This is the first in what we hope will become a regular thing at The Sassy Saloon: an article about one of our talented fans.
Today, we shine the spotlight on Carl Kilefner, who was born and raised in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, who moved to California in the 1950s after enlisting in the Navy, and who has now retired with his lovely wife to Arizona.
Carl creates cowboys out of old horseshoes. The pictures here show off this really cool and unique piece of art.
We learned about Carl through his daughter, JoAnn Martin.
Here’s what JoAnn has to say about her talented dad:
“Each cowboy he gives away to friends or family has a little tag that reads ‘hand crafted by Carl Kilefner.’ It truly is a labor of love and he’s spread that love far and wide, sending them all over the US, Canada, and I believe even Nova Scotia.
“I, as well as others, tell him he should sell, but he won’t. He says he enjoys making them, which is absolutely true. A retired glazier and metal worker by trade, he has always been creative in designing and building everything from memorial benches to ‘fixes’ for friends, and is constantly challenging himself on the best design or solution to fit the need. I’m very proud of him, not only for his creative talent, but for the generous and loving father he is to me and my siblings and the friend he is to many.”
Sounds like a special man, indeed. Way to go, Carl! If you’re an AJ’s Western Wear fan with a special talent (or if you know someone), let me know, and maybe we’ll shine a spotlight on the person in a future post. My email is to the right.
In some parts of the country, the little buckaroos are back in school already and summer vacations are but a distant memory. And for those lucky kids who are still out, their days are numbered — school starts next week for many and for the remainder right after Labor Day.
For those of you who are boo-hooing the end of summer, one way to get over it fast is by shopping! We’ve got some great western fashion looks for kids and teens. Here are some of my faves:
At AJ’s, we love all the cool western purses from Trenditions, which got us to thinking about the people behind some of these creations. We were lucky enough to connect with Dana McPherson, Trenditions Design Director (that’s her pictured to the right below) for a little Q&A session.
Q&A with Trenditions Design Director, Dana McPherson
Clementine: Where are you from?
Dana: I was born in Detroit, and moved around a lot as a kid- I’m a Midwestern girl.
Clementine: Where did you go to school?
Dana: In spite of all the moving around, I ended up back in Detroit for high school and college. My BFA is from Wayne State University.
Clementine: Where do you call home now?
Dana: I have lived in Pasadena, California, for almost 8 years now — I love it!
Clementine: When did you know you wanted to be a designer?
Dana: When I landed my first design job. The possibility had always seemed a little abstract to me — honestly, I got that first job and thought “wow, I can actually be creative, do something I love, AND make a living — yes!” Before that, I’d thought that just couldn’t be possible (my degree is in Fine Art after all). It seemed too good to be true.
Clementine: Have you designed apparel in addition to western purses?
Dana: I have! I’ve designed sleepwear and sportswear for women, and kids wear. That was at the beginning of my career, though. I’ve been designing accessories for about 10 years now, and honestly, it’s my true love. I never ever get bored with accessories, especially handbags — the creative possibilities are endless.
Clementine: What’s a typical workday like?
Dana:Trenditions’ offices are in Hurst, Texas, and I’m in LA, so I work at home. On a typical day, I go through all the email that accumulated overnight, Skype with our other designer (the lovely and talented Amanda) about our current projects, and work on whatever collections we’re developing. My job requires a lot of follow-up and communication with factories, so I spend a lot of time doing that. I also spend quite a bit of time doing research. Aside from our big seasonal collections, we have smaller projects throughout the year, so I do a lot of shopping, looking for inspiration, and searching for fabrics and hardware. The best part of my day is when I get to just work on new products — I love creating something new, making a collection from a great item, adding details and assigning materials — bliss!
Clementine: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Dana: I find inspiration everywhere, from high-end fashion to what I see people wearing on the street. LA has fabulous flea markets, and that’s one of my favorite places to be inspired and find new ideas. People dress to be seen at the flea market, so there’s great people-watching, and the unique and vintage treasures to be found are incredible. I also love looking at blogs online, poring over periodicals (Cowboys & Indians is one of my favorites), and surfing the Internet to keep up with what’s happening in retail around the world.
Clementine: What’s your favorite part of the job?
Dana: My favorite part of the job is that I get to be creative every day. I also love the challenges that come with this job: problem-solving, innovating, and creating product that is new and exciting.
