Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

I’m starting three new boots. Soon I’ll share leather and color choices.

Two pairs of boots are on the last! I’m only one week later finishing them than I wanted to be; I think I’ll celebrate anyway. Hurray me!

I squealed like a girl when these came in the mail today. (Oh wait, I am a girl!) Aren’t they beautiful? These are all beautiful vintage lasts and some of them have never been used. I can’t wait to make boots on them!

Paige, my 16 year old shoemaking daughter, just finished a pair of alligator ballet flats. They’re going to a museum exhibit.

Paige and I are collaborating on a project. She left me written instructions for my part because she had to go home. I’m very afraid I won’t do it to her satisfaction!

These are the boots that won the Art of the Cowboy Makers competition in Las Vegas. The client is coming to pick them up today and I remembered that I’d better get pictures of them! I’ve named them “Blue Skies and Teardrops.”

I’m very proud of all I accomplished today. I laid the soles on both pairs of boots, stitched the soles on both, and pegged the soles on the black boots. I’ve left the blue boots in loose plastic bags so the sole doesn’t dry out too much; I’ll peg those tomorrow.

This is how I mark where the peg line will go–I use my forefinger as a spacer and my thumb nail to mark the line.

This morning I’m adding and pegging shank covers. I hope to lay the soles this afternoon.

Instead of cowboy boots, today I’m going to post a picture I found that Paige Sorrell drew of me 12 years ago. I think it’s an amazing likeness.