Original Folding Boot

I was rummaging around my old photo files and found some old work. Below are some pictures of the original model for these boots:


The original models were done with the same Italian leather for the vamp, but the outer shaft is in a locally made garment leather and lined in blue and pink plaid flannel!


I had a lot of fun with the materials.

I'm also throwing in a picture of another pair in progress:

Wheels!

After the loss of my Sojourn, I had to find another bike. A while ago, I had sat on a Raleigh Mojave 2.0 to check size, and found it comfortable. I looked in numerous places for a comparatively priced bike that I wasn't appalled by and went with it:


It's not the kind of bike I'm usually into, but it is pretty comfortable, and I will be able to upgrade things easily enough. Before I took it home, I had the shop install my fenders and rack previously installed on my Schwinn. And since most things look good in leather, I've splurged and installed a Brooks B-17 saddle:



Not the best photo- improvements to follow.

Bicycle Shoe Project

One of my recent fascinations are bicycle shoes. Last year I picked up a pair of older (early 90's/late 80's NOS?) SIDI bike shoes- which I promptly took apart to see how they tick. A few days ago I picked up another pair of Italian shoes that look older than they really are (apparently). The shoes are interesting for a few reasons: the uppers are of an incredibly simple pattern, the combination of detailing and material choices to define the functionality and the hardware requirements.

I'm using these shoes as reference pieces to explore a bit of performance footwear, combining full leather construction with the functionality required of a bicycling shoe.

Instead of creating an original last for this exploration, I've had one of my lastmakers pick an athletic last model with a high toe-spring from his library to copy. Pictured is the pair of lasts, One of them is carefully taped for patterning.



I'll update on this project as it progresses.

Erick

Handmade Show Slideshow

As promised a few posts back, I've created a slideshow from the photo essay on the creation of shoes. Later tonight I'll post some on that other project.

The process I use allows me to give preferential treatment to certain leathers, and gives a certain look. It is a combination of contemporary cement construction and a rustic "veldtschoen" (field shoe)- also called a stitch-down. The result is a shoe that is quite sturdy.

Enjoy:

Gunton 2007

Lest anyone who hasn't looked at my website (which hasn't been updated in ages) think I only use the Elf last, I thought I would post a pair of shoes I did last spring.

The design is a classic oxford with a button closure. I used a last I started developing for mens or menswear styles- I call it the Gunton, named after my father and grandfather. The last was introduced at the One of A Kind Show and Sale 2006 (!).



I'm really pleased with the color combinations- rust quarters with black galosh and antiqued brass buttons. The upper leathers are locally made here in Chicago, while the lining is a veg-tan of unknown origin.

These are pretty typical of the aesthetic I've been developing over the last few years. If time allows, I'm going to pull together a handstitched shoe on this last.

Erick
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Up next: I'm currently working on a bicycle style shoe, which I'll post some pictures in a few days.

April 1st- no joking around, please

Here is a picture of my new bike- I'm still waiting on the new stem, but I'm slowly mounting some of my old road bike accessories.


The weekend it arrived I road it out to the Chicago Bike Show at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Somewhere around fifteen miles to get there, rode back about ten miles after a bus ride to more familiar surroundings. It didn't even occur to me that one of the things I picked up at the show was a bike map of Chicago and northeast Illinois (slaps hand on forehead). The route I took out there was pretty sketchy once traffic picked up for the day.

I thought I would include a couple of pictures of a pair of feral cats that have adopted us.


We affectionately call them "the Buddies" since they've been joined at the hip since they were kittens in the alley. We had been saying hi and talking to them for months until one day Orange followed me home and sat outside the door in wait. During the worst of the Chicago winter, we started giving him our leftovers before graduating to bag of kibble (our cat Lori has special dietary needs, so she doesn't share). Eventually Orange brought along Little Girl- a scruffy, timid and cross-eyed tabby- we think they are brother and sister. For feral cats they certainly don't act the part- we're pretty sure one of our neighbors was also feeding them for a while and at the same time as us (sneaky!). Little girl is still skittish, but both of them like us to hang out on the porch while they eat. Orange likes to get his head scratched and won't be getting any points for being an independent spirit (though he guards the porch from other cats fiercely).