Great Gifts for Cowgirls

Doesn't seem possible, but it's time to start thinking about Christmas shopping again! Where did this last year go! Since my granddaughter has really gotten into showing my horse this summer and is looking forward to showing next spring, I'm thinking of some great gifts for her or any cowgirl.
One thing I know she needs is a new western belt. Of course, boots and a new hat are also on her list! It's a good thing I love to shop at Ebay - there's always lots of great products at bargain prices there! Actually, the boots and shirt she's wearing in the previous post picture were purchased on Ebay!
I couldn't resist adding another picture of her and my horse - aren't they both great?!

Another Fair & Rodeo Behind Us

The local fair and rodeo was last week. Of course, it always lands on the hottest days of the year, but that doesn't stop us from having a really great time. My granddaughter is learning to show my quarterhorse, so we had the horse at the fair for 4 days. Haley did a great job and showed me what a responsible little 11 year old she is getting to be. That's her in the picture showing off her 3rd place ribbon. Not bad for the very first time she participated in a riding class. Getting her outfitted in a new western shirt and new western boots to match really paid off in her confidence level. She's gung-ho and rarin' to do more!

This shy little guy is my grandson. He also got a third place - in the Mutton bustin'. Of course, Grandma thought he had the best ride and should have gotten first, but there's always another rodeo!

Lots of people think I'm crazy to enjoy all the dirt, heat, cleaning out stalls and all the other work, but I guess it's just the cowgirl in me. Nothing better than spending time with my grandkids and my horse. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Get Outfitted in Style For The Rodeo

I't's almost time for the fair and rodeo here where I live. We've been working with the horses and sprucing up our western wardrobes. The Cowgirl Boutique has a great selection of western clothes, accessories and boots to keep you in "cowgirl" style. So far, I've found a great western show shirt for my granddaughter, new cowboy boots for my daughter and searching a little deeper, I found the cutest cowboy boots for the 2 grandsons.
Riding in the parade, mutton bustin', horse showing and just hanging out will be our agenda this week. I think the only one not looking forward to it is the horse!
Hopefully, I'll get some great pictures of all these activities to share next week.

Collecting Pretty Horses

I couldn't resist sharing a picture of my two girls. Of course, they were way out in the pasture and not about to come closer for a better picture! I really love watching them and having them around. As a girl, I always wanted a horse - can't remember a time when I didn't, so I was always into playing with toy horses as much as I could! They didn't have all the neat collectible horses back then that they have now - or at least not that I knew of in my small world out in the boonies!

When I first noticed the Breyer horses, my sister-in-law was buying one for each of her girls each year for Christmas. They were a special tradition and a cherished collection. When my daughter was old enough to inherit the family love of horses, I started finding her a Breyer each year for Christmas. We have a palomino pony just like the first pony that she had and when we bought the gray mare (above) we had to find a gray Breyer to add to the collection.

Now that my daughter is grown and my granddaughter is also horse crazy, we're still adding to the Breyer collection.

Collecting model horses is a great pastime to share with your kids and grandkids. There are several other popular brands besides Breyer, so there is a wonderful variety of horses to choose from. I know I have never lived in a house where there weren't some toy horses around and there probably always will be.

For some information about model horses and a great selection of all the brands at low auction prices, check out http://www.horsecrazycollectibles.com

Great Styles and Tips For Horse Show Fashions

I got the new Hobby Horse 2008 Collection catalog the other day and had time to look through it this weekend. Not only is it full of great winning style show clothes, but the pages are loaded with information on this years styles and great tips for choosing your show costume along with great winning tips.

Tips like: "Consider where you're showing, what color are the walls or background or the arenas in which you most often compete? Plan attractive visual contrast between your wardrobe, your horse, and the background so the judge can easily find you."

There's even a color wheel in the middle of the catalog to show you what colors and combinations look best on your horse's color.

