Don Atkinson's
Bootmaking School

Here is Don preparing the toe boxes on a pair of boots he is making. This is one of the harder tasks of making a pair of  boots.  Don has over 60 years in the boot and saddle making trade and has spent his life as a cowboy and Master craftsman. Don learned from the Old Masters as a young man who worked for many outstanding boot and saddle makers.  When He was rodeoing, he would work for free, if need be, just to learn other methods to develop his own style.  When you come to Don's school  for 2 weeks, you will leave with a good working knowledge of the Trade.  He can't guarantee you will be a boot or saddle maker, but you will sure know how it's done.  You will have a good foundation to build on.

This is a custom boot, with a shark foot and kid skin top. It was made for a Hollywood stuntman for hard use and long wear.

After coming to Don's School, you could some day put your trademark on boots like these.

The alligator foot, and kid skin top is the "Cadillac" of all boots. After attending Don's school you will learn how to work exotic leathers.

This is another outstanding boot, with matching belt, out of Anteater. Learn the time tested techniques that go into exotic leather.

These boots were made for a collector in Austria: blue calf with  tan lizard trim. 

This pair of boots  and matching belt are one of Don's personal pair of boots that he wore in the late 1980's

A student will learn all about all these starting pieces of a cowboy boot.