Matt Litz Silversmith ~ WESTERN RINGS, FINE SILVER ENGRAVING

Matt Litz, Silversmith

This winter I would have the privilege of crossing paths with a talented emerging silversmith, Matt Litz.  Matt personality matches his silver work…absolutely top notch!  Matt was kind enough to visit and share a little bit about himself.

Q: Background?
A: Born in Lubbock, Texas.  Grew up living the American Dream being raised on a farm and ranch. 

Q: How did you get started in Silver Work?
A:  “I saw a belt buckle a man was wearing.  Wanted it, got it….and decided I could make that and have been going ever since.”

Q: Silversmith Work Hours?
A: Part Time Silversmith.  I work full time as a foreman in a welding shop.  I get home about 4:45 every day. Family time, and then out to the silver shop at about 8 until 1 or 2 in the morning.  My silversmith work is a one man shop.

Q: Role Models.  Who are people that you look up to in the Industry?
A: Bohlin’s older pieces, Clint Orms, Modern Makers: Dave Alderson, Scott Hardy…all unique styles… I admire crafty minds, different look on the flow of a buckle’s scroll design.

Q:What is your FAVORITE piece to build? 
A: “I like it all, whatever is the most fun to do.  Favorite piece to date was the Clutch Purse I did for the TCAA Emerging Artist Contest.  It was FUN to do! 

Picture of Winning Piece

Q: What inspires You?
A: ANYTHING!  Flowers I like, Leather Carving and trying to emulate that in the silver work.

Q:Aspirations:
A:Striving to make  heirloom pieces of timeless quality that people will think enough of to want to hand them down through the family generations.

Without Further Delay....................Let the SILVER SHOW BEGIN!!!!
Below is tiny sampling of some of Matt's Silversmith handy work!  Buckles, cuffs, gun engraving, and more!

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Polished Wings

STUNNING STERLING SILVER ENGRAVED RINGS! RINGS! RINGS!
Oh my goodness, you know how I love stunning sterling....and these rings are AMAZING!

 Like what you see, let Matt know! 
You can show him some love on fb!Matt Litz Silversmith

Interested in ordering your own Matt Litz heirloom piece.
Contact Information
Matt Litz Silversmith
Email: mattlitzsilversmith@gmail.com
Facebook: Matt Litz Silversmith


THANK YOU so much for traveling the gypsy trail with me today! Loved getting to share the amazing works of Matt Litz Silvermithing with you!
Happy Trails,
Mindy
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FOLLOW YOUR LIGHT ~ MEET Nichole Crowley, Portrait Boutique

Do what you LOVE and find a way to share it with others.  That is what comes to mind when viewing the stunning works by Nichole Crowley!  This spring I would have the opportunity to meet this talented young photographer and knew that I MUST share her talents with you! 

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Nichole has a gift for capturing the true essence of her subjects.  In the arena or in a big grassy meadow, she has a keen eye!  Embracing the LIGHT and letting her clients' beauty shine through.  LOVE her work!  Nichole was kind enough to share a little bit about herself.

Q: Background
A: "I am from a little town called Francis, Utah. It's about 15 minutes from Heber or Park City. I've grown up in the western lifestyle and I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't think there is a better way to raise a family." NC

Nichole Crowley and Family

Q: How did you get started?
A: "My husband and I had invested in some buckin bulls and we weren't getting great pictures with our little point and shoot so my husband asked me about getting a nice DSLR. I have always been interested in photography but could never really afford it........ So there I was taking pictures of the bulls bucking at the show and my camera started to wander to the behind the scenes and it blossomed from there" NC 

Q: Role Models in the Industry

A: "David Stoecklein has been the most inspirational and influential role model for me. His work makes sense to me, it just speaks to me!" NC

Q:What inspires You?

A: "My family inspires me, cowboys inspire me but most of all LIGHT inspires me." NC

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Q:What is your favorite piece to date?

 A: "Lessons from the fence" which is my son 2yrs old then, watching his dad rope and drag calves from the fence. It's an image I hold very dear to me!" NC

Here is a tiny sampling of some of the talented Ms Nichole Crowley's Photography

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Aww, I could keep choosing favorites for days!  Such a talented artist!  To see more of the beautiful Ms Nichole's work, to order prints, or become a client, contact info will be posted below.