Besides all the great clothes, this catalog is one I'll keep just for all the great information packed in it. If you don't get a copy log in to http://www.hobbyhorseinc.com for the info there or request a catalog. I guarantee you'll love it!

Why I Love To Collect Western Items

If you've been reading my blog, you probably can tell that I really like Western style. I'm always picking up some little (or big) Western item for my home. Several years ago I started a collection of tiny Western Boots. The picture to the right is the very first boot that I found and couldn't resist. That started it all. This boot is probably a toothpick holder and is about 3" tall. It's rather retro in style, I think. I now have about 20 different little boots made from all sorts of materials, from metal to carved wood, resin and china. Some have been gifts and some I've found on vacations or just special shopping trips with friends.

I think the hunt for things in a collection is probably the most fun part of collecting to me. It's probably wise to collect valuable items as an investment, but I tend to attach too much sentimental value to the items that I collect to ever think about parting with them.

Another Western collection that I have is Christmas Tree Ornaments. That started with a cute cowgirl and stick horse bought at a craft show for my daughter when she was about 3 or 4. She's 30 now, so I've had some time to add to that collection, too. I now have enough ornaments to decorate one whole tree western style. These ornaments range from Cowboy Snowmen and Santa's to horse figures that match every horse we have or have had, to Rocking Horses and rusty stars. I'm thinking of starting a sub-collection of Cowboy Snowmen since I seem to keep finding such cute ones that I can't resist!

As I said earlier, I think the best part of collecting is the hunt for items or receiving new ones as gifts from someone who took the time to notice that you like a particular type of item.

If you like Western items check out http://www.rusticbarnwesterncollectibles.com or for lots of ornaments and one section just for Western Ornaments check out http://www.thecollectibleornamentshoppe.com.

Happy Collecting!

"High End" Boots

For those of you who like things that are unique and "high end" fashion, I heard about these great anniversary boots by Lucchese. Thought I'd share about them just for the fun of it!

For their 125th anniversary, Lucchese has made a Limited Edition boot to commemorate this occasion. They are crafted from American Belly Alligator, the boot sports matador construction with covered side seams, hand-laced scallops, and fully hand-tooled and hand-painted quarters. The torero-style pull straps are overlaid in alligator, with Lucchese's premier Grimini linings used on the inside. Only 125 of these boots will be made and they are priced at $12,500.00. Every pair is packaged in a matching numbered , hand tooled leather boot box.

You can see these incredible boots at http://www.lucchese.com/.

What is a Cowgirl?

What is a "cowgirl" really? I like to call myself a cowgirl because I like to dress in western clothes, I own a horse and ride, and I'd much rather wear my cowboy boots than don a pair of heels and tight skirt. Somehow, though, when I look back at some of the women in history that we call cowgirls, I don't think I hold a candle to them.

Women of the west that we call cowgirls never looked like the ruby lipped, long-legged, fringe-skirted damsels in distress portrayed in movies, TV and old posters. Many of them dressed like men, drank and swore like men, chewed tobacco and were just as deadly with a gun and clever with a rope as men. There were several who deliberately passed themselves off as men in order to survive in the man's world of the old west.

Calamity Jane was famous for her habit of dressing in men's clothing. Martha Cannary, aka "Calamity Jane" was born in Missouri in 1852 and was an expert horsewoman and sharp shooter at an early age. It is said that she earned the nickname during and Indian campaign in 1873 when she rescued a cavalryman. She also traveled with the famous "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his Wild West Show. Many magazine writers of the late-1870's wrote graphic, puffed up stories for their readers back east about Jane and the Wild West.

Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Moses in 1860. She learned to hunt game at the age of nine to help feed her widowed mother and siblings in Ohio. By the age of 12 she could shoot the head off a running quail. Word spread of her tomboy talents and by 1885 she was part of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. For 17 years she was the show's main attraction.

