Lost Trade

In this episode, we are visiting with lürgen Volbach from Germany.  lürgen is an amazing artist and craftsman that specializes in floral carving and 3D embossing works.  He also spends a lot of his time, both here in the states as well as Germany, teaching others that want to learn this amazing skill set.  We met him the first time in Sheridan at the leather show, and became quick friends.  Enjoy the episode and hearing his story.  You can find him on facebook and instagram if you want to see some of his amazing artwork.

In this episode, we visit with Adam Love with Hermann Oak Leather.  Adam works with Hermann Oak to bring leather craftsmen the best possible veg tanned leather that we all know and love.  We talk about the process of making leather from specific quality hides in the same location as the company's founding over 100 years ago.   Adam not only sells the leather, but also is on a journey of his own learning the craft and how to work with the quality leathers that they produce.  

In this episode, we are visiting with Alexander Levy.  Alexander is a leather worker and floral carver based out of Mason, TX.  His shop produces many different beautiful leather craft items, but one of his specialties is cowboy leggings or chaps.   Working in the shop with his wife and kids, Alexander's leather craft journey is interesting and we are excited to bring it to you.   Check out his work on Instagram and Facebook, or visit his website Alexander Levy Custom Leather

We are visiting with Steve Van Plew in this episode.  Steve is an accomplished leather craftsman and aspiring saddle maker residing in California.  Steve's career has been in the television and video industry and he uses these skills to help promote and document his passion for the leather craft industry.  He creates instructional videos to help craftsmen with their machines in association with Leather Machine Company.  He also created and hosts the Leather Community Podcast where he interviews leather craftsmen from all over the country. Steve is truly passionate about the world of leather craft and we really enjoy visiting with him.  

In this episode, we sit down and visit with Clair Kehrberg from Oregon.  Clair is a traditionally trained saddle maker that uses her skills and artistic talents to create truly unique personal accesories.  From purses to belts, Clair creates bright and elegant pieces that express her love of color, artistry and leather craft. You can find her work on Facebook and Instagram, as well as her Etsy store.  If you would like to see what pieces she has available in her store, click here clairkehrberg.etsy.com and see what she has.

Paul Van Dyke is an award winning saddle maker from Sheridan, WY.  In this episode, we visit with him about his love for quality gear and quality horses.  Through his history and travels, he has crafted a career that allows him to enjoy both on a daily basis.  Paul divides his time making quality horses, quality saddles, as well as teaching other craftsmen the skill of saddle making.   Visit his website, Vandykesaddlery.com, to see some of the fine craftsmanship that he creates as well as learn more about his Saddle Making Courses that he offers during the year.  If you have been wanting to learn the art of saddle making, this would be an amazing course to take.  

In this episode, we visit with Julie Baugher about how she got started in leather craft and how she became one of the most well known educators for chaps and leggins in the industry.  Along with teaching and mentoring many folks getting into the leather industry, she is also an accomplished saddle maker.  Julie attends many leather trade shows and shares her knowledge about leather craft in her very popular classes.   We had a great time visiting with her on the podcast and learning her story!

Pedro Pedrini is a renowned saddle maker and a member of the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association.  He is originally from France and in this episode we visit about his journey into becoming a master in the art of custom saddle making. You can find out more about Pedro on his website at Pedrini Saddle Company or on social media. The TCA also has information about him on their website.  

Scott Reed is a knife maker from Oklahoma who makes the "Cowboy Switchblade."  I found him through a friend that told me about his knives and I'm so glad I did.  Scott is a very interesting guy to visit with and I truly enjoyed interviewing him for this episode.  Along with his knife work, Scott also makes his own sheaths for all his knives and as a leatherworker myself I appreciate that. Be sure to check him out on Facebook and Instagram and see some of the unique knives that he makes for working cowboys and knife collectors.  If you are interested in visiting with him about a knife, reach out to him and he can fix you up.

We are visiting with Matt Wanner who is a saddle maker out of Utah.  Matt works for Burns Saddlery in Salina, UT.  He is a man of many hats with Burns.  He not only builds fantastic custom saddles for himself and Burns, but he also manages and trains many of the amazing craftsmen that work there creating pieces for the store.   Matt is also a lead instructor for the leather craft education side of Burns Saddlery through their online course program called Illum.  He has worked to develop saddle making courses as well as other educational material that helps those interested in getting into the saddle making and/or leather working trade. You can find Matt on Instagram as well as the Illume Connect website.

