Jimmy Pierce Designs

[JPdesign]

Just to let the newer people know something about me as I pretty quiet around here.

Jimmy Pierce
27 years old
live in Fort Worth.

I started college at TCU in 1997. While walking around Downtown I found Peters Bros Hats. Talked to them about hats a bit. I had worn western hats all my life but was started to get into swingdancing and looking at fedoras, and I had always loved Indiana Jones. Talked to them a couple times over the next few months. When I started my sophmore year, my parents said I could get a job, they were paying my way through college, but I had to keep my grades up. I walked in to Peters bros one day, just to look at the hats, and asked if they needed any help. I told them the only dealings I had with hats was shaping them for my friends and myself, but that I was good with my hands and couple build just about anything. Joe Jr handed me an open crown hat with a flat brim and said "Here, shape it". I said I would give it a shot. I apperently did okay, last I knew that hat was still around the store somewhere. Joe Sr. Just asked if I could use a computer. So that was the start of my education in the world of hats. I learned by odserving. Which is the way I learn best. I would watch as Jr. Shaped a hat for someone. When I would do it he would offer pointers. I watched the two girls we had at the time sewing sweatbands into hats. I have changed the way I do it several times since then and have come up with something I think works pretty good. But it stared by watching and copying them. I would watch as joe made hats and them make myt own, asking for specific details, but mostly working from memory as to what I saw and how I wanted to modify it to work better for me. I worked there most of the time through my college carrier, until some unfortunate things happened in the fall of '03 and the Spring of '04. In that time I was called an artist by many people, some mebers of this community.

Since then I have been working at different Western Stores, working with hats. Sometimes at other things, But always working on my craft of Hat Making, got married, and have just had a son. In that time I been gathering equipment and am know ready to start building hats.

That brings us to Today. My felt that I am going to use for the most part will be in withing the next couple of weeks. But in the mean time I went to the Auction at the Stetson factory a few weeks ago and have now fiqured out what bodies I bought there. Some are listed in the Vendor anouncments at the moment. Can't wait to start making hats for the people here once agian.

Jimmy

[Michaelson]

JP performed most of the work on my hats when I sent them in PB for either creation or reblock. He is indeed an artist, and a true craftsman by definition. I'm pleased to see you getting back into the arena again, Jimmie!
If I didn't have so many other projects going on, I'd take one of your Stetson's off your hands in a flash. Ah well....to many things to get, and to little money....
High regards! Michaelson

[Indiana Texas-girl]

I'll second what Michaelson said. Jimmy is amazing with hats. Here's a Dorfman I'm wearing that he redid to be more screen accurate.

[Michaelson]

I said it then, and I'll say it now...ANYBODY who can make a Dorfman look that good is truely a craftsman....then again, it could be the person wearing it that makes it look so good too.

Regards! Michaelson

[Indiana Texas-girl]

Nah, it's all Jimmy on that one.

[Michaelson]

Sorry, ITG...your opinion is a minority of one on that particular matter.

High regards!

Michaelson

[JPdesign]

Pyroxene commented on my setup in the vendors section so here are some pics

I designed the steam heads and my fathers metal shop built them. I have rebuilt the stretcher and flange bag. The crown iron is next, I am goingto put on at least a slightly slower motor, if not a variable speed.







Jimmy

[binkmeisterRick]

Nice looking setup!

[Pyroxene]

That looks like a hat shop to me. I see a lot of potential for creativity there.