Come See The Sheepherder at the Stetson Country Christmas this Weekend!
The 24th annual Stetson Country Christmas Expo is finally here, and The Sheepherder is gearing up for another great event at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the country’s best Western lifestyle vendors gather year after year for a full eleven days of shopping, events, activities, entertainment and more. From December 7-17, The Sheepherder (Booth #200) will join other big names in the Western gift and handicrafts industry at the Sands Expo, from 10am to 5pm daily, offering shoppers an opportunity to peruse some of the best authentic Western apparel, sheepskin garments, accessories and other goods all under one roof.
The Stetson Country Christmas Western Gift Expo runs in conjunction with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which sees the top names in professional rodeo compete for the World Championship in their division, and marks the official beginning of the shopping season for fans of Western apparel and home goods. More than 400 vendors participate in the Stetson Country Christmas Expo each holiday season, and for well over a dozen years, The Sheepherder has attracted customers from all over the country to the Las Vegas convention center with its fine shearling garments and accessories.
After a brief move Downtown, The Stetson Country Christmas Expo is returning to its original home at the Sands, and promises a replay of the Stetson Country Christmases of the past. In addition to handcrafted Western goods for sale, the Stetson Country Christmas event also offers live entertainment on the Ride TV Stage, fun activities for children, including the World Championship Dummy Roping for Kids, and traditional Christmas music and décor for shoppers’ enjoyment. As a convenience to shoppers, the event also has increased shuttle service to the Sands Expo, and parking and admission are both free of charge.
The Stetson Country Christmas event is considered “the best and most unique Christmas shopping experience in Las Vegas,” and is also the only major shopping expo open that second Sunday, December 17, which means shoppers have an extra weekend to make sure they have everyone checked off their shopping list. From genuine sheepskin apparel to handcrafted jewelry, pottery, boots, spurs, ranch-style furniture and original art, the Stetson Country Christmas Expo is the place to shop for Western-style gifts this Christmas. If you’re a fan of Western apparel, décor or accessories, be sure to check out the Stetson Christmas Expo from December 7-17, and don’t forget to come visit The Sheepherder at Booth #200!
Author Archives: Diane Blessing
Sheepskin Slippers Featured on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” Gift Guide!
You may have just taken down your Halloween décor and started preparing for Thanksgiving, but everyone’s favorite talk show host and philanthropist is already gearing up for Christmas, having released her annual “Oprah’s Favorite Things” gift guide earlier this month. We all look forward to the release of Oprah’s Favorite Things list each year (if only to dream about going on a shopping spree with Oprah) but when O, The Oprah Magazine released the highly-anticipated guide this year, we were especially excited to see that sheepskin slippers had made the cut!
Each year around this time, Oprah does her part to help holiday shoppers check friends and family members off their list, by compiling a collection of dozens of items that have earned her official stamp of approval, usually consisting of the best beauty products, cool tech gadgets, sweet treats and comfy clothing, among other great gifts. The 2017 edition of Oprah’s Favorite Things, featured on Oprah.com and in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, details 102 products the media maven thinks “are just great,” including a pair of sheepskin slippers similar to The Sheepherder’s 100% sheepskin scuff slippers for women.
Unlike the imitation sheepskin slippers sold by most chain stores and big-box retailers, our shearling slippers at The Sheepherder are handcrafted using only the finest sheepskin available, and are 100% made in the USA. The genuine sheepskin we use in our slippers, jackets, boots and gloves has natural insulating and moisture-resistant fibers that keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which means you can wear our shearling slippers all year long, not just when it’s cold out. Our cozy slip-on sheepskin slippers also feature a durable, wear-resistant cowhide sole that, with the right care, will last for years to come.
It’s easy to imagine buying up every single item on Oprah’s Favorite Things list, especially this time of year, when we’re all looking forward to the holidays and making gift wish lists in our heads. If you were to go on an Oprah-inspired shopping spree with her gift list as a guide, you’d be out more than $12,000 ($13,000 if you forgot to use her special 20% discount), which is something most of us can only dream of doing. You can, however, get your hands on a pair of genuine sheepskin slippers from The Sheepherder for a mere $53, even less than the sheepskin slides Oprah features on her Favorite Things list. Go on, your feet (and your bank account) will thank you!
