A little about Sleepy Cowboy Custom Leather Works
First of all, howdy and welcome to Sleepy Cowboy! My name is Shane Charles–the man behind Sleepy Cowboy (notice the same initials?).
Sleepy Cowboy is located in the beautiful land of southern Iowa.
Did you know that the name of the Ioway tribe that was once in Iowa may have meant “sleepy ones”? Am I sleepy? I sure can be when I’m up late, either working or reading a Louis L’Amour! Am I a cowboy? Well, I’d say I’m one at heart. I’d definitely love to give it a try! My passion, though, is working with a material that tends to be very important to cowboys . . . leather!
Most endeavors start out humbly, and my leather working is no different. I started out making items for family members, using simple hand tools. Then, a visit with a boot maker in Wyoming really kicked my leather working dream into gear. After that, everything started falling into place–most significantly, an apprenticeship with a prominent Midwestern leather worker, whom I still have close ties to and love to help out and continue to learn from.
The main thing I love about leather working is the act of turning raw leather into a beautiful and functional, heirloom-quality product.
-Shane Charles
I take great pride in my work and strive to be innovative and always learning. I also care about starting with high-quality leather, sourcing almost all of my leather from either Hermann Oak or S.B. Foot–two premium tanneries right here in America.
Products that I’ve made include the following:
- gun holsters
- shoulder rigs
- stock covers
- belts
- knife sheaths, cases, and holsters
- wallets
- multi-tool cases
- rifle scabbards
- dog collars
- bags
- pillows
I’ve also restored items such as chaps, cowboy rigs, belts, and wallets.
So, as an American artisan, I’d love to provide you with a handcrafted leather product of which you can be proud! Hopefully, you’ll consider Sleepy Cowboy for your next leather need.
In the meantime, may God bless you and the good ol’ USA!