Thanks for visiting Chawne's Choes! My name is Chawne ("Shawn"), and these are my custom, hand-painted Choes ("shoes").
I am a former cowboy boot designer and an artist of ten-plus years, now turned hobbyist entrepreneur. I hail from central Pennsylvania, and I moved out west to run a high-end cowboy boot company just after graduating from West Virginia University in the early 2000s. For over seven years, I split my time between California and Texas, running the small cowboy boot factory in El Paso and the retail shop in Brentwood, Los Angeles where the boots were sold. All of our boots were made individually and by-hand in the United States, by leather masters who had been working the (almost long-lost) trade all their lives. This gave me the unparalleled opportunity not only to learn how to put together a boot (and other leather wear, such as belts, vests, jackets, and cuffs) by hand, or to hand tool the leather, but also to understand and appreciate the value and beauty of such an art form, and to build a business philosophy based on tradesmanship, loyalty, and fairness.
While designing custom boots for celebrities and boot lovers alike--such as Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger, poker champion Jennifer Tilly, and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, to name a few--I honed my drawing and entrepreneurial skills. But ultimately, my favorite part of my time in the western industry was meeting new people and designing custom items that matched their personalities and interests. I am now hoping to bring the joy of owning a custom item to everyone.
Chawne's Choes ultimately was born out of an attempt to save a pair of shoes from an oil spill! My girlfriend bought me a pair of Vans for my birthday in 2010. When I accidentally spilled oil smack in the middle of my shoes while trying to fix a sewing machine, I decided to paint over the pattern to rescue her new gift to me--and let's face it: to rescue myself from her wrath! The new design looked alright (featured left) so I decided to take the idea a little more seriously, and I painted her a pair for her birthday the following month. Friends and strangers alike went crazy asking her where she bought them. I've painted her a new pair for her birthday every year, and I've been selling custom designs ever since.
All of my shoes are hand-painted, and no two shall ever be the same. I am open to any theme for custom design, no restrictions on shoe type, material, or color. As I update my Shop and Gallery you will see I have customized pumps and heels, boots and booties, open- and close-toed shoes, and lace-up and slip-on sneakers. If you want glitter, crystals, bells, or whistles, let's talk about it.
All shoes are painted with high quality, flexible leather paint and sprayed for water resistance. I have found in wearing my own art that the paint outlasts the shoe! Take a look at the photo on the right: The shoe has taken a beating, but the paint remains mostly in its original form--painted in 2011, photographed in 2015! As I find and procure new tools and materials I will expand the line to include lots of other items as well. I have created the " Other Gifts" section which will house everything from late nite experiments to Old favorites from El Paso.
In addition to leather, in recent years I have expanded my art to many different mediums. Wood burning, wood carving, plasma cutting, welding, Hand embroidery, and coming soon precious stone and metal working. If you have an idea for a custom gift for someone and just cannot find it anywhere, I'd love to hear about it, brain storm with you and see if we can bring your vision to life. Want a custom mailbox for your favorite neighbor? Chawne's Choes can carve you one out of wood or paint that old shabby one so it looks "oh so good!"! New Cutting board as a housewarming gift for your newly wed childhood chum? Chawne's Choes can get it done! Need a Custom collar for the doe eyed leader of your pack? Chawne's Choes has got your back! Maybe you have absolutely No idea what the heck you want. You just know that you want something thats smaller than a mule and too cool for school? Pehaps a case for your favorite tool? A monogrammed towel to wipe your newborn's Drool? Custom cushion to put on your Dad's most famous stool? A kick- ass sign for your newly built pool? A beautiful box for your family's jewels? A distinguished portrait of Ghostbuster's Zuhl? I promise to always be 100% down to at the very least help you kick your ideas around. Eventually "the right one" will finally be found. So don't be shy, let's erase the frown! Better yet turn it right upside down! We'll customize that 50 year old wedding gown. Transform you into the talk of the town, or the coolest Mom in the Underground.