CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FINE SADDLEMAKING

Cary Schwarz, a widely-regarded dedicated saddlemaker who lives and works in Salmon, Idaho, will never forget the Christmas gift from his parents that kindled a lifelong passion for leatherwork.

“It was a Tandy leather kit. That lit the fire. It was 1971, and I had just turned 12. I was one of the classroom artists — a ‘good drawer,’” he recalled, about a term that school kids often use to describe artistic talent. “Before too long, I was launching into deeper waters,” he added, pointing out that his early experience in leatherwork inspired the future direction of his life.

The gift of artistic ability, particularly when its recipient was raised on a farm like Schwarz, is often a mystery to those who inherit it.

“Maybe it came from my maternal grandmother who dabbled in painting as a hobby,” he mused. “Also, my mom was an accomplished seamstress and creative type. And, there’s my German background, with all that perfectionism built into it. Getting lost in my craftsmanship never seemed like a ball and chain. I never felt close