The same only different

October 24, 2015 Jennifer June

cowboy boot made by tex robin — Tex Robin Boots. Worn. (Abilene, TX.)

I love the word “toebug” …Toebug …toebug …toebug. I say it every chance I get. #Toebug. Bootmakers know what I’m talking about, but everyone calls the crisscross of thread something different, like…

“toe flower” — Lee Miller (Austin,TX), Evan Voyles (Austin,TX), Alan Bell (Abilene, TX) and Brian C. Thomas (Abilene, TX)

“bug and wrinkle” — Mike Vaughn (Bowie, TX)

“wrinkle and stitch” — James “Smitty“ Smith (Beggs, OK)

“toe stitch” — Paul Bond Boots, order form (Nogales, AZ)

“medallion” —Roberto Herrera (Tijuana, Mexico); Rocketbuster Boots (El Paso, TX) and T.O. Stanley Boots (El Paso, TX)

“el medallón” — translation by Roberto Herrera (Tijuana, Mexico)

Pretty great, huh?

Cowboy Boots

Mobile

May 8, 2015 Jennifer June

Texas, every time you use this website on your phone you owe me a Whataburger.

Design & Materials

Heel Counter

April 29, 2015 Jennifer June

Schwarz_05copy — Schwarz Custom Boots (Dillon, MT)

Counter:

Most cowboy boots have a four-piece top. The piece of leather that surrounds the wearer’s heel is called the “heel counter.”

On most boots, the heel counter is just an echo of whatever is stitched on the toe. Not nearly as strong or as clear. Simple repetition …or all together plain.

A few boots do it better.

A working cowboy boot has a plain toe destined for muck and trouble. Schwarz Custom Boots put a pair of horse heads on the heel counter of these stitched boots. Shadows. Matched in color to the sole, heel and counter, the horse heads are hard to spot …hard to forget.

RBB_07-20-06-0050copy — Rocketbuster Boots (El Paso, TX.)

Just married. Rocketbuster Boots made these white-on-white wedding boots. Instead of tying cans to a car bumper… Nevena Christi stitched these boots with good luck horseshoes, hearts and sparkles. Perfect.