Thursday, September 30, 2010
Pictures From A Train...
I've been out out of town since last week. Here are some pictures I shot with my cell phone on the train from Michigan yesterday morning - the fog made everything eerie and beautiful...
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Update September 25, 2010
I've activated some changes that I started working on at the last update, namely the pages feature.
Below the title banner, you will now find links for three pages (more to come!):
Home is the main blog page for navigating form the other pages.
There is now an about me page - I do take on commissions, so feel free to contact me about potential projects!
The final page is the first of some portfolio pages - this one is specifically a footwear portfolio. I will be adding to this with new work, as well as older- as I dig through my archives. The current images are sample sheets showing a variety of works in progress, which I hope you will enjoy. More pages to come will include fashion design, and miscellaneous including ancient history from college.
My search for fit models continues - if you think you are a candidate for being a fit model, please send me an e-mail with "fit model" in the subject.
Below the title banner, you will now find links for three pages (more to come!):
Home is the main blog page for navigating form the other pages.
There is now an about me page - I do take on commissions, so feel free to contact me about potential projects!
The final page is the first of some portfolio pages - this one is specifically a footwear portfolio. I will be adding to this with new work, as well as older- as I dig through my archives. The current images are sample sheets showing a variety of works in progress, which I hope you will enjoy. More pages to come will include fashion design, and miscellaneous including ancient history from college.
My search for fit models continues - if you think you are a candidate for being a fit model, please send me an e-mail with "fit model" in the subject.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Fit Models Needed, Happy Accidents and Other Projects
(Edit: I've changed the e-mail attached to this post and site!)
Over the weekend I finished putting together two styles of fitter shoes on the flat last. They were delayed because I need to make some last minute changes to the last after pulling over what was supposed to be the first fitter.
So, I need two to three people to be fit models - from last weeks post:
My sample size is equivalent to a ladies size 8 in a medium width (edit: if you happen to be at a shoe store that uses one- get yourself measured on a ladies Brannock Device). I get about by bicycle and If you are within eight or so miles from Garfield park or downtown Chicago, I will travel to you (if you are in close proximity to a CTA train, I might travel further). The initial measuring and evaluation process should take under an hour, and subsequent sessions will likely be only a few minutes depending on whether there are multiple styles to evaluate.
There are multiple stages in the fit process:
1) Determine if a candidate is suitable as a fit model. This involves measuring and evaluating a persons foot - persons who have known issues should inform me of those prior to the "interview" with your feet (please keep in mind that the lasts I design have a fairly generous foot-bed at the ball). If a person falls within the needed range, we move on to step 2.
2) collect data by trying out a fitter shoe/sample on multiple fit models to be used in adjusting the sample last.
3) After a base fit is established, follow up sessions will be used to evaluate individual shoe styles.
Compensation will be discussed on an individual basis. If you are interested in taking part in this, please send me an e-mail at this address with "fit model" in the topic:
curious@riotgeer.com
I'll continue developing designs for the "collection", but until I can do fit evaluations, the flat last will be put on the backburner. I'm pretty excited about this last, so I'm hoping to get some responses for potential fit models soon.
______________
I thought I'd share some details on the fitter. I designed the lacing placket on the tied shoe on a whim, and I really like it. I think I can incorporate it into a collection of styles I'm developing for this last:
I like happy accidents that can inspire details in a project. While lacing up the fitter, the lace got twisted and caught on the toe- this could be a neat detail if I can work it into a toe cap or some-such so it is functional:
______________
Other items:
While I'm setting aside the flat last development until fitting, I'm going to try to make progress on the bike shoe.
I'm also working on some small cut and sew items that I can make up for sale. The small bags got stalled in a big way (ridiculous technical details - blah), but I'm hoping to make some progress while working on other new items.
The leather ties have been languishing in Etsy oblivion - I haven't gotten any feedback on them and it's frustrating. They are kind of stand-alone items right now - they need other similarly styled offerings nearby to grab attention. Something else to figure out - input on how to market them or even other items (related or not) you'd like to see would be greatly appreciated.
That's all for now - time to get to the studio!
Over the weekend I finished putting together two styles of fitter shoes on the flat last. They were delayed because I need to make some last minute changes to the last after pulling over what was supposed to be the first fitter.
So, I need two to three people to be fit models - from last weeks post:
My sample size is equivalent to a ladies size 8 in a medium width (edit: if you happen to be at a shoe store that uses one- get yourself measured on a ladies Brannock Device). I get about by bicycle and If you are within eight or so miles from Garfield park or downtown Chicago, I will travel to you (if you are in close proximity to a CTA train, I might travel further). The initial measuring and evaluation process should take under an hour, and subsequent sessions will likely be only a few minutes depending on whether there are multiple styles to evaluate.
There are multiple stages in the fit process:
1) Determine if a candidate is suitable as a fit model. This involves measuring and evaluating a persons foot - persons who have known issues should inform me of those prior to the "interview" with your feet (please keep in mind that the lasts I design have a fairly generous foot-bed at the ball). If a person falls within the needed range, we move on to step 2.
2) collect data by trying out a fitter shoe/sample on multiple fit models to be used in adjusting the sample last.
3) After a base fit is established, follow up sessions will be used to evaluate individual shoe styles.
Compensation will be discussed on an individual basis. If you are interested in taking part in this, please send me an e-mail at this address with "fit model" in the topic:
curious@riotgeer.com
I'll continue developing designs for the "collection", but until I can do fit evaluations, the flat last will be put on the backburner. I'm pretty excited about this last, so I'm hoping to get some responses for potential fit models soon.
