Ropers give Northeast Texas woman idea for art

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Making crosses out of horseshoe nails for necklaces and key chains proved to be a great idea for Jennifer Allen. Allen also makes baskets from old ropes. --Staff photo by Montgomery

Dec. 2, 2004 - Aw, Christmas ... what do you get for that hard to find person?

Well, remembering the reason for the season, some may enjoy a spiritual item.

Jennifer Allen of Winnsboro has a Christmas idea that is distinctive: a cross necklace made from horseshoe nails. The unique piece consists of horseshoe nails and colored copper wire.

Allen got the ideal for the necklace while looking at a magazine that was mailed to her husband Bo and 10-year-old son Hunter, who are both avid ropers.

"I asked my husband and Hunter if they thought the necklaces would sell at the ropings we went to and they said 'yes,'" Allen related.

To start, she made 20 crosses, which took about six hours "from start to packaging," Allen said. Once the necklace is assembled, it is sprayed with rustoleum because "you are working with horseshoe nails and they will rust."

The first 20 were taken to a roping competition in Miller Grove. They were a hit. At $10 each, "all of them sold in 15 minutes."

Allen has now made more, and plans to continue making the unique pieces. With a variety of colors, the necklaces come beaded or on an adjustable leather cord. Each necklace is packaged with the biblical scripture from Matthew 16:24. "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.'"

For the most part, Allen has been selling the crosses at rodeos, ropings, and local arts and crafts shows. Necklaces are also sold at Tri-County Feed in Winnsboro and Double L Feed in Mount Pleasant.

Allen's horseshoe nail crosses can also be put on a key chain.

Allen stated she enjoyed making the crosses and it is a source of extra money for the stay-at-home mom of three.

If the crosses are not what that hard-to-buy-for person needs, Allen also has found a use for the ropes at her home that are laying in abundance in the barn, on the porch, etc.

With a coil of the rope and a little melting, a basket is formed by this artisan.

Soft ropes are used because of their pliability. The number of ropes used depends on the size of the basket she is making.

"Every basket is different. No two are the same. I make some baskets with handles and some without," she said.

A single rope basket costs $15. A double rope basket is $25 and a triple rope basket is $35.

At the Autumn Trails in Winnsboro this year, Allen sold a basket to a person who then showed the creation to a friend who owned a store in Grapevine. Since then, Tolbert's Texas Trading Company has carried Allen's baskets.

The discarded ropes are also used to create a special clock. The rope is wound flat around a clock, giving the clock a Western flare.

Another Christmas idea offered by this crafty person is a rope wreath, complete with a horse shoe, a bow and a sign that reads "Christmas time in Texas." The wreaths sell for $15.

For more information about the Christmas ideas or to order, contact Allen at 903-365-2695.