5 Clever Halloween Costumes You Can Make with the Sheepskin Already in Your Closet
Halloween is the perfect time of year to show off your creative side with a unique, outside-of-the-box costume, but it’s hard to buy a good costume these days without spending a ton of money. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of five cool and clever Halloween costumes you can put together using the sheepskin coat you already have in your closet. Not only will you look awesome, but you’ll stay nice and warm while trick-or-treating or Halloween party hopping – a win-win situation. Check it out below!
- Penny Lane from Almost Famous
It doesn’t get much easier than this Halloween costume. Simply pair your favorite sheepskin jacket with some funky round sunglasses and those retro flared denim jeans you’ve been hoping come back in style. An instant Penny Lane.
- Kim Kardashian and North West
Wear something tight and risqué with a pair of high-heeled boots, go heavy on the makeup, dye your hair blonde, black or silver (depending on what she’s rocking at the moment) and then throw a sheepskin jacket over everything, and you’ve got a believable Kim Kardashian. If you have a young daughter – perfect – dress her up as North West and you’ve got the perfect “couple’s” costume.
- Margot Tenenbaum from The Royal Tenenbaums
This Wes Anderson classic has a cult following, and you can seriously impress your pop-culture-crazy friends this Halloween by dressing like the adopted sister of the Tenenbaum clan, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. All you need is a sheepskin coat, a simple shirtdress, heavy black eyeliner, and a cute little barrette in your hair.
- Bane from The Dark Knight Rises
We can’t forget about the fellas this Halloween. Every guy loves a good movie villain, and Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Bane in The Dark Knight Rises takes the cake as far as bad-ass baddies go. And lucky for you, all it takes to replicate Bane’s look is a long sheepskin coat, cargo pants, a pair of work boots and a military vest. Bonus points if you can find a creepy look-alike Bane mask.
- Sansa Stark or Jon Snow from Game of Thrones
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen Sophie Turner and Kit Harington as Sansa Stark and Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. In the most recent season of the HBO series, Sansa follows the lead of Lord Snow, and both rock some seriously killer sheepskin coats. If you’re going for the Jon Snow look, simply pull your hair back in a man-bun, or if Sansa is more your speed, do a quick side braid, and you’re good to go!
Come See The Sheepherder at the 24th Annual Stetson Country Christmas!
In just a few short months, The Sheepherder will be packing up and heading to The Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 24th annual Stetson Country Christmas, where more than 400 of the best Western lifestyle and retail exhibitors in the country will gather to showcase their exceptional products. The event will run from December 7-17, and you can find The Sheepherder at Booth #200, with some of the finest handcrafted sheepskin garments, home goods and accessories to choose from. If you are a fan of Western-style apparel and décor, or you have someone on your shopping list who is, Stetson Country Christmas in Las Vegas is something you really don’t want to miss!
Widely considered to be the Christmas shopping event of the year in Las Vegas, the ever-popular Stetson Country Christmas is the place to find unique gifts for everyone on your list, with more than 400 exhibitors setting up shop at the Sands Expo, and it is the only major shopping expo open on December 17, that final Sunday before Christmas Eve. With new show hours from 10am to 5pm daily, the Stetson Country Christmas is an all-day affair, and the event is running in conjunction with the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, where the top names in professional rodeo will compete for the World Championship title in their divisions.
This December marks the 18th year in a row The Sheepherder has been an exhibitor at the Stetson Country Christmas, and if you’re a fan of authentic sheepskin apparel, we will have some of our most popular genuine shearling items on hand. It’s the perfect opportunity for customers who aren’t local to Alma, Colorado to check out our products firsthand, as this is the only outside show The Sheepherder currently does. Plus, shopping at the Stetson Country Christmas is an experience in and of itself, with cheery Christmas music to listen to, traditional holiday decorations to enjoy, fun activities for kids, and all manner of Western apparel, décor, supplies and handcrafted gifts to peruse.
After a brief move downtown in 2016, Stetson Country Christmas is returning home this year to The Sands Expo and Convention Center on the Las Vegas strip, where some of the best Western lifestyle and retail exhibitors in the country will set up shop for eleven days of Christmas shopping fun. This mega shopping event only happens once a year; come check out The Sheepherder at the 2017 Stetson Country Christmas and take part in the Western lifestyle Christmas event of the year!
Jon Snow’s Cape on Game of Thrones is a Sheepskin Rug!
