Rawhide braiding

[KAW]

Here are some picture of some of my Rawhide braiding

[MatthewD]

you have a great talent for the braiding my friend... I am very impressed with your work

[CitizenKate]

Very nice work, indeed!

Kate

[Alan Bell]

Hey KAW, I really enjoyed your work. Great braiding! Where are you located? I'd love to visit with you. Do you know Nate or Leland? I am always looking to meet with braiders and visit about braiding and tack.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Wake up and Live!

Bob Marley

[Johanna]

Do you skin the animals and make your own rawhide, too? Beautiful braids and knots. Welcome to leatherworker.net!

Johanna

[KAW]

Alan, I know Nate but have only met Leland one time. I live in northwest South Dakota now, where are you located?

Johanna, I make all my own rawhide. I will be making some more hides in the near future I will post some pictures if anybody is interested. I am self taugh through books many hours alone and many mistakes and alot af ruined hides and projects.

[Alan Bell]

KAW, I'm in Texas near Dallas. I could see Nate's influence in some of your gear. I did the TCAA thing with Nate a few years back. I REALLY like how you attach your popper to the quirt and the romal! Have you ever been to the TCAA shows in OKC? This year it is Sept. 29th. I suggest that everyone that can make it go! It features some of the very best gear makers in the US and Canada. Saddles, Rawhide, Bits and Spurs and Silversmiths. Lots to see and learn. Hopefully, I'll be there too.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

They say "Only the fittest of the fittest shall survive" Stay alive!

Bob Marley

[KAW]

Alan, more of Oretagas influence than Walds but with my own flare. I lived north of Nate for about six years but never did get together with him about braiding went to acouple of ropins at his place but mostly just talked with him when I would see him in town. That is the way I attach all my poppers it keeps it from flopping allover and people really like it so I stuck with it so if you see a popper like tha I most likely made it. That is the only way I do it any more.Here is a fancy headstall I made in 2003,and a damascus Bit I forged acouple of years ago to complete the set in the picture.

Sorry I hit the wrong button and it came up twice.

[mudman]

Love that reata my friend!!!!!!!

[Alan Bell]

KAW, you really need to look into getting involved in the Traditional Cowboy Arts Assoc.. I would be surprised if you were not qualified for membership. It would give you a place to showcase your talents and let a lot more people see the quality of braiding that you are producing. A few yrs. back they had a round table with braiders from Argentina. You'd have loved that! Nate, Leland and Mike Beaver hosted it and braiders like Vince Donely, Jeff Minor, Jay Palm (Ortega's only student) Sharon Paulin, Ray Huffman etc. etc. were there. The guests of honor were 2 braiding masters from Argentina that showed some of their techniques with us. 90 strand braids on knife handles, a girth that took over 1 year to braid, a flat braid called the 'trenza patria' (Argentina's national braid) were among the things featured and Nate and Leland visited them the next year and then Nate braided the Santa Ynez set of reins that were featured in the Western Horseman that were wrongly attributed to Leland and labeled traditional California style! They featured an Argentine pattern called 'farolito' that makes little lanterns for buttons. VERY COOL! Everyone here should look at your braiding and the close ups to see the tightness of the braid, the evenness of the interweaves, the straightness of the braid and the creativity in the design. These are the things that set custom gear and custom gear makers far above the masses! I've got another HERO!

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

p.s. What does KAW stand for?

Oh why can't we roam this open country?

Bob Marley