Greetings to all.

My name is Bill Tippit, Sr. I am a last maker and have been working in this honorable profession for over 25 years. For the first 20 years I toiled at Jones & Vining, Inc. In 1994, I ventured out on my own and started a business called "The Last Word" (hence, the e-mail address). TLW was set up mainly to cater to custom boot and shoe makers. However, many of my old production customers and the new breed of "mass customization" entrepreneurs followed me there and the business soon grew faster than I had expected (or wanted, for that matter).

In December of last year, I sold TLW to Sterling Last Corp., a third generation family business that has been making lasts for some 70+ years. Rather than put the custom division on the back burner as many of my customers had feared, Sterling is making great efforts to grow that market and to offer new products and services.

My true passion at work is developing new technologies for last making, such as 3D CAD and CNC lathes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a programmer or an engineer but I help guide those people to make their products suitable for our (and your) needs.

I have two passions outside of work. One is sports, in particular hockey. The other is making people laugh. I think the world takes itself far too seriously and if you can't laugh at life, and yourself, then it's going to be a very long road to eternity. Actually, there's a third passion, Jesus, but we can go into that one on one, in a more suitable setting.

I'm in the process of getting divorced for the second time...to the same woman (can you say "slow learner"). I have two boys, Billie Jr. (the spelling is a long story) and Cassidy, both of whom worked for me at TLW and even for brief stints here at Sterling.

I have no pictures to upload, you'll all have to use your imagination until Brownwood, Sheridan, or the first time we share a jail cell.

Hello,
My name is Marc Carlson, or professionally, I. Marc Carlson. I am not a shoemaker, I am a historical researcher and librarian who happens to make reproduction medieval and 16th century shoes. This is a topic I'm still learning about, as more information is uncovered. Therefore, I make no pretenses to expertise on any of the topics we discuss here, however, I do talk (sometimes a lot) and there are few enough experts out there who are vocal about these topics that it sometimes makes me seem like I actually know what I'm talking about.

My background in this field is based on a self-taught foundation, and for the past few years I've been getting advice and information from the likes of DW Frommer and DA Saguto (just to name the more prominantly noted) to help round out my research.

I have authored (and am currently completely revising)the web-book "Footwear of the Middle Ages" (http://www.pbm.bom/~lindahl/carlson/SHOEHOME.HTM), as well as similar items on Medieval Clothing and such. Other areas I have interests in researching are television, religion, history and culture in general.

My goals and passions are to track town those pieces of misinformation, outdated guesswork and traditionalist fakelore and see them revealed as the hokum they are. Witnesses can attest that when I am looking for a "truth", or some other obscure bit of data, I can appear fairly intense. Just let me do my thing, and everything will be fine :) This doesn't mean that I am not willing to be proven wrong - just be prepared to *prove* I am.

I am 37, and am married to a patient and understanding woman who doesn't complain too much when I start stinking up the house in some new way. This is most pleasant since I have no appreciable sense of humor. Although I rarely appear on film, this is what I look like

Marc
marc-carlson@utulsa.edu
www.geocities.com/athens/parthenon/5923/
www.pbm.bom/~lindahl/carlson/SHOEHOME.HTM

Hello,
My name is Marquita Volken. I live and work in Switzerland. I have been working with historical and archeological shoes since 1991. When I talk about my work, people's eyes generally glaze over with boredom after 45 seconds, and after a full minute they try to escape. This is a normal reaction to any specialized area in archeology, so I do not take it personal.

Occasionally, between work, school, research, child, husband, house, I make a few shoes. My time frame is from the end of the Roman period to around 1800, with emphasis on the Middle Ages. Have learned nearly everything the hard way but still have all my fingers.

If I had time for a hobby it would be drawing Cambrian animals. I grew up in Idaho and have owned my own pocket knife and axe since I was nine years old, guess that explains about everything.

My name is Jake Dobbins. I would like to take a few minutes of your time to share some personal background with you.

I am 44 years of age and live in northern Arkansas on our family's river bottom farm. The farm provides me the opportunity to raise cattle and registered quarter horses, which is something I've always wanted to do. Most of my life I've spent in military service. In 1996, I retired from the military and moved to Montana. In 1997, I moved to Mountain View, Arkansas (home) to basically take care of my parents and work the family farm.

