Iām teaching a leather inlay/overlay class at the Eureka Springs School of the Arts this week. My students are busy and happy!

Iām teaching a leather inlay/overlay class at the Eureka Springs School of the Arts this week. My students are busy and happy!

I got to see two pairs of my boots on stage today. Pretty sure my boots make you sing better (although I guess Iām immune).




I have learned so many things on this pair. I did a fun little experiment titled “How Little Customer Information Can I Obtain and Still Make Shoes That Fit?” so I’m not really confident they will actually fit but hey, that will allow me to put my making philosophy into practice which is “If I Did It Once I Can Do It Again Even Better!”

For those of you who were worried about what happens to all of the little wooden pegs in the shank area — they get sanded smooth!

I inseamed the rainbow shoes today. I’ve left one on its side to show the stitching; this isn’t the way shoes are supposed to look inside, but it’s how cowboy boots look inside and these are cowboy boot shoes!

This
is a sole made from Baker Leather, which I import from England. The finish is achieved simply by rubbing the sole firmly as it dries with a wooden rub stick or a smooth hammer handle. There’s no wax or polish at all.
I haven’t rubbed/shined the area with pegs because I’ll have to sand the pegs smooth and that would destroy any finish I’d achieved.

New sandals for meeeeeeeeeThey have closed toes because I’ve worn cowboy boots for too many years and I don’t like for my toes to show.

A customer brought in four pairs of boots to be shined, giving me the rare opportunity for a group photo! In order from left to right:”The Way I Am””If Heartaches Had Wings””Flowers On The Wall””Sunday Morning Coming Down”

Here’s a pair of shoe uppers made from the fabric used for Fender amps. Please someone tell me that the gray bar along the vamp edge looks like the knobs on a Fender amp. The last for this pair should arrive in a couple of weeks and then I’ll find out if I know how to last shoes made of fabric.