NICHOLE CROWLEY, Portrait Boutique

RT 2 Box 2132
Roosevelt, UT 84066

(435) 671-0377

info@nicholecrowley.com, lazycphotography@yahoo.com

http://www.nicholecrowley.com http://www.lazycphotography.com

THANK YOU so much for traveling the gypsy trail with me today! 
Hope to see you back again soon.
Mindy

ADVENTURES of the Heart!

Kiss in the Rain!

Laugh till you cry!

DANCE with me!

Hold Hands!

Flirt!

Be Kind!

Compliment Others

Seek out Good! 

Date!

Go on adventures!

Play kid games!
Court! 
Play with Fire!
Listen to music that excites your soul!

SMILE!

Skip!

Laugh More!

Love!

Picnic! 

TRY new things!  TWICE ;)

Go out on limb! 

Be HAPPY! 

Be Comfortable with YOU! 

BIG SMILES and SUMMER FUN! Just love love!   Hope you are soakin it up!
Love ya, Hoagie

View from the Window

If you don't like the view, look through another window.

Sitting at my computer on the backside of the house, I have a window I can see out.  It is the only view outside of the brick walls I'm surrounded by.  One day I glanced outside to a dark and gloomy view. In my mind, I had accepted that it must be a miserable day.  It looked yucky.   I had to get something from the front of the house and happened to catch sight out a window on that side.....It was stunning! The sky was lit up with color, light, and brilliance!

Light Bulb!  It occurred to me....that is LIFE!  We choose what window we look out.  If you don't like the view.....change windows!  Change the things you are focusing on, re-align your thoughts to appreciate and count the blessings right in front of you! Change windows!  If you need to, step outside!   

Grateful for all for all the views!

Darkness Closing In

Breaking Dawn

Once Upon a Windy Day

Mornin Sunshine

THANK YOU for traveling the gypsy trail with me today.  Wishing you views that take your breathe away and spark a fire in your soul!  ~ Mindy
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Ol' Tom Cat

Tommy

Ol' Tom Cat ~ this is a post that has taken a few days to collect my words.  Seems that no words could ever do justice to this amazing man.  Just wanted to take a moment to capture some of the memories.

Growing up, we were neighbors with the Tommy Tompson family.  Ol' Tom Cat, as we often called Tommy, was ALWAYS getting a outfit running or fixing something that was broke down for our family.  It wasn't just our family either, the entire community had enjoyed the benefits of Tommy's skills at one point or another. 

A few years ago, I moved back to the area I was raised in. This would be a bigger blessing than I would ever realize.  Upon moving back, I would have the opportunity to not only be closer to family, but also to spend more time with some neighbors that as a kid, I hadn't made time to stop and visit much. Tommy was one of these neighbors that I would be blessed to spend some more time with.  The Tommy I knew was a "Fix Anything Man".  He was collector of parts, pieces, and could give any machine new life again...and usually with what he had floating around in his work truck.  He was also always willing to lend a hand when he could.  I knew Tommy was one of the best neighbors a person could ask for. 

During these eveing visits, I would realize that Tommy had retired a year before I was born....He had been "retired" my entire life.....and still worked harder than anyone I knew!  Tommy was a fearless adventure.  I would learn of Gold Mining in foreign countries, years working at the Sheep Station, Trapping Beaver, and a few of the adventures that had colored his past. 

Aside from being a shining example of work ethic, Tommy was an amazing family man.  There wasn't a visit that went by that he didn't tell me about something his kids, grand-kids, or great grand-kids where doing.  He was always uplifting and spoke with love.  

Even through all that Tommy had to do and all the people that he had to Love....Tommy was so good to watch out for his neighbors. 

A few things I will miss

* If I had been gone rodeoing or traveling, Tommy would call up and check on me.  "Where Are You?" he would ask. I haven't seen that blue car in awhile. 

* I'd been gone on rodeo run.  Driving home, I was tired, hungry, and returning to a empty house.  Tommy called just before I pulled in the yard to check on me.  He said come down I have supper ready for you.  I drove down and ate antelope, cooked squash, watermelon, and a fine feast!  

* This last winter, Tommy had got Shingles.  I would stop by in the evenings, after work to share some essential oils to help with the itching.  Always loved when we could stop the pain in it's tracks.  My favorite was just getting to visit and learn about Tommy's life, the history of our area, and life lessons. 

His brother used to call him Top Cat when he was younger, after a cartoon.  
Great dogs while working at the Sheep Station. 
Trapping Beaver. 

Tommy taught me the saying "A pints a pound the whole world round"

* Sharing a block of cheese from the local feed store.  Tommy loved when it would get super sharp. Even after he is gone, he keeps taking care of those around him.  Just finishing up a block of cheese.