I have been making saddles for the past 15 years as a hobby. Along with the saddles, I'm able to produce many different items of custom leather articles. Five years ago today, I was attending Randy Merrell's bootmaking seminar in Vernal, Utah. I had always wanted to learn to make boots, but this is where I started. Shortly after Randy's class, I kept hearing about D.W. Frommer, II. I heard He was "THE BEST". So I purchased both of his books and his video series. It was one of the best decisions of my life, because D.W. made boots like I wanted to make them. With time honored techniqes and a standard for quality matched by none, his methods of making boots fit the bill as a mentor.

Due to the moves from military life and Montana, it has taken me some time to build and set up my shop. I have been making boots for the public for approximately 1 year now. Before that, I kept my fingers "wet" making boots for myself, family, and friends. During this time period, I continued to work on techniques D.W. had taught me. Contrary to some posts within the forum as me being an "old timer", I am not! But let me say, I think I have a good understanding in what it takes to make a good, quality boot.

Someday the shoe(boot) will be on the other foot. Hopefully, I can become a mentor to individuals who are desperately seeking answers. And I hope to God, I can be as gracious, understanding, and patient as my mentor has been.

Welcome to the Crispin Colloquy! This is the best web site on the internet! Make youself comfortable and join in on our sometimes lengthy conversations on mundane topics. I assure you if you love boot/shoemaking and thirst for knowledge, you won't be disappointed.

Jake Dobbins

Hello from the Big Sky Country of Montana. My name is Kevin Eisele, and I learned to make custom boots in September, 1991. Prior to that, I spent 15 years on a horse learning how a boot needs to hold up in a stirrup. Due to a "fortunate horse injury", I was able to finally establish my own business in June, 1992 in Miles City, Montana. Most of my customers are working cowboys who need a durable boot but are also looking for something they can shine up and wear dancing. Since Miles City is somewhat of a tourist town in the summer (World Famous JC Bucking Horse Sale) and is a big hunting draw in the fall, I have also picked up customers just pssing through who have always wanted a pair of custom boots. The "Made in Montana" idea is an added bonus they can brag to their friends about also. After all, Miles City is where Gus McRae from Lonesom Dove died! I have also expanded my business to provide custom orthopedic footwear. This is getting to be a large part of my business.

Aside from bootmaking, I coach the high school age (15-18 yr) boy's hockey league team. I also enjoy fishing, hunting, and canoeing with my wife and two kids.
Kevin

Good Evening...I'm your Webmaster, Forum Administrator, moderator and janitor. I suppose it is only right that I start the ball rolling here. There's no special format, so if you want to do it differently, be my guest.

D.W. Frommer II, Western Bootmaker full time for 30+ years. Age...53--no significant signs of aging. Married to Randee Lynn Hektner (now Frommer. Two daughters, Dulce, And Chloe.

I am the author of two books (full scale tutorials) on making western boots...as well as numerous articles.

I learned the Trade primarily from Mike Ives of Billings, Montana but also from numerous other generous individuals through the years. I have belonged to the HCC and the CBSG (now defunct)--both guilds of shoe and bootmakers. I am currently a member of the HCC and servve as Membership Contact and HCC Webmaster. I was honored with a First Place in the Modern division at the Honourable Cordwainers' Company Prize Work Competition of 1991.

I also took First Place in both finished work categories at the Custom Boot and Shoemaker's Guild competition in Parachute Colorado, 1993; First place in eleven of twelve finished work categories at the Custom Boot and Shoemaker's Guild competition in Silverthorne, Colorado, 1994...revised to Best of Show; and the Dennis Rowley Award (Bootmaker of the Year) at the Custom Boot and Shoemaker's Guild Convention in Silverthorne, Colorado, 1994.

Past glories, sigh...

Here I am after just getting out of bed on a Saturday morning...

Hello to all. My name is Lisa Sorrell. I'm a bootmaker with my own shop in Guthrie, OK. I'm married to a wonderful man who's been supporting me and my obsession for 10 years. He's eternally optimistic that I'm going to start making money so he can retire and fish full time. We have 2 girls, ages 2 and 5, who are being raised in my shop.

