Upcycled Boots

I was browsing the Internet for cowgirl boots (as I do most days in my spare time).... when I came upon these in an Etsy shop called The Look Factory

They were sold so if I wanted a pair they would have to be custom made. I didn't want to wait so I went on a hunt for used white cowgirl boots with the thought of making something similar on my own.

I found these on eBay - very little wear and tear and luckily my size.  Real nice boots (Steve Madden) and it killed me that I'd have to cut them but it had to be done.  (I went on YouTube and watched a couple of tutorials on upcycling boots).

So the first step was to take a pair of scissors and cut the leather right down the back.  I cut them far enough down so that when they were folded over the flaps just reached the top of the heel of the boots.

I put some vice clamps on them for a few hours to set the folded leather and was ready to begin

I sewed cuffs out of FunFur and slipped them over the top - this way the flaps of the boots stay put without having to glue them down.

Then I decorated with old belts, scarves, leather braided roping and feathers. So that I didn't have to use glue (in case I want to changed things up a bit from time to time)....I punched extra holes in the belts so when they were wrapped around twice they could be fastened. I used the boot pulls that are now at the bottom of the boots to tuck in and keep the braiding in place.  The scarf pieces were tied on the sides and the feathers secured into the knots.  

I wore them with a pair of skinny jeans tucked in and a peasant blouse.  I plan to also wear them with a short white gauze sun dress with a cropped jean jacket as well as a long white prairie skirt and an over sized caramel colored cotton sweater with lots of turquoise and silver jewelry.