04 Jul THINGS WE LOVE: THINGS WE LOVE
Floating Stone Leather Cuff
by Denise Hagood
With a long career as a jewelry artist, Denise Hagood’s specialty is pairing vintage brass and sterling silver hardware with gemstones and aged leather to create one-of-a-kind necklaces and cuffs that can be worn anywhere, anytime. “I aim for a lived-in look and feel,” the southeast Washington-based artist says. “I want to convey a feeling of freedom and ease with every piece, and it must function, perform, and feel beautiful.” This one — from her most recent Floating Stone Cuff Series — features labradorite set in sterling silver with a rustic leather base. Hagood also makes a series of tack leather necklaces and works with textiles, all with an “intrinsic rustic” sensibility.
$240
1.25 x 7.5 inches
Wild Sugar by Lindsey Johnson with Chase Reynolds Ewald
As a multipotentialite to the max, Lindsey Johnson is an artist, interior designer, content creator, baker, photographer, and foodie, to name a few of her creative interests. After a decade of work as an interior designer in California, she and her family settled near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she has more recently become known for her inventive wedding cakes and artful baked goods. In collaboration with Chase Reynolds Ewald — author of numerous books on lifestyle, architecture, and interior design — Wild Sugar features recipes that are “inspired by the mountains, wildlife, and ways of Western living,” says Ewald. We love how this cookbook, complemented by Johnson’s high-quality photography, offers a glimpse of her edible art and approachable recipes for bakers at home.
224 pages; 8 x 10 inches
$35
Clutterless Tote by Brick Bound
Based in Bozeman, Montana, Matt Saporito’s hand-stitched leather creations are made with high-grade steer hides from the Hermann Oak tannery. His timeless designs for wallets, handbags, totes, and other accessories embrace simplicity and functionality and are built to last a lifetime. Saporito’s Clutterless Tote bumps the Western aesthetic up a notch with the use of a soft Pendleton lining that features classic patterns and bold colors. With a large interior, these made-to-order totes are perfect for an overnight bag or a carry-all purse of sorts. Buyers can choose from a variety of interior lining options.
18 x 13.5 x 6 inches
$850
Billiard Ball Belt Buckles by Sage Silver
Dani Ortiz has been designing and crafting one-of-a-kind small-batch jewelry since 2014, pairing non-traditional materials and hand-cut stones and gems with high-quality sterling silver. One of her most popular collections features hand-cut vintage billiard balls and upcycled scraps that, once polished, add vibrant pops of color to handmade rings, necklaces, bolo ties, hair clips, and other pieces. This solid silver belt buckle is made to order with a full-size vintage billiard ball (buyer can choose the ball number) that she hand-cuts and shapes into a heart. Ortiz sets it into a thick-gauge .999 fine silver back plate with a fine silver beaded wire border, then hand-stamps each one. We love the playful contrast of the billiard scraps paired with more traditional silver designs.
2 x 3 inches
$450
Handwoven Sterling Silver Hat Bands
by Chrissy Glenn
Originally from rural Pennsylvania, Chrissy Glenn apprenticed for metal sculptor Val Bertoia, earned a degree in textiles and design, owned and operated two successful New York-based galleries, and curated internationally before focusing on her woven metal sculptural designs and sterling silver jewelry. Since settling on a ranch near Cody, Wyoming, in 2020, much of her work is tied to her new life in the West. Her hat bands are made from handwoven sterling silver ribbons adorned with other elements, such as this one with turquoise-hued kangaroo lace and Kingman turquoise in a mountain design. We love the hat’s bling and elevated Western style.
26 x .75 inches
$2,100
Pointer Setter Andirons by Walter Matia
After more than a decade of working with the Nature Conservancy, Walter Matia started casting bronze sculptures in 1980, focusing on what he knew best: animals. Starting with birds, he later depicted sporting dogs and other mammals, along with outdoor pieces and fountains, including one that resides in the Washington D.C. garden of Blair House, also known as the President’s Guest House. Throughout his career, Matia’s works have been exhibited widely at events including Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum and the Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and he’s taken home several awards to boot. This set of andirons, titled A Fireside Chat, melds Matia’s art with function and illustrates his love of hunting dogs. “I enjoy the challenge of bringing beauty to functional objects. Bird dog andirons scratched both itches,” he says.
27 x 7 x 7 inches
$12,000
The Kings’ Court Chess Set by Bryce Petitt
The great outdoors has always inspired Durango, Colorado-based artist Bryce Petitt, and led to his study of natural sciences and ecology. He puts his first-hand observations and education to use by adding emotion to his sculptures, telling a story through the animal’s stance, fur, and other distinctive features. While he typically creates larger bronze sculptures, his Kings’ Court Chess Set includes smaller, more playful, characters. “After 25 years as a sculptor focused on wildlife, I see the world through animals,” Pettit says. “So I thought it would be fun to do my interpretation of the ageless game of chess in the theme of wildlife of the Rocky Mountains.” We love the details and whimsy of each piece, including the bull moose and bull elk as kings, eagles and owls as rooks, and squirrels and hares as pawns, among others.
Board: 2.5 x 17 x 17 inches
Kings: 6 x 4 x 3 inches
$7,200
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