I started sewing clothing professionally when I was 15. At 20, I married and moved to Guthrie. I had left my sewing customers behind in Missouri, and after a few months I was bored with doing nothing but cleaning a 3 room apartment all day. I found a want ad looking for someone to "stitch boot tops". I'd never worn a pair of cowboy boots, and I had no idea what stitching boot tops was. But it sounded like it was done on a sewing machine, so I applied. The ad was placed by Jay Griffith. He cussed at me for suggesting sewing clothing was anything like stitching boot tops and put me to work. As soon as I figured out what he was doing, I knew I'd found what I wanted to be. Jay taught me stitching and inlay, and his patterns are still to me the ultimate in boot design.

I worked for Jay for a year and a half. After I left his shop, I bought a 110W and started stitching and inlaying tops for other bootmakers. I specialized in working from rough drawings or pictures. I enjoyed this work, but it was only a way for me to stay in the business until I could become a bootmaker.

In 1995, Ray Dorwart, a former student of Jay Griffith's, offered to teach me to build boots. I was able to apprentice in his shop for over a year. Two years later, pregnant with my second child and suffering from morning sickness, I opened my own shop.

I'm enjoying learning this trade, and I've met so many bootmakers who've encouraged and taught me. I love designing a beautiful boot, and I'm endlessly challenged by the craftmanship it takes to build and fit a boot. This forum has been invaluable to me in my pursuit of making better boots.

Lisa Sorrell
www.customboots.net

I'm Greg Geiger, The Still River Cordwainer. I live in Brookfield Connecticut, outside the cosmopolitan mega center of Danbury. I was one of the kids who wrote an angry letter to Walt Disney when he had Fess Parker killed at the Alamo(AKA Davy Crockett). That really got me interested in flintlocks, history and subsequently in working with leather.

When I was a kid I was swallowing two or three books a week on these topics, and did not even know that there were other people out there with whom I could share until I went to my first muzzleloading shoot in 1974.

I make shoes for re-enactors, and apprenticed in 1975/6 under Waldomir Billey at Bethpage Village. I am more concerned with demonstrating than producing, and will crank out anywhere from 10 to 20 pairs of batts and dress shoes during a year.

We have several general groupings in the world of living history, and I tend to fall into the three categories of craftsman, re-enactor and trekker. The latter is what we do when we go camping in the wilderness with great attention to authenticity and detail, where there are no civilians.

I am good enough at making shoes to know how bad I can be, and will state outright that being a member of the Honorable Cordwainers Company and getting on board with the Colloquy have increased the ability to improve my research and work ten fold over my first days with Walter. Someday I will get a set of DW's tapes, but for now I need tons more advice in topics such as randing, the cloth/lined ladies shoe, improving my butt-seaming, and so on.

I have been published in Re-enactor oriented periodicals and had a small novel on Rogers Rangers published in 1976.

My first concern is my heritage and keeping it alive. Guys like Al Saguto and Pete Oakley will probably go to their graves without realizing the enormity of their contribution to our culture. I seem to have amassed about four hours of research for every hour spent onsite, where I search for details about The French and Indian War, my craft, the Persona of a Fairfield County Shoemaker of about 1745-1758, and the history and culture of my hometown.

I get maybe a net of two man-months at this during the course of the year, mostly on weekends and early in the morning or late at night.

Anne and I were married in 1976, and this past August we just placed all three of our kids in college...Lizette( our oldest) as a senior at Westconn, Maryanne and Christian ( the twins) in FIT and Westconn respectively. We're like honeymooners with different bodies.

I guess I'm in the same bucket that everybody else is. I cringe over what I don't know and the mistakes I make, crave more knowledge, and really get a great feeling when some re-enactor who can't live with cheap, foriegn shoes flashes that Christmas-Morning smile when my work fits and serves them well.

I'm looking forward this year to getting a hold of people like Dave Susice and seeing if we can set up a two or three man demonstration during re-enactment events...the way it appears to have actually been done at Fort Edward and William Henry in the colonial era.

