Artisan - Laura Pittman

Discovering RD Designs: South Dakota’s Western Silversmith

There’s a brand new jewelry designer in the western industry named Riley Donnelly, and she’s here to stay.

Riley recently opened her business, RD Designs, to provide beautiful western pieces that reflect the rodeo lifestyle and uplift people in their faith. A breakaway roper herself, she offers unique breakaway roping jewelry, entering a niche market that has been greatly underserved in comparison to other rodeo disciplines. In addition to stunning gemstones and rodeo designs, her pieces often include Bible verses that she hopes will inspire the wearer and remind them, wherever they go and whatever happens, their God is there with them.

Artisan Horses Saddle Making

The Saddles of Champions

This week Athens, TX saddlemaker and PRCA steer wrestler Pat Hooper was on site at the State Fair of Texas delivering 14 beautiful trophy saddles for the event champions to be awarded during the upcoming United Pro Rodeo Association (UPRA) finals.

Artisan Horses Saddle Making

A Saddle is Born: Part Two

If you started this journey with us and read A Saddle is Born: Part 1, you know we’ve joined Pat Hooper for an inside glimpse of the custom saddle making process. So far, the Texas saddlemaker and PRCA steer wrestler has set the ground seats and is now focusing on the horn, swells and riggings as he moves towards the back housing parts and skirt moldings around the tree.

Artisan Horses Saddle Making Steer Wrestling

A Saddle is Born: Part One

Have you ever wondered how a custom saddle is built? In partnership with Texas saddle maker and PRCA steer wrestler Pat Hooper of Pat Hooper Leatherwrks, I’m proud to walk you through the process from start to finish.

Artisan Horses Steer Wrestling

The Steer Wrestling Saddle Maker

Pat Hooper may have grown up in east Texas, but he has been a part of rodeo culture all across America. His father James Hooper owned and operated Rawhide Productions and was one of the leading producers in the black rodeo movement of the early 1970s. The rodeos ranged from Memphis to D.C. and attracted greats such as the Bobby Blue Bland and B.B. King to add melody to the magic. These adventures continued at RFK Stadium and even led to a Saudi Arabian sheik calling the elder Hooper and asking him to come produce a rodeo. Pat traveled across the U.S. with his father and followed in his footsteps as a calf roper.

Artisan Photography Wildlife

The Glistening of Dark Eyes

Kyle Underwood has a few friends in the forest. Some are owls, some coyotes, and some are deer or insects. His talent for documenting the subtle glances and intricate behaviors of wild animals has turned into a storytelling business: Kyle Underwood Photography.

His photography is easily recognizable, his trademark darker tones a combination of editing and choosing to shoot on days where rain, fading daylight, or wintry weather prevail. Not only does this represent a part of his personality, but also reflects his desire for his photos to evoke emotion in their viewer and create a bond between the natural world and its observer.

Artisan Horses Veteran

From Farrier to Fine Metalsmith

If you’ve stopped scrolling through Facebook because a beautiful pair of spurs caught your eye, there is a good chance you were looking at a picture of Brian Strange’s work. Brian is a true artisan with a focus on metal smithing and producing spurs, buckles, and bits.

Artisan Horses

The Hats That Make the World Go Western

Nestled on the main drag of downtown Noble, Oklahoma, down from Tiffany’s breakfast spot and across from the Spurs and Lace boutique is a small shop where heritage is preserved through custom hat making. Schafer’s Hats, owned by Fred Schafer, produces custom, hand-made fine felt hats for men and women all over the country.

Artisan Barrel Racing Horses Veteran

Finding Hope at Every Turn

Sabrina Kramer has found healing through her ability to create vivid imagery out of air and tell stories without using words. A barrel racer, a soldier in the U.S. Army, a wife, mother, and friend to many, she is the main artist and owner of Wild Cactus Tack.

Kramer grew up unable to speak at the age of 5, an orphan to the drug epidemic, and labeled by doctors as a lost cause.

Artisan Bull Riding Horses Stunt Man

California’s Conwell: Whiskey, Leather, Bulls, and Stunts

If you’ve ever wondered what Hollywood stunts, bull riders, team ropers, leather workers, and whiskey have in common, the answer is a California cowboy named Bobby Conwell.