some friends wanted to learn to make soft children's shoes like the ones i used to make for ella, so this morning i hosted another shoe school. i taught them how to take the child's foot measurements, how to draft the pattern, then they cut and sewed shoes!
one of these friends was at the first shoe school i taught--she was very pregnant then--that baby is now 18 months old!
click any picture to see an enlargement.
shoes made of fleece outers, flannel lining, and denim soles:
shoes made of leather outers and soles (no lining):
and the newly-minted cobblers themselves:
now click here to see the leather shoes in action!
i'm thinking on making this a regular event--maybe four times a year--because i have so much fun being in the presence of people who are making things for their kids. they bring a much different spirit to the cutting table, one that infuses the work with a very special love.
BTW, the pictures don't do the shoes justice--they are really really good. you would not be able to tell they were handmade.
