Toddler Shoes and Cobbler News

As you know–not only are we teaching at the school but making shoes for all ages of people and sizes of feet. Yesterday, one of my younger customers came in to pick up his new shoes at the studio.

I also began a conversation with a much admired colleague in Massachusetts to come to the school as a guest teacher–perhaps as early as this fall. Here’s some of her work. El Diablo Handmade Shoes. I love her styling and the traditional lasting technique she uses allows for some very refined shoes and boots.

CBS Did a great job!

Watch the piece CBS aired on Friday night on the Chicago School of Shoemaking.
We are certainly pleased with the results! Thanks CBS!

YARN SALE

The Chicago School of Shoemaking and Sara’s Shoes is hosting a BIG Yarn Sale all day Saturday the 28th at 4723 N Winchester –10am-6pm. This is your chance to grab some deals on beautiful yarns collected by the best knitters and crocheters in Chicago that they’re willing to sell at discounted prices. The work benches will be covered with pounds and pounds of beautiful yarns–all colors, gauges and textures. Come by and plan your summer and fall knitting projects. And visit the school while you’re at it!

Watch us tonight on the 10pm CBS Channel 2 News

Our (next!) “15 minutes of fame” is scheduled for tonight on the CBS channel 2 news show at 10 o’clock. How fun is that!!! Tim, Meg and James joined Sara and the CBS crew at the school for an in depth interview about making shoes and the Future Cobblers of America–hmmm the FCA. Time to start a new club. :))

“In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.” Andy Warhol. -

ABC spot for Chicago School of Shoemaking

Chicago loves the Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather work!!

Chicago School of Shoemaking at DIY Fair this weekend.

On Sunday the 15th from 12-5pm, The Chicago School of Shoemaking will be at the ReBuilding Exchange showing an array of Shoemaking tools and processes for the DIY Fair. Now people who’ve always dreamed about making their own shoes can make this a reality at the school.

Please come visit us and see people displaying amazing skills of sustainability and conscious living.

On another note:

Sometimes after a long day of shoemaking, you just have to sit down and admire your own work for awhile.
Red shoes made by Kylee Magno of Chicago, Il

April Newsletter

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Love from the Chicago School of Shoemaking

Belts and Buckles

The Exploring Leather Work class that meets on Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks did their Belts and Buckles segment this week. Students learned how to turn and glue edges of leather, bevel, use a slot punch, pick the right rivets, set them, attach a few different kinds of buckles and make a “keeper”. All in just 2 hours. Now I know that most of our students will never end up on Survivor–or Project Accessory–but don’t you think it’s cool that they know how to do this stuff now? I do.

Chicago School of Shoemaking on the Radio!

I know it’s short notice–(for me too!) but this morning, I’m getting on the train down to the loop to hang with the people at Blog Talk Radio for a DIY chat about shoemaking, leatherworking and the school. They’re going to stream video too–so check us out on You Tube. The show starts at 11am CT, and this 10-15 minute segment would happen around 11:45am. Way cool.

Dreams into Shoes

These women had only dared to dream about making a pair of shoes from start to finish. It’s not something that we usually think about these days: “I wonder if I could make my own shoes….?” But they found the school, and all of a sudden, a dream became a reality. This 2 day workshop netted some awesome shoes, and some pretty happy cobblers.

Champagne+Crafting Cuffs

Actually it worked quite well to sip champagne and do leather work last Saturday evening. We were celebrating a birthday and making beautiful cuffs. Everyone jumped right in–picking out their leather and design elements and went to town with their projects. I think it was a success all around. Think of us when you’re planning a party! We now have party rates!!

Party Time

The Leather working classes are becoming a popular event for small groups of friends and celebrations. Just last week I was approached by a woman who scheduled a cuff class as part of a birthday evening celebration for her and her 8 friends. They’ll go on to karoake afterwards wearing their leather bracelets–sporting them about town. Now that’s a fun evening! Next week, a group of knitters are coming in for the Leather 101 class with an emphasis on accessories–belts perhaps? for those beautiful knitted vests and sweaters they’re always creating. So what’s your party idea? Invite some friends to make leather stuff–set some snaps, punch a few holes–and lace them up with a special braid (I’ll show you how)
And you’re welcome to BYOB!

NEW DIY CLASSES!

