Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

I’m tired and don’t want to lay soles today, but when I prepare soles the day before and they’re ready, I don’t really have a choice. I’ve put the soles on three boots and this is the final one!

I spent a peaceful afternoon inseaming boots. Many boot makers won’t go home until they complete a pair, and I only did a pair and a half, but I figure that second boot will still be here tomorrow!

Hahaha! If you’ve heard the story of how I became a boot maker, you know that Jay Griffith–the first boot maker I worked for–was a grumpy old alcoholic who used to scream and cuss at his employees, which terrified me. I found out today from one of those employees that I had a nickname: 96 Tears. They called me 96 Tears because I’d get all quiet and turn red and go cry in the bathroom.

Cowboy boot toes: The trick is making them match.

I have a lovely trio of boots to keep me company in the shop today.

Remember the insole picture I posted this morning? Now that insole is hidden inside these boots, providing a solid foundation but probably never seen again.

You can’t see the insole of a boot unless you peek down inside, but the cut of the insole can give your boots pleasing curves or bestow all of the grace and shape of a potato. The bottom insole has been trimmed to the shape of the last and the top insole is still waiting for the magic.

This is what being incredibly wealthy looks like to a boot maker. A friend heard about the broken piece on my American Straight Needle and sent me FOUR replacements!