A New Bridal Design

You know those Project Runway Episodes where the designers have to work in teams? Every one groans and they fight the whole time? Well, making these shoes reminded me of that, only there was NO fighting, I promise.

Lauren, who commissioned these shoes is a graphic designer, so an artsy type in her own right. And she was ordering these shoes as a gift for another artist friend of hers. So, here you have three different artistic tastes to consider when making these shoes. They are for her friend's wedding day. Seriously, I was excited to finally get to them. And they were a pleasure and a joy to make, even with the artistic tug-o-war.

It got to a point where Lauren had a nightmare where I refused to show her the final design, and she ended up not liking them, and I got mad at her that she didn't like them. I assured her that would never happen!

We went through bows, flowers, button choices, one flower or two. We agreed that what we ended up choosing made no sense at all at face value. But, clearly, it works. And the bride has the shoes and loves them. And another mutual friend said they were "SO her." That's a success!

A Little Collaboration

I am so excited about these shoes! A month or so ago, a fellow Artisan shared a picture of my shoes on her business page and mentioned that those shoes would make a good match with the dresses she was having made for her daughter from Heartmade Creations. So, out of curiosity, I checked Heartmade's page out. Oh. My. Gosh. The cuteness. So, I mentioned on Heartmade's wall that someone thought we would make a good match.

To my delight, Cassandra of Heartmade, agreed and actually extended an offer to me to collaborate. Swoon! What fun to work with another designer, especially such a talented one, to make a one of a kind design! I couldn't wait to get started.

Cassandra let me know what fabric she was going to use for her fall line. And can we just say, gorgeous?! I was even MORE excited, and my mind went straight to a remnant I have had for about a year. A sunny yellow lattice design, perfect to compliment such a pretty floral.

So what do you think? Aren't they just a perfect match without being too matchy matchy? I used my favorite silk remnant for the bow, and paper millinery flowers for the center. I usually make all of my flowers by hand, but this pair seemed to call for something a little extra special. While they are paper, they are coated and very sturdy.

They are a little "more" than I usually design. But, this is a perfect occasion for something like that. Something a little extra special. Besides, they have to hold their own paired with the adorable Heartmade Dress they will be worn with in the photographs. I can't wait to show you the results.

Incidentally, I made two pairs of shoes for this project. Along with the yellow, I made a pair in green suede, just in case. Since, the yellow turned out so well, the green pair are without an owner. I have listed them in my Etsy shop and hope they find an owner soon.

 

Holiday Shoes

Repeat customers are awesome. Especially when they are people you love already. It means you made them happy. And if there is anyone you want to make happy, it's people you love.

I told you last year that Mrs. Faber was like a second mom to me through high school. She lived right across the street from us, had a daughter my age who ensured that I was not lonely when we first moved in and she and my mom still are good friends. So it was humbling last year when she ordered holiday shoes for her only grandchild. Here is last year's design.

And I am thrilled that she ordered another pair this year.

She gave me a black and cream color scheme and told me to run with it. What a gift to be given free reign design wise with your favorite color scheme as your only direction. Bliss!

It was hard whittling down all of the ideas and possibilities. This is what I finally landed on. Black linen mary janes with tiny cream colored flowers. I'm so pleased with them, and thankfully so is she!

In fact, she's already put in her order for Easter shoes! My 2013 wait list is filling up so fast! So, what do you think? Perfect little shoes for meeting Santa?

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Less than two years ago, I sold my first pair of shoes. In May of that year, I opened shop on Etsy. Since that time I have sold more pairs of shoes than I can remember or count. I find that incredible. When I started out, I was doubtful that people would actually want something that I made with my hands. Boy, have you proved me wrong!

A couple of weeks ago, I temporarily closed up shop for the rest of the year, planning to catch up on my wait list and focus on family traditions and gift giving. I did this last year, no problem. This year, in the two weeks I've been closed, I have received numerous e-mails asking me when I will be taking orders again. So many, that I felt the need to come up with a solution to offer. 

This left me with something of a dilemma though. Given the overwhelming and increasing demand for my shoes, I feel the need to hire a helper in the coming year. This will hopefully enable me to fill more orders a month. It will also, hopefully, enable me to not stay up sewing until 2 in the morning. But in order to hire someone and in order to cover the long hours that I spend working on these one of a kind shoes and designs, I need to raise my pricing.  