Clementine: What can you tell us about the fall and winter lines – what are the trends you’re seeing in the industry? What pieces are you most excited about?
Dana: Fall and winter look great, and we’re really excited about what we’re offering. You’ll see lots of color, texture, and embellishment. Amanda has put together some great collections for Way West and Cowgirl Up using crystals, snake textures, and brighter colors. We’ve put some fresh new shapes into Wrangler and Rock 47, and Western Trenditions will debut new collections using fringe, conchos, tooling, and hair-on. We’ve had quite a few requests for bags with pockets for concealed weapons — those are among the new additions for fall, which is exciting!
Todd is wearing Scully "Pure White" from AJ's Western Wear
For all you cowgirls and cowboys who love some kick-ass music, have I got a treat for you. I was lucky enough to do an interview with Todd “Big T” Deming, who is releasing his debut solo album, “Put Some South in Yer Mouth,” TODAY (August 21).
Todd “Big T” Deming Background
Big T is a West Virginia native who was raised in Jackson County. After graduating from Ravenswood High School, he went on to WVU and later Marietta College in Ohio where he majored in music education while playing football. Todd later left school to play for the US Football Allstars, traveling the globe to Hawaii and even Germany.
In 2000, Todd moved to Maine and he started the band Wolfcreek in an effort to bring Southern Rock to the North East. After a successful run of live shows and gaining a devoted fan base, Todd continues to carve out his own path. He’s releasing his solo album in conjunction with Red Ridge Entertainment in Nashville. The album is being released through Magenta Records on 8/21.
Todd has years of experience and a well-honed stage show. He’s opened for national acts like The Marshall Tucker Band, Emerson Drive, and Steve Azar, and he’s looking forward to hitting the road this fall in support of his new record!
Clementine Q&A with Big T
Clementine: Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you grew up, where you live now, your musical background, what instruments you play, whether you write your own songs, etc.
Big T: I was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where I spent most of my childhood until I turned 12. At the age of 12, my family moved to Ravenswood, West Virginia, where I graduated from high school. I was a Red Devil! I currently have a home in Washington, Maine, but will be relocating south at the beginning of October to be accessible to my record label for booking.
I grew up in a musical family. My mama and daddy were in a gospel quartet called “The Family Four,” so southern gospel was a heavy influence early on. I was always interested in music because of my parents and, of course, my brother Shawn. I did the show choir thing in high school and college and took many years of voice lessons to learn how to control my voice. I’m still learning and I’m never satisfied. As for musical instruments, I’ve dabbled in a lot and mastered none. I play a little drums, but I have taught myself to get by on rhythm guitar. Never really have totally accomplished an instrument. But I can sing
I do write and most of my CD is made up of songs that I have written or co-wrote. I write differently, so a lot of my writing style (according to my producer) is unique. I think people will enjoy it.
Clementine: What sort of music did you listen to growing up?
Big T: Everything from gospel to metal. There really isn’t a genre I don’t appreciate in some way.
Clementine: Did you dream of becoming a singer, or did that dream form during your years at Marietta College?
Big T: I have always dreamed of performing. I literally dreamed about it while growing up. According to my dreams, I have shared the stage with a lot of successful artists, including (but not limited to) Garth Brooks, Alabama, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, and more. Hey, if you don’t dream, how do you determine your path in this life?
Clementine: Tell us about your journey as a musician, including your time in New England with Wolfcreek.
Big T: It’s been a long road, and I don’t know of any group or artist that would say different. There are tons of sacrifices along the way if you want to do this for a living. You have to take chances and risks. People have to believe in you. There are great times, and there are times you just want to freak out and throw in the towel. That’s been my journey. It’s been up and down, full of promise and then disappointment, but I wouldn’t change anything because that’s where all these songs come from. It’s what makes you who you are.
Clementine: Who or what inspires your music?
Big T: Life! Life inspires my music. People associated with me, people not necessarily associated with me. Look around, there is a song to describe every situation you encounter, good or bad.
Clementine: How have you grown as an artist over the years? What’s your best memory with Wolfcreek?
Big T: Wolfcreek! Wolfcreek was every emotion in the English dictionary. It made me smile, it made me fight, it made me cry, it made me bleed. I enjoyed it immensely. My favorite memory? WOW! How long can this interview be? I would have to say that we played with a classic world- renowned band up in Maine one time. The best part was before they took the stage, we outsold them in merchandise and 1/3 of the crowd left. They came to see Wolfcreek! That was huge to me because this band has been making music since the year I was born. Our fans are so loyal up there.
