One farmer-artist has learned to combine purposely distressed wood, leather, studs, pieces of barbed-wire and feathers to make works of art.
Angela Look of Rose Point Farms, east of Didsbury, Alta., has been working with her husband for 10 years on a line of goods that she has dubbed Classy Western Frames and Home Decor.
Look came across the potential market for these items while attending trade shows as a vendor.
“Everyone was talking about the need for some unique type of western products at these markets. We just decided we were going to start building frames and I was going to incorporate some leather and tacks onto it and it took off from there,” said Look.
In 2013, Look and her husband starting selling wooden picture frames built by her husband, with creative leather accents that featured upholstery studs, colourful resins and other materials. They were sold at large trade shows, such as the Canadian Finals Rodeo, and Horse Expo Canada.
“A lot of what I do is custom, in that you can pick your colour, your size, your type of stain that I would use, and then we custom build it for each individual person,” Look said.
Many design inspirations come from nature, although Look said other sources happen too. The idea to combine red with purple came to her while watching the TV show America’s Got Talent, where she saw a red and purple stage curtain.
Over the years, the Looks have expanded their product line, putting out a new item each year. They offer picture frames, mirrors, buckle racks, charcuterie boards, monograms and a line of small items like leather jewelry, feather saddle charms and book covers. This year’s newest addition are wooden pet urns. The urns and the feather saddle charms are meant to be keepsakes from people’s dead animal companions.
The charms incorporate a tassel of the late horse’s tail.
“(This) allows a beautiful memory of their horse to ride by their side forever,” Look said.
She uses a variety of techniques to age the wood.
There are certain stains she likes, but sometimes she uses vinegar and sometimes she lets the wood sit outside in weather or uses hammers and nails to make it look old.
The wood for the charcuterie boards are exotic woods she gets from stores in Calgary and Penhold, Alta. These are popular items for wedding and corporate gifts.
“We’ll put the new couple’s names on the boards,” Look said.
For custom work, people have presented Look with their ideas for designs, also bringing her pieces of wood from a family member’s barn, lariat or other memento that they want worked into a piece. Look uses what she can and then returns the scrap pieces to the customer.
As a side business, these wood and leather products have provided the Looks with a decent income stream.
“It gets us the opportunity to head away for a few weeks in December and several weeks in early spring just before we’re ready to go for the Horse Expo,” said Look. While maintaining their farm, Look said that they can devote one or two days a week to the sideline.
It is a constant effort to sustain interest in their products.
“We have to keep our faces out there at the rodeos and the markets and keep reminding people that we’re here because it is just sold from home,” Look said.
She said people who want to indulge their creative side should start by looking at their passions.
“I encourage everyone to take a look, dig deep inside them and see what they can come up with and spin that. There are so many things that we can throw out there to other people and have them appreciate your talent in a way that you might not have thought of in the first place.”
