Cowboy Boots

Jennifer June on Martha Stewart Radio

2010-01-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

How big a cowboy boot fan are you? Well, I know Monday's a holiday... but I want you to get up early, grab a cup of coffee, and go sit in your truck. Tune that space-age radio of yours to Sirius 112 or XM 157 at 8am ET on Monday, 18 January 2010.

You'll hear me talking about... cowboy boots.

(You can listen online with a free 7-day trial, or hear a replay at 2am ET.)

Yep. It's a good thing.

My friend, Boots Reitzel

2009-12-29T12:17:00.001-08:00

The 'Boots Reitzel heel' �It's high, tho' not enough to cause nosebleed--
and it's cut at a greater 'back' angle, creating an even more undershot heel than the Bond traditional. This creates slightly smaller heel-to-earth contact area, but it moves your body center of gravity slightly forward as you walk--no feeling of bein' tipped forward, and a safer and more comfortable 'feel' to the boot.
(See above photo, in the word of Mr. Boots Reitzel, TucsonBoot.net)

I just got an email telling me my friend, Boots Reitzel has died. Usually, I wait until I'm done crying before I blog about someone or something, but this time I don't care.

Boots and I were friends for more than ten years and met in person only once. I admired Boots. I considered him to be the perfect blend of humility and bravery. I would poke at him, shaking my head and telling him he oughta charge more for all the TLC and heel dressing he was giving away on his consignment boots, pair after pair. Then, I would cover my eyes and read between my fingers when one of his Boot Talks would tell me and the whole-world-wide-web the exact moment when his favorite bootmaker's work had turned to crap.

I remember sitting at Boot's kitchen counter... smiling with every new cowboy boot tattoo I spotted on Boot's arms. We talked about boots, his and everyone else's... hardly anything else. I remember when he walked me to my car after my visit, just so I didn't step on a rattlesnake.

Mighty Life List

2009-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

Up until now, my "Might Life List" has been something that I've kept to myself... something that's quietly rattled around in my heart and head. Things get added and then checked off... and people wonder why I smile so much.

Here it is, for the world to see... a work in progress.

- - -

Look into a volcano � Ride my bike to work � then, Ride a bike with no hands � X Tell Dwight Yoakam "thank you" in-person (done!) � Learn 10 9 ways to cook a delicious fish � Learn to drive a stick shift again � Listen/speak good "bootshop" Spanish � Start a cowboy boot museum � write another book � Help fix my little neighbor Mikey's teeth � Make granola � Go on a camping trip in my old camper � Pay off my credit cards...all of them � Get a real author photo taken � Teach Shane how to draw a swan � Visit the Bata Shoe Museum � Learn to do a decent 2 step � Make another pair of cowboy boots � Redo my web page � Go to Dollywood � See Savion Glover perform up-close live � Improve my picture-taking � Learn the names of the farmers who sell me food each week � Spend a winter in Santa Fe � Visit Le�n, Guanajuato � Wrangle a sky-high-character-balloon in a holiday parade � Learn the right way to sew a button � Make more of my own clothes.

What's on your list?

(Bike built for me by Mr. David Rogerson. Ain't it swell?)

Vintage Cowboy Boots on eBay

2009-10-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Groovy "Willie Lusk" boots on eBay.
Okay. I'll let you wear them, but not everyday.

Fashion Tip from Dwight Yoakam

2009-10-17T16:21:00.000-07:00

Q: Dwight, what boots do I wear with my Manuel-sparkley-style jacket?

A: Stingray, silly.

Book Signing (Napa, CA)

2009-09-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

Can't decide whether or not to buy a pair of custom boots? Here, let me get you a glass of wine.

Come to the Napa Valley. Visit Terri Courtney in her red-barn-bootshop. Buy my book, or bring your well-worn copy. I'll sign it. It'll be swell.

September 26, 2009 � 1-3 pm
Napa Valley Open Studios Tour
3151 Sunnydale Drive, Napa CA (map)

For more info,
read this flyer ...or contact:
Courtney Custom Boots
Terri Courtney, Bootmaker
(707) 501-8050 and terri@courtneycustomboots.com

Cowboy Boots at 6pm

2009-05-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

Hey! Remember those Old Gringo and Liberty Boots you wanted last year? ...before the whole world told you to put your money back in your pocket? (Sad trombone, via Maggie)

Well, I'm giving you one last chance.

6pm sells mens, womens and kids cowboy boots at up to 75% off retail. Here's your chance to be twice the rockstar at half the price (...or yeah, you could get a couple more pairs of the same Ariat's yer wearing now. Geez.)

Your size is selling quick, better hurry.

Bootmaker in the News: Michael Anthony

2009-05-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

If you know Michael Anthony, you know he is passionate about bootmaking.

