Who We Are
We are a small family owned and operated shop, located in Ogden, Utah.
We tend to say "WE" a lot around here, probably because there are so many people who have helped build our business to what it is today, but I guess it is more of a one woman shop with a little help now and then from family and friends.
So who am I? That is a great question! Before I answer, you should probably get comfy, because this will most likely get lengthy, you have been warned.
For starters, my name is Jody. I am a lover of all things crafty, an eater of too many baked goods that keep me squishy, I'm not afraid to get dirty, I clean up nicely, but sport the homeless look more often then not. I work from home in my one woman shop, and I am a crazy homeschooling mother, and wife, with a witty sense of humor! Or at least I find myself funny, my kids on the other hand might not say the same, but what do they know.
I married my high-school sweetheart William, when I was just 18 years old. Together we have four amazing beautiful children. Current ages range from 10-19. Our oldest is currently serving a mission in Alaska for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is so hard to have him living so far away, but we are so incredibly proud of him. Our other 3 kids are wild and crazy and into everything from Ninja Warrior, to piano, guitar, ballroom dancing, shooting, and riding their horses. We have 9.
We also have 2 dogs, one being a German Shorthair who would rather spend his life sleeping on a bed filled with pillows, covered with a blanket then hunt anything and the other is our 13 year old blind Shih Tzu, who spends her days running into walls. Then there is our bird, he appreciates my homeless mom look I got going on. He blows me kisses and whistles at me everyday. And last but not least we have about a dozen feral cats who we don't claim, but they seem to have taken up residency on our front porch and seem pretty happy there. With all the animals and kids going in every direction life at the Armstrong house can get pretty crazy, but we love it.
William and I have lived in Utah most of our marriage, but in 2014 we decided to take a break from Utah and packed up and headed to North Dakota. We definitely did not like the winters there, but we absolutely loved the people and wanted to make it our home, but our plans were cut short when William had a life changing accident at work in 2017. After that we returned to Utah and spent a few years at hospitals, seeing doctors, and recovering.
Looking for something new, in 2020 we called up some friends and went to their house for our family’s very first mounted shooting practice. We had watched their FB feed over the years and seen all the pictures and videos and thought it sounded like a fun thing to try. "TRY" being the key word, but little did we know it would change our life.
After their first mounted shooting practice our kids were hooked, especially our oldest son. When I found out they needed chaps I thought well why not make them? I have always dabbled in leather work, it started years and years ago when I made William a pair of chaps, they were nothing fancy, but they did the job. Over the next few years I played with small things here or there, but nothing quite like what I do now.
My Favorite Four Shooters Call Me Mom!
I honestly thought that making the kids chaps would end there, little did I know it was just the beginning. One night while sitting on the couch, William brought up holsters and thought that I should make one. He even jumped up and said "come on, lets go" like it was something simple that I could just whip out like it was nothing. Um. It wasn't, but now I was determined to try.
It started out as a challenge. Could I or couldn't I make a single standard holster. I sat down at the kitchen table with a gun, a piece of paper, and a pencil and started working out a pattern. My very first holster was a super rough draft that quickly turned into an obsession to perfect. I watched as many "how to" videos I could find and reached out to as many holster makers I could talk to. Taking all of their tips and tricks and combining them into my own creation, until I was finally happy with my finished product.
Next, it was time to put them to the test. Three sets were made. One for our oldest son, one for our oldest daughter, and the last set was gifted to our friend JD as a thank you for all of his help, not just in helping us design a great holster, but for all the time he put in teaching and helping both our kids and their horses.
What happened next was a complete shock and still a little crazy to me when I think about it, but JD took the holsters that I made, those experimental, challenge excepted, made on my kitchen table holsters to the 2021 CMSA World Championships and won! He WON using my holsters and it was the most exciting thing ever! I mean sure, he probably would have won anyways regardless of what holsters he was using, but he didn’t, he won using mine! I was beyond excited!
My obsession with creating the perfect holster became a passion for leather work and learning all I could. I watched videos, purchased books, signed up for online classes, and I have even traveled hundreds of miles to learn in person from some of the best and while I still have a lot to learn, I am so grateful for all those who have helped me along the way.
Not only have I had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people in the leather industry, but I have also gotten to meet and get to know so many amazing mounted shooters along the way who have trusted me to make their holsters and I wouldn’t be here without them. Because without them this business that I love would have just stayed a hobby, I have come a long ways since those days of playing with leather at the kitchen table and I am both excited and nervous to see where this all goes, but I just want to say thank you. Thank You to everyone who has helped me along the way. Who have taken the time out of their day to talk to me on the phone, or work with me in person. Who have encouraged me to keep going. Who have trusted me to make their rigs. And for those of you that have stayed with me and read this whole page so far. Thank You!!! I know it got a little lengthy, but I appreciate you hanging in there with me, I promise that I am almost done.
Last but not least, I need to say thank you to my husband William, without his support non of this would be possible.
Thank You Cowboy! I love you so much and I can not wait to see where this business of ours goes.