you want to sell or take orders. That's the whole idea behind the contest anyway. Win, lose or draw- your going to benefit just by entering. I had some makers say they would not enter because they could not win or beat so and so. These guys don't get it yet. If you enter you are going to be a winner in some way. I entered the engraving category with my Barry King maul knowing I could not win. My engraving isn't good enough to win, I knew that before I entered. I din't win ( big suprise) or even place. But if you ask me I was a winner big time by entering. For a $100.00 entry fee I exposed my work to approxametly 15,000 people. Some who didn't even know I could engrave. I sold the maul the first hour of the show and took orders for 3 more by the end of the show. It's at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame right now untill August 1st with all the other entries. Try to get that much exposure for $100.00 anywhere else. Now we are giving carvers & toolers the chance to strut their stuff- BIG TIME! There are a lot of great carvers who don't make saddles and they should be able to show what they can do. Hilly, Scientists are still working on your question. Competition like this makes everyone step it up a notch. Can't wait to see the entries next year.

Johanna, I must have been typing when you posted, I'm not just ignoring you. Your right about the crossover of many makers doing other crafts and having other talents. Some are so talented at many things that it makes me jealous. We are trying to include the whole scope of as many cowboy related crafts as we can. We add what we can if we feel it will be a good turn out by the makers. And your right, everyone has to step it up a notch. That is what brings out some amazing works of art. The Art of the Cowboy Makers is designed to be major exposure for all the contemporary makers. We feel this will bring up the prices and demand for their work too. I do a lot of western collectable and antique shows and most of the collectors only see "antiques" as collectable. Well, since we started this contest they are starting to change their minds a little. They are starting to see that there are some very talented makers making some very impressive items right now. The first year I had an antique dealer who does these show all the time come up to me and say "I see these contemporary makers all the time, but I never really looked at their work - until today! Since I had to vote for my favorite I really had to pay attention to what I was looking at and I'm very impressed!" Also, I truly appreciate what you said about supporting events like this. It is a lot of work and very time consuming, but I already see it helping out many makers already. It is rewarding when the makers are truly appreciative of what you have done. Let's see, how long will it take me to catch up to you Johanna? Do I have enough time left?

Bobby, Darcy & Ben, Your all right! I think there are alot of fine toolers & carvers who need a big stage to showcase what they can do. That's exactly why we are putting this category in. I was discussing this with my wife and we both agree this will probably be the first category to fill up completly. We have a limit of 25 first come/ first serve. I already have people just waiting for the application to enter this category. I'll be willing to bet right now that this category wil be the "Bell of the Ball" at this years contest. I can only imagine what fine leatherwork will be there. And since the vendors, makers and public get to vote, it will be looked over real good. The public really gets into it because they are involved in deciding the winner. I will let you know more details when we have confirmed dates, hopefully next week. Casey

Johanna, Thanks so much for the offer! We would sure love to have you involved. I think it will be a win/win for both of us and will definatly be a two way street. As soon as we get the dates confirmed we can get going on the application and advertising. And your right there is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm and it builds each year. After meeting you in Wickenburg it was obvious you have a passion for what your doing here at LW. It was my pleasure to meet you and I appreciate all you do here! Thanks again!!!! Casey

Hidepounder Thanks for all your comments and congratulations! We're excited about adding a leather carving category and I knew you would be interested in entering. I know there are a lot of great carvers out there who don't make saddles. This will give them a chance to have there work exposed to a lot of people in a short time, not to mention the chance to win a nice trophy buckle and cash. There were several items sold from the contest again this year and a lot of orders taken. Infact, I sold my engraving entry (engraved Barry King Maul) shortly after the show opened and took three more orders before it was over. I still have a chance for more orders since it is still on exhibit for another month and a half. I will be posting details and we will get the 2011 entry applications on the website as soon as the dates are confirmed.