Author Archives: customboots

How It StartedHow It’s Going Allow me to introduce myself, for those who don’t know me. My name is Lisa Sorrell, and I was raised in a conservative little church where the ladies all wore long hair and long dresses. … Continue reading →

Introducing: “The Seeker” I made this pair of boots many years ago for a client who continually challenged me to try something new, and I will forever be grateful to him. I firmly believe that you don’t truly understand a … Continue reading →

I inseamed two pairs of boots today. The thread I’m using is called a taper; it’s seven cords twisted together that taper down to the thickness of a hair at each end. I wax the thread with a sticky wax … Continue reading →

Today was also about toes — shaping one pair, and sewing around the other pair.

Boot makers and boot companies have all sorts of names for different boot toe shapes, but Jay Griffith called this a Narrow Square Toe so I do also. It’s my very favorite toe shape.

I lasted these yesterday and it went well. If there’s one leather* that’s going to fight back during lasting it will be ostrich, so it’s always a relief to have it done. *Well… stingray is always a pain but hey, … Continue reading →

The plain black boots are successfully lasted! There was a small hiccup that required me to take the first boot back off the last, turn them wrong-side-out again, take out part of the side seam, and sew it again by … Continue reading →

2027 Cowboy Boot Calendars are available now! Please be impressed that this year I did not wait until the last minute to create them.

I decided to challenge myself with something truly difficult — plain black boots. You can’t hide mistakes on plain black boots; there’s nothing to distract the eye and every error is clearly visible. Wish me luck. Throwing them out and … Continue reading →

I’ve been traveling for a week, which meant I had to spend all day yesterday at my desk catching up on paperwork, messages, emails, and bills, but I’m finally back in my shop! I turned this pair today and they’re … Continue reading →