If you don't know Michael Anthony...let me tell you, he is PASSIONATE about bootmaking. He is precise in his craft. He is energetic... and very, very persistent. If he decides he needs moon dust to give his leather boots an unrivaled glow, then by God... he will get his moon dust! Even if he has to fill out 4 months of NASA paperwork, go to the moon himself... and bring the dust back to earth in his carry-on luggage.

(Of course, we all know that the "glow" comes from Michael's caring dedication, not the moon dust.)

Read about Michael Anthony's adventures "Tracing Lincoln's Footprints." Don't forget to click through the photos of the boots and other presidential mementos. (Washington Post. Thursday, May 14, 2009)

Custom Boots by Michael Anthony
227 North Main Street
Sebastopol, California 95472 USA
1-707-823-7204

Brown Shoes

2009-04-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

I think I wore these shoes in a past life. Yes, I'm sure of it. I'm going to have to call Smitty, and see if they still fit me.

Oh, I lost my good wooden spoon, too... Have you seen it?

(Screenshot from YouTube video below.)

Blucher Custom Boots

2009-04-20T10:57:00.000-07:00

Blucher Custom Boots
PO Box 48, Beggs OK 74421
(918) 267-5393

Leather Carving

2009-04-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Customer: "I want a fearsome battle scene between a bear and a bull, with horns and claws and bloodletting. I want a patriotic tribute with stars and stripes, an eagle, swords, golden arrows and military artillery. I want a tangle of thorny roses. Lots of them. I want a spewing oil rig, lotto-sized dollar signs, rattle snakes and roosters... and I want the rooster tails to mimic the artistic energy of the aforementioned oil well. I want a lifelike portrait of my hunting dog 'Champ.' I want a herd of wild mustangs thundering across my cowboy boots. I want a hundred dollar bill so real looking I could get arrested for counterfeiting."

Bootmaker: "Yer crazy."

Peter Main: "What color do you want those roses?"

Photo courtesy of www.PeterMain.com.

Exotic Cowboy Boots on eBay

2009-04-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

For maximum impact, and exotic leather should offer novelty and surprise. Bystanders will wonder, point and eventually ask, "What is it?" Popular with people who want to stand out in a crowd, exotic leathers provide eye-catching patterns and textures not found on everyday cowhide.

Exotic leathers offer a way to add endless variety to a your boot collection. There's always one more color, one more critter... one more pair.

In many cultures, wearing the skin of a totemic animal is thought to convey that animal's strengths and characteristics:* cunning, speed, and virility to name a few.

The best way to get the exact exotic cowboy boots you want, is to order them custom made.

Otherwise, are you feelin' lucky? ...here are a few finely-crafted short cuts to help you with your ebay searches for both new and used cowboy boots. Just remember to check the listings carefully for words like "genuine" (not "print" or "embossed.") Don't be afraid to ask the seller questions, or request more detailed photos.

My shortcut eBay searches for cowboy boots...

Alligator boots (see also, crocodile & caiman)
Anteater
Armadillo boots
Bullhide
Crocodile & caiman boots
Eelskin boots
Elephant
Elk boots
Lizard
Ostrich mens boots
Ostrich womens boots
Sea bass
Sea Turtle (prohibited on eBay, more info)
Shark
Snakeskin boots
Stingray

* Anyone shopping for armadillo boots should please look carefully before crossing the street.

Photo of shark cowboy boots provided by ebay seller, "steve_and_nikki."

Anteater Boots

2009-04-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

Wowza. There seems to be some sort of ebay feeding-frenzy on anteater boots.
Photo courtesy of ebay seller, "premiumguide."

Free Downloads

2009-04-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

Big news. I've decided to start giving away my eDirectory as a free download.

I think it might do some good... might stimulate a few sales for some hard working bootmakers and get some customers into some new well-made and well-deserved custom boots.

I've also decided to give away my "Missing Index." Why not?!

(If you've bought these items in the past, and would like part or full refund, I am happy to do it. Please email me at jenn@dimlights.com.)

I hope you find these downloads and my website helpful.

Try, try again...

2009-03-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

Don't despair. Even if you flunk all the shoot and click games at chez elfo loco, over and over again... the boot elves will feel sorry for you and let you build a boot anyway (and even win a prize.)

Umm. Don't ask me how I know this.

Cowboy Boot History for Sale on eBay

2009-03-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Quick!

Cowboy Boot Collecting: eBay Pick

2009-03-23T12:28:00.000-07:00

I know. I know. These are Miss Capezio "cowboy" boots... but I find their ferocious flowers kinda inspirational. (Photo courtesy of eBay seller iheartdangervintage)

More cowboy boot auctions.

Cowboy Boot Screenshots: "Spun"

2009-03-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

"Spun" is a twitchy little indie film all about methamphetamine.

Me? I'm a geek, so I rented it solely for the cowboy boots.

