Lisa Sorrell, cowboy boot maker

A pair of boots I’m stretching, and a pair of boots that are almost finished

Freshly-laid soles with a double row of wood pegs

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.