Clementine: What made you decide to strike out on your own and go solo?
Big T: I would have taken my band with me in a heartbeat. They have been there for me for a decade, but the offer came to me as an individual. None of them gave me a hard time about it. They are very supportive of this move and have agreed to play for me any time I’m in striking distance. Trust me, Wolfcreek fans will see these guys out on the circuit. Music is in their soul.
Clementine: Tell us about your new album, “Put Some South in Yer Mouth” – what themes are at play, and how would you describe the soul, the sound?
Big T: First, let me say that to describe the soul and sound, the only way to do it is to think back to your favorite southern rock bands like Skynard, Charlie Daniels, The Marshal Tucker Band, The Outlaws, and The Allman Brothers. Then modernize it, give it some dirty guitar and slide, big drums, thunderous bass, keys and nice harmony. Think modern southern rock with all the flavor of yesterday, and you got a rowdy, good-time feel that makes you want to party. “Put Some South in Yer Mouth,” “B.Y.O.B,” “Boots, Buckles, and Butts,” and “She Likes Pink” are all about this. I do have a ballad or two for the ladies out there.
Clementine: When people think “Todd Deming,” what three words do you want to pop into their mind?
Big T: Integrity, work ethic, honesty, passionate, dedicated, high energy, dependable, but most of all fun! Did you ask for three things?
Clementine: Who are some of your favorite artists?
Big T:Randy Owen from the band Alabama hands down! Love Lynard Skynard, especially their new stuff. Randy Houser and Montgomery Gentry, to name a few at the top of the list, but there are so many talented artists out there. It’s such a hard question. Basically, anything that will kick your ass.
Clementine: When you’re not making music, what are some of your favorite things to do?
Big T: Spending time with my little girls, Journey and Kansas. Journey is six and Kansas is two. They have the ability to make me forget about everything. I also love shooting guns, hunting, and fishing. Anything fun or relaxing.
Clementine: For all the cowgirls out there who are dying to know: are you single, married, otherwise available?
Big T: I am in a relationship.
Clementine: You’re a fan of AJ’s Western Wear (which we totally love and appreciate!) – what are some of your favorites on our site?
Big T: I’m really digging your new one, “Black Diamond.” I also like “Icy Hot,” “Born To Lose,” and I own a “Stern Cowboy Tonal” in black and one in white. They are my favorites so far. I personally think you should start up that “Big T” line. Your embroidery is absolutely gorgeous, second to none! I would love to see a sleeveless cowboy tonal with a Big T embroidered on the back: one in black and one in white. Just sayin’.
More Fun with Big T:
Favorite TV show: CMT Crossroads and Discovery Channel
Favorite movie: Almost Famous, Rock Star
Favorite actor/actress: Mark Wahlberg/Jennifer Aniston
Favorite food: BEEF! I am a meat-eatin’ son-of-a-gun
Favorite sport/athlete: Football, without a doubt. Jack Lambert is my all-time favorite athlete because he was a rattlesnake! I mean, who plays two quarters of a Super Bowl as a linebacker with a broken fibula? Jack Lambert, that’s who!
Favorite vacation destination: Anywhere there are mountains, wildlife, and water together!
iPhone, Blackberry, or Droid? Blackberry
Your life’s philosophy/motto/words you live by: “A little bit of rust, but I’m still runnin.” Thank you Johnnie Van Zant!
Clementine: Is there anything else you’d like us to know or wish I had asked?
Big T: Yes, one question in particular. “Big T, where can we send your custom sleeveless Scully shirts in every color cause we have made a bunch of them for you to wear on stage?” That would be the perfect question that I’d be happy to answer!
[Clementine: I'll see what we can do about that custom line, Big T!]
How to buy Big T’s new album:
Here at the Sassy Saloon, we talk a lot about famous (or infamous) cowboys and cowgirls from yesteryear. What about a modern-day cowboy story?
I found one.
His name is Dan Wallrath from Houston, Texas, and he’s being highlighted by the media for the work he does in supporting the men and women who serve our country.
Annie Oakley was born on this date (August 13) in 1860. You know what that means? Yes, ol’ Clementine here has dug up 5 Fun Facts on America’s first female superstar (with a little help from my friend Wikipedia). You can also learn more about her from the Annie Oakley Foundation.
