does anyone make shoes?

[leatherworker]

does anyone make shoes? i was just sitting around and thinking of stuff i could do, or at least try to do, and shoes popped into my head. is there a good shoe making website?? book?

look forward to the help.

take care

amy

[bruce johnson]

Amy,

A forum I am on is the honorable cordwainers colloquy. They have a website - www.thehcc.org. Originally I joined to pick up some info on machines and exotic leathers, stuff like that. These guys are mostly traditional handmakers from around the world. The more I am around them, the more I have decided to buy my boots and shoes, and stick to what I know. They are immensely helpful, very traditional, and particular. They are also quite a philosophical group. We have little post-its around the house of their quotes. There are a couple of first time makers on there, basically learning and getting a lot of help and advice from masters of the gentle craft. Kind of the transcending philosphy there in a nutshell is that "good handmade techniques are fundamental. If you choose to step down to factory methods later, then that is your call". I like looking at the pictures in the gallery section too. These people can inlay like nobody's business.

[Mike Craw]

Hey Leatherworker!

This past September in "Other Specialties" CitizenKate posted a site on Bespoke Shoemaking. If you click on her post, it will take you to a series fo smoe fascinating videos about hand making footwear. I highly recommend it!

Mike

[Luke Hatley]

leatherworker:AMY IF YOU CAN FIND IT AT A RESONABLY PRICE THIS IS

A BOOK TO GET"MAKE IT YOURSELF SHOE BOOK"by

Christine Lewis Clark. I my self dont want to make the ultimate

shoe or boot. I would like to hone in on the 18th century straight last

shoe. I do make, for the living history enthusist a shoe pack moccissan.

"go for it"

[cem]

There was a few videos on You Tube that dealt with shoe making if you put in leatherwork it should bring them up. I haven't watched them so can't say whether they are any good or not but they may help you to get started.

[scottishshoemaker]

What exacty do you want to know?

[sharonsimpleshoemaker]

Greetings, I recently joined leatherworker.net, and am a shoemaker and a teacher of shoemaking. you are invited to check out my website, www.simpleshoemaking.com. I teach "stitch-down" shoemaking, meaning that when the upper is pulled down over the last, when it comes in contact with the soling material that has been tacked to the bottom of the last (which has been cut to extend 1/4" around the edge of the last), it turns OUT and is cemented then stitched to the soling. The upper is made the same as is described in Bespoke Shoemaking but the lasting process is ver different and much easier, in my opinion. And, there is always that little edge around the shoe and it doesn't have potential for looking very sophisticated. But, if you are comfortable wearing such a shoe, there are infinite styles, designs, etc you can make by this process; the main thing I don't make using this process is high heels. I can imagine beautiful carving can be made on the shoes, clogs, etc, look forward to conversing about this process. best wishes, Sharon

[Luke Hatley]

welcome Sharon, thanks for the posting. I have had your book for a long time and it has been very benifical to me in making the Shoe Pack Moccisians.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Luke Hatley