About Me

While Roswell was all abuzz from the infamous UFO crash, my parents were moving to Portales, New Mexico where my father opened his own shop. He later sold that shop and worked for my mother’s family business, becoming a mortician and funeral director. He had a small room in the back if the mortuary where he continued to build boot tops for a local boot maker, as well as his own custom orders. He also became an expert leather carver. In the early 1970s, he equipped a full boot shop at his home. After a year of begging him to teach me to make boots, (he didn’t think girls could do that kind of work), I began my apprenticeship with him in 1981.

 

In 1985, I opened my own shop in Clovis, New Mexico. Later that year, I moved to McIntosh, New Mexico and then in 2001 came to Albuquerque, New Mexico where my home shop is to this day.

In the late 1980s, I was approached by the New Mexico Arts Division to participate in their Master Artist and Apprenticeship Program. I taught several students through that program. After moving to Albuquerque, I started teaching boot making privately as well as through the apprenticeship program. So far I’ve taught 38 students and still booking in.

I have had my work displayed in several museum exhibits. Articles featuring my work have been published in New Mexico, True West, Western Horseman, Bravo, Reach,Western Styles,American Way, Shop Talk, and Penthouse magazines and several newspaper articles including Albuquerque Journal.

I am a third generation New Mexico boot maker. My grandfather, C.C. McGuffin, opened a boot shop in Carrizozo, New Mexico in 1917. He was, what the boot business referred to as a bottomer. In those days many shops employed top makers who fit the lasts and built the boot tops, then handed the tops off to the bottomers to put the tops on the lasts, and complete the sole and heel construction. He purchased pre-made tops from companies like Blutcher and Olsen-Stelzer, then lasted and finished the bottoms. The family later moved to Roswell, New Mexico where my father L.W. McGuffin grew up. By the age of 12, my father was an accomplished boot/shoe repairman and often ran the Main Street shop. Over time, from observation of other top makers and trial and error, he eventually taught himself to build tops.

While Roswell was all abuzz from the infamous UFO crash, my parents were moving to Portales, New Mexico where my father opened his own shop. He later sold that shop and worked for my mother’s family business, becoming a mortician and funeral director. He had a small room in the back if the mortuary where he continued to build boot tops for a local boot maker, as well as his own custom orders. He also became an expert leather carver. In the early 1970s, he equipped a full boot shop at his home. After a year of begging him to teach me to make boots, (he didn’t think girls could do that kind of work), I began my apprenticeship with him in 1981.

 

In 1985, I opened my own shop in Clovis, New Mexico. Later that year, I moved to McIntosh, New Mexico and then in 2001 came to Albuquerque, New Mexico where my home shop is to this day.

In the late 1980s, I was approached by the New Mexico Arts Division to participate in their Master Artist and Apprenticeship Program. I taught several students through that program. After moving to Albuquerque, I started teaching boot making privately as well as through the apprenticeship program. So far I’ve taught 38 students and still booking in.

I have had my work displayed in several museum exhibits. Articles featuring my work have been published in New Mexico, True West, Western Horseman, Bravo, Reach,Western Styles,American Way, Shop Talk, and Penthouse magazines and several newspaper articles including Albuquerque Journal.

Hey, there!
I’m Deana McGuffin.

 
How it all started:

 

Boots are in my blood…

I am a third generation New Mexico boot maker. My grandfather, C.C. McGuffin, opened a boot shop in Carrizozo, New Mexico in 1917. He was, what the boot business referred to as a bottomer. In those days many shops employed top makers who fit the lasts and built the boot tops, then handed the tops off to the bottomers to put the tops on the lasts, and complete the sole and heel construction. He purchased pre-made tops from companies like Blutcher and Olsen-Stelzer, then lasted and finished the bottoms. The family later moved to Roswell, New Mexico where my father L.W. McGuffin grew up. By the age of 12, my father was an accomplished boot/shoe repairman and often ran the Main Street shop. Over time, from observation of other top makers and trial and error, he eventually taught himself to build tops.

While Roswell was all abuzz from the infamous UFO crash, my parents were moving to Portales, New Mexico where my father opened his own shop. He later sold that shop and worked for my mother’s family business, becoming a mortician and funeral director. He had a small room in the back if the mortuary where he continued to build boot tops for a local boot maker, as well as his own custom orders. He also became an expert leather carver. In the early 1970s, he equipped a full boot shop at his home. After a year of begging him to teach me to make boots, (he didn’t think girls could do that kind of work), I began my apprenticeship with him in 1981.

 

In 1985, I opened my own shop in Clovis, New Mexico. Later that year, I moved to McIntosh, New Mexico and then in 2001 came to Albuquerque, New Mexico where my home shop is to this day.

In the late 1980s, I was approached by the New Mexico Arts Division to participate in their Master Artist and Apprenticeship Program. I taught several students through that program. After moving to Albuquerque, I started teaching boot making privately as well as through the apprenticeship program. So far I’ve taught 38 students and still booking in.

I have had my work displayed in several museum exhibits. Articles featuring my work have been published in New Mexico, True West, Western Horseman, Bravo, Reach,Western Styles,American Way, Shop Talk, and Penthouse magazines and several newspaper articles including Albuquerque Journal.

Hey, there!
I’m Deana McGuffin.

 
How it all started:

 

Boots are in my blood…

I am a third generation New Mexico boot maker. My grandfather, C.C. McGuffin, opened a boot shop in Carrizozo, New Mexico in 1917. He was, what the boot business referred to as a bottomer. In those days many shops employed top makers who fit the lasts and built the boot tops, then handed the tops off to the bottomers to put the tops on the lasts, and complete the sole and heel construction. He purchased pre-made tops from companies like Blutcher and Olsen-Stelzer, then lasted and finished the bottoms. The family later moved to Roswell, New Mexico where my father L.W. McGuffin grew up. By the age of 12, my father was an accomplished boot/shoe repairman and often ran the Main Street shop. Over time, from observation of other top makers and trial and error, he eventually taught himself to build tops.

While Roswell was all abuzz from the infamous UFO crash, my parents were moving to Portales, New Mexico where my father opened his own shop. He later sold that shop and worked for my mother’s family business, becoming a mortician and funeral director. He had a small room in the back if the mortuary where he continued to build boot tops for a local boot maker, as well as his own custom orders. He also became an expert leather carver. In the early 1970s, he equipped a full boot shop at his home. After a year of begging him to teach me to make boots, (he didn’t think girls could do that kind of work), I began my apprenticeship with him in 1981.

 

In 1985, I opened my own shop in Clovis, New Mexico. Later that year, I moved to McIntosh, New Mexico and then in 2001 came to Albuquerque, New Mexico where my home shop is to this day.

In the late 1980s, I was approached by the New Mexico Arts Division to participate in their Master Artist and Apprenticeship Program. I taught several students through that program. After moving to Albuquerque, I started teaching boot making privately as well as through the apprenticeship program. So far I’ve taught 38 students and still booking in.

I have had my work displayed in several museum exhibits. Articles featuring my work have been published in New Mexico, True West, Western Horseman, Bravo, Reach,Western Styles,American Way, Shop Talk, and Penthouse magazines and several newspaper articles including Albuquerque Journal.