Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

Today I sanded for hours, attempting to customize a last for one of the most challenging feet I’ve seen in years and then I realized that the vac system wasn’t doing a very good job so I went out and found the bucket was full to the brim so I emptied it one scoop at a time into a huge trash bag and it’s a windy day and it was a total mess on the back loading dock (yes, I wore a mask) and now I’m filthy.

Introducing: “Little Birdie”

Two boots are almost done; I need to shape and polish the heels.

I taught a leather inlay/overlay class in the Netherlands today, at Rene van den Berg’s shoemaking school. I started the morning with not being able to find my earrings and watch in the hotel room, and this made me feel sure I was late and unprepared. But I had the most wonderful students, I felt very welcome, and it turned out to be a fantastic class. I cannot wait to see their final projects when they are completed!

Also, I met a massive pair of scissors. My hands were not big enough or strong enough to use them.

Here are some photos from my presentation to the Annie Oakley Society and the opening of the cowboy boot exhibition at the National Cowboy Museum.

I inseamed the pair of boots on the right today; the pair on the left has not been inseamed yet.

I can’t believe I get to make this pair of boots. They’re a reproduction of a vintage pair that I have loved for years.

I was a little slow putting these together because I kept pausing to admire the colors and the effect of the cognac alligator with the chocolate boot tops.

These boot tops are making me happy.