Shop Talk

Happy New Year Everyone! We made it through one of the most memorable years in current history and if you’re like me, you are looking forward to 2021. As I turned my thoughts inward for a time of self-reflection (as many of us do as a new year approa

Nick Pernokas was raised in New England. As a boy he cleaned stalls for a hack stable in return for getting to ride the horses. He bought his first horse with money from a paper route, and showed in AQHA shows with him. At a young age Nick headed wes

We have a shared passion. We love what leather can do, how it feels, how it smells and the feeling of accomplishment when you create something with your own two hands. Most leather artisans didn’t begin tinkering around with hides so they could becom

Pancho Villa was a man of many horses. Many horses and many saddles.… So many saddles that it seems like the story of every saddlemaker who was active back in Villa’s day includes the claim that they made a custom saddle for the notorious Mexican rev

It is truly an honor to be asked to share a few tips with fellow leatherworkers here in ShopTalk! If you were to stop by Elktracks Studio, that is probably just what we would be doing, talking shop and sharing tips and ideas with each other. That is

The historic Pepperell Mill, situated along the Androscoggin River in Lewiston, Maine, is a monumental testimony to America’s bustling 19th century manufacturing era. Built in 1876, the brick behemoth first functioned as a bleachery and dye works for

In the late 1970s, there was a growing consensus in Texas that Ray Jones just might be the best bootmaker in the state, if not the country. So, when Ray abruptly announced his retirement in 1977 at age 65, he shocked his clients and the entire bootma

It’s been said that class and quality never go out of style. Nowhere in the equine industry is this demonstrated more than with the halter. In a world where saddle styles have changed dramatically in the last century and a half, the halter has only c

• Wing Dividers• Lacing Chisel• Lacing Needle• Maul for punching holes• Lace (Trevor is using 3/16" Kangaroo Lace from Y-Knot Lace) *Note: You will need approximately 6 times the size of your project in lace• Saddle Soap Prepare the lace by coating i

One of the things that surprised me most about positive psychology research is that I rarely get to research places that start out happy. In fact, the majority of my research has occurred in high-crisis or challenge situations. I started with depress