Thank all of you for participating in this.

Yours

Greg Geiger

Hi! I'm DJ Moss. I've been involved in Leatherwork for about 20 yrs.... I have worked for myself making primarily Historical Military Accoutrements..which is a hard way to make a living! I now do this as a hobby, and enjoy it much more...I worked for a time at the old BT Crump Co. in Richmond,Va. My expertise,such as it is,is mostly in Infantry Equipments and some in Military Saddlery,from about the CW thru WW2, with a special emphasis on European Militaries,particulerly German.. And a number of other obscure oddities from various periods. I have been involved in Living History since I was about 5-6, in a number of Time periods. I have always been involved in SuperAuthenticity (as it was once known in CW circles!)But which most folks now would call being a StichNazi... A Time Tripper, as it were... Which to me has always been the only justification for dressing up in silly clothes and pretending you're something you're not, other than an excuse to drink and wench! At present (1999)I'm involved with the Brethren of the Bay, a small group here in VA,MD,NC who are portraying Buccaneers of the 1710-20 Period...Pirates, if you will... I'm very excited to find this list,as it has often seemed I was the only one I knew doing this kind of work. I'm looking forward to sharing with you all... DJ

Hello from John in Alaska. I have been hand-stitching leather for over 53 years. My problem is that I cannot find the thread I like to use anymore. If anyone can help, I would be grateful.
I use linen single shoe thread that is waxless, made of pure flax. It was once called Barbour NO. 10, but is no longer made. Can you help me?
Thanks. Here's a friend's e'mail address:
SMT@sphosp.com

My name is Joe Hall. I am a "weekend bootmaker" who admires you who are able to make a living at the craft. I have only made boots and shoes for myself and for friends and family. I am more hand-oriented than most. I don't own a Landis, a straight needle, or a finisher, but I do have a drum sander for which I have had a sleeve made to accept the standard finisher brushes and drums.

My initial teacher was Dennis McKinney in Roswell, NM. I had always wanted a pair of bench-made boots and I knew Dennis had made a great pair for my brother. He was so backed up with orders when I placed mine that I had to wait almost 20 months for my pair. I spent alot of that time stopping by his shop to watch him work. I got hooked.

Dennis helped me find an old 3115 and I searched for the proper tools, which was a problem in the early 90's - there was no Brownwood or Brownwood swap meet. I was fortunate enough to find Al Saguto, Dan Freeman, Jim Bowman, and Carl Lichte. They helped me gather the tools and the information I needed. I purchased DW's book and the one put out by TSTI in Amarillo. I was also helped along by Mr. L. W. McGuffin in Portales, NM. Finally, I took a post-graduate course, a 3 week packer class with DW in '94.

I found out about this site during my annual trip to Brownwood. What a revelation. Hopefully it will succeed where the CBSG stumbled and failed. "Thank you" to all of you who have gotten this forum to such a healthy state. I'm glad I found it.

Hello,

Teri Davis here in great joy at finding the guild! I like many of you have started from bare tacks and researched on my own and tried to piece together the traditon of making medieval shoes.(medieval History a passion found in college re-inactment society)

I have tried to learn all skills of the cordwainer.(Intelligent enough to know that this is an impossible task for one lifetime, but insane enough to try.)

I have a varied background. College was Fine arts/archaeology.As a scultptor and palentologist I agree with Maquita...ZZZzzzzzz. Health kept me from my chosen field. A failed marriage and a decade later I entered chef school. A spinal cord injury ; a rare book store opened and closed, and another decade now I find myself at a comfortable place in life.

Forty and secure in what I want to do with my life. A very good friend is backing me in my cordwaining studies.(His idea is he would spend as much on one real pair of shoes as on my education therefore it is more logical to help me learn and have a grateful cordwainer in his pocket for life)

I have a deep passion for life. My other 'hobby' is Cat Shows and I am a partner in a cattery. We raise Maine Coons and Turkish Vans etc etc ZZZzzzz again.I spend my days in animal rescue I started this April called Pawsfree. My free time is in pursuit of the craft.

