Author Archives: customboots

The magnolia boot tops are finished and I’m actually kind of sad. This design required a significant bit of mental energy to visualize and create, and now what am I going to think about?

In leather inlay and overlay, stitching does more than just hold everything in place. Stitching is the only way to add small details or create movement, and this is the sort of stitching I love to do. Once I’m finished, … Continue reading →

These boot tops were incredibly difficult to pattern and put together but they are nothing but sweet fun to stitch. I knew they would be! I usually don’t look forward to stitching but I’ve been eagerly awaiting getting these together … Continue reading →

If I did a poor job of trimming an edge, my old boss Jay Griffith would tell me it looked like it had been gnawed off by a beaver. I felt the tool slip as I was trimming behind the … Continue reading →

Yesterday I built and shaped heels on these boots. The plastic form, called a last, inside the boots weighs around 2-2.5 pounds depending on size. I shape the heels on a sanding wheel that’s slightly above waist height for me, … Continue reading →

Stitching boot tops is the only part of boot making that occasionally bores me. It’s also the only part of boot making that I’ve ever done working for someone else so I think perhaps I associate it with having a … Continue reading →

Finally, I have all the pieces put together. I had to make a couple of very minor corrections but it went together so incredibly easily. Stitching will add the final small details and pull it all together, plus I still … Continue reading →

All the inlay pieces are cut; now I need to prepare the boot tops. I had a set of boot tops ready to go but the scallop decided it needed to be shaped differently so I have to start over … Continue reading →

I am sincerely glad the magnolia design didn’t insist on having more flowers than it does. They are incredibly difficult to pattern and put together. In other words, I’m having so much fun.

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 →