Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

My boots that won at the Art of the Cowboy Makers event in Las Vegas returned home today, along with my huge trophy buckle prize. I am always extra happy to win a trophy buckle. I can wear it and look like a real cowboy without having to ride broncs or bulls.

I’m making a pair of boots right now that have a cranberry red kangaroo inlay on the boot tops, and the client wants a matching cranberry red wingtip. I cut the wingtip out of kangaroo, but it’s an especially light-weight piece and I was worried about the long term wear over the toe. Sometime in the night I remembered that I had a piece of calf in a similar color. I came in this morning and compared them, and it’s a perfect match. Now I can use kangaroo for the inlay and a nice heavy calf for the wingtip. This is why I buy lots of leather, or it’s my excuse anyway; I might need it someday!

This pair of boots, made for my husband Dale, took first place in the Show Boot category at the Art of the Cowboy Makers event in Las Vegas.

I won first place in the show boot category!

A day in the glamorous life of a cowboy boot maker: I got up at 5:30am to fly to Ohio and measure a client. I’ll arrive shortly after noon, meet with the client, and fly home, arriving back in Oklahoma City at 11pm. My girls are home from college and I have work at the shop I need to be doing. I’ll be very happy to get back home.

I can’t say I enjoy punching all these little holes one-at-a-time, but it certainly makes a pretty top band!

I’ve been doing a lot of rearranging in my shop recently, and you know what the very best thing is about having a wood floor? I can make sure each piece of furniture is EXACTLY straight by lining it up with the wooden boards. I’ve run through the shop before, in a tearing hurry to get somewhere, only to come to a sliding stop and straighten something before dashing off again.

This stitch pattern can feel monotonous–endless rows up and down, up and down. It’s actually a challenge because straight lines are much more difficult than curves. I like to do this design every now and then just to make sure I’ve still got the skills.

I created a Memory card game using my cowboy boots! There are 24 pairs of boots in the deck. Here’s a link if you’d like one for your very own.

Yesterday afternoon, I bought another small business! I’m now the proud owner of http://www.bootlast.com. I’ve been working VERY hard to prepare my shop for this acquisition and now I’m so far behind on my boot making I can’t see daylight. But I sold my very first pair of lasts this morning!