Along with that, I have experienced a problem with people asking to be on my wait list, and when I get to them, I either never hear from them again, or they politely tell me they have changed their minds. I have had to turn customers away based on my wait list, only to find that I could have taken the order. That's very frustrating. So, in order to address this, I have a new policy. In order to secure a place on the wait list, a customer will now need to place a $10 non-refundable deposit per pair of shoes ordered. The deposit will go towards the purchase price. And payment in full, as before, will be due before work begins on the shoes.

With raising my prices, I will be offering returning customers a 15% off discount as a way of saying "Thank you so much for supporting me and helping me grow this hobby into an actual business, you are the best!" This offer is good for orders placed through March. Just contact me to place your order, or order a wait list deposit listing and the discount will be applied to the custom listing I send you for the rest of the payment. Unfortunately, I can not extend this discount to gift certificates because of the way that shipping is included in the price of them. 

And speaking of gift certificates, they are now in my shop and ready for the holiday season. There are two amounts available, $55 for baby and child size shoes and $85 for women's sizes. Not only are you giving them the gift of custom designed handmade shoes, but they get the gift of being a part of the design process from start to finish. How fun!

 If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact me. I thank you again so much for helping me get to this amazing place! I am humbled beyond words.

Another California Gifting

I have gifted shoes to a handful of celebrities. This week I will be shipping another gift of shoes to someone fabulous out in California. Di isn't a celeb in the regular sense of the word, but I have, since I started this business, wanted to use it to bless people who really deserve to be blessed. Normally, I wouldn't mention anything about it, not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing and all that. But, I want you  to know about this amazing woman and her beautiful family, and hopefully be inspired by them. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce you to her.

I met Di years ago when she and her husband moved from Ohio to our little neighborhood. They moved in a few houses down from some good friends, and we all had dinner together and got to know each other better. Di is this fantastic raven haired beautiful woman, married to a very loud almost equally as awesome red haired man. And they were just fun and fascinating people to get to know, all on their own.

But, we met them shortly before their lives were about to forever change. They had been trying for years to have children. When they moved they went through the foster to adopt program, and shortly after we met them they got a phone call offering them, not the one or two children they had signed on for but a sibling set of three, ages 18 months, 3 and 5. Two boys and a girl. They had a very tiny window of time in which to answer the question, "Will we take these kids in, or will we not?" They made the decision that would change the lives of 5 people forever.

Imagine going from having no children to having three of them overnight. Imagine that they are not sweet little innocent and mostly quiet babies, but rather three growing, loud and nearly wild children, who have their whole lives been taught not to trust anyone. Who have been neglected and abused and removed from homes not once, not twice, but three times. Di and JR were overwhelmed, yes, BUT determined to be the ones who CHOSE to love those kids and keep them safe. I watched in amazement as they began to get to know their kids, to find their footing as parents, to fight FOR the kids that they were given. To show them over and over, we are not going anywhere. We will not abandon you. We will not hurt you. And we will not let others hurt you. In short, to teach them the love of God lived out on a daily basis.

It has been a long and incredible journey for this family. They moved to California years ago, and nearly broke my heart. I miss them and their transparent honesty in my life so much. I miss each one of their kids and their distinct and amazing personalities. They each have so much to over come. But, when you see how far they have come. It's a testament to the love of God and faithful hearts. The barriers that have come down around these little hearts. The freedom they walk in compared to what they knew before. It's just so beautiful. It's not perfect, and it's not finished, but it's one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed in my life. Because the best kind of beauty is hard fought and covered with the marks of imperfection.

My husband and I went through the foster to adopt program. It's hard. It's hard to hear what children sometimes go through. Hard to search yourself and decide whether you have it in you to be what these children need. We ended up getting pregnant before we made it through the program. But, watching the crazy and wonderful Mahon clan, I know how terrifying and beautiful it can be to take in and adopt a foster child. It's still something we're praying about for the future.

So, anyway, Di ordered a pair of shoes from me. We went through the process, and she chose a blue green floral fabric. It was one of those pairs of shoes that I start on somewhat blindly. I didn't really know what I was going to do for a flower, since Di isn't a bow person. (Had I had my way, a navy bow would be sitting on those shoes.) But, it was one of those pairs of shoes that I enjoy so much, because as I meander down the creative process with them, a vision starts to form and I end up happier with the result than I ever would have imagined.

