Category Archives: handmade

Jingle Bobs

The footgear in this painting typifies the bucaroo style which comes to us from the high deserts of California & Nevada, and influences our cowboys here, especially in ranch rodeo circles.  High heeled, high top boots are the norm, and the hand made silver spurs the dream.

These beautiful spurs not only have the big rowels, but jingle bobs as well (tiny silver beads that hang over the rowel).  On top of the whirring clank of the rowels as a cowboy walks or rides, you get the jingle of those silver beads hitting on the rowel. Now that’s Western Music at it’s inception. 

If you’d like to own this original watercolour, email Gena with your bid today! gena03@telusplanet.net Minimum bid $100 (plus gst and shipping). First bid, or highest bid wins the painting.

Cowboy Couture

Todays “Gena-a-day” is from the ranch rodeo at Nanton last summer; cowboy gear at it’s finest.  The cowboys (and girls) in ranch rodeo have a distinctively different style of dress and gear than that of rodeo cowboys.  The chink chaps here (short chaps, these ones with extravagantly long fringes) are derived from the “chinkaderos” of the Vaquero, combined with the leggings worn by the native Americans.  The high heeled boots and silver spurs also get their heritage from the Spanish.  Everything is designed for functionality, but the love of history, the handmade beauty and quality is an added bonus that continues today while the rest of the world seems to go to the cheap plastic “knock off”. I guess that’s why I’ve always loved cowboy gear.

If you’d like to own this original watercolour, email Gena with your bid today! gena03@telusplanet.net Minimum bid $100 (plus gst and shipping). First bid, or highest bid wins the painting.

Suntana’s Boots

Branding day, and this was the found still life beside the front door.  Suntana is a handy young cowgirl in the extended family and these boots and silver spurs are part of her gear.  Handmade  boots have always been one of my weaknesses, and for 20 years, I was in business selling them.  The history of the craft, and the talented people who make them absolutely fascinates me. Necessity and functionality starts the process; add creativity and voila! you have Art.   

If you’d like to own this original watercolour, email Gena with your bid today! gena03@telusplanet.net Minimum bid $100 (plus gst and shipping). First bid, or highest bid wins the painting.

Jeremy Fisher

I have 2 brilliant and talented sisters, both of whom are teachers. This painting is from the home of my sister Kath, who, as a teacher-librarian in the elementary school system, has spent her life sourcing wonderful books for children, and promoting literacy.  Her home is full of collectibles, including many beautiful children’s books, old and new. Beatrix Potter is of course, an icon.  One time when we were holidaying in Jasper, she found this wonderful Jeremy Fisher doll, and he has graced the table in her family room ever since.

If you’d like to own this original watercolour, email Gena with your bid today! gena03@telusplanet.net Minimum bid $100 (plus gst and shipping). First bid, or highest bid wins the painting.

Kokanee’s Gear

Remember Paula-of-the-great-hat from yesterday?  Well she rides a magnificent blue appaloosa named Kokanee and this is his gear.

It was early morning, with that gorgeous slanted light, and while we waited for everyone to get organized, I noticed this beautiful found still life.  Look at this rawhide bosal, the horsehair macate, the silver and the leather……all hallmarks of the old traditions of horsemanship handed down from the Spaniards and our own First Nations People.  Thankfully people have valued these things enough to preserve them and to continue their craft so that we can use and appreciate them today! After all this time, they still work!

If you’d like to own this original watercolour, email Gena with your bid today! gena03@telusplanet.net Minimum bid $100 (plus gst and shipping). First bid, or highest bid wins the painting.