Spur Identification
Are They Old or New?

by Bill Heisman

I have been building and collecting saddles, spurs and bits since the early 1970s and have been a full-time bit and spur maker since 1988. Most of my work involves the more intricate and ornate California style of bits and spurs. In the past I have done restoration on higher quality pieces for a few collectors and have also worked as a consultant for both entry level collectors and advanced collectors culling their collections. Research has been a passion of mine ever since purchasing Bill Mackin's Old West Collectibles book back in 1979, accumulating a large and comprehensive resource library. However, hands-on restoration, not books have taught me how to differentiate between old and news spurs of comparable styles.

Through his photos, award winning photographer Myron Beck (Los Angeles, CA) inspires us to dream and embrace the beauty that surrounds us in the people we see, the environments in which we thrive and the diverse cultures that enrich our lives.

www.myronbeck.com
 

This month, Smoke Signals is honored to "sit in the saddle" with...
 
Lisa Skyhorse
Skyhorse Saddle Company,
Durango, Colorado

"It's so fun to be unique within the good old boys network," was Lisa's opening comment in our interview. Unique perhaps because she's a woman, but more likely unique because her passion, her artistry and integrity all go into each piece she creates - heirloom pieces that are built to ride.

"I feel so lucky that at a young age, just in my twenties, I discovered what it was I wanted to do - build the finest saddles. I was always artsy and as an art student at UCLA I began dabbling in leather as a medium and found I loved it. I began selling my pieces at street fairs (purses, belts, etc) which paid for my last two years of college."

Following graduation, Lisa moved to Northern California where she opened Sundance Leather Company and in short order, had 33 employees and a full manufacturing operation producing her purse and belt designs. One day she realized she had become a manager of a good-sized business and was no longer practicing the art she loved. She wanted to be an artist again. She spent the next two years apprenticing with a very traditional artisan saddlemaker. As she recalls, "When I finished the first saddle I ever made I knew this is what I wanted to do." And done it she has. As you're sitting at your computer reading this article, take a minute, open another window in your browser and go to www.skyhorse.com and just be blown away by the works of Lisa Skyhorse. Sometimes it's true, a picture is worth a thousand words... Sigh... it's one beautiful work after another. Okay, back to the story.

Along her way in life, in 1972, Lisa met husband Loren Skyhorse. A perfect match as Loren was the consummate horseman and quickly became as passionate about saddlemaking as she is. Coming from a long line of leather toolers, Loren works alongside Lisa today using tools that belonged to his grandfather. Together as a team they create works of art in saddlery.

High Noon 2010 Dealer Update
from "T"

Dear High Noon Dealers,

I'm getting excited about our move to Mesa. The folks over there are easy to work with & have welcomed us back with open arms. What more could we ask for?

As I mentioned in the July issue, contracts are expected to go out the end of August. We are going to do something new this year...we're sending them out via email. Please make sure we have your current email address on file (info@highnoon.com).

If you do not have an email address, no worries, we will mail your contract the old-fashioned way - via the post office. If you've moved since last January, please call the office (310-202-9010) to make sure we have your current mailing address.

Dealers, please keep in mind our show space in Phoenix was massive, and Mesa is obviously a much smaller venue, therefore we have many more dealers than we have space for.

To help with this situation, we are no longer offering our large (24', 30' & 40') booths, and we're capping the number of tables you can reserve to two, with an option for more if available. We're going to make the best use of our space as possible, and get as many of you in as we can.

When you receive your contract, if you seriously want a space at the show, it's up to you, to get your contract & deposit in asap. No dillydallying! Do not wait for a follow-up phone call. We're going to operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Seniority will take precedence only if your contract is in BEFORE or ON the day it's due. NO exceptions!

I will contact you if your contract comes in after we've reached full capacity, and you can tell me if you'd like me to hold on to your deposit & place you on the waiting list, or if you'd like me to return your deposit.

Dealer Set-up & Early Admission: Friday, January 29
Antique Show: Saturday & Sunday, January 30 & 31
Mesa Convention Center
263 N Center St., Mesa, AZ  85201

Auction Preview: Thursday, January 28 - Saturday, January 30
Auction: Saturday, January 30
Phoenix Marriott Mesa (Our host hotel)
Ask for the High Noon Rate: $109/$119 includes buffet breakfast
200 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ  85201
(888) 236-2427 or (480) 898-8300
http://www.marriott.com/phxmm    Enter group code: hnwhnwa

The Mesa Convention Center & the Phoenix Marriott Mesa are located directly next to each other. On foot you can easily walk from one building to the other.

