I'm outdoing myself for sparse posting, so here is an update on whats been happening!


For the past year I've been pulling together my mechanics training and ideas about bikes and biking - I'm in the process of opening a shop in Lansing: coming soon will be VeloGeer, LLC, where i will specialize in building specialty wheels, wheel service, and selling a selection of bike accessories for adventure biking, with a small DIY section. Check out VeloGeer - it's a work in progress, and it mentions some ideas that wont fit in the space I landed in. It will be opening in Lansing's newest small business incubator, the Lansing Eastside Gateway at 615 E. Kalamazoo - the grand opening is on October 16th (Tuesday!). VeloGeer wont be ready yet, but come to see the vendor space!

In biking and social networking - myself and a few other folks have started a collaboration between the Salus Center - Lansing's LGBTQ center - and the Lansing Bike Co-op, called the Women/Trans/Queer Adventure Club. This is for folks identifying in those categories, interested in outdoor adventures, such as biking and camping, socializing, and sharing skills. Inspired by the WTF Bikexplorers, we wanted to create an outlet for underrepresented folks interested in the outdoors to socialize, and have a space to breathe in what are very trying times for a lot of us. It isn't exclusively for biking, but it is the main focus for most of the organizers. If this is in your wheelhouse, look for the group on Facebook at: W/T/Q Adventure Club. Currently, I am hosting nighttime rides on the second and fourth Wednesday nights, as weather permits - we leave from the Co-op (1715 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing) at 8:00PM.



Lastly, I'm attempting to be better about publishing blog posts. On this - my personal blog - I'll share my creative stuff like knitting and sewing, and perhaps the occasional rant or rave.

Don't forget it's just three easy steps to disaster:

Travel... Traveling... Community

Travel...

Whats the term? Busmans holiday, I think?

Sort of like last Fall when I went to Seattle as a side trip when i went to take the Professional Mechanics and Shop Operations course at United Bicycle Institute in Portland, OR...

...Except this time I went to Seattle to visit a friend, and took a side trip to Portland to take a class: I am now a DT Swiss certified wheelbuilder!

Lemme build your wheels - I have a shiny sticker!

Snarkyness aside - I am a certified bicycle mechanic and wheelbuilder. Nothing replaces experience - so I do welcome opportunities to repair bikes and build wheels. I am particularly interested in promoting the use of dynamo hubs and bike travel, and will proselytize given the opportunity.

Traveling...

Coming up next week - solstice weekend - is the Swift Campout, international call to go bike camping!

A couple friends are going to ride to a private campsite, and we're being joined by a friend driving up from Chicago. I'm super excited.

...And community activities 

I'm also promoting my new Facebook group Let's Go Camping! Lansing!

And for a few months now I've been hosting Ladies Day FTW! at the Lansing Bike Co-op. It's an open day focused on various lady identifying folks to work on their bikes or learn to work on their bikes.

That's enough for now

!

That Vest - Take Two

Last fall, when I traveled to Portland for the professional bike mechanics course at United Bicycle Institute - I decided to start collecting patches. Instead of using the inexpensive quilted vest I picked up - I decided I needed a proper vessel to display them. Enter vest number one.

I had not yet dragged my remaining industrial sewing machine out of storage - so I put this one together using a heavily modified pattern, and my little workhorse of a vintage Pfaff:

Made from cotton duck fabric, It turned out pretty well - and received a couple alterations before (and during) getting me through the winter. There were a couple materials issues, machine difficulties - and surprisingly something that turned out better because I used an inappropriate sewing machine - heh.

For insulation, I used a crinkly semi-metallic potholder type batting, and a second layer of basic poly-batting. It often felt like I was wearing a potholder - fun! I machine quilted the duck, batting, and a wool-knit fabric for the lining. This turned out well even thought the knit fabric was the friendliest lining. All of the edges were bound in bias cut strips of sweatshirt fleece. I used a two-step process, so it went kind of slow - the pro was a nice soft edge. The zipper went in fairly well - with no wobbly edges! When I made alterations, I did use my heavy duty walking-foot machine to re-bind and re-install the zipper - some of the edges got a little stretched out and wobbly because the material gets pulled through the machine. In hindsight, a combination of better material control and appropriate interfacing would solved this (I was doing this on the fast and cheap side).

