Spurs for the State of Texas

       In the summer of 2012, while I was working as a vendor at the local Big Sky Montana Farmers Market, I was approached by a client and friend to head a project that was to push my limits at the time as an engraver and artist.  He had hired me to engrave a set of spurs for the State of Texas featuring Governor Rick Perry. 

        Some projects can take just a few hours to complete, from beginning to end; and some projects take much longer.  This project was to take over two years before completion. 
  
        I believe in finding the right people for the job and not to make a decision in haste.   I accepted the job and spent a year looking for those individuals to help me complete the task. 
       Pete and Virginia Bennett of Bennett's Custom Spurs were the perfect match I was looking for.  Honest, good people, hard working with their own stories of an amazing life.    

Pete's Spurs and just one of Virginia's many Cowboy Poet books she has written.

  
       Virginia Bennette a cowboy poet, and Pete Bennette making handmade spurs for the working Cowboy.  They are kind and their stories are meaningful.  I found myself on more than one occasion listening to many of the stories Virginia had to tell of their many days on many different ranches.

Pete and LD, taken in 1986 near Aspen, CO

In the beginning. Virginia's drawings of the rough idea.

       After working out a lot of details of why I was calling, Virginia and Pete decided to take a chance on this strange caller asking for a set of custom spurs for a governor.  We had lots of work to do including finding his boot size, since their spurs are so custom they even are made to a specific boot.  Where would you go to find such information? 

      Virginia knew exactly how to go about finding such information.  She quickly made a phone call to an old friend, and the response was just as quick.  We soon had our boot size and commenced to the finer details of what was expected.  I drew up a rough idea of the spurs I envisioned.  Something with the governors seal on it was the direction I envisioned.  After the design was approved by my client, I quickly called Pete and Virginia in excitement!  "We have a winner!  Let's get started!"  

The conceptual design turned into my client

       I have been told, in the past, Anticipation can be sweeter than honey.  In those words I have found life an amazing adventure of what could be, what it has been, and where I am headed.  

Naked Spurs desperately seeking attention!

        During the time I patiently awaited the spurs completion from Pete, I dreamed of what could be with sweet anticipation.  For me as a lowly novice, this job carried weight I have never felt before. 

Hoss' beautiful leather work

Hoss and Katie on their ranch outside of Bozeman MT.

      
       Near the completion of the Gov. Perry spurs I called a good friend from the Bozeman Montana area and asked if he would like to take on the task of hand making some spur straps.  Hoss and Katie Hopkins, from Hoss' Leather,  quickly took on this task with great enthusiasm.  Katie was essential in her efforts of helping to facilitate and email back and forth.  With out her help, I wonder if Hoss and I would have been able to make our set deadlines.  Thank you Katie for your endless help! 

       Each of us put forth the very best we could offer.   Many times I could feel the self-inflicted pressure pushing down on me to up hold the quality of work that was demanded of me.  After all, I had been given beautiful works by both Pete and Hoss.  "No Pressure!"  In the end, as it seems to be with most things, I found my worries and the pressure to be just enough of the right ingredients to push me to my best.  One step at a time.  

Ready for delivering.

       Really that is all we can do, ask for one step at a time to get anywhere we need to go.  

       On November 19th, 2014, the the State of Texas receivedthier spurs.  

     

        A tremendous thank you to my friend and client.  Thank you for your continued belief in me and my work.  With out your kindness and willingness to see success, I would not be as far.  Thank you to Hoss and Katie, Virginia and Pete for all of your help with this project.  Who knows,perhaps we will be destined to put together our trades once again somewhere down the dusty trail.