Becky Kuntzelman | Johnson Publications
Preacher Wesley Wynne of the Westside Church of Christ in Imperial has enjoyed leatherwork since his teenage years, but got serious about it eight years ago.
Local preacher skilled in hand beaded Indian leatherwork
Wesley Wynne, preacher for Westside Church of Christ, has a love of authentic Native American Indian-themed handmade items.
He said he has always enjoyed this hobby since he was a teenager, but decided to get serious about it and perfect his skill around eight years ago.
Wynne’s patterns and designs are accurate replications of the Plains Indians of the central U.S. during the 1800s.
“I primarily make items like bows and arrows, quivers, moccasins and saddle bags,” Wynne said.
He, in fact, recently won two top ribbons for a pair of beaded leather Indian saddlebags, winning Best of Show and Best of County in the open class division at the Chase County Fair in August.
Wynne said he has traveled to many museums that exhibit Indian items and talked to people behind the scenes at the museums.
“I have done extensive research for accuracy in everything I make,” he said.
Wynne uses deer and buffalo skins for his leather items.
“If I have time, I hunt deer and tan the hide myself,” he said.
Otherwise, he acquires the deer and buffalo hides from friends who tan the hides for him or he tans it himself, he said.
“I have been selling items for several years. I take orders to make handmade items to sell,” he added. “I have made numerous items for Indian tribes in several states, including Montana, South Dakota and Arizona,” he said.
Members of different Indian tribes usually contact Wynne via his Facebook page or find out about him by word of mouth, he said.
“The tribes are mainly interested in my bows and arrows. I use chokecherry bushes for making arrows,” he continued.
“I like to tell people that, like most kids, I liked playing cowboys and Indians. I just never outgrew it,” he added.
Wynne, his wife, Heather, and 6-year-old daughter, Addison, moved to Imperial two years ago from their home in west Tennessee after he accepted the pastoral position at Westside Church of Christ.
If interested in purchasing any of Wynne’s work, contact him at 731-439-7321 or on his Facebook page.