Saddle Making in her Soul
With a love of horses and artwork in her soul and ranching a part of her family for generations, Clair Mullins made a decision in high school; she was going to be a saddle maker. Growing up on a family cattle operation near John Day, Oregon, saddles were second nature, in fact, horseback was her preferred mode of transport. The decision was easy.
After witnessing her father question her older brother about his ambitions and plans for the future, Clair knew she would have an answer when it was her turn. A part of the family operation in a place where the closest movie theatre was 70 miles away, her love of horses was nurtured and the very nature of her life allowed her imagination to fly free.
An inborn fondness for ranch life combined with her penchant for art helped lead her to the decision to be a saddle maker. She went through the two year program at Spokane Falls Community College where she studied under the late Verlane Desgrange who was an extraordinary leather carver and saddle maker. Under Verlane she learned to draw intricate flowing patterns. Then she worked with Randy Severe at Severe Brothers Saddlery in Pendleton who taught her to draw directly on the leather. “My work is individual, I never duplicate a pattern,” says Clair. Most importantly, she says, she studied with Dale Harwood where she learned good mechanics. “Mechanics make the saddle, and he is a master.”
Today, she has been creating saddles for 9 years and owned her own shop for the last 6. Everyday, she builds saddles for the working cowboy. They are for hard days on colts and working cows in the vastness of Grant County, Oregon. On Quality Manufacturing trees, she creates her signature saddle with a slick fork tree and bucking rolls. She uses a lot of rough outs because as she says, “You stick to it better.” Her style reflects the influences from generations of ranching in the Great Basin and the Old Buckaroo including the small Cheyenne roll and the mule hide wrapped horn.
Working saddles don’t allow her to use her incredible carving skills or love of fashionable things as much as she would like so she makes gorgeous, deeply carved stylish handbags, messenger bags and furniture that allow her to integrate the flowing lines and the sleek curvy styling that is apparent but not overt in her saddles.
As of late, she has earned the nickname, "Lunatic Fringe" for the use of her brightly colored fringe on everything!! She has also been inducted into the Stetson Craftsman's Alliance and was selected for Women Who Design the West.
See her work here on ContemporaryWesternDesign.com or learn more about Clair at www.clairsaddleshop.com or call her to get your own saddle or “haute” handbag 541-620-1634.
With a love of horses and artwork in her soul and ranching a part of her family for generations, Clair Mullins made a decision in high school; she was going to be a saddle maker. Growing up on a family cattle operation near John Day, Oregon, saddles were second nature, in fact, horseback was her preferred mode of transport. The decision was easy.
After witnessing her father question her older brother about his ambitions and plans for the future, Clair knew she would have an answer when it was her turn. A part of the family operation in a place where the closest movie theatre was 70 miles away, her love of horses was nurtured and the very nature of her life allowed her imagination to fly free.
An inborn fondness for ranch life combined with her penchant for art helped lead her to the decision to be a saddle maker. She went through the two year program at Spokane Falls Community College where she studied under the late Verlane Desgrange who was an extraordinary leather carver and saddle maker. Under Verlane she learned to draw intricate flowing patterns. Then she worked with Randy Severe at Severe Brothers Saddlery in Pendleton who taught her to draw directly on the leather. “My work is individual, I never duplicate a pattern,” says Clair. Most importantly, she says, she studied with Dale Harwood where she learned good mechanics. “Mechanics make the saddle, and he is a master.”
Today, she has been creating saddles for 9 years and owned her own shop for the last 6. Everyday, she builds saddles for the working cowboy. They are for hard days on colts and working cows in the vastness of Grant County, Oregon. On Quality Manufacturing trees, she creates her signature saddle with a slick fork tree and bucking rolls. She uses a lot of rough outs because as she says, “You stick to it better.” Her style reflects the influences from generations of ranching in the Great Basin and the Old Buckaroo including the small Cheyenne roll and the mule hide wrapped horn.
Working saddles don’t allow her to use her incredible carving skills or love of fashionable things as much as she would like so she makes gorgeous, deeply carved stylish handbags, messenger bags and furniture that allow her to integrate the flowing lines and the sleek curvy styling that is apparent but not overt in her saddles.
As of late, she has earned the nickname, "Lunatic Fringe" for the use of her brightly colored fringe on everything!! She has also been inducted into the Stetson Craftsman's Alliance and was selected for Women Who Design the West.
See her work here on ContemporaryWesternDesign.com or learn more about Clair at www.clairsaddleshop.com or call her to get your own saddle or “haute” handbag 541-620-1634.