Those were brave women who stepped out of the stiff traditions of their era and lived their lives doing what they liked to do. I'm so glad that today we aren't limited to a certain "code" of proper dress. Cowgirl fashion ranges from frilly, lacy dresses and skirts with boots to button down shirts and comfortable jeans. I love them all, but I'm still happiest in my boots and jeans.

How to Store Your Sterling Silver Jewelry

I really love silver jewelry. There's something really "cowgirl" about silver jewelry from great dangling stirrup or heart earrings to fancy silver belt buckles.
All that great shine does require a little special care and I've found a few tips for taking care of that silver to keep it really shining.


Sterling silver will tarnish if left in the open air and humidity for extended periods of time. Tarnish will first show up as a golden tint and then quickly turn black. This is a normal process, but you can keep tarnish to a minimum if you store your jewelry pieces when not wearing them.


The best way to store your jewelry to keep it from tarnishing is to keep it in an air-tight protective bag made of tarnish proof cloth. Another way to store jewelry pieces is to place it in a plastic zip lock bag made of Mylar (turkey cooking bags) or polyethylene. Be careful as some plastics contain sulfur compounds with will cause it to stain or tarnish more quickly. Don't use polyvinyl plastic bags. Most jewelry comes in tiny zip-lock bags and these work perfectly. Most jewelers store their sterling silver jewelry this way also.


Do not store your sterling silver jewelry directly on wood surfaces. The wood can contain acids that will mar the finish. Oak seems to be the worst for this. Also, don't store the sterling silver with other metals, like pennies on with rubber as these can also cause tarnish and damage.


I would also recommend that you store it so that it isn't rubbing up against other articles to prevent it from getting scratched. The little zip-lock bags placed in a drawer or jewelry box will offer the best protection.


Sterling silver, stored properly, can be worn often and with very little cleaning required, which makes it very easy to care for a lots of fun to wear.


Some of my favorite silver pieces come from Montana Silversmith. For some really great deals on Montana Silversmith jewelry and for more jewelry care and cleaning tips check out what's available at The Cowgirl Boutique (http://www.thecowgirlboutique.com/)..

Check Out Great Western Accessories

Over the last few years, western wear has changed a quite a bit. People are discovering how stylish western wear can be, and developing their own personal western style. Because of its rising popularity, western wear has begun to expand into a whole range of useful accessories. Now you can make your western wear practical as well as stylish, or else just liven up an every day outfit with a western accessory or two. So, what are some of the most popular western wear accessories?

Well, with almost everyone carrying a mobile phone nowadays, you really ought to have a western cell phone case. There are many western options beginning to appear for cell phone cases. Tooled leather with silver conchos or southwestern designs are becoming very popular and will definitely show your cowgirl style.

For most women, carrying a handbag is basically a necessity. Western wear handbags are available in a huge range of styles and colors, so it's easy to find one to match your style.

Other accessories that are available in western style, are check book covers, wallets, hair accessories, sunglasses, and key rings.
So where do you find all these great western accessories? There are many western stores around the country, but if there's not a western store near you, you can find many great options online. Check out http://www.thecowgirlboutique.com/ for some great selections of western accessories

Cowgirl Rules for Wearing Western Hats

I've titled this blog a little bit "tongue in cheek". There really are no rules for wearing your western hat - your hat is an expression of who you are and should be worn to reflect that.

However, having said that, there are some traditional do's and don'ts to wearing western hats.

Well, first of all, you never, ever want to be caught wearing your cowboy hat backwards. It's not pretty, or cool, and on top of that it's bad luck (well, so they say). On the inside of the hat, look for the small ribbon bow, that is the back of the hat. Also, the hat band on the outside of the crown will most likely have a bow, feather, a buckle or some other adornment and that always sits on the left side when the hat is worn. Also the hat will usually look narrower to the front.

