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.