If your plans for Halloween this year include dressing up like a certain former member of the Night’s Watch and current King in the North/true heir to the Iron Throne, you’re in luck, because as it turns out, the furry cape Jon Snow wears throughout the Game of Thrones series is none other than a sheepskin rug. That’s right folks, the men who patrol that 700-foot ice wall in the freezing North are keeping themselves warm under the thick pile of cozy sheepskin rugs, an unexpected yet economical solution to the issue of convincingly dressing so many characters in furry black cloaks consistent with the fantasy elements and implied time period of the show.
During a speaking engagement about Medieval dress at The Getty Museum in Los Angeles last year, GOT costume designer Michele Clapton revealed that the furs donned by many characters in the series, particularly those poor, freezing members of the Night’s Watch, started out as everyday sheepskin rugs, just like the ones currently scattered about your home. “We cut and we shaved them and added strong leather straps, and then breakdown, which is like a religion on Games of Thrones,” said Clapton, who worked on the first five seasons of the series. “I want the audience to almost smell the costumes. Here they were waxed and frosted so they belonged to the landscape.”
The “breakdown” Clapton referred to during her lecture, which is just receiving attention on social media this week, is the process of making a new material look old and worn, achieved by distressing or even destroying the fabric. As for how the costume designers dyed the shearling rugs such a convincing shade of black for those outcast crows of the Night’s Watch, Clapton said, “We loved the idea of a huge cauldron in the Castle Black courtyard with donated clothes being tossed in. And as the dye runs thin before more pigment is added, it will naturally create a variation in shade.” The result is a black-as-night fur cloak that looks like an authentic pelt someone from Winterfell would wear.
If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones, you know that winter is most certainly coming, and fast. Fortunately, now that we all know how to make a GOT-worthy fur cape, you can stay even warmer than those watchers on the wall this winter!
Las Vegas’ Stetson Country Christmas Returns to the Sands!
Every December for the last 24 years, the ever-popular Stetson Country Christmas event in Las Vegas, Nevada has offered people from all over the country a truly unique Christmas shopping experience, and this December, the mega shopping event will return to the strip at The Sands Expo and Convention Center, after a brief move downtown last year. The Sheepherder of Alma, Colorado is proud to be a vendor at the Stetson Country Christmas for the 18th year in a row, and our booth will be stocked throughout the event with fine sheepskin apparel, handcrafted shearling accessories and more for your perusal.
The Stetson Country Christmas is a huge Christmas shopping event in Las Vegas, and if you’re a fan of Western apparel, décor and accessories, or you have someone on your Christmas list who is, it’s an event you don’t want to miss. This year’s Stetson Country Christmas will run from December 7-17, in conjunction with the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – considered to be the Super Bowl of the rodeo world, where the top names in professional rodeo compete for the World Championship in their divisions – and will be the only major shopping event open on that final Sunday, December 17.
The 2017 Stetson Country Christmas offers a unique shopping experience with traditional holiday décor, Christmas music, and more than 400 of the finest Western lifestyle and retail exhibitors in the country. After being held downtown in 2016, the Stetson Country Christmas event returns to The Sands Expo and Convention Center this year, and the Stetson vendors are thrilled to be back on the strip. The doors at the event will be open to the public from 10am to 5pm daily, offering shoppers a wide variety of unique Western apparel, handcrafted gifts, décor, furniture, customized jewelry and more, with free admission and a wide range of free entertainment.
People from all over the country look forward to kicking off their holiday shopping at the Stetson Country Christmas event, and it’s a great opportunity for those of you who aren’t local to Alma, Colorado to observe our authentic sheepskin garments and fine craftsmanship firsthand. If you’re planning to attend the Stetson Country Christmas in Las Vegas this year, be sure to visit The Sheepherder at Booth #200 to check out our handcrafted sheepskin garments and accessories. The annual Stetson Country Christmas is the only outside event we do at The Sheepherder, and with its return to the Sands Expo in 2017, it’s guaranteed to be the Christmas shopping event of the year in Las Vegas!
Selena Gomez Stuns in Sheepskin for Coach’s Fall 2017 Campaign
Selena Gomez landed the role of brand ambassador for Coach in December, and just last week, the fashion house released the images for its fall 2017 campaign, featuring the “Bad Liar” singer swagged in sheepskin. In the photos, shot by photographer Steven Meisel, Gomez lounges in the back seat of a 1976 Plymouth Fury, draped in various Coach handbags and luxe sheepskin jackets, and if the images don’t make you yearn for fall shearling coat weather, we don’t know what will.
