Monthly Archives: June 2026

I took first place in the 3-D category at Women’s Work (Cowgirl Artists of America) last year and one of the prizes was a free ad in Art of the West magazine. I decided to have some fun with it … Continue reading →

Checking my paper patterns in an attempt to avoid wasting leather while having zero confidence I’ll be 100% successful — I’m sure there will be a piece or two I’ll need to recut. My designs are sometimes slightly ahead of … Continue reading →

When I first started making boots, I dreaded skiving* the bottom of the top liners. I was using the green handled knife on the right; it was difficult and never looked good. Once I switched to the knife on the … Continue reading →

I skived all four panels this morning and then it took me the entire rest of the day to put all the pieces together. Also, I have been singing for about eight hours now. This is good work to be … Continue reading →

I enjoy making boots and I like doing inlay/overlay work, but I confess I was whining a little by the time I finished all four of these panels with cut-out feathers and birds.

It took me around four hours to create all the patterns pieces and then cut out all the different colors and shapes of leather, and now I have hours of skiving* ahead of me. I’ve been singing along with the … Continue reading →

Colorway for the next pair I may actually rename this design. The original was designed in honor of my daughter Paige and featured only shades of blue. It was named “Bluebird Let Me Tag Along.” I think I’ll let that … Continue reading →

When people ask about my favorite pair of boots I always say, “The next pair.” Here’s the next pair.

Practice magnolia flower to see if they really look like magnolia flowers. The flower center will be a little different; I was just using scrap leather here.

This is the magnolia design that came to me fully formed in a burst of inspiration while I was at a concert. It is already promising to be one of the most difficult designs I have ever patterned and I … Continue reading →