Video: Lucky Stitch (1:33min)

Click here to view a video of Martin Chávez stitching a cowboy boot top at Rocketbuster Boots in El Paso, Texas USA. The speed at which Mr. Chávez is sewing is genuine...the video is not sped-up or altered.

Read my essay about cowboy boot stitchwork.

This is my first "videoblog" entry. I filmed the video clips last year using my digital still camera, so there is no sound.

 

I found some free online video hosting, so hopefully they'll be more vlogging to come. I'm planning to buy a new camera (one that captures sound) ...before I leave for Texas this October.

High Style at "Back at the Ranch"

Back at the Ranch is a short walk from Santa Fe's downtown plaza. With over 800 pairs of cowboy boots on hand, Back at the Ranch sells stock sizes and takes custom orders for boots made by four very well known companies.

Nowhere else, not even in Texas, can you walk out with a pair of Rocketbusters, T.O. Stanley, Liberty or Kimmel boots on demand.

Wendy Lane has been in Santa Fe selling boots for about sixteen years now. She got her start selling vintage boots and her shop was put on the map by Tyler Beard's Cowboy Boot Book (1992).

Wendy's love of vintage and fancy custom boots can be seen in her personal "top-shelf" collection, on display right here in the store.

Many of the new boot designs could be called vintage inspired--but that's mostly because they include labor intensive details like lacing, leather tooling and inlay ...which become hard-to-find when large boot manufactures try to cut their production costs. What you see at Back at the Ranch are handmade cowboy boots made by smaller companies.

Want something a little bit different? 800 pairs not enough? No problem. Find your fit and then special order a color, toe style or inlay pattern of your own. Back at the Ranch does enough business to employ skilled leather carvers fulltime for their Kimmel and Private Label boots. Wow.

So, what is Wendy's bestseller? No contest... it's a pair made by Kimmel Boots, nicknamed the "Tyler Beard Rough-Out," modeled after one of Tyler's favorite pairs. With its bright red tops and brown suede toe, it's popular with both men and women.

Keep your eyes on Back at the Ranch's "Private Label" ankle-high boots (below)...with clean modern lines, the more colors Wendy offers, the more pairs she sells. The bright colored ostrich makes for an especially "cool" summertime look.

Back at the Ranch
209 E Marcy, Santa Fe, New Mexico USA 87501 (map)
Free parking available behind the store.
Website: www.backattheranch.com
(505) 989-8110

If you can't make it to the store, visit the website, choose a style...then give a call and they'll send you boots by that maker to try for your fit.

— Click here to see more cowboy boots in Santa Fe, NM.

Santa Fe & Northern New Mexico

Santa Fe is one of only a few "destination spots" for cowboy boots.

His and her boots. Old and new boots...most pairs within walking distance of one another in Santa Fe's historic downtown plaza.

Here's a list and links of some "must-see" shops. And, if you plan your trip during the Southwestern Design Conference you 'll get the chance to have your feet measured by some outstanding out-o-town bootmakers.

Cowboy Boots — New & Custom Made Pairs

Back at the Ranch 209 E Marcy, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 989-8110 Over 700 pairs of boots by well known custom bootmakers such as Rocketbuster, Kimmel, Liberty and T. O. Stanley. Next best thing to Texas.

Boots & Boogie 227 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 983-0777 (Roy@SantaFeBootsandBoogie.com) Largest retail seller of Stallion Boot Company (El Paso,TX.) Buy a pair off the shelf, or place your "customized" order.

Desert Son 725 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 982-9499 A cowboy boot can sit on a shelf like an oversized souvenir, or it can bring adventure and class to your "everday life". Mindy Adler can help you with a custom fit to both your measurements and personal style. Offerings include boots by Tres Outlaws and Stallion Boot Company.

Jacobs Shoe Repair Ron Jacobs, Bootmaker 646 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 982-9774

Lucchese 203 W Water St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (800) 871-1883

McGuffin Custom Boots Deana McGuffin, Bootmaker 1113 Nashville SW, Albuquergue, NM 87105 (map) (505) 452-0690

Nathalie 503 Canyon Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 982-1021

Square Deal Shoe Shop David Gallegos, Bootmaker 1911 St. Michael's Drive, Suite C, Santa Fe, NM 87505 (map) (505) 982-6469

Sunset Canyon 116 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501(map) (505) 820-2337

Vintage Cowboy Boots & Used Pairs

Cowboy Legends 227 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 989-1554 Unmatched customer service comes along with even the most casual browsing. Wide selection of men's and women's vintage cowoby boots. Exotic leathers and fancy inlay.

Cowgirl Red 2865 Hwy 14 (on the Turquoise Trail), Madrid, NM 87010 (map) (505) 474-0344

Double Take at the Ranch 319 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (map) (505) 820-7775

Horsefeathers 109 B Kit Carson Rd, Taos, NM 87571 (map) (505) 758-7457

Rio Bravo Trading Company 411 S Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, 87501 (map) (505) 982-0230

Sasse Call for appointment. Santa Fe, NM (505) 983-1944

If you see a camera icon , it means I've taken some field trip photos. Click on the camera to view the photos.

Disclaimer: all content info was current at the time of my posting. Please call ahead for current business hours and cowboy boot availability when planning your own trip.

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