With that I leave you as I have gone on far too long already! pictures hmmm none availble of me!Just my cats LOL

My name is Elmer Walls, a novice bootmaker living in Duncan, AZ. Years ago I worked for a bootmaker in Clayton, NM by the name of Tony Spinelli who tried to teach me the trade. But being young and restless I decided to become a cowboy and worked at that profession for some 25 years until I had one of those so called horse wrecks that changed my life.

After healing up and the good Doc said find another line of work, I worked for the Bureau of Land Management until retirement in January 1999. I hired on with BLM as a Range Conservationist and became involved the Wild Horse and Burro Program for 12 years and finally became to old to chase the wild ones and retired.

I attended Randy Merrell's bootmakeing school and have been working at the craft or art for about one year. Most of the boots I have made have been for friends and a few ranch hands in the community.

I have my shop in the same building with a saddle maker and sometimes this is good and bad. When the weather is disagreeable the saddle and boot shop becomes the gathering place for ranchers, cowboys,wanta be's, miners and the curious.

Regards, Elmer Walls, ewalls@vtc.net

Hi, I'm Kevin Leahy. I have a prosthetic and orthotic (artificial limbs and braces) shop in Santa Cruz, California. I started making hippie sandals in 1976. After having a shoe repair shop in Chico, CA for a couple of years, I apprenticed to an Austrian orthopedic shoemaker in Seattle for three years. After stints in a logger boot factory and as an orthopedic shoemaker at the VA, I supervised a diabetic custom shoe shop for the University of Texas Health Science Center. I traveled to Europe and visited orthopedic shoemaking schools, hiring graduates of the programs and bringing them to the states. After twelve years of shoemaking, I found that I was as poor as a shoemaker (sound familiar?). After graduating from prosthetic school at UCLA, I worked at various orthopedic facilities until I could open my own business. I still make a few pair of orthopedic shoes and hiking boots each year, and I hope to write a few articles on orthopedic shoemaking.

Hello all fellow cordwainers !

My name is John Dent, and I am an amateur (and for the moment) part-time bespoke last and shoemaker, based in Stevenage, in the County of Hertfordshire (about 35 miloes due north of London UK).

Now enjoying my 63rd summer, and married to Pat for the last 43 years (she thinks I'm a shoe nutcase) we have three adult offspring with families of their own.

Born in Pontllanfraith, in the County of Monmouth, South Wales, I left home at 16 to start a 5 year Indentured Apprenticeship as an "Aircraft Metal Fitter" with De Havilland Aircraft in Herts.

Have been in engineering - aerospace and computers ever since then.

Bought my first pair of bespoke shoes from the late "George York and Sons" in Long Buckby Northampton in 1992.

Seduced by talk of "London Waistes" and "Just Seen" welts, I decided to learn how to make my own.

This first pair cost me £380 - at a time when LOBBS were asking £1,200 a pair.

Completed several shoemaking evening courses at Cordwainers College, culminating in "handmade" tutored bu a lady who worked for LOBBS in St James.

Have sincemade shoes for myself and family,starting with making a last in each case.

Other interests include.......

Cycling, Impressionist Art, Music of all types ( in particular the harp (sign of my Celtic origins ? )

Also a cat lover.

I look forward to taking a more active part in discussions soon !

