Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

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.

Introducing: “It’s Hard To Be Humble”

I was through with this day as soon as I woke up, so I believe I’ll go home now. I have everything prepared for inseaming tomorrow and one hopes I will wake up with a more positive attitude.

Introducing: “Wildflowers”

I have to leave early so this is as far as I can go on this pair today. I’ve decided to change the shoelaces and I have a name chosen for them. Final pictures will be shared tomorrow!

Today I:
Rearranged the front of my shop and finally hung my art pieces, instead of leaving them in an untidy pile that was always in the way.
Almost finished a pair of boots I started over seven years ago and then due to personal reasons I could never make myself work on them again but now I am.
Got started on building heels on a sweet little pair of lace-up boots that will be finished in time to go with me to England.