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Show VC w" 'J"' n F " f" ! '---'"-"""""" ' f : i M rkvSZrk : . ' A , . :in STlv.Si. a f F - .'via It's hard to believe simple horse hair in time can become beautiful hat bands and belts. Generally Isom uses only horse hair to make the bands. Even the tiny braided bands that hold the rest of Isom's creation together are made of horse hair. "It takes a lot of time and work," said Isom A work of art from hoFe hair They are now adorned with pins and feathers in every color and anything else one can imagine. However, what Isom has in mind for the cowboy hat may be the best idea yet. rather compliment the cowboy hat. Better yet, they serve a purpose. According to Isom, the homemade handwoven bands actually help the cowboy hat keep its original shape. He added that because there are so many horses with so many different colored tails this gives his bands a rich color. "I can make them in just about any color that you can find a horse in," he said. Isom has made a hobby of his art. "They take a lot of work, sometimes a week or more just to make one band." he said. Many ornaments that are especially made for hats wear out with time or become dull. "My bands last forever, they never wear out. I guarantee them for life." said Isom. He explained that the bands can be washed by hand whenever they become soiled. Isom learned his unique trade from a friend he had previously worked with who had spent time in the Utah State Penitentiary. "He learned it while he was there and then he taught me and I've been doing it ever since," said Isom. He has also made belts from the sa me materials. "I takes almost an entire winter to make a belt, so I don't make many of them," said Isom. "TTtey take a lot of work, sometimes a week or more just to make one band. " By MICHELLE BATE Record Reporter KANARRAVILLE A 30-year resident of Kanarraville creates a work of art with his hands and horse hair. Merlin Isom has been creating cowboy hatbands from horse tails for over 40 years and could very well make some noticable waves in cowboy hat styles. Cowboy hats have made a big step forward since the wild west days. In those days it didn't matter how dirty or old the cowby hat was. Most cowboys just wore them to keep the sun out of there eyes, anyway. Now days it's different. Cowboy hats are " n for style as much as to serve any ific purpose. He individually braids thousands of horse tail hairs into one single beautiful band and then connects them to create hat bands of all sizes, colors and shapes. Instead of creating a flashy look, they Isom makes these unique bands by pulling out the longer strands of hair from the horse's tail. "I never cut the hair, I only pull out the longer pieces," said Isom, who's always on the lookout for richly colored horses. ' ' l- f"rr', jl I y ' ''t'"" " I t VI B i " vvv " 1 111 iA, A, i r--Ttt nil nf f ' - J;. r i't ' S $ , 1 . ? WMii:m t" ' s' r-nnmi " r-' - T-n-ninniiiriiiTrm ninr'ir" mmwmmiwmMMe&t&& I 4 feWfeajwASfcJL Isom demonstrates how a hat band is made. He works with eight pieces of hair at a time. He I WW:!l. .'.i...itJiaiW..4.MWi'i...lM'Pi lw lliww m learned the special technique from a friend. Si lt i Sl,m m f ih-yWtjVcL 'i-l: t V"!-'. . - -. - " Merlin Isom shows the horse hair before it becomes a work of art. He uses every color that he can find from different horses. Merlin Isom exhibits his homemade hat band. The entire band is made by hand and horse hair. |