FYI- The show entrance for the public will be located closest to the Palo Verde Ballroom. Bidder registration, auction preview & the auction will be held in the Arizona Ballroom (part of the Marriott), just across the walkway.

To see a map of the area & to check out our schedule of events, please go to our website: www.highnoon.com; find & hold the word "Show"; then click on "Dealer Information".

Please contact me at the High Noon office if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions: (310) 202-9010 or Theresa@highnoon.com.

We'll see you down the trail,
Theresa

PS: If you're going to be in Santa Fe this month, and will be attending the Whitehawk shows, please stop by the High Noon booth for a visit.

John Upton Holden
aka Dirty Hats John


"It was about twenty years ago, I was at this show in Amarillo, TX and this girl came up to me. She had this look in her eye and in her very convincing way, you know how she can be, she asked me if I wanted to head up the membership committee for the NBSSCA. I didn't know anything about bits, spurs or saddles but there I was, agreeing to head up the membership committee for an organization I knew nothing about. That girl? That girl was Linda Kohn"...

Each month, Smoke Signals will give a little insight into who makes High Noon happen. This month we introduce you to Jayne Skeff, our public relations guru.

Jayne Skeff
Chief Writer, Smoke Signals
Public Relations, High Noon

Ever down? Need a burst of sunshine or some optimism?  Go see Jayne!  She will give you the lift you need!  Jayne is High Noon's "voice" in the media.  Three years ago, she joined our team to help "tell our story" to you all, through our website, in the press and as Chief Writer for this emagazine, Smoke Signals.

Born and raised in cold Milwaukee, Jayne acquired the passion for the outdoors and California.  From skiing to mountain biking to outdoor exercise to marathons, she loves the wind in her hair and the mountains within view!  Obsessive about walking, she has run in the LA Marathon many times and finished!!!!!! Look for her most mornings and she is moving fast. She may have her cell phone in hand, but is usually outbound in the hills above Pasadena. Want to meet her 3 miles from home? She'll meet you there - she'll walk, thank you - then walk back home.

When she returns home, cooking is her passion. Spanish cuisine, Italian, you name it. Often you can find her in her kitchen, getting her hands dirty, creating new recipes. She loves having her guests keep her company while she prepares and is happy as long as everyone has a glass of wine in hand.

Jayne's college degrees are in child psychology. She loved the science all the way through the doctorate program, the neurology and behavior aspect, but she look a right turn when she married a young rising star with the New York Times. She became enamored with the energy, the smarts, and tenacity of the media world. It was infectious! Due to her husband's encouragement, she got a job the National Sports Daily (Los Angeles) in their West coast operation.  By the late 80's, with no experience, but with his support, she learned "on the job". An 18 month stint in Chicago gave her more training with "dailies" and the legendary Chicago Sun Times! Her second winter, while shoveling snow off her car with no one offering to help her, she decided to return to the California sun.

Off to San Francisco she ran (not literally, no marathons yet). Now partnering with her husband instead of being mentored, they began the first Western Antique paper, the Antique Journal in Northern California from the ground up: writing, advertising sales, production, ad design, paste-ups. Oh, and they actually drove around the Bay area delivering the papers! From Reno to the Gold Country to Sonora she drove. Five years of this experience got the attention of Antique Week (DNG World Media) who scooped her up to launch its own version of a Western antiques trade publication. That was enough! She had learned the art of public relations from the publishing point of view. But now she saw a future in it for herself from the other side! By 2003 she had gone off on her own this time, forming a public relations firm, JSLA Media!

Her first client was an auction house, then her second, then her third.  She seemed to be drawn to auctions and we're glad she was, because High Noon found her and she joined our team! The whole experience of being associated with High Noon has affected her life, she says. 4 years ago she knew nothing of the Western lifestyle. Today she says it has opened up a whole new dimension to her: people and the culture have expanded her vision of life and the world. "They enrichened me," she says of the people and artisans. "Oh and I love the jewelry - the earrings!" She dreams of living more of the culture - perhaps on a ranch some day so she can be outdoors ALL the time. It's better than eating cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair, she claims. We're happy to have you in our lives, Jayne. Thank you for all your work and words for Smoke Signals! Keep those articles and enthusiasm coming!

Jayne Skeff
JSLA Media
626-296-6642
www.jslamedia.com
jayne@jslamedia.com