Western General Store

If you don't like your view, just change it. I bought this frame at the craft store many years ago, but I think it would be easy to make. Find your favorite travel photo and have it printed a large size. This one is 30"x 22". This one is my backsplash, but you could hang it anywhere for a nice view out an imaginary window. If you get tired of that view, put in another one.

In our Handles and Pulls category you can find several drawer pulls to use in this project. Screw them into a board and hang caps, purses, belts, jewelry, bridles, ropes, coats, robes, towels and whatever else you need to hang. Here are several examples: If you have several different singles put them all together. These below are not in the store.

My initial thought was to make a pallet wood tray with rope handles. That idea evolved into first a box, then a box with a lid. I showed some sketches to my husband and he built a prototype out of rough mahogany without me even knowing about it. How sweet! I was really excited then, but I wanted to make it from weathered pallet boards, so we got to work. We cut the boards as we were fitting it together like a puzzle. One of the end pieces is shorter to allow for the lid to close. We drilled 3/16" holes 1/4" deep in the sides of the lid for 1/2" long wooden dowels 5/8" from the end of the lid. We drilled 3/16" holes 1/4" deep on each side piece 1 1/4" from the end if using 1/2" thick boards. We glued the pieces together with wood glue and used a brad gun to secure it. On the fresh cut ends like the end of the lid shown in this picture I applied a mixture of a little black, grey and brown acrylic paint and wiped...

I thought it would be fun to make a horse ornament so I cut a horse out of plywood or you could use stiff cardboard or whatever material you have or can find at the craft store. I rubbed Light Brown Briwax on it and cut 2 pieces from a rope and unraveled it. I glued the pieces to the back where the tail and mane would go and drilled a hole for a wire hanger. You can use for a Christmas ornament or decoration on a wreath. Paint it any color you desire and brush a little paint on the mane and tail. Bling it or glitter it. Try using suede fringe, ribbon or whatever you have for the mane and tail. When the holidays are over hang it on the wall to run wild and free year round.

I love rusty stars and bells and decided to make my own star garland. I cut eight 4" stars out of 1/4" plywood on the scroll saw, but if you're not a wood worker find wood or metal star cut outs at the craft store. You could use any kind of cut outs like hearts, angels or crosses. I drilled two little holes in each star and spray painted them with 'Autumn Brown' textured spray paint. Joann's had 60% off this carton of rusty bells so it was around $6 and I might have used half of them. I cut the brown 24 gauge wire a little over 5' long. Then just start threading the stars and bells onto the wire. The bells have little ties on them and they could be cut off but I left them on there just in case I needed them. I slid one end of the wire through one hole in a star, then the other hole and repeat to secure it. I slid on a bell to the middle of the star and threaded the other end of the wire through the other hole....

Here are some ways to use our Lariat Baskets for Western Style Holiday Décor. Place Autumn branches, pine cones and twig balls in a basket and add a jute bow for Fall or Thanksgiving décor. For a rustic Christmas add pine branches, berry branches, pine cones, twig balls and an antler to a lariat basket. Instead of a burlap bow on the outside, I made a big bow tied with wire and placed it inside the basket. Add pine cones and greenery or fruit, nuts and snacks for a great gift basket. Make a Lucky Christmas Basket by adding one of our horseshoes. You could add a Cross Nail to a basket. Paint it, rust it or leave it natural. I'm sure you can come up with many ideas of your own. Try it!

When I was sketching the plan for a spur brace I also came up with the idea of using horseshoes for a brace. This shelf is about 18" long out of cedar that has been burned with a torch and finished with clear sealer. I screwed the shelf to the bottom board then I screwed Small Horseshoes which had been spray painted a textured brown to the ends to form the braces. I added Coat Hooks and a new  Horse Hook  we have on the website. Here's a close up of the end of the shelf.