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If you love custom leather goods of any kind, then go see Rocking H. Boots & Saddlery. Rocking H. is Eddie and Deann Hays and if it can be made out of leather, chances are they’ve done it and can do it for you.

Rocking H. Boots & Saddlery has been in the leather goods business for over 30 years. Their home and shop is in Arden, AR, which is north of Texarkana. But, they also have a booth at Canton First Monday Trade days inside Canton Marketplace. 

Deann says that all of their business has come from word of mouth and trade shows. That’s the best kind of advertising and is a testament to the work they do and the care and love they put into it. She and Eddie also say the Lord has had quite a bit to do with their success. 

Like so many creatives and vendors at Canton First Monday Trade Days, the line to the business that exists now wasn’t necessarily straight.  Eddie worked as a livestock officer for 29 years for the State of Texas and did leather work on the side. It was his creativity outlet. Eddie eventually retired and began doing his leather work full time. Though he doesn’t work with livestock anymore, he still has some crazy stories about things that happened while inspecting it.  

Deann was originally an accountant, crunching numbers and keeping the books for businesses. She wasn’t operationally involved in Rocking H. during this time like she is now. She was still focused on her accounting work. After some years, however, she became disillusioned with the accounting ethics of a couple of companies. She knew she couldn’t do accounting anymore, but wasn’t sure what else to do. Eddie suggested that she come to work with him. A novel idea in that she had never done anything like it before. Eddie had no doubt that she would be great. With some prayer and Eddie’s support, she made the leap. She says she couldn’t be happier that she did.

Eddie does the artwork and tooling on the leather. Deann designs the bags and does some of the sewing. Nothing about their work is automated or computerized. All the designs are hand drawn and then hand tooled on the leather piece. The only machinery that is used is a sewing machine. If that wasn’t personal enough, when a client commissions a piece, be it a saddle, a pair of shoes, or a custom hand bag, they talk with them and get an idea for the design based on the client’s life, interests, needs, and desires.  Deann described one client that loved sunflowers, cacti, donkeys, and sombreros.  They created a scene that beautifully melded all those things and reflected their client’s personality and tastes.

The extra touches and details are obvious in their craftsmanship from the stitching and designs to the zippers and the amount of time they’ll spend talking to someone about the work they do. They actually hand select and inspect all of the hides they use. And all of their work is warranted . . . pretty much for life.

Their clients come from all over the United States and sometimes even make extraordinarily long drives to their shop. Someone from Nebraska heard about them and called because they needed a custom pair of shoes; they had different size feet.  That was easily done as every piece they do is custom. The amount of customization is simply dependent on the client.      

Eddie and Deann even repair and refurbish work they didn’t actually do. If you have a not inexpensive designer hand bag that has seen better days, don’t simply throw it away. They can make it better than new and customize it: new zippers and/or stitching, leather fringe, straps, handles. Beyond that, if you want or need a saddle, a pair of boots, sandals, moccasins, purse, handbag, pillow, rug, wallet, gun holster, knife holder, or even a scene tooled into a piece of leather and sewn on your favorite ball cap, they can do it. 

But, be a little patient. The work they do requires love and attention and that takes a little time.

Stop by and have a look at the work of Rocking H. Boots & Saddlery in their booth inside Canton Marketplace during Canton First Monday Trade days.