Vintage Western Design

Leather Repair has always been a hobby of mine. Owning all of the hand tools and a very old stitching horse, all repairs were done by hand sometimes taking days to complete.

2010--Teresa's husband Bill goes to back to school to further his education. I found myself with many nights alone with nothing to do. Having seen a magazine article on cowboy boot purses, I bought several pairs of boots from Goodwill and experimented with making a purse like the one I'd had seen. Working from my living room, the first purse is produced and sold to a co-worker. A lot of compliments persuade me to buy a leather sewing machine.

2011--A consignment store in Mt. Carroll. Il starts carrying purses to sell. "Memory Hair" horse hair bracelets, cowboy hat bands, and leather dog collars are added.

2012--Another consignment shop is added in Savanna, Il also carrying purses and other items for sale. The purses and other items become for sale on www.Etsy.com as a web store called Vintage Western Design.

2013--I lost my job of 18 years. A business is officially formed called Vintage Western Design. Additional equipment and craft stock is purchased. My husband and I move to a new home on Stockwell Lane in Clinton, Iowa. The purses and "jewelry" are taken to the QCCA Expo Center craft show in Rock Island, Ill. The feedback and sales were phenomenal.

2014--The cowboy boot purses and other products are taken to craft shows in Sterling, Morrison, Rockford, and Rock Island in Illinois and Clinton, Dubuque, Des Moines in Iowa. I have been interviewed on TV by WQAD, Moline and an article is written by Linda Cook for the Quad City Times in Davenport.

2015--A web site goes live. www.vintagewesterndesign.com becomes the on-line store. A part of our basement in the Stockwell Lane home gets remodeled as my studio and work area. Gun shops have been inquiring about producing cowboy boot purses for conceal carry customers. Custom Horse Hair jewelry is produced to order as per customers requests.

2015 & Beyond New ideas are always coming and many customer requests to make something unique and special for them.