More places to find vintage boots

Yes, at long last I've updated my page of vintage cowboy boot dealers.

The key to vintage boots is to act fast. Call or e-mail the dealer with questions...don't bookmark a page expecting to find a boot where you left it. And unfortunately, when vintage boots are gone, they're really gone. No such thing as "backordered."

Check out the vintage boots at Cowboy Legends. Cowboy Legends now offers free shipping and easy returns on all its vintage boots. When it comes to fit, eBay is always such a crapshoot.

Photo courtesy of Cayuse Western Americana.

Cowboy Boot Collections

Here are a few of web pages I've been enjoying lately.

One is a vintage cowboy boot blog called "Man In the Crowd" written by James Davis. Even though I enjoy pages like the Custom & Vintage Boot Collectors' Topic, it's a treat to visit James' blog which focuses on a single, personal, cowboy boot collection. Good photos, good information. Click on the photos for closer look...and leave a comment behind if you like.

...another is a website full of boot jacks. The site (which is slow to load) belongs to bootmaker Frank English and includes boot jacks of all types...buggy, naughty, wooden, old, hinged and horned. Personally, I like the snake.

WANTED: Dead or Alive

UPDATE!
A Denton County man is in now in jail having been charged with felony theft of these prize boots. (Read more from The Dallas Morning News.)

UPDATE!
Mr. Chappell's boots have been recovered and are headed back to the shop! ...Thanks to evidence uncovered in jail interviews and multiple house searches. Read more at The Dallas Morning News and khou.com.

These beautiful hand carved cowboy boots were made by Mr. Carl Chappell. They are pictured in my book on page 274 ...and were stolen from Trail Town Custom Leather Shop in Saint Jo, Texas, on 30 July, 2007 at approximately 10:00am.

Thanks to the Dallas Morning News for the details provided in this story. Be sure to listen to the audio file.

Anyone with information should contact John Glaze at Trail Town Custom Leather, 940-995-2600 or the Saint Jo Police Department at 940-995-2337. (Click here for a larger view of the shop's REWARD poster.)

Flip Flops & Spurs

I grew up in La Jolla. Warwick's was the place I bought books, birthday cards and last-minute poster board for overdue science projects. My book signing had a wonderful mix of familiar faces and complete strangers.

For larger (and sometimes wider) versions of these photos see my Flickr page.

On TV talkin' about Cowboy Boots

Did you see my segment on KUSI's "Inside San Diego?" My boot is the one with pink flowers, a gift from a handful of master bootmakers.

The other boots shown on camera belong to Old Gringo's 2007 Fall line. Coming soon to a boot retailer near you.

Tools of the Trade

Tombstone slab belonging to Brian Thomas (Abilene, TX.)

Bootmakers often use a flat, smooth marble granite or marble slab as a surface upon which to... pound newly-pieced boot pulls flat, carve designs into damp leather, or skive (thin) small pieces of leather inlay.

Win a Prize!

Thanks to everyone who's bought my book.

I'm eager to hear what you think of it. So ...I'm sponsoring a contest*.

Post a review of my book, Cowboy Boots: The Art & Sole on Amazon.com and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a HARDCOVER copy of the 1981 classic, Texas Boots (which, when you can find it... retails for $75-$200.)

This 1st prize hardcover copy of Texas Boots will be given away in a random drawing among those who post reviews. Criticism of my book will not hurt your chances of winning. Your chances of winning depends on the number of reviews posted and entries received. Short, one-line reviews are a-okay with me.

2nd prize will be a paperback edition of Texas Boots in excellent condition. This prize goes to my "favorite" review...which could be something instructional, insightful, funny...who knows?!

*Here are the rules:

1. Post a review of Cowboy Boots: The Art & Sole on Amazon.com.
2. Send me an e-mail with the name you used for your review and your mailing address .
3. Your review must be posted and you must e-mail me (jenn@dimlights.com) on or before Sept 15th, 2007. Midnight, PST.

Here's the fine print: I will pay the shipping costs associated with these prizes. The hardcover copy of Texas Boots is in very good condition, but is missing its paper dust jacket.