Category Archives: boot maker

Tomorrow will be a day of skiving. In England the word skiving can also mean goofing off, but tomorrow I won’t be using that definition — I’ll be thinning all the edges of this leather with a very sharp knife … Continue reading →

I’ve been dreading starting this pair of boots for two reasons:1.) Selecting the colors. These tops require several shades of green and I’m always worried I won’t have the right green. I mean, I do have probably the largest colored … Continue reading →

My friend Michael lost his eye in a car accident and I’ve been making him nice leather eye patches. Once I found out he had a sense of humor about it, I got creative.

One pair of shoe uppers is done; now I need to start on some cowboy boot tops so I’ll have two pairs going. I rarely ever work on one pair of boots or shoes because there are times when something … Continue reading →

I finally have the quarters stitched for this little pair of tall lace-up shoes. I recently learned that this technique is called echo stitching. Even though I thought of it independently I didn’t invent it, but as far as I … Continue reading →

Introducing: “After The Fire Is Gone” I made this pair of boots in February of 2002, and they came back to be re-footed and remade this spring. I wasn’t naming my boots in 2002, but since they came back and … Continue reading →

Gasp, wheeze, pant…As I was pulling these lasts Flora and I were talking about how getting the last out can be such a point of worry. Having a last stuck in a boot is so stressful and it’s hard for … Continue reading →

After laying and stitching the sole, the next step is pegging the soles. One of these soles has been pegged and the other has marking indicating where I’ll place the pegs on the second sole. Immediately after taking this photo … Continue reading →

I came in yesterday to lay soles and stitch soles. These are both jobs that I don’t like being interrupted while doing so I often choose to do them on a weekend. If everything goes well it’s quick and easy, … Continue reading →

I worked incredibly hard all day long, but only about an hour of it was in the boot shop so lacing in one pair of shanks is all I have to show for it. I did cut and prepare the … Continue reading →