Originally felt hats were intended for winter wear (protecting from moisture and cold) and straw for summer (protecting from heat and sun) which is logical. The fashion rule seems to be felt between Labour day and Memorial Day, and straw in between. Now however, both are seen worn either time of year depending on where you are. I tend to follow the general rule of heat & sun=straw, night or cooler weather=felt. Of course, I was raised on that motto of black patent shoes in the winter and white for summer and I still find myself thinking of that when dressing.

Now there seems to be two areas of thought on handling hats. One side says when putting on or removing your hat, you should hold the brim near the crown in the front and the back. The other side says to never handle by the brim, to always lightly grasp the crown. Actually it boils down to this: Any handling which causes flexing or bending of the brim or crown will gradually weaken the body of your hat. The more you bend the crown or brim, the more likely it will lose its natural ability to maintain its shape.
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To travel with a hat, you can make use of Travel Hat Boxes with Handles. These are solid containers that protect the hat from physical and environmental damage, especially if it's a more expensive hat.

Well, there you have it. Everything you wanted to know about proper hat wearing! Just remember how great cowgirls look in hats and go and find one that fits your style!

Contemporary Western Style

Western is as American as you can get. It is the symbol of freedom, individuality and pioneering spirit. Western style was borne out of necessity. Furniture and fashions were created to fulfill a need. At a time when very few possessions could be carried in wagons or on horseback, pioneers made do with what they could find.

Today, Western Décor has a much more contemporary look, but many of the same types of materials are used to keep the unique look that is Western. Some of those materials are wood, such as pine or juniper, leather, antlers, stone. Indian designs were often integrated into western designs. Buckskin, hides, beadwork and fur were as essential then are they are now to western fashion.

Whether you actually live in the West or the West just lives in you, you can create that atmosphere of relaxed western lifestyle by incorporating western style into your décor. Pieces don't have to be "rustic" to reflect western style. Many modern furnishings and décor are a blend of modern sophistication and rugged traditional materials.

Take a look at some of the new contemporary styles in fashion and décor and find the style that most reflects who you are! There's a little bit of cowgirl in all of us!

Collecting Western Memorabilia - A New Trend

I have a collection of little decorative western boots. Some are toothpick holders, some are handcarved wooden boots and some are metal. I have a few that are vintage styles and some that are modern decorative items. I really enjoy looking for different styles of boots to add to my western collection. I have added some information here about the benefits of collecting western items.

People from around the world have been fascinated with the west ever since Buffalo Bill started his famous Wild West show. The antiques and collectibles that show the true history of the west have become very popular over the last decade.

Saddles, spurs, bits, chaps, Hollywood Western memorabilia, native American articles, Custer memorabilia and really anything used by the cowboy on the range have become very sought-after.

There are so many categories of western memorabilia that the hardest part of becoming a collector is trying to decide what to collect. Collecting Western objects is really quite similar to collecting decorative objects. Basically, you should collect what you like, but remember that condition is important, and the rarer the item the better.

Saddles are the one item that was probably the most important to the cowboy. They usually bring the most money at auctions. The earliest saddles, of course, are the most desirable. You should look for condition, style, decoration and rarity. Saddles that are heavily decorated with silver are the most desirable.

Some of the most desirable items to collect are bits and spurs. Iron spurs adorned with silver are very popular as are silver decorated bits. These items are much fancier than the bits and spurs that are sold in western stores today.

Hollywood memorabilia has always been a great item to collect. Clothing worn by actors and actresses in famous Western Movies are fetching very high prices at auctions. Also items belonging to famous western people such as Gen. George Custer, Sitting Bull, Bill Cody, Wild Bill Hickok, Annie Oakley and more continue to increase in value.

Considering the speed with which the market has grown in the last 10 years, then Western memorabilia will soon be one of the most popular collectible areas around. Some believe cowboys are a dying breed and we need to preserve their memory and history. A great resource you might want to check out is "Collecting Western Memorabilia" by Tim Lasiuta. This book clearly shows the facts behind the new Western Collectibles movement and would be a great addition to the Western Collection.