Take two!

I've really taken to wearing the vest. I'm writing this from the train on my way out to the PNW again - visiting a good friend and taking another certification course at UBI. This seemed like a good occasion to rebuild the vest with a pattern from scratch, and some design elements altered and added.

On a trip to Chicago, I picked up a sample of some Thinsulate batting  - it's lighter weight and actually intended for a garment. Woo! I used the same duck fabric, but for a lining, I wanted a woven material. While a wool would have been nice I opted for a fun plaid flannel I've had in my stash for years.

The pattern got an adjustment for the "v-neck" and snaps instead of a zipper - easily modifiable for another variation I'm thinking about. The pockets received a size adjustment allowing an experiment with the application and trims. The big new feature is a pair of rear zippered pockets that I'm pretty psyched about, and may replace the lower front pockets. 

Construction-wise, I used my binding attachment to trim all the edges in synthetic twill-tape. This makes for easy edge finishing and assembly, but I'll need to practice the application especially on curves. Like many of my projects, I'm treating this as a working prototype. I'm considering a few future revisions that might correct potential eccentricities, and make it better as a potential product - but that's another post.

Here's  my bike waiting for the train in Chicago

Shameless Marketing

Maybe I'll find new incentive to post more often!

I'm selling a Brother knitting machine on eBay right now:

look at me! I'm a knitting machine for sale!

I bought it a while back - and I was as excited as a kid could get - only I like hand knitting too much.

My future repetitive stress injury and carpel tunnel is your gain!

Time For My Annual Update

Seriously - I hang my head in shame.

But hey - enough of that.

I'm still obsessed with bikes and yarn -  I've changed up the blog just a little bit.

I'm still in Michigan - it's pretty obvious - and I'm probably more okay with the idea - I'm going to be here for a while.

Last year I started volunteering at the Lansing Bicycle Co-op (someone remind me to post a link). You'll find me there every Saturday - but the first Saturday of every month is reserved for our Ladies Day: FTW.

Another bike related thing is I took a vacation to the PNW to visit a friend in Seattle. While I was out there, I went down to Portland for two weeks to attend the Proffessional Bicycle Mechanics class at the United Bicycle Institute. It was my first time in that part of the country and I'm in love. I might be settling in Michigan, but I'm trying to make trips out there a regular thing.

I'm headed back to Seattle again, and visiting Portland to take the wheelbuilding course for the DT Swiss certification.

While I'm visiting my friend in Seattle, we're heading up to Orcas Island for hanging out with farm animals and a solo ride around the island.

Words, words, words... well, this post feels a bit disjointed (even by my standards). Hope I'll get back in the habit of updating this blog. I'm working on new stuff - there's definitely going to be things to share.

Housecleaning.

After two (three?) years since I've posted an update - I'm trying a little bit of housekeeping.

Without going into any detail (maybe in time) - my life has been flux. I moved back to Michigan in June of last year to help out my family - it made sense since I was under-employed in Chicago. I've been spending most of my time knitting and working on my bikes when I'm not otherwise engaged. This coming September I'll be riding on the two-day leg of the DALMAC - it's the shortest of all the routes, but I still need to get up to scratch.

I'm getting ready to change my hosting provider. I've basically been paying for decent hosting (without it actually being all that hot) - just to keep my riotgeer.com email suffix....

As long as I'm switching things up hosting-wise, I'm going to try and revive this blog - it will likely be mostly pictures - and maybe actually be in a location I'm paying money for (oh how imaginative!).

Here's to renewed beginnings!

K

State Change (not the one I was expecting)

I'm rather under the weather, but I thought I'd throw up a short post since it's been so long.

If you'd asked me three months ago what I was doing, I would have said with great certainty that I was moving to the Boston area. In the run-up to moving out of my apartment, I was offered a position that I was looking forward to that would require staying in Chicago. Well, things didn't shake up, so I had to turn down the offer.

This left me pretty torn - change directions again and keep moving east? Or find a way to stay? I realized that after eighteen years, I'd finally started feeling rather attached to Chicago and my various communities I am part of here.