Sheepskin – A Fall Favorite
This latest collection for Coach features ready-to-wear clothing, leather goods and accessories for fall and winter, and in a press release, Coach explained that the shoot was meant to evoke the brand’s classic Americana vibes. In one photo of Selena Gomez sporting a flowing purple dress and clutching a pink handbag, the singer has a classic sheepskin jacket draped over her shoulders, a luxurious garment that looks just like our Ladies High Country or Ladies Rancher genuine sheepskin coats.
Prepping Your Wardrobe for Fall
It may seem far too early to be thinking about your fall wardrobe, but now is the time that brands like Coach launch their fall and winter lines, and it’s also the perfect opportunity to ensure that your fall attire is on point and on trend, without breaking the bank. All of our shearling jackets at The Sheepherder are made from 100% genuine sheepskin, and are meant to last for years with the right care, making them not only a stylish purchase, but a smart investment as well.
Shearling garments have been around for what seems like forever, outliving plenty of temporary trends, and there’s a simple reason for their staying power in the fashion world. Genuine sheepskin is a durable, stylish material that surpasses most other textiles in warmth and comfort, which makes it an obvious choice for winter wear. And with a variety of styles, cuts and colors to choose from, the timeless winter classic is something that can easily transition to fall, spring and even summer.
Get Your Own Custom Sheepskin Jacket
Due to its hollow fibers, sheepskin wool has a natural breathing quality that wicks away moisture from the body, keeping you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather, and this means you can wear your shearling coat all year long, regardless of the temperature. If you’re looking for something to complement your sheepskin jacket, The Sheepherder also carries fine shearling slippers, vests, Ugg-style shearling boots, and sheepskin hats and accessories, so you can stock your closet with well-made garments that are guaranteed to stay in style for the foreseeable future.
Get on Board with 2017’s Scandinavian-Chic Trend
This year’s most popular home decorating style is all about clean lines and soft textures, with simple, pared-back décor reigning supreme, and comfort and quality a top priority, and our handcrafted sheepskin home goods at The Sheepherder are the perfect accessory to match your Scandinavian-chic sanctuary. Sheepskin is a natural material that has a soft, silky wool on one side and a durable suede on the other, making it a great option for any room of the house, especially when paired with other more solid natural textures, like wood or stone.
Why the Scandinavian Style is Popular
More and more people are transforming their busy, cluttered homes into simple yet sophisticated spaces, inspired by the growing Scandinavian trend in home décor. The Scandinavian look is, above all, clean and fuss-free, with simple shapes and neutral, earthy colors that easily tie in with your other décor, whether your home is predominantly urban, rural, country, or a mix of several styles. You can master the Scandi-chic look in your own home décor by pairing a variety of textures, like wood, stone and marble, to create interest, and by softening the clean, straight lines of a typical home’s architecture with warm and cozy pieces. One of the easiest ways to achieve this look is by layering soft, natural materials, like cotton and sheepskin, to create a warm and inviting space in your home where friends and family will love to gather.
From genuine shearling pillows to sheepskin patchwork quilts, we have a variety of gorgeous home goods for any décor style, all of which are handcrafted at the Sheepherder shop in Alma, Colorado, where Diane Blessing has been creating custom sheepskin apparel for more than 30 years. Not only are our shearling home goods cozy and stylish, they are made from 100% genuine sheepskin, the skins of domestic sheep raised commercially for their meat in the Western United States. The hides are a valuable byproduct, and all of the hides we use in our shearling products are tanned and processed right here in the U.S. The result is a beautiful, unique sheepskin piece that will last for years to come.
Get Your Own Sheepskin Home Goods Today
Whether you want to transform your entire home into a serene Scandinavian retreat, or simply infuse certain rooms with the Scandi-chic style that has become so popular in 2017, check out our website at www.CustomSheepskinJackets.com for our collection of authentic sheepskin home goods. Choose your own pattern and color scheme for a one-of-a-kind piece that will make the perfect accent for any room in your home.
Treat Mom on Mother’s Day with a Custom Sheepskin Garment
Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show Mom how much she means to you, and an authentic sheepskin garment custom-made especially for her is a gift she’ll certainly never forget. All of our ladies’ shearling apparel, home goods and accessories at The Sheepherder are made from 100% genuine sheepskin, and we have some great gift options available for Mom, including cozy sheepskin slippers, stylish shearling vests, and other handcrafted garments and accessories she’ll love. The following are our top picks for sheepskin gifts for Mother’s Day.
