Innehållsförteckning för May 2025 från Illume

EACH MONTH, AS I SIT down to write this note, I find myself reflecting on the remarkable individuals whose stories fill these pages. This issue, in particular, is a testament to something truly special—the relentless pursuit of knowledge, the deep-rooted passion for craft, and the unwavering persistence that defines the leather industry. Jeff Gollehon’s story is one we’ve heard before, yet it never gets old—a young boy, captivated by the smell of leather and the rhythmic hum of well-worn tools, who grows up to become the steward of a century-old saddle shop. It’s a legacy of skill, tradition, and dedication that speaks to the timelessness of this craft. Katy Motley is carving out her own path, blending her love of cattle, the beef industry, and leatherwork to create a full-circle…

Ever wish you had an extra set of hands when finishing a strap? If so, this wooden belt jig is an invaluable addition to your workbench. Designed with a tapered insert, this belt jig locks a leather strap in place, making it easy to dye and burnish edges with accuracy and precision. Choose from a small option that’s 19-1/4” long or a large option that’s 39-1/2” long. Experience this convenient device for yourself and you’ll wonder why you didn’t invest in one sooner! Visit www.weaverleathersupply.com or call 800-932-8371 to place your order today!…

March 26, 2025 (Trinidad, COLORADO): Cowgirl Artists of America (CGA) will be hosting the second annual art exhibition Women’s Work at the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art in Trinidad, Colorado. Running from August 1 through September 20, 2025, this exhibition showcases 56 juried women artists from throughout the United States. Each artist has been paired with a woman working on a ranch to create artwork inspired by women working in ranching for the exhibition. Artworks include paintings, drawings, sculpture, and traditional Western art like silversmithing and boot making, as well as work from Indigenous artists. “As we enter our second year of Women’s Work, we are proud to be increasing the visibility of women Western artists and stories of women ranching in the West,” says Megan Wimberley, exhibition chair…

When I was asked to write this, I really had no idea how to begin. So, I’ll start at the beginning of my career…as a roofer! I spent 25 years reroofing residential homes in Tallahassee, Florida, working for the same roofing company. In 2008, the “Great Recession” struck the economy, forcing businesses to either cut back or close for good. I was faced with a tough decision: try to find another job during the recession, which was unlikely, or provide for my family on my own. I chose the latter and opened my own roofing company. However, I quickly discovered that an honest roofer couldn’t make a living in Tallahassee. While there were some honest roofers, there were too many that weren’t, making it easy for them to undercut my…

George Brolo Canfield was on the horn from Missouri. “Sunlight oxidizes leather,” said the founder of EDC Leather, in response to a call for stories about the impact of humidity, temperature, exposure to sunlight and different climates on leather’s feel, durability and overall characteristics. “And too much moisture can zap it with mold. Everybody knows that.” Maybe not everybody, but fine leather artisans certainly learn that moderation of all those factors is required for optimal leather performance. Sarah Garvey, of Western Skies Handmade in sunny Arizona, calls it “The Goldilocks Zone.” “Just like the story of the porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” she explains, “everything is best when it’s juuust right. The hot and cold, wet and dry, all those elements that affect leather, ideally, should be just…

WANTED NEW SUBSCRIBERS WANTED. Now is the time to renew and see what you have been missing! Give us a call at (435) 565-6052, e-mail: savannah@burns1876.com or visit www.illumeconnect.com. GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Burns 1876 is now hiring saddlemakers, boot-makers, silversmiths, hat makers, and leather craftsman/woman in their manufacturing facilities in Salina, Utah. In-house training provided. Please send your resume and a cover letter to careers@burns1876.com. AMISH CRAFTSMAN LOOKING FOR A WHOLESALE OUTLET. I specialize in dog training products and dog muzzles. I can custom make products to your specs. Jonathan Borntreger, 19563 CTY HWY MM, Wilton, WI. 54670 WANTED • Standard Rivet Spot Setter with Hoppers (stand-up or sit-down model).• Dye Sets for Standard Rivet Spot Setter• Landis 6-inch Crank Splitter. Must be in working condition and available for shipping. Contact…

B. CRAWFORD B. Crawford has written, co-written or ghost-written more than three dozen books over the last thirty years, including Border Radio: Quacks, Yodelers, Pitchmen, Psychics and Other Amazing Broadcasters of the American Airwaves (Univ. of Texas Press: 2002) which he co-wrote with fellow Illume writer Gene Fowler. Crawford is interested in all things authentic and mind-bending. He currently lives in a small town in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where he writes, swims, rides his bike, and drinks tequila. GENE FOWLER A writer and performer based in Texas, Gene Fowler has written for Cowboys & Indians, Oxford American, San Francisco Chronicle, True West, and many other publications. His books include Maverick, Border Radio, Crazy Water, and Metro Music. RICHARD MASSEY Richard Massey is a writer based in East Texas. JULIA BAILEY…

Elevate your designs with our stunning Embossed Leather Collections! Each month, we introduce a fresh color or pattern, perfect for adding texture to your projects. Introducing our new Tortoise Croc Ivory Chocolate Gold and Tortoise Croc Emerald. Ideal for crafts, home accessories, fashion accessory manufacturing, interior design, and upholstery. Contact us today to explore the latest additions! Call: 972-635-3055 Email: info@texasleathergoods.com Visit: 1224 Capital Drive Carrollton, TX 75006…

Hermann Oak® Leather’s Harness, the leather that started it all – heavyweight vegetable tanned hides that boast beautiful hues and a feel reminiscent of the finest vintage harness leathers – giving your projects a touch of old-world elegance. Using only top-grade, heavy U.S. steer hides, along with the finest natural tree bark in their tanning process, creating leather with exceptional richness and texture. The hides are precisely tanned to achieve a firm, strong, and dense fiber structure. Drum-stuffed with heavy tallow, resulting in exceptional weather resistance, thickness, ease of cutting, and long-lasting durability. “Traditional Harness just like your Grandfather used.” Large, long sides with visible defects present. Perfect for reins of all types, heavy belts, tack, leashes, collars and more. Sides in the 4/5oz thickness are great for bags, footwear,…

Scientific research is an interesting thing. Many of the luxuries we enjoy, the processes that keep the world moving, and the cures that keep us healthy, almost always begin as a lightbulb going off in the mind of a researcher in a university lab. But if a brilliant idea is to make it off campus and into the public as a product, it needs exhaustive research, trials, a constant stream of funding and, at the end of the day, an investor willing to take the risk of perfecting a given technology so that it can perform in the market. That process usually takes years, and even with tons of dollars and tons of brainpower, a technology can fail. That’s just the way it goes. As it stands right now, and…