1. Born in rural Ohio, she was named Phoebe Ann Mosey.
2 . In an effort to support her siblings and recently widowed mother, little Annie began hunting at the age of six. Her skills developed from there, and she became a local legend.
3. She joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in 1885 and was dubbed Little Sure Shot (she stood only five feet tall).
4. It’s been said that Oakley taught upwards of 15,000 women how to use a gun. She was a staunch supporter of women’s rights.
5. It’s also been said that Oakley’s sharp-shooting skills only improved as she got older. She was shooting — and making her marks — up until the time of her death at age of 66 in 1926.
Watch this cool clip of her shooting. (Email subscribers — click through to the post in order to see the video.)
So after I did a blog post last week on the Cowgirl Chicks, I got to thinking about this history of the American cowgirl. Aside from some of the “big” names, like Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane, it doesn’t seem like we talk too much about the dozens of tough and talented women who did everything that their male counterparts did — and they did it while wearing skirts! Which leads me to today’s guest post.
I connected with a cool cowgirl and writer named Heidi Thomas whose gram knew her way ’round rodeos. So I asked Heidi to share some of her memories and also some of the history that more of us should know. (BTW, you should definitely check out Heidi’s book, Cowgirl Dreams.)
Cowgirls Compete With Men
By Heidi Thomas
A petite young woman mounts a 750- to 900-pound steer and hangs on to nothing but a rope tight-wrapped around one hand. That she stays on this bucking, twisting, snorting beast for ten seconds, eight seconds, or even two seconds seems a miracle.
This is the intriguing picture of my grandmother I have carried in the back of my mind since I was a little girl.
My grandmother, Olive May “Tootsie” Bailey, grew up the daughter of homesteaders during the early 1900s in the Sunburst-Cut Bank area of Montana, near the Canadian border and east of the Rocky Mountains.
Although she no longer rode in rodeos when I came along, “Gramma” was an avid horsewoman and ranch wife, equally at-home on the back of a horse as she was in a dress and heels. She and my grandfather, Otto Gasser, were partners in rural Montana ranching as well as an urban family of friends.
Rodeo Cowgirls
The 1920s were the heyday of rodeo, where the cowgirl was as much a part of the festivities as the cowboy. The first cowgirls learned to ride out of necessity to help on their family ranches. At an early age, they learned to ride horses, rope cattle, and stay in the saddle atop an untamed bucking bronco.
In 1885, Annie Oakley, a diminutive sharpshooter in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, paved the way for other women to be recognized in the rodeo arena. Two years later, Bertha Kaelpernick was allowed to enter a horse race in Cheyenne’s Frontier Days only because the arena was so muddy the cowboys refused to participate. To entertain the crowd, she was coerced into riding a bucking horse.
Image via Wikipedia
Despite the terrible conditions, she managed to stay in the saddle and put the men to shame. She continued to compete and often beat such legendary cowboys as Ben Corbett and Hoot Gibson.
Following in Bertha’s footsteps years later, Prairie Rose Henderson of Wyoming forced the Cheyenne organizers to allow her to ride. She went on to become one of the most flamboyant cowgirls of the era, dressing in bright colors, sequins, and ostrich plumes over bloomers.
Lucille Mulhall, whose father, Colonel Zack Mulhall, ran a Wild West Show, was described in a 1900 New York World article as “only ninety pounds, can break a bronc, lasso and brand a steer, and shoot a coyote at 500 yards. She can also play Chopin, quote Browning, and make mayonnaise.” Both Teddy Roosevelt and Will Rogers have been credited with giving Lucille the title “cowgirl.”
Between 1885 and 1935, many women proudly wore that title and competed with men, riding broncs, steers, and bulls. They also roped and tied steers (usually wearing long divided skirts) alongside their male counterparts.
In early rodeos, women and men competed in the same arena, drawing from the same stock. Women rode broncs, steers, bulls, and did steer roping as well as trick riding, Roman races, and relay races.
I know that my grandmother, Toots Bailey Gasser, rode steers in small Montana rodeos. Other cowgirls, such as Marie Gibson, also from Montana, rode steers, bulls, and broncs throughout the US, Canada, and even London. While each cowgirl had her specialty, most participated in multiple events.
