Cowboy Boot Purse

Robin Bartoletti's undergraduate degree in art was a springboard for her to expand into other artistic ventures after college, one of those being in the fashion arena. She is a firm believer that boots aren't just made for walking–they can also be recycled into a fun and funky purse. The idea of the purse came to her when her favorite pair of boots had seen better days, but she couldn't bear to part with them. In true crafty fashion, she lopped off the tops of her boots and now she carries them over her shoulder instead of wearing them on her feet.

Materials:

old soft cowboy boots
upholstery needles
grip-style leather punch
waxed polyester thread
10" knife-edge bent trimmers
beads:
- semi-precious stones
- glass beads
- any high quality bead
32-gauge pliable wire cord
crimp tubes
2 o-rings
wire cutters
crimping pliers
piece of jewelry such as an earring
glue gun
hot glue
button and button loop - optional
leather or beaded fringes or trim for the bottom - optional

1. Measure and indicate a 12 inch mark from the top of one cowboy boot. Use the trimmers to cut off the tops at the 12-inch mark. This can be adjusted to include any decorative stitching or pattern on the boot (figure A).

2. The most difficult part of this project is turning the boot top inside out (figure B). Tip: Worn vintage boots work best for this project, if the boot is stiff it might be difficult to turn. As an alternative, skip the inside out step by stitching the outside with leather lacing. Note: The inside stitching provides a little more room inside the bag.

5. To keep the seam smooth and free of puckers, avoid pulling the thread too tight. The top row of stitching should depict a uniform row of abutting stitches (figure E), the stitches on the under side will overlap.

6. Sew the fringe or trim to the inside of the boot. Tip: Hold the trim in place while sewing and do not use pins to secure as it will produce holes in the leather. When complete, tie the remaining two threads together in a knot to secure.

8. To make the beaded lasso handle, cut a wire cord to the pre-determined size for a long or short lasso handle. Arrange the beads in a pleasing design and string on the wire strand (figure G).

9. Attach an o-ring at one end with a crimp tube and leave a 2-inch wire tail. Attach a second o-ring at the other end with a crimp bead and run the tail through approximately 2 inches of beads. Cut off the excess tail. Attach an o-ring and lasso to the boot tabs (figure H).

10. Select a piece of jewelry, such as an earring, and attach it to the front of the purse using hot glue (figure I).

E-mail: Robinb@mail.com

Website: arapaho.nsuok.edu/~bartolet/