New/ Old at Cowgirl Cash

Winter is my time to slow down, reflect, read, plan, play, ski, evaluate, research, and revive.  I love the slow pace of searching for items for the store between a ski, a snowshoe, or family household duties.  Here's some new treasures.  Some I found, some found me.

I'm a sucker for handmade, and back to school dresses are a weakness for me.  They remind me of my Grandma Helen.

sweet girls dress $20

 Regardless of how cute a dress is, it won't be found at Cowgirl Cash unless it looks great with boots.

Kids 8.5 boots $30

Remember the deep slush/ snow we had recently?  Wouldn't these rubber boots, decked with outdoorsy, lovable dogs have been perfect?

Yuppie J.Crew boots.

Ladies 9 $30

Soft corduroy baby dress.

12 months $12

Handmade, heirloom quality beaded leather baby slippers.

Amazing $45

I'm collecting baskets.  Big news. The Bend Farmers Market is going to set up down Brooks Street; right in front of Cowgirl Cash.  I think this location is going to lend a European...farm to table vibe to our market.  An improvement over the ADA approved parking lot location.

This basket is handmade, signed, sturdy, and beautiful.  How could you forget a basket as special as this?

$40

I love dresses, and I am actively looking to buy dresses for the store.  Clean out your closet and bring me your cute cotton classics.

Like most Bend girls, I'm a sucker for Patagonia.  The quality is hard to deny.  This is a near perfect dress.

$35

As I poke around sales and stores I pick up great books.  Books I've read. My selection of paperback books are all recommended.

$8

Cowgirl Cash plans ahead.

Planning for the year.  Happy with my decision to stick to winter hours. It is definitely winter in Bend Oregon today and I'm thrilled to be on my couch with my bestie Clyde looking forward to some of Cowgirl Cash's favorite events.

February 2012
This year I'm heading to Phoenix to see my parents and I'm taking a side trip to the Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase that is held every year for 2 weeks at the end of January.  I haven't been since I lived in Boston in the early 90's and sold loose gemstones for a wholesaler.  Looking forward to the "search", the oddities, the contacts, the weather...

May 2012

I love being a sponsor of this event.  I admire the creativity, hard work, and devotion these coop owners give their chickens and their willingness to share their knowledge with the entire community.

June 2012

The Sisters Rodeo! This is a classic Central Oregon event and a must attend.  Follow the link for more information.

August 2012

The Deschutes County Fair is a favorite as well. The kids and their livestock, the rodeo, the Queens, the live entertainment... and yes, junk food and rides.  Open your wallet, and off we go.

September 2012

The Pendleton Roundup.  We are fortunate to have this famous, fun, tradition filled rodeo in our backyard...ok not really, it's 5 hours away. This rodeo is a must see, and I must admit I haven't seen it.  Will this be the year?

October 2012

Cowgirl Cash shows her true colors in October.  My Bend roots and my nostalgia for the old days of deer hunting with my parents, grandparents and friends inspire me to honor women who plan, save, and attempt to bring home a big buck during deer hunting season.  These women live among us and I love their stories and their spunk. That's why I will be hosting the third annual

Womens only Big Buck Contest.  Prizes for all who enter a buck! Last year I gave a wooden belt buckle engraved "Best Buck 2011".  My friend (male) suggested a better buckle would read... "Best Rack" hmm.

October is also BendFilm.  Independent film, independent business, independent women.  I love them and support them.  Cowgirl Cash plans to again host "How to BendFilm".  Learn the ins and outs of how to get the most of your local film festival at this free class held prior to the festival.

November 2012

Cowgirl Cash Celebrates three years on Friday, November 2. I hope you can make it.

My Mission

There's nothing wrong with having a plan



Plans are great.


But missions are better. Missions survive when plans fail, and plans almost always fail.

I stole this statement from Seth Godin's daily blog.  I love this marketing guru's wisdom and words.

It inspired me to write my own mission statement.  Sadly, I didn't have one.

Cowgirl Cash Mission: Be a spirited, healthy, money making business by paying fair prices for second hand items that are authentic, practical, and beautiful. Store promotion will be done through community sponsorships, ads, and events that recognize hardworking women (and sometimes men) with spunk and determination who live a socially and environmentally conscious life.

I like it.  Could be tweaked, but I like it.

Another nice Cowgirl Buck

Chandra Newton, a senior at Redmond High School brought a buck in Thursday afternoon.  Chandra shot her deer on October 8 in the Fossil unit.  They have family friends with property near Spray that she hunted on.  She and her boyfriend were out hiking up a hill when they spotted a herd of does with one forked horn with it.  She sent her boyfriend to follow and she went around the other way.  Chandra found herself face to face with a nice buck 150 yards out.  She pulled up her gun and took him down with one shot.  She used a 30-30 lever action.  Chandra hunts, ducks, and birds as well, and for the record...she guts them herself. Congratulations on a nice buck!  Her deer had a T measure of 40.5.



Why buy Vintage?

Many people may not need any coaxing to buy someone elses used stuff.  Others however, may be leary of anothers discarded item.  At Cowgirl Cash we sell apparel, glassware, jewelry...all pre-loved. But for my argument today, I'm focusing on vintage boots.

Quality: 30 years ago a higher number of goods were made in the USA. Boots were made with a higher quality of leather, by a bootmaker, who paid attention to the details.  The boots were made to be be repaired if needed, not thrown away.

Style: Personally, I don't like to dress like everyone else, and I assume others don't either.  It's fun to have a unique item that people ask about, comment on, and compliment on.

Sustainability: Call this what you want.  Being Green, Loving Mother Earth, Being a Tree Hugger, whatever the term, buying secondhand doesn't take any natural resources to produce (the second time around).  New can be nice, but there are plenty of goods around that have lots of life and beauty left in them that will reduce our impact on the enviornment.

Lower Priced: As more demand is created, a low price may no longer be a reason to buy vintage, but for now, at Cowgirl Cash, boots of the quality we sell are a real bargain to a comparable "new" boot.

Examples...