My friend Carina sent photos from my presentation at the conference! I spoke briefly about the history of leather inlay and overlay, and then talked about the making of the Oklahoma boots which are now on permanent display at the Oklahoma State Capitol.
I’m in England for a shoemaking conference and this morning I gave an hour-long seminar on skiving techniques after the conference ended, for a small group of students that attended.
Introducing: “Somewhere Between Right And Wrong”
I saw a boot constructed like this somewhere online (I don’t remember the shoemaker but the boots were bright blue) and I was immediately obsessed with the way the quarter is inserted into the vamp. I made several changes but I copied that detail. Then, because I’m still a very inexperienced shoemaker, I put these uppers together in my head several times so I’d understand how they were constructed and the order they needed to go together. It worked too — once the day came that I actually sewed all the pieces together, everything worked as anticipated.
In case you’ve ever wondered what leather art looks like from the back, here’s a look at all of the pieces working together to create the image.
Also, remember not to judge leather inlay/overlay work until it’s stitched because stitching is responsible for all detail, light, shadow, movement… all of the things that bring it to life.
Spending an afternoon with Satan and Joshua Hedley. I could get more work done if I’d stop turning up the music and dancing.
I’m really proud of being awarded this buckle at the Art of the Cowgirl event. Now I want to earn it by teaching well the apprentice they send me.
We had a successful leather inlay/overlay class at the Art of the Cowgirl event in Queen Creek, Arizona. All students completed two bracelets and a fringed leather pillow, and everyone seemed pleased.
I haven’t posted in a while because I have so much to do to get ready for the Art of the Cowgirl show in Queen Creek, Arizona. Typically when I go to a show it’s either an Art/Craft show where I’m displaying boots, a supply/trade show where I’m selling leather and tools, or it’s an event where I’m teaching. I’ll be doing all three in Arizona, which means three times the preparation and three times the volume of stuff to take. We leave Saturday morning and I am absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed right now.
I’ll be teaching a leather inlay overlay class; I forgot I told them we’d be making a pillow so I told all of you we were making Field Notes books, but hey, I can pivot back to pillows. To do that though, I needed to make a pillow for display so my students can see what they’ll be making. Tomorrow I’ll finish it but in the meantime, here’s my pillow front. This one is just what I chose to do. I’m not suggesting designs for this project — each student will (with my help) design their own.
I laid, stitched, and pegged three pairs of cowboy boot soles this week.
Also, this update makes me think of my daughter Paige, who asked me once in a shocked and tentative tone if I knew there were words in boot making that meant *other things.*
 | Elaine Krankl on Nashville |
 | customboots on Lasting |
 | Emilio Medrano on Lasting |
 | 118. Crafting Cowboy… on Jay Griffith |
| customboots on Inspiration |
Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker 