JEM Report post Posted March 28, 2009 Here is a photo of a shoe a New York student of mine, Marika Verploegh Chasse, finished today. She did a great job and the gimping and broguing is very well done. This is her fourth pair. Enjoy! Janne Melkersson www.melkershoes.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted March 28, 2009 Snazzy!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scottishshoemaker Report post Posted March 28, 2009 Very nice work, did she do all the work herself? ie:- pattern cutting, closing, overlasting and finishing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wyvern Report post Posted March 28, 2009 Those are awsome! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carr52 Report post Posted March 28, 2009 Those are some really nice shoes. They may not be my style but but ya gotta give credit where credit is due. Tell her nice work. Just a student now so can you imagine what lies ahead with her skills. Tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JEM Report post Posted March 28, 2009 (edited) Thank you guys for the compliment of her work, I am sure it will encourage her for the next pair! I made the last and she did the rest. I am sure there are many ways of teaching shoemaking, the way which work best for me is to instruct the student by making the first pair together i.e. I make a half pair and the student the other half following my instructions. The second pair the student will be on her own but I am in the shop and will assists if needed. They are made all by hand except the post machine for the closing of the upper leather. Janne Melkersson melkershoes.com Edited March 28, 2009 by JEM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Big Papa Leather Report post Posted March 28, 2009 Man, I'd sport those in a heartbeat. Tell her she did good. Allen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CitizenKate Report post Posted March 29, 2009 I've never made shoes before, but to my eyes, the work is very fine, especially knowing the experience of the maker. I read the history page on the Melker Shoes and Boots web site. What a great tradition your family has built! Kate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted March 29, 2009 Great workmanship often reflects great teaching. Nice job! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JEM Report post Posted March 29, 2009 Kate, UKRay, thank you for the compliment of her work! Kate, Yea, I was lucky to have both my father and grand father in the trade and even though my father is 80 years old and don't make shoes anymore we still talk a lot about the trade. Working with leather is for many, including me, kind of a life long relation. Here is the link to some shoemaking books http://www.thehcc.org/ click on The guild library and down load Golding Vol 1, 4 and 6 and it will not take long until you make your first pair of shoes:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bustedlifter Report post Posted March 30, 2009 WOW! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Talfuchre Report post Posted March 31, 2009 It is funny. You sort of forget that all shoes were made by hand until very recently. These look great! TF Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JEM Report post Posted April 1, 2009 Talfuchre, thank you for the compliment! Quote; It is funny. You sort of forget that all shoes were made by hand until very recently. I don't know what you mean by "very recently" but as fare as I know factory made shoes in the meaning that machines where involved in the process started in Northampton, England in the 1870's when Mr Charles Goodyear invented the welt sewing method by machine. The government had to put soldiers out on the streets in both London and Northampton because there was riots among hand shoe makers who lost their work. Since that time I am afraid that hand shoe making have been only for those who could afford it, it ended up being on every mans feet. These days hand shoemaking in the old meaning is a rare thing. For those interested here is two links to factory made shoes in the 1930's USA. http://www.archive.org/details/story_of_shoes_1 http://www.archive.org/details/story_of_shoes_2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
