Well, the leather soles are on and the lasts are out!
The Velo shoes are in boxes and waiting to meet a special stitching machine before I can put the heels and rubber half-soles on. I'm looking into shoe repair shops to do the work and I'll be taking them in next week after I do a little extra research.
It's not quite the weekend, but have a good one! Please enjoy the slide show of the Velo shoes so far...
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Cleaning House
Totally not an update about the studio.
I desperately need to clean out some stuff from the apartment - and maybe you need a couple last minute gifts? I've posted several items to Craigslist:
Home Pilates Machine in good used condition - Sold!
Pedal exerciser never removed from its shipping box
Collectible Voldemort wand recreation
Dress watch with black croc-print band
Gothic coffin case/purse with metal hardware - Sold!
IKEA wall-mounted folding table never opened - Sold!
Hopefully soon, I'll have time to go through my excess bike accessories and parts as well. For those of you hoping for crafting and making items - once I'm done with the bike shoe trial - I'm planning on making a serious effort to clean out stuff from the studio.
I desperately need to clean out some stuff from the apartment - and maybe you need a couple last minute gifts? I've posted several items to Craigslist:
Home Pilates Machine in good used condition - Sold!
Pedal exerciser never removed from its shipping box
Collectible Voldemort wand recreation
Dress watch with black croc-print band
Gothic coffin case/purse with metal hardware - Sold!
IKEA wall-mounted folding table never opened - Sold!
Hopefully soon, I'll have time to go through my excess bike accessories and parts as well. For those of you hoping for crafting and making items - once I'm done with the bike shoe trial - I'm planning on making a serious effort to clean out stuff from the studio.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Soling the Velos
Quick update - I've attached the soles to the first ten pairs of the Velo shoes. I started with the duplicate sizes first, so I'm making speedy progress getting the duplicate sizes lasted and caught up with the rest.
Once all of the shoes have the leather soles attached, I'll take them to be sewn with a special stitching machine I do not have. Once that is done, they'll get their rubber half-soles and heels.
"Like" my page on Facebook to see more process WIP pictures!
Once all of the shoes have the leather soles attached, I'll take them to be sewn with a special stitching machine I do not have. Once that is done, they'll get their rubber half-soles and heels.
"Like" my page on Facebook to see more process WIP pictures!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Do you Facebook?
I did it. I created a Facebook page for my work and there is now a "Like" button over there on the right hand side of the screen, above the blog description. Among other things, I'll be posting more WIP photos so people can see what I'm working on between blog posts. Go ahead - you know you want to!
In other news, the lasting of the Velo Shoes is going well. Currently, all of the lasts are occupied, so the remaining pairs must be patient.
The lasting that I've been showing off so far have not been cemented to the insole boards yet - if you were my students, I would have called it pre-lasting.
I have started cementing! These are the ones with more uppers waiting in the wings:
This is good!
In other news, the lasting of the Velo Shoes is going well. Currently, all of the lasts are occupied, so the remaining pairs must be patient.
The lasting that I've been showing off so far have not been cemented to the insole boards yet - if you were my students, I would have called it pre-lasting.
I have started cementing! These are the ones with more uppers waiting in the wings:
This is good!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Current Projects and Events!
I've been pretty busy the last few days, so I thought I would post another update.
Lasting continues on the Velo shoes. Between pairs I've been working on some other components and progress is becoming steady.
Just as a point of curiosity, these uppers were designed to last easier/faster - and they are - sort of. Simply being unlined speeds up the process greatly by having less layers and steps, but physically they've been more demanding due to components and materials. The heat activated stiffener material requires additional dexterity between grabbing different tools while warming the material and pulling it into place. The spread of material characteristics adds some intrigue - all of them are suitable, but there is 'just' enough variety to make very distinct differences in the processes and how I compensate for more or less malleability.
I'm using a number of techniques that are either new to me, or I just don't use very often because there isn't any advantage when I'm making things one at a time. I am keeping a list of considerations for the next round - things involving patterns, techniques, and materials/component considerations. I'll definitely have a good idea of how things can be sped up to avoid many of the delays of this trial run.
My other projects are gaining momentum as well.
Currently, I'm in the process of adjusting two pairs of lasts for some boot projects. Soon I'll be fitting those, so pictures will follow once the designs get approved.
I'm working on a few new items for Etsy and Wolfbait and I hope to put a few out there in time for the current gift giving season. A note about the Strap-on Neckties: the current ones were a test batch I was selling at a reduced price. The next time I make a new batch, the price will be going up - so, get them cheap while you can.
__________
On Saturday evening, I made it out into the world and actually interacted with humans, hurrah!
I like talking to bike folks and meeting framebuilders, and Rob Vandermark of Seven Cycles was in town to speak at the Get A Grip bike fit studio.
It was very cool to hear about the methods Seven uses to build bikes out of titanium, steel, and carbon fiber. Virtually all of their production is custom, so they work with fit studios like Get A Grip who interface with the customers.
I got to chat about the company and a bit about the region. The Boston area has quite a framebuilding history and a special place in my heart , so I hope to get out there again soon. My schedule was very tight the last time I was out there, and I missed Seven when I was visiting framebuilders, but I'll correct that next time.
I was busy talking and listening, so I only took a few pictures of some stuff I've been geeking out over lately:
Until later!
Lasting continues on the Velo shoes. Between pairs I've been working on some other components and progress is becoming steady.
Just as a point of curiosity, these uppers were designed to last easier/faster - and they are - sort of. Simply being unlined speeds up the process greatly by having less layers and steps, but physically they've been more demanding due to components and materials. The heat activated stiffener material requires additional dexterity between grabbing different tools while warming the material and pulling it into place. The spread of material characteristics adds some intrigue - all of them are suitable, but there is 'just' enough variety to make very distinct differences in the processes and how I compensate for more or less malleability.
I'm using a number of techniques that are either new to me, or I just don't use very often because there isn't any advantage when I'm making things one at a time. I am keeping a list of considerations for the next round - things involving patterns, techniques, and materials/component considerations. I'll definitely have a good idea of how things can be sped up to avoid many of the delays of this trial run.
My other projects are gaining momentum as well.
Currently, I'm in the process of adjusting two pairs of lasts for some boot projects. Soon I'll be fitting those, so pictures will follow once the designs get approved.
I'm working on a few new items for Etsy and Wolfbait and I hope to put a few out there in time for the current gift giving season. A note about the Strap-on Neckties: the current ones were a test batch I was selling at a reduced price. The next time I make a new batch, the price will be going up - so, get them cheap while you can.
__________
On Saturday evening, I made it out into the world and actually interacted with humans, hurrah!
I like talking to bike folks and meeting framebuilders, and Rob Vandermark of Seven Cycles was in town to speak at the Get A Grip bike fit studio.
It was very cool to hear about the methods Seven uses to build bikes out of titanium, steel, and carbon fiber. Virtually all of their production is custom, so they work with fit studios like Get A Grip who interface with the customers.
I got to chat about the company and a bit about the region. The Boston area has quite a framebuilding history and a special place in my heart , so I hope to get out there again soon. My schedule was very tight the last time I was out there, and I missed Seven when I was visiting framebuilders, but I'll correct that next time.
I was busy talking and listening, so I only took a few pictures of some stuff I've been geeking out over lately:
Until later!
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