The flowers ended up like little navy pansies, which happen to be one of Di's favorite flowers. I love them bunched up in a little bouquet. And when I was digging through my beads trying to find beads for the center, I found perfect little turquoise ones.

 

So soon they will be winging their way to California. And I hope that the will bless Di a fraction of how much knowing her has blessed my life. I love you, Di!

 

A Little Something for the Knitters

I wish I knew how to knit. At this time in my life, I do not have the time to try to learn. And knowing myself the way I do, I doubt I have the patience to learn it.

But, I have a treasure trove of books full of patterns that belonged to my grandmother. I don't want to give the books away, because maybe when life slows down, I can attempt this incredible handicraft. Still, I feel badly that these patterns are going to waste waiting on me.

So, periodically, I will post them here for you to use and enjoy. They are all vintage from the 40's and 50's. Swoon.

Isn't this gorgeous? I love the scalloped edge. Just so classy. The how to:

  You should be able to click on the pictures above and it will lead you to my Photobucket account where you can download them. Please let me know if it doesn't work.

Happy knitting!

A Fix for Too Big Shoes

My daughter is obsessed with shoes, and I admit, I am weak when she wants a pair. Recently, I bought her this pair of Gap ballet flats from Once Upon a Child. They were brand new, but a little large for her. I bought them thinking she'd wear them in the fall.

   

 However, this week one of her jelly shoes went missing and the weather got a little cooler, so that I wanted her toes covered in the evenings. So her sandals from last year were out. That left this pair, which she loves and happily wore. But, still they were too big and without straps, were frequently dropped here and there off of her tiny foot. What's a mom to do?

   

 This is the solution I came up with, and I think it was rather clever. Have you seen those colorful elastic straps that you wear over your pumps to change the look? My sister in law has a set. I wondered whether that might work for these, to keep them on her feet and allow her to move freely in them instead of shuffle about.

   

 I bought some thick navy elastic, measured it around the shoe leaving a little extra room for her foot, sewed them together and then sewed blue silk ribbon over the seam to finish it. They work like a charm and seem comfortable enough for her. What do you think?

 

It's always a good thing to take on a project that you would never think to do on your own. My sister-in-law's sister-in-law recently had a baby. Her sister-in-law is originally from China and so, Tracie, asked if I could make a panda pair of shoes for the new little one. This required some out of the box thinking and some more pattern making. But, I love a challenge.

    And I love the way they turned out.

They are made from re-purposed leather and each piece is both glued and sewn on for added security.

I fell in love with their sweet faces. And I hear they have been very well received by their new owners. I have gotten a thank you, and some pictures of them on her sweet little feet. And that is why I so enjoy doing what I do.

Flip Flop Upgrade

I haven't been able to make my sweet girl a pair of shoes lately. Too busy! But, I did find a time to add a little something extra to her cheap Old Navy flip flops. They're detachable. So when we need to go to the beach or some place mucky, we can take them off.

 

 I adore those tiny little toes. I can't believe these are the last little baby feet to pad through our house.

 

I showed them to her the next day, and she happily put them on. Then she promptly pouted and said, "No, Mommy." and took them off.

 

 I had mistakenly given them to her too close to giving her a new pair of shoes that she has become quite attached to. Luckily for me, she warmed up to them enough to have a little photo shoot.

A New Little Peep

I love these shoes. Sometimes it's very hard to send off a pair of shoes, especially knowing they are in my size. This was one of those pairs.

I have a very talented friend, Jessica, who I used to work with, and go to college with. People used to ask if we were sisters. And that was a high compliment, because, the girl is beautiful!

Jess has a very successful photography business called Love Tree Studios. You can see some of her incredible work here.  While admiring each other's work, we came up with the idea of trading shots for shoes. And recently, I was in my old home town for a visit, so what better time to get that done? You can see the results of the photo shoot here.

And for her pair of shoes, we agreed upon something new for me. Women's peep toes. And now I have to make myself a pair. Because I love them. And now, I miss them. Now to find the time, right?