At this time, all of my studio stuff is in storage/future studio in another state, and it will remain there until I get through cosmetology school and get more settled in a new career.

Wait - what? Yeah, I decided to go back to school for a career change! I've always loved hair and styling (I think it come built in to what ever gene got me using Aqua-Net Ultra Super Hold when I was a wee high schooler). I very nearly pursued trade school way back! Recently a friend started attending and a lightbulb went off in my head - and that was that!

So unofficially, I've retired from my shoemaking and accessories extravaganza - someday the plan is to have a vacation studio so I can keep doing my obsessive designing and making. Until then I am once again a student in a creative field (and looking for work, too!).

Someday, I'll cut you and make you shoes!

Kirsten

Studio... Hiatus

Checking in on the blog I've realized I have been woefully remiss in posting an update. Hopefully, I'll make an update with more detail soon, but here is an abbreviated version.

I recently closed my studio and put a portion of my equipment into storage. For the foreseeable future I am stopping taking commisions. I am getting ready to try something very different, which I'll happily share once it's under way.

For the time being, I'll try to post the occasional picture or thought. I'm still knitting, so maybe a bit of that.

For those of you who were on the fence about some of my small leather goods, I do have a small number of inventor items - if you check out my Facebook page, you'll find some pictures. It's in storage, but I'll be pulling some of it out before the end of the month, so shoot me an e-mail!

Until sooner or later!

K

Velo Trials and Taking Commissions

I mentioned in the last post that I'm planning some major changes coming up soon. Until then, I am taking commissions! I'd also like to do another Velo shoe trial. My timeline doesn't really afford to order new lasts, but I do have opportunity to make shoes. To do it, I need at least six pairs ordered. Did you want to know what sizes I have of the Velo last? Well, here they are: 6C, 8C, 9C, 9.5 C and D, 10C, 10.5 B and C, 11 B and C, 11.5 B, 12C, 12.5 D. Thanks and goodnight!

It can't really be July, can it?

I'll try to keep this short, as I need to get to the studio.

July is here and I'm busy with projects continuously nearly ready to set free upon the world. I have a ridiculous number of things on the fire at the studio. It's not set in stone, but I'm planning a pretty major life upheaval at the end of the summer, so I'm trying to move my projects forward.

New Work

A couple of items I've shown on the Facebook page, like the Beltpouch and the Envelopes are essentially done, but I need orders to accommodate purchasing materials. I may put a few Envelopes together from semi-random materials I have floating around the studio and sell those for somewhere around $120 (I kind of desperately need to do some inventory cataloging/reduction, so who knows what they'll look like!).

I need to purchase a number of supplies for the Beltpouches, but depending on the materials an all woven fabric one will hover somewhere around $80.

Velo Shoes

I would really like to do another trial of the Velo shoes before the summer ends, but I need at least six pairs on order to start. I can't purchase new last sizes right now, so I need to limit the run to what I have on hand - if I have a chance, I'll put up a list of sizes, but contact me soon! I have to assume at least a month to get a run completed, and I need the run completed before the end of August.

Etsy Sale

I need to sell some of my Etsy inventory to clear space for new items, so for July I've created a coupon for twenty percent off - at checkout, use the code MINUSTWENTY to get a deal.

There is also a code for free shipping if you're within biking distance of me (I'm more or less downtown Chicago) - you can contact me to find out if you fall into my area (sometimes subject to the whims of my bike - not me, I swear!).

May Update and Projects.

In addition to new commissions, I am continuing with the Velo shoe development - I need a minimum number of orders to do another trial run - so send me an e-mail if you're interested either!

Through my Etsy store, you can get in touch with me for my small leather goods and request custom variations on those pieces.

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Since I've finished my recent commissions, I've been busy working on personal projects and trying out some shoe ideas. Two personal projects I've just finished are a bag and an experimental pair of shoes.

This bag is for my mother - I found this plaid fabric that looks really great with the green Horween leather I have on hand:

 

 

It doesn't photograph well, but it has a facing layer of leather on the bottom that wraps up in the back and sides.   

