05/15/2026
Well ive been out of my shop for the last few days not just because Im in Sheridan but because some of my fingers on my dominant hand got smash and latch in a pickup door 😬 so if there a slight delay to orders, its because I want the swelling on my fingers to go down.
We arrived to Sheridan yesterday for the rocky mountain leather show and while the tradeshow starts Friday, ive have already been amazed by everything. Today I spent nearly 4 hours in the Don King, Kings Saddlery Museum. The only way to describe my experience is to say it was inspiring. I viewed lots of work from makers I look up to, and It puts into perspective how big of shoes the younger makers have to fill. Ive never been so in awe of others work, makers I know of some Ive never heard of but all in all it is truly spectacular. Many of Don Kings saddle from the 50s-70s are in spectacular shape and a marvel to inspect. My favorite tooling style by far has always been Sheridan Florals which Don King is where they originated, his Sheridan style saddles are so intricate, his scrolls in his florals were much smaller and refined then most work is today. My by far favorite to look at in the museum was the Ann and Al Stolman collection. In a picture below you can see where Al wrote "Nowadays people know the price of everything, and the value of nothing" that made me laugh and it is extremely fitting for most makers today being overworked and underpaid, but I digress. Seeing Al's sketches was something I never dreamed of, he drew everything flawlessly. Al was the kind of person who could master absolutely anything he put his mind to, I aspire to be that way. His wife work was just as amazing. Ann was an AMAZING maker, I feel like you never hear of her in the pair but she was absolutely spectacular alongside Al! They had an amazing marble desk where the would both sit and work, drawers on each side with identical tools, most of there work they did together. Not only were Al and Don amazing saddle makers but you also get to see there silverwork in the museum, which was pretty cool.
Any how, if you see a change in my work, more use of stamps and a more traditional twist on designs, its because of the spectacular work I was able to view today. So far all of the makers I've met have been so kind and knowledgeable, such a blessing to have the opportunity to come out here and see everything!