My name is Mike Sypherd and I am a boot repairman, not a bootmaker. I did however work for a while at Paul Bond's in Nogales doing his repairs until I could haul my three tons of equipment out from New Mexico. It was real interesting seeing how they do a Paul Bond, because I have always admired his boots. He still comes to work every day, 84 years old and sharp as a tack. I had a hard time when I first got there because I don't speak Spanish. Did a lot of sign language at first, then really all I needed to know was a few words: buenos dias(good morning)
suelas(soles) tacon(heels) hilo(thread) adios (good bye) and dias de los conchas (day of the money). Like I said, it was real interesting.Each guy has his own job, and they have done it for years so they are very good at their jobs. There are a couple sons working there with their fathers, second generation Paul Bond employees. I don't think any of them have a real interest in cowboy boots, for them it's a nice sit down job which is better than most Mexicans end up with when they come over to the US. Paul Bond treats them good, and they do a nice boot.
I got good at fixing cowboy boots working for Joe Rhodes in Muleshoe Texas. He buys Tony Lama returns then fixes them up and sells them in his store as reconditioned, sometimes seconds is they look good enough. Everybody in west Texas buys their boots from Joe. Had my own shop in northern New Mexico between Taos and Red River. Never could make a decent living at it. Just the way things are these days. Our throw-away society and all that. Then I found Patagonia Arizona, am renting a place on an old horse property and have my shop set up in the tack room. Just starting out here, right now am getting people's worst boots until they see what kind of work I do. Did my first pair of Paul Bond's in my new location on Saturday. Glad I worked there, now I know how to make them look just like they do when they come out of there. Wish I had some lasts, have to be real careful doing repairs on a custom boot. Got me a web page, going to try to scare up some boot repair by mail. Really don't know if people are willing to go to the trouble of shipping something like that, everyone is in such a hurry these days. Check it out. www.geocities.com/gypsybootman. Glad I found this site. Hope to be a regular contributor. Mike.

Hey-
I am becoming involved in 18th century historical reenactment and am looking for straight shoe lasts. Any information will be appreciated.

is shoemaking alive in Ontario, Canada

To all,
I suddenly discovered that I should have introduced myself on these pages weeks ago. My name is Jan Petter Myhre. I am fourty years of age. Today, I am living in the outscerts of Oslo, the capitol of Norway. I made my first pair of boots in 1978. I was 18 and my mother saw me lying down on the floor with my butt in the air, trying to figure out all the secrets and mysteries of the trade. Who would guess that this craft was going to be "the" challenge of my life. Allready then my mother was worried about my future. Now, I think she sees that I am happy after all. I left the big challenge until 1981. In 1987, I went to London and has ever since been guided by my teachers at John Lobb Ltd. I am working as a full time Bespoke shoemaker today.

Like Jan, I should have posted this some time back (to busy reading everyone elses posts I suppose)
Greetings all,
Jonathon Head, born 23/3/70 (still a young fella)married to wife Lisa for past 7 years. 1 child, son Andrew now 2 1/2.
Reside in McLaren Vale, South Australia.( Fantastic wine producing area, Magnificent Shiraz )
Found myself in the shoe caper when I answered an ad for a repair business looking for an apprentice engraver (many repair shops here do key cutting & engraving to suppliment their cash flow) Joined "The Cobbler Shop" in 1988 and have been their "senior" repairer there since. I am shop manager at the Blackwood store which is a suberb about 15km. south of Adelaide.
Whilst repairing can be a challenging proposition at times (I seem to get all the nasty stuff other repairers don't want to touch) I felt the need to extend my knowledge and skills.So in 1989-90 I began courses with Master shoemaker George Koleff.
In all I have done 7 two week courses with George, 4 as student and then for a different perspective I acted as "assistant to the master" in the last 3 courses he conducted. Sadly George passed away in January this year (2001)
I have a select few clientelle for whom I am now making various styles of boots and shoes for, along with family and friends of course. Most of these are done in a little work shop at home,using traditional techniques.( I would much rather sew my soles by hand than use the Landis at work when it comes to the stuff I'm making)
I have exhibited my work on only 2 occasions, both times at the Royal Adelaide Show. And on both occasions won the class entered ( Lasted Footwear), and Best leather exhibit overall, each time with Western style boots. This would have to be my favourite type of footwear to make, as they give the maker a magnificent "canvas" on which to design. Have taken great inspiration from Tyler Beards 2 books *WOW*
Other interests include Cricket, playing for Noarlunga Cricket Club. Classic cars, I am the proud owner of a 58 F.C. Holden Special. And of course living in McLaren Vale I love a drop of the local reds.
Hope this message finds you all well.
Cheers.
Jon

My name is Peter Monahan, history teacher and War of 1812 re-enactor in Ontario, Canada. I've always loved the leather and so, after making my own kit and several years of "fooling around" with moccasions and ghillie brogues am now venturing, very cautiously into "cobbling". (I don't havve the nerve or resources to start actual shoe-making yet, but do have an abiding interest in the history, especially 18th and 19th century of shes and shoe-making. I also hope to do some repairs for other re-enactors and so am looking with increasing frustrattion for a source of HOBNAILS at a price less than their equivalent in gold. Can anyone help? I'm also quite intterrested in any info. on wooden pattens as worn in colonial America/Canada during the late 18th/early 19th.

