Members DavidMillsSaddlery Posted November 27, 2011 Members Report Posted November 27, 2011 Hello! It has been 12 years or so since I've worked with leather. I was a better craftsman than a businessman so I had to close a shop and go to "work for a living" I started out in the early 80's working for Eli Rios when he was with Longhorn Boot Company in the Valley! After nearly 8 years as a pro rodeo bull fighter, I retired from the arena! I then started making Rodeo Chaps here in Central Texas. I was hired by the Movie "8 Seconds" and got my name in the credits as one of the "chapmakers" That was great advertising!!! I was also one of the first people in the country to make a bull riding vest! I also did work for the movie "All the Pretty Horses" Although my contract didn't include any "credit listings" That's where I get the "famous" from lol Again had I been a better businessman thinks might have been different! I soon began collecting Singer Sewing Machines and then I started Making Saddles! I was pretty good at it too from what I remember! My biggest problem was I was too busy making stuff I wanted to do, and not what I needed to do to make money... Well now I am going to get back into the trade as a hobby only... Yes I will "charge" for what I do, but it won't be to make a living, but to make extra money just to put back into the craft! I currently Haul Heavy and Oversized equipment and I have a lot of free time between loads! I was racing off road, but this was expensive, and I have "been there done that"! I will still race but just not as much! (TEN races this year as far away as California Arizona and New Mexico! Well there's a little bit about me! David Mills http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.257246370973038.69861.100000630308869&type=3 not sure if this link will work or not? Quote
Members DavidMillsSaddlery Posted November 27, 2011 Author Members Report Posted November 27, 2011 pictures... Hello! It has been 12 years or so since I've worked with leather. I was a better craftsman than a businessman so I had to close a shop and go to "work for a living" I started out in the early 80's working for Eli Rios when he was with Longhorn Boot Company in the Valley! After nearly 8 years as a pro rodeo bull fighter, I retired from the arena! I then started making Rodeo Chaps here in Central Texas. I was hired by the Movie "8 Seconds" and got my name in the credits as one of the "chapmakers" That was great advertising!!! I was also one of the first people in the country to make a bull riding vest! I also did work for the movie "All the Pretty Horses" Although my contract didn't include any "credit listings" That's where I get the "famous" from lol Again had I been a better businessman thinks might have been different! I soon began collecting Singer Sewing Machines and then I started Making Saddles! I was pretty good at it too from what I remember! My biggest problem was I was too busy making stuff I wanted to do, and not what I needed to do to make money... Well now I am going to get back into the trade as a hobby only... Yes I will "charge" for what I do, but it won't be to make a living, but to make extra money just to put back into the craft! I currently Haul Heavy and Oversized equipment and I have a lot of free time between loads! I was racing off road, but this was expensive, and I have "been there done that"! I will still race but just not as much! (TEN races this year as far away as California Arizona and New Mexico! Well there's a little bit about me! David Mills http://www.facebook....30308869&type=3 not sure if this link will work or not? Quote
Members caaront Posted November 27, 2011 Members Report Posted November 27, 2011 Thank you for the pics and welcome. Quote
Members DavidMillsSaddlery Posted November 27, 2011 Author Members Report Posted November 27, 2011 Can't seem to get the uploader to work right? here's more pictures Quote
King's X Posted November 28, 2011 Report Posted November 28, 2011 Welcome to the forum TurboTexas! Thanks for the photos and congrats on your movie work. Quote
Members TexasTanz Posted March 14 Members Report Posted March 14 I have a pair of Longhorn Boot company El Rios collection handmade in texas I think it is snake skin, maybe lizard. The skins are about 2 inches wide and an octagon-type scles on the shoe portion. orangish in color. Can anybody tell me about these boots and their possible value? I live in the Dallas area and bought them at a swap meet in San Diego 20 years ago. Quote
Members SUP Posted March 14 Members Report Posted March 14 Have you checked with Google lens or even with a photograph on Google? Quote
Members Tigweldor Posted Friday at 10:40 PM Members Report Posted Friday at 10:40 PM Hi Dave, Don´t feel bad - you are not alone. Many of us are good craftsmen but utterly fail when it comes to selling yourself or your products. That´s life in reality. On the other hand, I´ld rather be a doer than a talker. Quote
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