Happy Ever After Shoes

I suppose it's confession time. Way back when my husband and I were a young married couple, we watched the first season of the Bachelorette with great regularity and I must confess we were passionately rooting for Ryan to win. We were happy too when Trista and Ryan made it to the altar, and I have to say, all these years later I am thrilled that they are still happily married with two wee ones adding to their joy.

I wasn't going to try for any more celebrity gifting opportunities for the time being. I am swamped and the last opportunity didn't turn out well at all. But, when Trista said she'd love to receive a bag from The Artisan Group, she insisted that the mailing address be included for each participant so that she could mail a hand written thank you note.

Now, that is just delightful. It's thoughtful, and considerate and in this day and age a rare thing indeed. It reminds me of Roy Rogers who went broke and took extra jobs playing in bars just so that he could pay the postage required to answer every piece of fan mail he received. I liked that.

I ended up designing them on my anniversary, so I was pretty much in a romantic state of mind. Taking inspiration from the flowers from Trista's wedding this is what I ended up with:

Romantic, no? The fabric I used (which used to be a pair of pants) has a silver sparkle to it. 

  The flowers I have fallen for. I love how almost over the top romantic they are. Given her fairy tale romance and wedding, and the fact that she is living out her "happy ever after", I thought princess type shoes would be entirely appropriate.

On another note,I have to tell you how much I enjoy the photo taking after I make a pair of shoes.

It's another outlet for my creativity.

  I love capturing the "personality" of each design with the camera. Does that sound crazy?

  And even the editing process. I live where there isn't much sun most of the year. So, bringing the pic to life after snapping it is sort of thrilling to me.

Anyway, enough waxing poetic. I hope that Trista enjoys her shoes. And I will share when I get that handwritten thank you.

My Emeline is 2!

 Two years ago, my life was forever changed when the midwife turned my third child over and I realized that I had a daughter! After two boys, I was a little bit terrified when they handed her to me. What was I going to do with a girl? 

Well, thankfully, it didn't take me long to figure it out. I love the bond we have. I love that there is a little person running around copying the things that I do that make me a female. For instance, whenever I have lipstick on, she looks up at me and says, "I want some, Mom." She wants to wear my shoes, my jewelry. She babies her dolls. She sings them the same songs that I sing to her at night. It is amazing to me to watch her BE a girl. And I have to admit, I love it.

  Since she hadn't really taken to anything, other than dolls and toe nail polish and being girly, I was planning on doing a simple girly cake for her this year and calling it good. We take turns each year on who gets a big birthday bash. This year, it's the middle one's turn. So, it was going to be low key and just us. 

 But, then, she began to be somewhat obsessed with pigs. I blame Charlotte's Web. She loves the movie, loves the book. Loves pigs, where ever she sees them. Like the pig statue at the gardens that she kept running back to, sticking her head through the fence and shouting, "Hi Piggy!" to a couple of weekends ago. So, to commemorate, I thought, I should probably do a piggy cake. Only, I had really fallen for the ruffle cakes. What to do? Compromise.

  Not a bad compromise, right? Thank heavens pigs are pink.

  Layers and layers of ruffles. And this is butter cream, not fondant. I just used a petal tip and a back and forth motion. I like the horizontal ruffles more than the vertical ones you see all over.

  Plus, I thought this way, she would have the piggy to keep. And, boy, was I right about that. She is currently sleeping with him clutched in her hand. And this is how she spent half of her afternoon:

  Yelling, "Piggy cake!" I say, it was a success.

 Her birthday banner I made for her last year. My husband thinks it's way too girly to use for the boys, so she gets it to herself.

  More piggy books, you have to love Olivia.

  She has adopted my old Cabbage Patch doll, Victor. He has been without clothes for about a year because she doesn't like the sweater ensemble her came in. I finally found some clothes for him at a thrift store (because they do not sell boy doll clothes anywhere anymore). Sure they're circa 1985, but then, so is he.

 And her Aunt Kait bought her a highchair for her babies. She Loves it so much she wanted to take it upstairs with her at bedtime. When it was time for cake, she pulled Victor up to the table in his own little chair. So sweet.

  My beautiful birthday girl. She's growing up so fast. In fact, this week we took down her crib (silent sob) and put up her big girl bed.

  I know it's completely cliche. But, it REALLY does go by too fast.