 

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When I bought the chestnut leather as a potential substitute for the rust - I got an idea for a casual shoe on the Chris last that would use some of the features I'm using in the Velo shoes.

I've been wanting to do something with the Chris last and I happened to need new shoes, so I took advantage. It's an experiment - they're a bit more rustic than I envisioned and some technical details I need to work out, but still fun. 

These are an unlined skimmer in a stitchout construction - veldt to heel. The midsole runner is also the insole the seat is lasted and cemented to. It has a very slight leather wedge that doubles as shank stiffener, and then finished up with a rubber sole

Thanks for looking and don't forget to like my Facebook Page to follow my works in progress!

Finished Projects!

This past week I either finished or shipped my most recent projects - the ankle boots and the second trial versions of the Velo shoes.

These ankle boots are done in Horween leather from my library. The upper design is a blend of a derby and a balmoral design - well suited to using contrasting materials:

The foot is a Black-cherry Chromexel that I've been holding onto for years (gorgeous, but too heavy for most of my work), and the tops are out of the Vintage Buccaneer London-bus Red. The lining and tongue are the Vermont lining leather in the Wakami color.

The construction is my stand-by of the semi-stitch-out construction, finished with a wedge heel and a ripple sole.

I happy with the way these came out!
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I've also finished the second trial of the Velo shoes:

The first two are in the Buccaneer leather with Vermont facings:

  

This second one was done as a special request. I had the lasts available, so I was able to make the pair in two different sizes. You might be able to pick it up in the full size image, but I altered the facing pattern a little to minimize bulk around this customers particular foot:

  

This pair is done in a new leather I picked up as a potential replacement for the Rust Buccaneer. It's a bit too thick to use as both uppers and facings - especially in toeclips - but this customer doesn't bike, so it's not an issue. My supplier hasn't been stocking the small sizes of the rubber sole I've been using for walking soles, so it has a different option:

 

I did make a pair for myself this go-round. I used an odd piece of Horween leather I had lying around with some of the scraps from an Italian veg-tan I had left-over form a project several years ago. They match a set of toeclips I wrapped when I was working them out for a customer. I'll try to grab a shot later of them together:

 

Overall, I'm happy with this version of the Velos. There are some definite improvements over the first version, but some of the others I'd like to find a happy medium on. As far as time and efficiency, it is better for me to do a larger number of pairs in a run, but it was good to see the results of some bits on a small scale.

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I'm working on some non-paying projects currently, but I am taking new jobs - and don't forget to check out my Etsy store for my small leather goods!

Velo 2 Update and Facebook

I thought I'd show you some more progress on the new Velo shoes. The uppers are on the last, though not affixed to insoles yet, but now you can see some of the changes I've made to the design:

I've reduced the toe stiffener, but extended the toe facing towards the tip - it takes up some of the work of the stiffener, while adding some visual interest. The small alteration to the last and the pattern has significantly improved the toe - I think that at this point it might ultimately be down to firming up the procedure. I'm using three different types of leathers on this iteration - that may become a critical factor once I have these at the "production" stage.
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Facebook stuff:
I've been posting most frequently on the Facebook page. To help with continuity and keep information flowing, it makes the most sense to focus the WIP stuff on Facebook (images mostly), while using this site for finished work and essay type stuff. If you like seeing the random WIP pictures, make sure you follow me on Facebook so you don't miss out!
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One last thing (yes, sometimes I act like Columbo) - a reminder that I do take custom orders. Whatever you're looking for - shoot me an e-mail to curious@riotgeer.com and we can discuss the possibilities! This is a custom pair of boots that are nearing completion:

 

Until later!

Velo V2 Update

I've been waiting to post an update on the new version of the Velo shoes until there was visual evidence. I'm pressed fro time, but here's a couple items.

A big plus has been working machines - I'm no longer forced to run all over to sew bits and bobs elsewhere! After some fiddling, I figured out what was wrong with my one machine for zig-zagging the seams. Much neater and they only require minor reinforcement before the facings get sewn on:



Recently, I acquired a new walking foot machine. This one can sew pretty heavy materials - and specifically - I can use a very heavy sewing thread which I like the look of. With a special attachment I can apply seam binding easily - initially I wanted this for building bags, but it also makes a particularly vexing part of the Velo's much easier and cleaner. I'm still working trouble shooting a bit, but it is a vast improvement over V1:


The tongues now have retainer tabs on them to keep them from wandering off to the side:


There are some other changes to the patterns, but I'm waiting until they're lasted to show them. Some relatively unseen changes are to the internal structures and the lasts, that should improve some of the problematic finishing on the first ones.