In this episode we visit with Shaun Woodsum who owns and operates Cross Winds Forge in Arizona.  After a long career as a farrier, Shaun made a change and put his blacksmith skills to work designing and making knives.  His main focus now is leather craft knives.  As a leather crafter himself, he is focused on creating knives that are not only sharp but also work specifically for leather craftsmen. Be sure to visit his website at www.crosswindsforge.com as well as on Instagram to see some of the beautiful knives that he creates in his shop.

Joe Meling is a leather craftsman based out of Pendleton, OR who specializes in teaching floral carving and leather craft.  He and his wife are the owners and operators of 23+ where folks from all over come to improve their skills and goals in leather work. You can find Joe and all the information about his social media, products, and resources by visiting his website at www.twentythreeplus.com

This episode is an interview with Nicole Morgenthau who is a photographer who's passion is taking portraits.  Her favorite subjects are the folks who are experiencing the West like the trappers and settlers that lived in and explored the wild west of the 1800's.   Based in Salt Lake City, UT she travels to rendezvous held in many states to capture amazing photos of people doing what they love in period dress in gorgeous landscapes.  She also makes turquoise jewelry that she shows on Instagram on her page called "Sandstone Sky Jewelery." You can find her on Instagram and see a lot of her work as well as find her Instagram for the jewelry that she makes.  

This episode is an interview cowboy chuckwagon cook Kent Rollins.   Kent has an amazing YouTube channel where he shows how to prepare some of the traditional cow camp meals, grandma's meat loaf, or even his version of the Big Mac.  My family and I love tuning into his channel every week to see what he is up to and what he's cooking. You can find information about his videos, recipes, and other great things he offers at his website, www.kentrollins.com  

In this episode we are visiting with Trent Johnson who owns and operates Greeley Hat Works in Greeley, CO. I really enjoyed getting to visit with Trent about his path to business in the hat industry.  I think you will really enjoy his story and mindset on business in the western industry.

In this episode, we sit down with a man that I have known online for almost a decade and only we only just met in person at the Heart of Texas Leather Show in Waco in 2023.   His name is Todd Broussard and he is the owner/operator of T-Pop Leather Shop in Louisiana. Todd is a rodeo cowboy, farrier and leather craftsman that has found his passion in building rodeo chaps and saddles.  His style and attention to detail are unique and spot on.   His story is not only interesting, but also inspiring to all of us that have always worked for ourselves or for those wanting to take the oppurtunity to work for yourself.   You can see Todd's work and connect with him on Instagram and Facebook by searching for T-Pop Leather Shop.

This episode of Lost Trade is a visit with one of the most well known custom stamping tool makers in the leather industry.   Robert Beard is known around the world for his completely hand crafted stamping tools.  We had the honor of sitting down with him and hearing just a glimpse of his amazing life and adventures through his leathercraft journey. We did this interview before we went to the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show in Sheridan, WY.  For this reason, there is some talk during the interview of the "upcoming show" and obviously that has already occured.   I truly enjoyed this interview and the oppurtunity to visit with such an icon in our industry.

This episode is an interview with Chuck Dorsett from Weaver Leather.  Chuck does fantastic leather craft videos on YouTube and offers great instruction.  His videos are high energy and very informative.   Check out his videos on the Weaver Leather YouTube channel.

Barry King is one of the most well known leather stamping tool makers in our industry.  If you tool leather, then you for sure have seen his tools and may own a fair amount of them.  Barry is a very interesting guy and makes some fantastic stamping tools that I use every day. Be sure to visit his website at www.barrykingtools.com or even better, stop by his booth at the next leather show and check out some of his tools.

In this episode, we visit with Doug Hansen who owns and operates Hansen Wheel and Wagon Shop in Letcher, SD. His shop builds and restores wagons of all shapes and styles.  The amount of research and history that he and his team possess is astonishing.  I really enjoyed visiting with him and learning about how he started his shop. Be sure to follow him on Instagram and visit their website at www.hansenwheel.com