Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

I suppose there’s nothing wrong with using a laser cutter if you have one but give me a nice quiet shop and a sharp knife, and I’ll be happily lost in meditation. Four boot tops all stacked neatly on top of each other, design precisely cut by hand.

I made these boots in 2005 for a generous customer who allowed me to follow my own vision. I was inspired by a western shirt I saw worn by Marty Stuart, and I entered them into the Boot and Saddlemakers Roundup competition that fall. I remember they called out the winners for my category and I was disappointed that I hadn’t won, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. They’d added a new category that year called Master’s Choice, and this was awarded to the one pair of boots from any category that was judged to be the best work entered. I was so surprised when they called my name and awarded me Master’s Choice for this pair! 

The original customer is selling his boot collection now; he and his wife chose Flora to help sell the collection. It was a pleasure to see the boots again and I was hoping they’d go to a good home. This man is a banjo player who came in today to order a pair of boots from Flora. He did order a custom pair, but he spotted these and they fit him perfectly, so he bought them also. I’m delighted that they’ll be going to bluegrass festivals now, being on stage and listening to good music.

They’re titled “Boulder to Birmingham.” 

Sorry, everyone. I can’t stop posting photos of this top band because I’m obsessed with it. Every addition just makes it more attractive.

The top band for the boots I’m working on now is making me so happy and it’s not even finished. Also, choosing leather colors is fun!

New wingtip idea for a pair of boots that is refusing to be anything other than what it wants to be. I seem to only be following where this pair leads me.

New boot top design sent to client for approval today. Wish me luck.

I want to point out that landscape designs on a cowboy boot top introduce a unique problem — there’s no vanishing point, and there cannot be one. The design must match and meet at the side seams, which means the perspective is continually “I’m standing in front of this element, I’m standing in front of this element…” all the way around the design. I always wonder if I chose an art form that’s very flat because I’m terrible at light, shadow, and perspective, or if I’m terrible at them because I chose a medium that’s limited in that regard.

New design for a client who requested Dogwood and Wake Robin flowers. I keep calling them Woke Robin flowers by mistake.
I can only draw a design on the right side of the template; I can’t draw on the left side.

This photo shows my original attempt at a design. It wasn’t inspiring me at all so I laid it aside and contemplated for a bit. I was pleased that I did not waste any time telling myself that I’m a crappy artist and I’ll never be able to draw a good design — I thought about it for a while, decided what I liked and what I didn’t like, and then drew a new design that made me happy.

Cowboy boots have a rounded shape in the shank area (right in front of the heel) so the first heel layer has to conform and adhere to a shape that’s definitely not flat. If any heel layer is going to give me problems and try to not stick, it’s the first one. There are still several layers to go before these heels are built, but once I get the first one on successfully I feel like I’m halfway done!

I laid the soles on these boots and stitched them this afternoon; I had hoped to peg the soles but they’re still too wet. I’ll put the boots in plastic bags overnight because I don’t want the soles to dry out completely. Tomorrow I’ll take them out of the bags, wait an hour or so, then peg the soles.

I inseamed these boots today and prepared the fillers and soles. When I get to work in the shop again I’ll glue in the fillers to bring everything up to level, shape a metal shank to match the curve of the arch, lace it in, cover it with a shank cover (not pictured), then glue the sole onto the boots. While the sole is wet I’ll stitch it, then put a double row of wooden pegs in the shank area of the sole and also around the heel.