Maverick Style: Inspired by the West

Hand Tooled, Hand Painted Cowboy Boots

Carrie Cameron and I connected when she was just starting out with Cock of the Walk Designs, featuring one of a kind hand tooled, hand painted leather cowboy boots, shoes, and accessories. Carrie Cameron is a fine artist who specializes in 3D oil sculpture, known as the Relfectionist Movement. Carrie's use of bold colors and rich textures reflect her unique view of the complex beauty in her world.

After owning two art galleries in Texas, Carrie moved to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. Carrie was very inspired by her move to Mexico. She began to explore Leon, hopng to find an artisan who could help her translate her paintings onto boots, which would need to be hand tooled and hand painted.  She found the right artisan to work with her, and Cock of the Walk Designs was born. Her inital boot designs were very well received, and Carrie has expanded her line to include shoes, handbags, corsets and other fine leather accessories. Her newest venture is an art gallery and showroom in San Miguel, "Galeria Buena Vida". Carrie is excited to bring her art to the community, along with the "Cock of the Walk Designs" leather line.

Carrie Cameron is continually expanding her line of boots with stunning new designs (with ten new designs currently in progress!). The "Bird of Paradise" boots (left, $1,495) feature a gorgeous peacock on one side and beautiful Bird of Paradise flowers on the other. These boots are a true work of art! The "Flores de Mexico" boots (center, $1,295) are bright and colorful - perfect for the Summer! These beautiful boots are available in both the short and tall styles. How will you ever decide? The "Sirena Sirens" boots in Turquoise (right, $1,895) are a wonderful mix of turquoise stained goatskin overlaid with premium tooled cowhide. I love this color combination!

Every pair of Cock of the Walk boots is constructed, tooled, and painted by hand, and no two pairs are exactly alike. They are not only beautiful, but extremely comfortable to wear. You can find Cock of the Walk Designs boots at Chateau Rustic in Frisco, TX, Guitar Sanctuary in McKinney, TX, Space Cowboy Boots in New York, and online retailers Cowgirl Kim and Sweet Georgia Gray. You can also see and purchase these boots as well as many others on the Cock of the Walk Designs website.

Who Says You Can't Wear Art?

Vintage Collection clothing is elegant, sophisticated, and timeless. Vintage Collection pieces are extremely versatile and can take you anywhere - to lunch with your girlfriends, an evening party, a graduation, or a wedding.

As always, Cowgirl Kim has an extensive selection of Vintage Collection clothing on her website, including some wonderful new skirts. The Vintage Collection Turquoise Shadow Skirt (left, $399) features gorgeous color, embellishments galore, and flattering styling. It has a turquoise underskirt overlaid with black mesh, and beautiful embroidered flowers circle the hem. Cowgirl Kim also carries the Fushia Cowgirl Skirt which completes the look seen below.

The Vintage Collection Black and White Skirt (center, $319) is feminine and romantic. It features a white lining with a graphic black and white mesh overlay, and a drop waist which provides a flattering fit. Cowgirl Kim also carries a beautiful peasant top in both black and white to coordinate with this skirt.

The Vintage Collection Lime Ricky Skirt (right, $318) is one of my current favorites. It features a black mesh overlay with sherbet colored embroidered flowers and entwined leaves in oranges, pinks, and greens. This skirt is lightweight, flattering, and very comfortable. Cowgirl Kim also carries the matching Lime Ricky Top. The two pieces create an absolutely stunning look!

Visit the Cowgirl Kim website to see and purchase these Vintage Collection skirts, along with a variety of other pieces.

One of a Kind Vintage Treasures

Many of you are familiar with Totem Salvaged's fabulous line of totes, handbags, and accessories created out of vintage textiles by designer Stephanie Larrowe. However, did you know that Stephanie also creates distinctive furniture pieces using vintage and reclaimed fabrics? If you are looking for a truly unique, one of a kind piece for your home or office, you need to see the Totem Salvaged line of furniture.

Most Totem reclaimed furniture pieces feature vibrant, colorful serape fabrics that will stand out and become a focal point in any room. The Vintage Horse Needlepoint Serape Chair (left) features a colorful serape seat and a vintage needlepoint image of a horse on the back. The Vintage Horned Foot Stool (center) is made from a vintage serape fabric dating 1920 - 1930 and includes vintage cow horns as legs. The Vintage Serape Arm Chair (right) showcases vintage serape fabric dating 1930 - 1940 on the seat, arms, back, and front of the chair. Each Totem upholstered piece includes a backing to the vintage fabrics to help preserve them and prevent rips.