Slip-on Sheepskin Slippers – Looking for the perfect gift for a busy mom who is always on her feet? Our handmade slip-on sheepskin slippers feature a plush shearling interior that will wrap her feet in warmth and comfort day in and day out, and a durable suede exterior that will stand up to daily use. Plus, with a wear-resistant cowhide sole, these slippers are sure to last for years to come.
Minnetonka Three-Layer Fringe Boots – Make Mom the most stylish mother on the block with a pair of our best-selling Minnetonka Three-Layer Fringe Boots, the perfect addition to any outfit. Made from a soft, supple suede, and featuring a slip-resistant rubber sole, these boots can be worn comfortably year-round. And with a variety of colors to choose from, they are a unique Mother’s Day gift any mom would love.
Silverheels Sheepskin Vest – On those cool spring or summer nights, a genuine shearling vest is a great way to stay warm and still look fashionable. Our Silverheels Sheepskin Vest is feminine and form-fitting, with clean, finished seams and authentic antler toggle buttons for a snug closure. Mom can pair her vest with a flannel shirt and her favorite jeans for a casual trip into town, or with a cute dress and boots for a date night out!
Shearling Patchwork Quilt – For moms who love to cozy up on the couch to read a book or watch a movie after dinner, our handcrafted sheepskin patchwork quilt plays double duty as a warm throw blanket and a beautiful showpiece that elevates any space in the home. Made from patches of genuine shearling in varying colors and sizes, this sheepskin blanket makes for a wonderful Mother’s Day gift Mom will want to use every night.
Sheepskin Eyeglass or iPhone Case – If you’re looking for a small and simple Mother’s Day gift, nothing beats our dual eyeglass/iPhone case, handmade with a durable suede on the outside and a soft shearling on the inside, which will protect her phone or glasses from scratches, and make them easy to find in her purse or car.
Sheepskin Boots and Other Items You Should Never Throw in the Dryer
With the convenience of clothing that is dry within minutes, it may be tempting to throw anything that’s wet in the dryer, either after a wash cycle or on a particularly rainy day, so you don’t have to wait for the items to air dry. However, there are certain clothing and household items that you should never tumble dry, including swimsuits, bras, bath mats, tights and other delicate garments, and among the items on this list are your favorite sheepskin boots and slippers. As much as it seems like a time-saver to throw wet boots in the dryer, so you can wear them that same day, it’s one of the absolute worst things you can do for a natural material like shearling.
Making Your Sheepskin Boots Last
If you’re like us, and sheepskin is your footwear of choice during the winter and spring, when snow and rain are sometimes more prevalent than sun, it’s important to know how to properly care for your sheepskin boots and slippers, so you can ensure that they remain in great shape, no matter how often you wear them. Authentic sheepskin is a durable, natural material that can withstand the elements, which is why shearling boots and slippers are such popular footwear options for winter. However, without proper care and cleaning, natural sheepskin can become overly soiled and may even shrink or become dry and damaged.
How to Properly Care for Your Shearling Boots
In order to prevent your sheepskin slippers and boots from becoming heavily soiled, it’s a good idea to, as soon as you get them, spray them with a non-silicone water repellant specially formulated for suede or sheepskin. This will protect the shearling against water spotting, and will prevent soiling. If your shearling footwear becomes soiled, you should try to clean the spot or stain right away, using a mild detergent like everyday hair shampoo. Hand-blot the spot with a rag and cool water without soaking through the material, and gently remove excess moisture with a towel.
Once clean, let the shearling air dry in a warm spot, out of direct sunlight, and away from the intense heat of a fireplace or heat register. The same goes for sheepskin that gets significantly wet, such as in a rainstorm. You should always let sheepskin dry slowly, without placing it in direct heat, and you should never put your sheepskin boots in the dryer, as this may cause the shearling to shrink or the natural oils from the leather to evaporate, resulting in dry, damaged leather. Once your sheepskin boots are nearly dry, simply brush the wool to fluff it back up, good as new.
Getting Your Sheepskin Dry-Cleaned
If your shearling slippers, boots, or any other genuine sheepskin garments become heavily soiled, your best bet is to have them professionally dry-cleaned by someone who specializes in cleaning leather, suede and/or furs. With the proper care and cleaning, you can ensure that your sheepskin garment stays looking beautiful for years to come. Check out our selection of shearling boots and other garments today at CustomSheepskinJackets.com.