By Julia Bailey 

Oregon is a state with a rich history in the ways of cattle ranching; for about 200 years, 

beef cattle have been a staple commodity. Anybody who has ever tried to make a living from 

animal agriculture knows that ranching and cowboying are industries that require sacrifice, 

patience, practice, grit and sheer determination. It’s not for the faint of heart. But it’s also an 

industry that involves passion, respect and meticulous care, much like the leather industry. 

Born and raised in eastern Oregon, Clair Kehrberg comes from at least three generations of cattle ranchers. If anyone knows how to employ those said traits, it’s her. She’s a mother, a 

ranch wife, an artist and a craftsman. For 20 years, Clair has been a beacon in the world of 

leather, combining rugged tradition with modern art. 

Her interest in the leather world commenced at a young age. Clair’s enthusiasm for the 

industry was due to two things: the lifestyle that she had been raised in and the art that 

illuminates throughout the trade. She originally started in saddlery. Spending a day on the back 

of a horse helps articulate the significance of a good saddle – it truly can make or break the day. For a time in high school, Clair worked with a local leather shop, practicing and developing 

skills. She then attended and graduated from the saddlemaking school at Spokane Community 

College. She even had the opportunity to apprentice with Randy Servere and Dale Harwood. 

In 2004, she started her shop. Her days were spent doing custom work, building saddles 

and tending to the needs of the cow herd. Every day is a little different and every day is a little 

the same.

Her artistic ability and preference were enhanced one day at a time, one project at a time. Every piece is put together with passion, weaving together bright colors and leather; every little detail being vital to the mosaic finished product. Like ranching, practice and patience are key ingredients to a worthwhile recipe. 

For the last few years, becoming a mother has shifted her priorities. Rather than making saddles and doing the custom work she has been so dedicated to, Clair has specialized her work in handbags, wallets, purses and many other accessories, each intricately hand-tooled and 

painted. Galaxies, desert scenes, cattle motifs and turquoise are just a few of the many artistic 

pieces you might see in her collection. Modern with a classic western twist, it is the flare that sets her apart. 

Throughout the years, there have been ups and downs, setbacks and trials, and sometimes the only solution to those things is passion, like Clair’s passion for her work. A love of what you do is motivation to move forward – no matter what trade or line of work you’re in. It’s an incentive to keep trekking even when the market changes, the leather is stiff, and the calves are light, which is just what she’s done. For her, the work is more than her job; it’s a lifestyle and an expression. Clair’s work is a statement of fashion and in every meticulously crafted piece, she tells a story. It is a story of passion, dedication and a love of the traditional western life.