Justine's Bio
Justine Nelson-Graham
Rawhide Braider, Leather Worker, and Saddle Maker.
Born in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho, raised around horses and other livestock, Justine has always been fascinated by the western way of life; particularly the tack and equipment that are unique to its heritage. From childhood she sought to create the gear she observed around her. Often using whatever materials she could find to build tack for toy horses.
At the age of 15 she was introduced to the writings of Bruce Grant. His books detailed the process of braiding rawhide into functional horse tack. She was hooked, and immediately took to braiding anything she could get her hands on. Shortly afterwards she also began working with and tooling leather. Eventually going on to learn saddlemaking and opening her own custom leather shop.
In 2015 she was able to begin to learn the process of taking a fresh cowhide through the curing and cutting stages and then braiding the resulting strings into finished pieces. She has continued to hone her skills in this craft., helped along by many of the top braiders in the industry. This hard and exacting process continually provides her with fresh challenges which she finds very satisfying.
She now lives on a ranch in Wyoming with her husband Chip, a couple good dogs, and some nice horses.
Justine's CV
Justine Nelson-Graham
JLN Custom Leather & Rawhide
Diamond G Leather & Rawhide
16081 State Hwy 59 N Weston, WY 82731
(307) 686 3079 jlncustom@gmail.com
EDUCATION:
2023 Worked with TCAA braider Pablo Lozano
2020 Worked with TCAA braiders Nate Wald, Leland Hensley, and Jay Adcock.
2016 Worked with TCAA braider Nate Wald
2015 Attended Doug Groves' Rawhide Braiding Class
1998 Self taught from the age of 15
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2006 to present Operated JLN Custom Leatherwork. Building custom leather and rawhide tack and goods.
AWARDS, GRANTS, & FELLOWSHIPS:
2023 Wyoming Folk Arts Council Mentoring Grant
2020 TCAA Fellowship Recipient
2016 TCAA Mom's Scholarship Recipient
EXHIBITIONS:
2024 Land of Legend Photography and Gear of the American West, Award of Excellence Recipient.
2024 Ben Johnson Days Artisans of the West
2024 World Leather Debut, First place in the Rawhide division
2024 Cowboy Arts and Gear Museum: Rawhide Romal Rein Show and Sale
2023 World Leather Debut, Second place finisher in the Rawhide division
2022-Current Western Folklife Center Gear Display
2022 World Leather Debut, Second place finisher in the Rawhide division.
2022 Western Folklife Center: Big Skies, New Visions Exhibition
2019 World Leather Debut, Second place Rawhide division and Third place Geometric saddle division
2019 TCAA Emerging Artist Competition
2017 World Leather Debut third place in the Rawhide division