My pal Pascal told me, long ago, he had built a pair of cowboy boots for the Hollywood celebrity and fashion warrior, Mickey Rourke. Yep. You know you're living right when you can walk on to a movie set in your every-day boots and play a crazy crank cook. I'm left feeling uncomfortably ordinary.

Here they are... white cowboy boots with flames and stitching and bling-y mule ears. Boy howdy. If you want a pair just like them (but not)...go talk to Pascal.

Boot of the Month

2009-03-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

...courtesy of the Paul Bond Boot Company.

BootElves.com

2009-03-16T09:08:00.000-07:00

Hold on to your bandwidth... and your car keys. The Boot Elves are here.

El Pepe, Guano, Zapato & Pico are the unruly gang of sole-bangin' bootmakin' elves, the stuff of true legend. Use your mouse and arrow keys to explore their hideout. But be careful, stick around too long and you'll be put to work making you own pair of Heritage Boots. Are ya game?

Where to Buy Cowboy Boots: Austin, TX

2009-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Are you in Austin for SXSW? Here's a free one-page trip guide to finding vintage, ready-made and custom cowboy boots.

Your welcome. (File size: 4.1 MB)

Cowboy Boots: Trendspotting

2009-03-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

Here you go. These are the cowboy boots that all the cool girls will be wearing at the farmer's market tomorrow morning. Nameless brown leather, scuffed toes. It's still winter, so they will be worn with black tights or skinny jeans. They are a perfect complement to root crops and organic coffee drunk from a jar.

More vintage boots on eBay.

(Photo courtesy of ebay seller, carissa_malka. )

Ostrich Boots: Leather & Care

2009-03-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

Ostrich is one of the most comfortable exotic leathers money can buy.

Ostrich is soft as it is durable... and some say, it fits and flexes with your foot "like a sock with a sole."

The photo above is a pair of boots made and worn by bootmaker, Duck Menzies (Temple, TX.) Too many ostrich boots are confined to timid colors schemes and then locked up for special occasions. Not these boots! These are comfortable everyday boots with a good punch of color. (Photo courtesy of Texas Traditions.)

Ostrich leather comes in many, many colors. Black, brown and tan are yesterday's classic standbys, but "denim blues" and trendy greens are today's choices to wear with your jeans.

Western retailers, like Boot Barn, now carry a large selection of ostrich boots. And don't forget, custom cowboy boots can be long-wearing and affordable ...mostly because the bottoms of the boots are made of ostrich, while the boot tops are often made with stitched or inlaid cowhide.

Exotic? No worries. You take care of your ostrich boots, the same way you do your calf or bullhide boots. Ostrich leather is very low maintenance for an exotic choice... it's mysteriously resistant to many everyday scuffs and scratches.

Ostrich Boot Care:

Remove any loose dirt and dust with brush or cloth.
Clean ostrich leather thoroughly with a lanolin based leather conditioner. (The folks on my bulletin board like Bick 4.*)
Apply a THIN coat of neutral shoe creme,* then buff or rub with a soft cloth until a luster is obtained.
For a brighter shine, apply a thin coat of paste polish on darker colors... and buff again. (Psssst. I never do this.)

* You can buy supplies like Bick 4 and Meltonian Shoe Cream Polish online, or from your local shoe repair shop. Avoid using drugstore brands. Visit my bulletin board for more boot care advice.

There are 3 types of "ostrich" boots...

Full Quill... like those shown in the top photo. Distinct bumps and pores. The leather looks just like what it is... a plucked bird. This skin is thick, but soft and the ostrich usually found only on the foot (vamp) of a cowboy boot, not the top.
Smooth Ostrich... has very small, nearly flat quills. Same bird, just a different cut on the hide. If you like the texture and breathability of ostrich skin, but not the bumps... this is a fine choice. If a boot is advertised as "full ostrich" the boot top is often made of smooth ostrich. (See the black cherry boot below; click to zoom.)
Ostrich Leg... looks a lot like a snake or lizard skin. And because these boots use a very narrow piece of hide, the resulting vamp is made with 3 sewn pieces. (See the light brown boot below; click to zoom.)

People make cowboy boots from ostrich leather, but ostriches are also farmed for their meat and feathers.

Most ostrich leather is exported from Southern Africa.

Let's be friends

2009-03-11T21:10:00.001-07:00

(click)

Cowboy Boots -- Clippings

2009-03-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Amazing! 257 images and counting. How many pixels is that?

Many thanks to "treasguy" and "mbstinky" for their generous posting of vintage cowboy boot ads on the photo-sharing site, Flickr.

Poke around. You'll find the "Big 3," but you'll also find ads for Paul Bond, Joe Hall, M.L. Leddy, and Champion Boot Companies.

Play a game of hide-n-seek ...and look for the ad that matches your latest vintage pair.