My name is Jim Perricone, and I've been ghosting thru the Colloquy for some months now. I'm currently living in Houston, Texas with my wife. Our one son lives down the road a piece on his own.
I decided to be a bootmaker when I grow up (I'm just a little while into the 50's) and so made the trek to Redmond.
A couple weeks ago I came home with my first pair of boots in hand (that's because I didn't want to get them dirty before I could show them off). So now I can say I'm a bootmaker.
The information and spirit found here, on the Colloquy, has beeen quite inspiring. I look forward to the day I may be able to contribute in measure to what I have have so far received.

Hello all! I have been enjoying the Crispin Colloquy for a bit, reading DWFII's, Vass' and Salaman's books and have decided to try making my first pair of boots. Yipes, a bit scarey. I hope to go to Brownwood next month, meet everyone and really get started!

I have interests in lots of areas, can hardly find something I don't want to know more about. My current interests are Karmann Ghias, dark beer and Joseph Campbell.

I come to HCC by way of athletic shoes. I am the Product and Creative Director for an athletic footwear and apparel company. I never planned this, it just evolved. I originally degreed in economics and urban studies and wanted to go into urban planning, but ended up in statistical plans with an insurance company. It was a great job as I found insurance companies are or can be very interesting, really. After a few years I went back to school to retrain as an industrial designer. Ten years later, here I am studying lasts and fashion, trying to make products fit and look better.

This is my professional interest in shoes, my personal interest involves my duck feet, wide forefoot, narrow heel. If it kills me I am going to make shoes that fit... by the way, clipping is not ok for me DW!

My family is the most important part of me, I can't forget to mention Leslie, my wife or Ian, 9 and Eric, 6 my sons. Leslie's hobby/passion is fiber arts, spinning, weaving, and knitting. Ian loves animals (living, extinct, big, or little) reading about them and sometimes eating them. Eric loves activity, lots of it: sports, music, dancing, making things and video games.

Lastly, I must add cheers and thanks to DWFII, Al and the other many dedicated contributors to the forum. The site works wonderfully, the archive is an incredible and invaluable resource, and the friendly, helpful attitude is much appreciated and not always found on the 'net or in life!

Russell Shimomura
Dallas, Texas

Hi, I'm Sarah Davison. I am a pedorthist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I've been reading the Colloquy for some time and have learned so much.

I have a wonderful husband, Steve, and in all we have four grown children and four grandchildren (we are very YOUNG grandparents!) I make orthotics, boots, and shoes in my home. The cars haven't been in the garage in over a year, due to my workbench and other equipment occupying that space. I've been in business for two years.

I have been a petroleum technician, a bicycle salesman, and a toilet paper maker. I went to two years of medical school but quit(for various reasons) when I married Steve four years ago. With all my spare time, I decided to go to OSU Tech in Okumlgee, OK to learn to make boots and saddles. I became interested in their pedorthics program and paired that with the bootmaking. I never got around to the saddle making class. Maybe when I retire...

I know I have some hobbies, I just can't recall any right now. I enjoy pembroke welsh corgis and used to show one. No time for that now.

I love bootmaking and the Voss book makes me drool. I WANT to make shoes like those! But my orthopedic shoe business takes up most of my time.

Thanks for the Colloquy. I'm looking forward to meeting some of you in person.

Sarah

hi, everyone. I am Philip Molcher from Northamptonshire UK.
51 and greying (a little)married with two grown up girls in their 20's going on 40.they tell me whats going on.
I've been in the trade all my working life, learning shoemaking from the floor up, progressed into sales of footwear materials in 82 and started to specialize in sales of bottom leather (sole and insole) in 86.
I produce my own soles and insoles from purchased leather and sell to selected users.
I have only just become aware of the hcc and look forward to reading old and new information, thank you for allowing me to spy on the info.