Colt Miller and Logan Caldbeck of Corbra Rock Boot Company show us how they make their beautiful and unique South Highland leather boots out of thier shop in the small West Texas desert town of Marfa.

When furniture designer and maker Joey Benton of Marfa, Texas had a surplus of beautiful leather left over from a job, he made lemonade by making sandals inspired by footwear of the past, where there were no left and right. Here he explains the idea behind the sandal’s design and speaks about the wild possibilities and limitations that are part of living in the remote west texas desert town of Marfa, Texas. Primo Carrasco supplies the soundtrack and demonstrates how to break in these beautiful sandals and make them your own.

Last year while touring the country with her husband Chap, Maura Ambrose had a 1970 VW camper van induced vision of what she wanted out of  life and that vision was is the name of natural dyes and quilting.  Since then, under the name of Folk Fibers, Maura’s had been growing her own indigo and other natural plant dyes, dying scraps of fabric and hand quilting them in to one of a kind pieces of art.  I recently got to hang out with Maura at her Austin, Texas home and talk about her process as we listened to records, ate tacos and quilted. I also gave her a load of scrap denim we had lying around that she’s been incorporating into these. Have a look at the video for more on the story and whats inspired these.

]]> http://www.onetrippass.com/blog/2012/06/26/folk-fibers-of-austin/feed/ 4 http://www.onetrippass.com/blog/2012/05/14/cherry/ http://www.onetrippass.com/blog/2012/05/14/cherry/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 17:18:22 +0000 jay http://www.onetrippass.com/blog/?p=3903 CHERRY

Click the sidebar or here for a new picture board called “Cherry” and hit play.

Longtime source of inspiration, Texas photographer and painter Alexandra Valenti, recently combined her two talents in this beautiful water color and water photo series. Shot at an Austin Texas swimming hole for an upcoming look book for jeweler Leslie Crow. Having just had a weeklong life-affirming spring time Texas jaunt, these pictures came at the perfect time. Thank you, Alexandra.

Afar Magazine reached out to ask me about my favorite haunts, shops, escapes and souvenirs. Have a look in the latest issue or read here. Many hanks to the kind folks at Afar.

Someone made sure I saw Bobby Furst’s place before leaving JT. That wild guy with top hat and monocle at the Hornito’s Cantina on New Years Eve? Well, he’s an outsider artist. A Political folk artist of sorts. He moved out to the high desert 6 or 7 years ago after years in Laurel Canyon. He built up a couple quonset huts and kept on assembling and arranging the artwork he’s been making in LA out of found objects, other peoples junk. Bobby has a million things in those spaces, some turned into ideas, some on their way, but all things perfectly, meticulously arranged.  He was nice to give us a bright and early tour of his compound, not far from the JT park entrance. I encourage you to stop by next time your around that region of California. Click here for The Road to Wonder Valley trailer, a documentary on the artists who call that high desert home.

John Martin from Vice wrote me and said that if put up his most recent video project he would take me on the next wild Vice travel trip. I was thinking ‘Shit, how do I get out of posting some video that’s probably him lip syncing, dreaming he’s Mick Jagger again?’ Then I clicked the link and found this gem – John and crew traveled 4 days just to reach the far stretches of Patagonia where they interviewed a man who has lived off the grid on his land for almost 50 years in imposed self isolation – one of the last great South American Cowboys.  Have a look (sorry about the ad opener, folks). John, I’m ready with my miles number. Say when.

Rene, George, Ginger and myself rode out for a last minute new years eve jaunt to JT. Justin Lowe recommended this place, a new and much needed desert hub, the Mojave Sands. Checked in, started an own outdoor fire and checked out. Blake, the owner, spent 9 years renovating this place, and now his labor of love is open, going on 6 months now. Not recommended for the high maintenance traveler. My type of place. Thanks Blake.