I'm about to finish the backs, and move on to the toes and tongues:



In non-Velo news, here's a picture of a pair of ankle boots I'm working on:


Don't forget to check out my Etsy store to see my new wallets!

Gotta run!

Etsy!

I was traveling last weekend, so I didn't have many opportunities to post my new items to my Etsy store - but some of them are now listed!

I've made some new variations on my wallets, as well as a few of my card cases. The first items I've freshly listed are the wallets I'm tentatively calling the "Apiary" group - they are named for different types of bees and wasps.



Not up yet are some one of a kind wallets from limited materials Maybe tonight or tomorrow?

If you were missing my other wallets - they are back after a momentary disappearance from my store!

I have not posted about my Velo shoes in a while - I'm planning on posting about the changes to this next group, as well as some new stuff in my studio that's going to help with one of the processes that was being difficult - as well as making a huge improvement to my wallets and opening up the possibility of some bags in the future.

Clip Wraps

I'm busy working in the studio - in addition to shoes, I have a significant pile of wallets cut and ready to assemble. I'm pretty excited about the new variations on the wallets - I'll post when I get the listing up on Etsy.

In the meantime, one of my Velo customers asked me to do matching leather wraps for his clips. Here's a picture of the trial:


While I'm waiting for his clips to arrive, I decided to do a set for one of the Velo V2 pairs I'm working on:


I'm thinking of offering these as a kit: if I do this, you'd get a set of pre-cut and punched leather pieces, special flexible needles (I make those myself) and pre-measured stitching cord. No price yet, but you'd need scissors and little else besides a rudimentary sewing skill:



What do you think?

March-ing forward!

Ha! Sorry, couldn't resist.

I'm keeping busy. Working on some new accessories (really - don't laugh!), continuing some custom commissions... and of course the second trial of the Velo Shoes!

With only a bit of hesitation, I think you can expect to see a couple new additions to my Etsy store next week. It came up this evening, so I though I should mention it - I don't sell my shoes through Etsy - maybe in the future? Anyway it's all small goods and accessories. Someday I'd like to have a second shop to delineate my Velo items from my others. Still just an idea for the time being.

Velo updates:

I received the New iterations of the Velo lasts on Friday, and I finished cleaning them up and making a couple of small changes yesterday. Today I started "felling the masking tape forests" as part of the patterning process. There will be a few small changes to the uppers - a combination of functional and aesthetic considerations.

In addition to the shoes, I'm also prototyping an ankle boot version... we shall see.

I made a trip to Horween to look at some new leather - one of my most popular selections is at it's end. It was purchased several years ago, so it will be very nearly impossible to replace it. I'm really taken with this new one - here is a wallet I made to demonstrate the colors for a Velo customer:



While it's too late to order more sizes, I do have a decent size selection as of now - let me know if you are interested in Velo Version 2 and we can talk sizes.

I've finally gotten new cards using the bike-centric motif I'm using for the Velo project. Just the start of promotional materials I need to put together:



I think there're a few other things, but they can wait. Don't forget to like my Facebook page - I've been adding WIP pictures a little more frequently than the blog posts!

I Should Be Asleep, But Here's an Update!

I updated the Velo Project page a couple of days ago - if you're not keeping up on all the latest, I am going ahead with the next trial stage of the bike shoes. They are still at a special reduced price (albeit a little higher), until I'm rolling out the finished version. So if you want in, e-mail me and we'll discuss the particulars.

I've sent the last models to my lastmaker - they should have arrived there today, so I need to send a list of sizes. This needs to happen in the next couple of days! Because this is still testing, I need to keep the last orders to a minimum until I've collected more real world feedback. What this means to potential customers is that I cannot guarantee your size unless I know it before the order, so don't delay!