Holly,
Don't beat yourself up. These shoes look very well made. The challenges of making women's footwear include working with very thin, often finiky materials and executing the assembly so the results are professional and esthetically pleasing. The topline issues probably require pattern adjustment. Now the next challenge is to make the shoe from sheet materials where everything is not premade for assembly. That's when the bespoke shoemaking begins and boy does neatness count. You're off to a great start. Is this your first pair?

Regards,
Georgene

This customer wanted black french calf and a stitch pattern that "had something to do with a star".

J, I hope you will excuse me while I squeeze in front of you here.



These are a recent finish for a Kansas Cowboy.
ROughout Waxed FC, from GH. 390 Burgandy from GN.
Don't git to do many o' these.

Paul

apparently the problem is with safari, the Mac browser.

J. Johansen, you might try using Firefox rather than Safari. I'm on a Mac & find Firefox to be more reliable than Safari.

Something silly to get me started after 2 mos. of moving and w/my work area not yet organized (sewing machine not even plugged in yet!). Still on the last, obviously, not sure what sort of sole or heel to make. Something equally silly, I expect!

Dance shoes. Glue construction. GN glazed buffalo uppers.

These are boots I made a few months ago and never posted.
Burgundy Italian kangaroo from Hardtke with Peyote flower inlay on tops, Burgundy alligator from Mark Staton

Customer-inspired design of flowers, hummingbirds and dragonflies on a boot that used up the last of my Rust Italian tanned kangaroo from Hardtke. If I didn't like the boots so much I'd be very sad.

This is what happens when a customer turns me loose and says I can do anything I want. Overlaid top design in Olive Italian kangaroo from Hardtke, Chocolate Australian kangaroo from Sheridan Leather and Militaire kid from Shrut and Asch. High vamp style foot in Cognac alligator from Mark Staton.

Yikes, why did I have to finish these the same day Lisa posts 3 pair?

Anyway, here is my second try at western boots using DW's book. Those directions made a lot more sense after hacking thru the first pair.

They are Ecopell cow with veg tan liner. It is veg tan with no finish, great to work with except that any glue you slop around soaks right in.

My 3 things to work on are:
- Alignment of pieces during assembly.
- Cleaner workmanship, esp. cement and glue.
- Cleaner bottoming work.




Paul
HCC Member

This is my first boot. Not my first pair of boots. Just my first boot. I made 23 little maple boot lasts to share with my leather guild for a keychain demonstration. It was refreshing that the fit will never be an issue.


(Message edited by gshoes on March 14, 2010)

(Message edited by gshoes on March 14, 2010)

(Message edited by gshoes on March 14, 2010)

This is my first pair of oxfords. I think the proportions are odd, the sides look too high, and the lace area too short. What do you think?
Anyway, the next one will be better - and less gaudy...

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

Afer a couple of weeks of life's distractions, between the last dang snow of the year (I hope) and a week of upset over surgery for my wife (she's mending well, thank you) I finally got these done.


This pair of Hardtke Red Calf and Mark Staton Black Alligator boots with 13" tops, are the pair for the fellow with the flat feet I was on about over in Correcting Common Foot Problems. Again, I see now it was a better subject for the Fitting The Foot thread.
ANyway, here they are. I love what the red does to the bronze kid. The customer is a heart surgeon with two groups here in AZ as I understand it, and the Phoenix Bird image is his logo. I love the way my photographer Chris Marchetti, http://marchettiphoto.zenfolio.com/, lit the shot to illuminate the heart inlay.


The flame-ish stitch pattern surronding the bird, is a three row representaion of the wings. The back panel has the entire bird image rising from the counter covers, a little play on the Phoenix Bird rising from the ashes, you know.

The collars on these are intended to be a "deconstructed" heart. The scallops on the side areas of the collar are like the top of a heart and the center is to give the idea of the bottom, or tip of the heart. Just a little creativity that came to me, you know?

I didn't do an arch cookie on these, I chose to listen to DW's warning. But I do want to try that on a pair of boots for a flat foot sometime.
However I did extend the welt from Breast to Ball, in a 3/4 look, tho we don't call this that. What should we call this?

The arch wrapping under the foot on the medial side is really what boots are about, to me.


I deliver them tomorrow, and that'll be the real judgement on them. I'll try to remember to take a picture of how they fit and share it over in the other thread, just to close that story.

Thanks to those who contributed and those who enjoy the photos.

Best Regards,
Paul

(Message edited by Jon G on April 02, 2010)

A few photos of my work from Budapest

Well, I made it to Germany and back. We had a great time and I have my gold medal. These are the boots that I sent to the competition in Wiesbaden. The tops are gray rough-out kangaroo with kangaroo leaves, flowers and butterflies, and the foot is black Missouri calf. All of the leather is from Charles Hardtke.

Here's another pair from me...believe it or not I do have other boots and shoes in process besides chukkas...

Horween latigo, topy'd soles, 5/8" heels.







Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

This is the right ballet shoe to the first pair that I have made. Unfortunately, my photography skills need as much work as my shoemaking skills, so this is the best picture I can manage.
The shoes are entirely sewn by hand, without the use of glue or nails, and they are made from the synthetic material Lorica, and lined in organic cotton fabric.

These were made while I was in Budapest...



7-eyelit wingtip Oxford, English welt construction, hidden channel, etc etc

Well, after 4 or 5 months of teaching myself boot making and 9 right feet, finally a pair. Thank you Crispian Colloquy, Custom cowboy Boot and Shoe Discussion Board numerous books etc,. for all the help. I give myself a C- on the boots and a B on the fit. Not too bad for the first pair. Nothing fancy here, just wanted to get a pair that works and they do. All you guys, and Lisa S., are an inspiration. Lisa, I live in Joplin, Mo. and would love to visit you in your shop.

Bill


oversize photos deleted by admin

(Message edited by admin on April 15, 2010)

Sorry about the size.

Here's something a little different from me.

These Romeos are made of Hockhauser Taurus Oxidado.

Only one pair thrown in the corner before I got a keeper.

Recently finished job.I post these because there was a chat about working with suede recently.These were made with plastic covers which are removed after making.