Tricks of the Trade
Vera McGinnis, Tad Lucas, and Fox Hastings were probably best known for trick riding. This demonstrated numerous types of stands and vaults, performed while the horse was galloping at top speed. Other maneuvers included crawling under the horse’s belly, hanging just inches from the mount’s pounding hooves.
In the Roman race, the cowgirl would stand with her right foot on one galloping horse and her left foot on the other. (The horses would have had to be very well trained to stay together, and the rider obviously had great balance and strength.)
The relay race required three laps around a track, and the rider had to change horses, and sometimes saddles, after each round. If they weren’t required to change saddles, many cowgirls perfected the “flying” change, leaping from the back of one horse to the other without touching the ground. Vera McGinnis is credited with inventing this move.
The Decline of Women’s Rodeo
After Bonnie McCarrol and Marie Gibson were killed and several other women badly injured in rodeo accidents, cowgirl bronc riding became increasingly rare in the West, leaving only relay racing open to women competitors. But women’s rodeo gradually eroded nationwide for several reasons:
Small, local rodeos were no longer financially lucrative and livestock was in short supply in the 1930s, leading to the demise of the Wild West shows.
Men held the central control of the sport.
Many well-known women rodeo stars retired.
World War II, with tire and gas rationing, did not allow travel as in the past.
From the mid 1930s until the late 1940s, cowgirls became mere props in rodeo: “glamour girls” whose beauty and attire were emphasized instead of athletic skill. In 1948, thirty-eight women formed the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA) to give women an opportunity to compete in calf roping, barrel racing, and trick riding. In 1968, barrel racing finals were finally included in the men’s Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) National Finals.
The Growing Trend
In 1981, GRA changed its name to Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) and today has more than 2,000 members. It sanctions 800 barrel races a year in conjunction with men’s PRCA rodeos. But women still do not compete with men.
As an entity of its own, Professional Women’s Rodeo Association (PWRA) puts on events in women-only rodeos that include bareback riding, breakaway, and tie-down calf roping, bull riding, and team roping.
It’s been a long time coming, but as Rene Mikes, a corporate accountant from Denver and a bull rider, says, “It’s not a guy sport anymore.” But despite the heroic efforts of many women, including Cowgirl Hall of Fame and world champion bull rider Joni Jonkowski of Montana, women for the most part still do not compete with men.
Since the formation of the RAA in 1929, only one woman has qualified, within the PRCA’s point system, to compete in saddle bronc riding with men. That woman is Kaila Mussell from BC, Canada. She has been nominated to the Cowgirls Hall of Fame.
One of the coolest things about western wear today is the chances that designers and manufacturers are taking with their fashion…it’s not the same ol’, same ol’. Case in point: check out these three fun and flirty cowgirl pieces from the folks at AJ’s Western Wear.
And that got me thinking about the Chicks…how much do y’all know about them? Never fear! Clementine here did some digging on their official site and read some articles and is happy to present you with 5 Fun Facts:
1. The official name is “Trish Lynn and the All-American Cowgirl Chicks.” Their performance attire is always red, white, and blue. I think they’d look cute in some of AJ’s American flag shirts.
2. The Chicks entertain during 10-minute grueling routines — all while carrying the American and Texas flags — and raise money for cancer patients, specifically kids. In fact, each performance is for a cancer patient. In addition, the Chicks support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund, Children Cook’s Medical Center, Make a Wish Foundation, and individuals with cancer who need assistance.
3. The Chicks regularly take part in over 50 performances a year. (In 2007, it was 85 performances.)
4. Their mission statement is quite impressive and heart-warming: they’re all about preserving and promoting their western heritage, bonding with family and friends, raising money for cancer patients, among other things.
5.Trish Lynn, a cowgirl and singer, formed the Cowgirl Chicks in 1998 after having some tough breaks in the recording industry. At the same time, her farrier’s 6-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, so she asked rodeos to let her and her chicks perform for donations for this family. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Sassy Saloon is the official blog of AJ's Western Wear. The Chief Bloggess is Clementine, a sharp-shooting, hard-working, fun-loving cowgirl. Got a question or an article to submit? Email Clementine directly. And be sure to read this post about why we launched this blog.
crafted by Carl Kilefner.’ It truly is a labor of love and he’s spread that love far and wide, sending them all over the US, Canada, and I believe even Nova Scotia.
According to my dreams, I have shared the stage with a lot of successful artists, including (but not limited to) 
Anybody catch 
