Much skiving

Posted on April 29, 2019 by customboots

I like to set little goals for myself to make sure I’m not a lazy bum, so I decided I had to skive all of the pieces for this boot before I could go home.

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Designs

Posted on April 25, 2019 by customboots

These are the designs for two boots I’ll be starting soon.

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Treeing

Posted on April 23, 2019 by customboots

I’ll let these boots sit on the trees tonight and most of tomorrow so they’ll have a nice shape. Then I’ll finish the heels and send them off to the new owner. At that point it will be time for the Boot Maker’s Prayer: “Please fit, please fit.”

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It’s a Boot Life

Posted on April 22, 2019 by customboots

YouTube video for April: demonstrating making leather beading

“It’s a Boot Life”

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They’re starting to look like boots

Posted on April 22, 2019 by customboots

Boots sideseamed and turned right-side-out

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Announcement

Posted on April 21, 2019 by customboots

I’m going to be a guest on the Fox Business News show “Mornings with Maria” tomorrow (Monday, April 22) at around 7:50am EST. Tune in to watch and send good wishes that I’ll be articulate, coherent, and poised.

Edited because I didn’t know there was a difference between Fox News and Fox Business News.

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Stitching on red leather

Posted on April 16, 2019 by customboots

As a rule, red leather is one of my least favorite colors to stitch on, but I am really pleased with these colors and how they look on the finished boot tops.

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Beading

Posted on April 16, 2019 by customboots
Fabric wrapped around a cord is called piping; leather wrapped around a cord is called beading.
Here’s a front and back view of the beading on a cowboy boot top and the reliefs I cut into the beading so it will curve smoothly.
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Buck-stitched wingtip

Posted on April 15, 2019 by customboots
Toe wrinkles and a buck-stitched wingtip were my Sunday afternoon fun
Toe wrinkles: a backing is glued onto the back of the vamp (foot leather) and then evenly-spaced lines are stitched through vamp and backing. A hook or eye end of a long fat needle is inserted between vamp and lining, through the spaces between the stitching, and a thick cord is pulled through each space.
Buck-stitching: narrow strip of leather passed up and down through leather to create the appearance of a decorative seam
Wingtip: decorative, additional piece on the toe
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Skiving

Posted on April 12, 2019 by customboots

Skiving on my handy-dandy marble lazy susan

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