* Cutting Fire Wood ~ Firing up the amazing mechanical masterpiece of a wood cutter & filling the wood pile.  Engineering genius!

*Block Parties ~ Always arriving right on time.  Tommy would show up ready to eat and visit.  He would even come out in the winter to a card party or too.  Always keeping us honest, if someone wasn't playing by the rules ; )

*1st steak dinner I cooked was for Tommy.  He ate it and was complimentary
(My 2nd was my for my Dad, whom complained about how horrible it was with every bite)

*Fix It Projects ~ Will miss the wild fix it projects, getting the well running, digging up water lines, cutting fire wood....almost every task would turn into an adventure.


*Valentines ~ 2/14/2013 ~ After work, I stopped in to visit Tommy.  What a night.  I don't really even know what we talked about but that night left such an impression on my heart.  We looked at photo albums from Tommy's daughter's wedding and told stories.  Letters from grand kids.  Stories of when the kids were little and they were living far from town.
Tommy was missing his bride.  The love that he had for her was amazing. They were a shining example of what true love is. 
***Friends with EVERYONE!  One of my favorite things about Tommy was his unconditional love of people.  He never judged or spoke a harsh word.  You could be yourself, cleaned up in Sunday Best or covered in dirt, Tommy welcomed you just the same.  People flocked to Tommy because of his love and Christ like qualities.  I was no different.  So grateful to call him a friend.  Still fight with my car on the drive home from work at night wanting to turn down Tommy's road to visit.

Rest In Peace Tom Cat .  You are missed!

Working on the Well

Tommy and his son Don, Cutting firewood for me

Doctoring Hands ~ STRONG hard working hands. 

Working on Trailer Lights on a Rodeo Rig this Spring

1st Block Party of the Year 2013

Last Block Party Tommy would attend

Joe Marty and Tommy

Ella Marty and Tommy

So thankful for the chance to say Good Bye
We Love You

" Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17 

Tommy's Obituary:http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/postregister/obituary.aspx?pid=165617147#fbLoggedOut

 A few of post with Tommy Memories

• Beaver Trapping with Tommy:  http://rodeotalesgypsytrails.blogspot.com/2013/02/beaver-trappin-with-tommy.html
•  http://rodeotalesgypsytrails.blogspot.com/2011/11/scary-saws-firewood-and-amazing.html
• http://rodeotalesgypsytrails.blogspot.com/2013/06/bring-on-block-party.html
• 
  

.

Hey Pretty Girl ~ cute lil' paint mare lawn ornament

Photo Courtesy of Annie Dalling

Last summer, there was a pretty lil' paint mare staying in the pasture.  When the irrigation water would come, we would take her out of the muddy pasture and kick her on the lawn for a week or so she didn't have to be standing in water.

Woodrow, the peeping Tom

  She didn't really have a name....or I disregarded it if I knew. I simply called her "Pretty Girl" I would walk out and great her and she would come right over like I had just called the dog.   This was the funniest lil' mare ever!  Maybe she was lonely from being the only horse at the place?  We were buddies.


 When I was home....she would stand right outside the window I was at and look in.  If I was at the computer, she would come to that window.  At night, she would come around to the window right by my bed.  She sleeps right next to my bed room window and nickers at about 6:45 every morning like a rooster with a wake up call.

Hey Pretty Girl

One morning, quite early, I wake up to a commotion.  She was running around the yard, thundering hooves, whinnying, and real unsettled about something.  Wiping the sleep out of my eyes, I staggered for the kitchen.  Turned on the light and sat down at the computer.  She came around the house, stopped right next to the lit up window and contently stood.  Hahaha....what a silly lil' mare.  She was a character for sure.

Sometimes you just need a friend to be there....and you know everything will be ok. :)

Sweet as can be...here are 2 lil' Corgi pups taking her for a walk.  What a funny farm around here!

 Wishing you a wonderful summer and many happy trails ahead!  ~ Mindy

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Seek Out the GOOD!

Seek out the GOOD!!!!!....SERIOUSLY, Do it!  Right now! 

Be quick to notice excellence!  Let someone know they have a great smile!  Cute shirt, TELL THEM!  The world is filled with so much EVERYTHING!  When you seek out the GOOD ......You will be surprised how much of it will come rolling into your life!  If someone is on your heart, call them, text them, send smoke signals....just tell them! When you see good, commend it! When there is excellence,  Praise it!  Seek out the Good!

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