All Totem Salvaged furniture is completely hand crafted in Stephanie Larrowe's studio in Los Angeles, and each piece is one of a kind. Custom items are also available. If you are a retailer who is interested in the Totem Salvaged line of products, you can see them at the Dallas Total Home and Gift Market, June 20 - 25 at the Dallas Market Center, MH-6943.

If you want to see more Totem reclaimed furniture, as well as beautiful handbags and accessories, visit the Totem Salvaged website.

Hand Crafted in the U.S.A.

I met artist Carol Braden at the Western Design Conference in 2011 and immediately became a fan of her distinctive guitar sculptures. Prior to the Western Design Conference, Carol had focused on creating unique full size guitar sculptures decorated with license plates. For the Western Design Conference, Carol challenged herself to create three Western themed guitars using a variety of found objects in addtion to license plates. The three guitars were spectacular and sold immediately. I insisted that Carol create more Western themed guitars, as I knew they would be extremely popular.

Since that time Carol Braden has created an entire collection of Western themed guitars, as well as some fabulous Harley Davidson™ themed guitars. The "Wyoming Road Trip" Guitar (left) is the first in a series of "Road Trip" guitars. They are one-of-a-kind guitars that feature vintage belt buckles, travel ephemera, old school patches, vintage postcards and corresponding license plates. The "Road Trip" guitars are available for all the Western states, as well as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone National Park, and Pikes Peak.

The "Ride 'Em Cowboy" Guitar (center) is a mixed media piece featuring one-of-a-kind vintage belt buckles, leather, cowhide, conchos, and a rodeo image printed on wood. The "All Star Rodeo" Guitar (right) was designed with the female rider in mind. A classic vintage rodeo poster is surrounded with license plates, shabby-white stars, orange rhinestone horseshoes, and silver glitter stars.

A Carol Braden hand crafted guitar sculpture would make an incredible Father's Day, birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift. Or you may need to order one of her distinctive creations for yourself! You can find Carol Braden's sculptures in fine craft galleries nationwide. You can also see and place orders for her guitar sculptures on the Carol Braden website.

Trouble Is Coming

The second season of "Longmire" premieres on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 at 10PM/9PM Central on A&E, and I am really looking forward to it. The first season of the show was wonderful, and I am hoping that this season will be even better!

For those of you who don't know about the "Longmire" TV series, it is a contemporary crime thriller based on the Walt Longmire Mystery novels by best-selling author Craig Johnson. The TV series stars Australian actor Robert Taylor as Walt Longmire, the charismatic and dedicated sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming. The cast also includes Katee Sackhoff as Vic Moretti, Walt's female deputy, Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry Standing Bear, Walt's close friend and confidant, Bailey Chase as Branch Connally, an ambitious young deputy who runs against Walt for sheriff, Cassidy Freeman as Walt's daughter Cady Longmire, and Adam Bartley as Walt's well meaning duputy, The Ferg.

In Season 2 of "Longmire," Walt Longmire's role as sheriff is uncertain as he is pitted against his deputy Branch Connally in the upcoming election. Deputy Vic Moretti comes up against a past she would rather forget. Walt's daughter Cady searches for the truth about her mother's murder, while Walt's possible connection to the death of his wife's killer threatens to pull his loyal friend Henry Standing Bear into the mix.

In the Season 2 premiere, a prison transfer goes awry and Walt pursues a serial killer and his fellow escapees who have taken hostages up a mountain. Facing an approaching storm, and with very few resources, Walt is put to the test and hypothermic hallucinations force him to face his past. It sounds like Season 2 of "Longmire" will be exciting as ever!

If you missed Season 1 of "Longmire," A&E will be airing the entire first season starting at 2PM Eastern Time on Saturday, May 25. For more information regarding the "Longmire" TV series, visit the A&E website or the Longmire Facebook Page.

For those of you who are also fans of the Walt Longmire Mystery novels, Craig Johnson's next book in the series, A Serpent's Tooth will be available for purchase on June 4, 2013. You can visit the Craig Johnson website to find out if he will be visiting a book store near you during his current book tour.