Author Archives: customboots

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About customboots

I'm a custom cowboy boot maker. I own a business, Sorrell Custom Boots, and I create bespoke cowboy boots using vintage machinery and hand tools. I also own www.sorrellnotionsandfindings.com, a company that specializes in tools, supplies, and leather for the boot and shoe making trade.

Something new

Posted on August 11, 2020 by customboots

The easy part’s over nowAnd the hard part begins… Assuming my patterning is OK, because I don’t have much experience with patterning for shoes, this project will be an inlaid/overlaid pair of Oxfords made on a cowboy boot last.

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Amazing

Posted on August 11, 2020 by customboots

My new printer printed three double-sided color copies of my catalog in a row without eating any paper AND stapled the edges too!

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It’s a Boot Life

Posted on August 4, 2020 by customboots

In the pursuit of plugging everything in using the two outlets my 1967 building has graced my office area with, I spent most of the morning trying to run an extension cord behind my huge, heavy, not-going-move-it leather rack. This … Continue reading →

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Vintage catalog

Posted on August 3, 2020 by customboots

Someone sent me a vintage Jay Griffith catalog! It’s beautiful and I am laughing with delight while paging through it.

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It’s always something

Posted on July 23, 2020 by customboots

The good news: These boots are ready to be side seamed and I have a new (to me) fully refurbished Straight Needle. The bad news: I’ve already sold my old Straight Needle and the new one is sitting at Dale’s … Continue reading →

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Phoenix

Posted on July 8, 2020 by customboots

Many boot makers use one tongue shape and it’s one of the defining and recognizable features of their boots. I have a tongue shape I use most often but once in a while I like to switch it up, so … Continue reading →

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Checks are for old people

Posted on July 3, 2020 by customboots

I still occasionally use checks (I know, I’m old) and I ran out, so I designed a new picture check for myself.

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Wings and feathers

Posted on July 2, 2020 by customboots

I stitched all the wings and feathers, but I still have to add the top band. I’ll leave that for tomorrow–I’ll need something to do then, right?

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Wings, accents, and eyes

Posted on June 19, 2020 by customboots

I skived all of the little accent holes in the wings today. Oh, and I gave the Phoenix an eye and skived that too.

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Still adding pieces

Posted on June 18, 2020 by customboots

There’s still more skiving to do; next I need to skive all of the orange holes so I can layer in the yellow piece behind them. But that’s a job for tomorrow.

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