Check out some of the great western collectible deals at http://www.rusticbarnwesterncollectibles.com/.

Cowgirl Boots - Timeless Style

Cowboy boots are a timeless fashion that has been around for a long time. Once only worn by those known as cowboys or cowgirls, cowboy boots have made a very popular come back in the fashion arena.

Western boots come in a huge variety of styles and materials. They can be made from just about any material you can think of from synthetics to a whole range of animal skins, snake skins or pelts. Traditional leather is the most popular, but the variety of hides is quite amazing, depending on the price you want to pay. They come in every color and style imaginable. Fancy stitching can be seen in many decorative shapes and patterns, including animals, landscapes and all sorts of other impressive designs.

What is it about women’s western boots that makes them so popular? It’s not too hard to figure out, it’s sex appeal. There is something sensual about women’s cowboy boots whether they are worn with complementing western wear or any other casual outfit. There’s also just a feeling of attitude that comes with wearing a pair of boots, a feeling that you can handle just about anything that comes your way. You just don’t get that feeling in a pair of flip flops or a pair of flimsy heels!

Proper fitting boots can be one of the most comfortable choices in your shoe wardrobe, but if you’ve never purchased a pair of western boots before there is a couple of things to keep in mind. You will need to allow a little time to break them in. The leather will stretch a little so it’s okay to buy them a little snug. Take your time and wear them for short periods of time to begin with. If you don’t over do it and allow them to break in over time they will become like an extension of your feet and will be your favorite shoes to wear!

Western boots can be found in just about any shoe store, but for authentic "Cowboy Boots", your best choices are at exclusive Western Wear Stores. If there's not such a store in your area, there are many options and stores online to find just what you're looking for. Check out the selection at: www.thecowgirlboutique.com. Try out a pair of "Western" or "Cowboy" boots and see if they don't become a favorite part of your wardrobe!

Cowgirl Spotlight - Enid Justin

Who says Cowboy boots are all about "cowboys". I was reading today about Enid Justin. She was the founder of Nocona Boot Company. Enid started making boots with her father, Joe Justin, at the age of 15. When her brothers decided to move the Justin Boot Company to Fort Worth in 1925, Enid felt that her father would have wanted to stay in the town of Nocona, where he had started his business. So the Justin Boot Company moved to Fort Worth and Enid, starting with $5000.00 borrowed money, started Nocona Boot Company in Nocona. After building the company's national reputation as a quality bootmaker of the next 50+ years Enid merged her company with Justin Industries in 1981. She continued to serve as honorary chairman and consultant until her death in 1990 at the age of 96! Enid was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame before her death.

Just goes to show that "cowgirl" IS all about attitude and grit.

Great Western Horse Vacation

I'm always looking for fun things to do with horses and today I came across a really cool vacation package on Ebay. Its a package for a mother and daughter vacation on a real ranch in Texas. Now the problem for me is: should I go and take my daughter, or should I be generous and send my daughter and her daughter , or I could just take me and my granddaughter! Well, maybe they would consider a three generation package. :) Anyway, I put it on my website - The Cowgirl Boutique - go check it out for yourself.

Speaking of fun things to do with horses, now that the weather is getting nicer, I need to stop spending so much time on the computer and get out there on my own! Catch ya later!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

I've always been a cowgirl at heart. I didn't grow up on a ranch, but a farm in the midwest was the next best thing. From the earliest memories I have, a cowgirl was all I wanted to be. Roy Rogers was my hero (now you know how old I am!). My favorite toys were a stick horse with a red plastic head with white features and my trusty set of six shooters and holster. I think I had dolls, too, but they were mainly "extras" (along with my 2 little sisters) in my great cowgirl adventures. Nowdays, besides being a grandma, I have 2 horses and live on a farm with cows, so I'm pretty happy! There's lots to being a cowgirl and I'll be sharing lots of facts and fun stuff as the days go by.