______________
I thought I'd share some details on the fitter. I designed the lacing placket on the tied shoe on a whim, and I really like it. I think I can incorporate it into a collection of styles I'm developing for this last:
I like happy accidents that can inspire details in a project. While lacing up the fitter, the lace got twisted and caught on the toe- this could be a neat detail if I can work it into a toe cap or some-such so it is functional:
______________
Other items:
While I'm setting aside the flat last development until fitting, I'm going to try to make progress on the bike shoe.
I'm also working on some small cut and sew items that I can make up for sale. The small bags got stalled in a big way (ridiculous technical details - blah), but I'm hoping to make some progress while working on other new items.
The leather ties have been languishing in Etsy oblivion - I haven't gotten any feedback on them and it's frustrating. They are kind of stand-alone items right now - they need other similarly styled offerings nearby to grab attention. Something else to figure out - input on how to market them or even other items (related or not) you'd like to see would be greatly appreciated.
That's all for now - time to get to the studio!
Changes to the blog 9-13-10
I've just made some substantial changes to the blog - It's getting pretty crowded in the sidebar, but I think the added stuff might make it interesting/useful.
There is now an e-mail link in the sidebar, to contact me at: curious@riotgeer.com
There is now a sharing link below the posts - Just click on the social media icon of your choice to share it with your friends!
I've made a "pages" link - this is intended more for the future (hopefully soon?) when I want to place information that will be pertinent for longer than the attention span of a blog post.
There is now an e-mail link in the sidebar, to contact me at: curious@riotgeer.com
There is now a sharing link below the posts - Just click on the social media icon of your choice to share it with your friends!
I've made a "pages" link - this is intended more for the future (hopefully soon?) when I want to place information that will be pertinent for longer than the attention span of a blog post.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Deadlines, Samples and Updates
(Edit: I've changed the e-mail associated with this post and site!)
No pretty pictures this post - I've had to put priority on some computer work for the last couple of weeks, so not much time in the studio- I'll be sure to post some of the results.
____________________
The new last and fit models
This week I'll finish the samples on the flat last, so starting this weekend I'll be needing two to three volunteers to try out the new last:
There are multiple stages in the fit process:
1) Determine if a candidate is suitable as a fit model. This involves measuring and evaluating a persons foot - persons who have known issues should inform me of those prior to the "interview" with your feet (please keep in mind that the lasts I design have a fairly generous foot-bed at the ball). If a person falls within the needed range, we move on to step 2.
2) collect data by trying out a fitter shoe/sample on multiple fit models to be used in adjusting the sample last.
3) After a base fit is established, follow up sessions will be used to evaluate individual shoe styles.
My sample size is equivalent to a ladies size 8 in a medium width. I get about by bicycle - If you are within eight or so miles from Garfield park or downtown Chicago, I will travel to you (if you are in close proximity to a CTA train, I might travel further). The initial measuring and evaluation process should take under an hour, and subsequent sessions will likely be only a few minutes depending on whether there are multiple styles to evaluate.
Compensation will be discussed on an individual basis. If you are interested in taking part in this, please send me an e-mail at this address:
curious@riotgeer.com
____________________
Update on the bike shoes
After the previous post I mocked up an insole with fiberglass and epoxy reinforcement. It's been many years since I've experimented with composites, so I was expecting some learning curve.
I need to consult with someone knowledgeable in composites to help nail down the process. In the picture there are significant voids in the laminates and I'm not sure where the problems were introduced. Yes, that is a popsicle stick embedded in the fiberglass:
I'm not at all comfortable with my dust collection system in regards to grinding fiberglass - I'm going to have to put this element on hold until I can solve it.
No pretty pictures this post - I've had to put priority on some computer work for the last couple of weeks, so not much time in the studio- I'll be sure to post some of the results.
____________________
The new last and fit models
This week I'll finish the samples on the flat last, so starting this weekend I'll be needing two to three volunteers to try out the new last:
There are multiple stages in the fit process:
1) Determine if a candidate is suitable as a fit model. This involves measuring and evaluating a persons foot - persons who have known issues should inform me of those prior to the "interview" with your feet (please keep in mind that the lasts I design have a fairly generous foot-bed at the ball). If a person falls within the needed range, we move on to step 2.
2) collect data by trying out a fitter shoe/sample on multiple fit models to be used in adjusting the sample last.
3) After a base fit is established, follow up sessions will be used to evaluate individual shoe styles.
My sample size is equivalent to a ladies size 8 in a medium width. I get about by bicycle - If you are within eight or so miles from Garfield park or downtown Chicago, I will travel to you (if you are in close proximity to a CTA train, I might travel further). The initial measuring and evaluation process should take under an hour, and subsequent sessions will likely be only a few minutes depending on whether there are multiple styles to evaluate.
Compensation will be discussed on an individual basis. If you are interested in taking part in this, please send me an e-mail at this address:
curious@riotgeer.com
____________________
Update on the bike shoes
After the previous post I mocked up an insole with fiberglass and epoxy reinforcement. It's been many years since I've experimented with composites, so I was expecting some learning curve.
I need to consult with someone knowledgeable in composites to help nail down the process. In the picture there are significant voids in the laminates and I'm not sure where the problems were introduced. Yes, that is a popsicle stick embedded in the fiberglass:
I'm not at all comfortable with my dust collection system in regards to grinding fiberglass - I'm going to have to put this element on hold until I can solve it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)