Exploring Leather Work: 6 week class-3/21-5/2: $225
This hands-on fundamentals course is for people who want to learn how to make items and projects out of a variety of weights and types of leather. Whether you have done some leather work on your own, have already attended a workshop at the school or are a new leather worker, this is the best class to refine your skills and move forward to more intricate projects later in the more advanced classes we are designing.
We will cover all the basic information students will need to complete 5 different projects and many aspects of working with leather: cutting, gluing, shaping, dyeing, hardware,and finishing techniques. Patterns and projects are provided as well as many choices of leather types and colors. You will also have time and space to work on independent projects as the class continues. All materials and use of tools are included. This course is limited to 8 students per session so sign up soon! Register Now

Busy Week Elves and All

There’s something magical about shoemaking. How many of you know the story of the Shoemaker and the Elves?

We’re not only training shoemakers at the school. We’re creating excitement about art and design and edgy decorations on leather. We’re teaching the qualities of leather and how it can be formed. We’re introducing new tools and how to use them. We’re refining skills and having fun. Come by and see us–Sign up for a class. Soon we’ll be posting a Sandalmaking class–now that’s exciting!

Leather Work 101

Cool the Glue

Punding the soles on with a shoemakers' hammer

Student Cobblers

The Shoemaking School opened last September and already we’ve had a wonderful group of students come through the beginning shoemaking class with awesome results. Derrick, Ty, Monica, a mother/daughter team–Cathy and Julia, Peter from Chicago and another Peter–who flew in from NYC to take the class (we are impressed!) Notice how a student took the opportunity to write a message for himself on the bottom of the midsole. Nice to know he’s walking around on that now. We love teaching and it shows in the quality of students–and the quality of work they produce.

Wowza School Video!

Exciting Times at the Chicago School of Shoemaking

Young women from Northwestern taking the leather jewelry class together at the Chicago School of Shoemaking

The last few days have been fabulous for the school. We got a great piece on Thrillist and the calls for classes started pouring in. Yesterday a great group of young women from Northwestern took the leather jewelry class together Note: What a great birthday party event or girl-friend-getaway! and made some really fabulous stuff–all in 2 hours. They were really proud of themselves too. Don’t they all look gorgeous?!?

Leather Jewelry Galore

We’re adding projects to our Leather Jewelry class every day. You’ll get to choose up to 3 things you can make in the intro class–if you have time. Everyone will start out making a sampler: set a snap, punch a hole, crimp an eyelet, set a rivet. It’s all so accessible and fun. Barbara Jean is setting a snap here and that’s a new style of cuff I just made to show what’s possible. If you look closely, you can see that BJ has on 2 bracelets that she made and a very cool choker she designed. All made within the 2 hour class.

Leather Work Classes

I worked on several new projects this week. Some leather jewelry, wristbands, different ways to attach leather to itself and came up with a list of introductory projects that will get you acquainted with how to work with leather and have some fun in the process. Several friends suggested this and I think it’s a great idea for our leather newbies. Bring ‘em on. We’ll have the listings up soon. If you have any suggestions about what you’d love to make in a 2 or 3 hour class, let me know!

Leather Crafting

Tools of the leather crafting trade

I’m thinking up projects I can teach at the school. I want to introduce people to the fun of making things out of leather. I want them to be simple enough that they can finish in a couple of hours and not involve machinery. Something that we can put together with rivets or eyelets or hand stitching. What do you suggest? There are so many possibilities…

Art Energy

When I woke up this morning, I knew something great was going to happen today. A good friend with a great eye–and design sense is going to spend the day at the studio with me. We’re going to fix a couple of things, make a belt and design a new pair of boots for her. I have no idea what we’re going to come up with–and that’s one of the best feelings an artist can have. Ever felt that way? It’s the best.

New Student Work

My last student came to class with an advanced design sense–she was a joy to teach and is already planning for her next class at the school. As you can see, she included some special touches….I am happy to encourage personal touches to each shoe project as long as the shoe maintains the integrity and structure it requires.

When I Grow Up

When you were a kid, what did you dream of doing when you grew up? I am talking about after the phase of wanting to be Spiderman, or any other superhero? All I wanted to do was make things, build things. There wasn’t a general category for that–at least for a girl, that I can remember. I was a builder before I was a weaver, before I was a shoemaker. One thing led to another in the realm of working with my hands. It’s never too late to follow your dreams. Working with your hands. Found a quote this morning:

If you say that you would love to do something, it is your responsibility to make it happen. ~ Rick Singer

Casting a Net

I’m out and about today–casting a net for cobblers-in-waiting. Any ideas of where to find them? Are they lurking in hallways, alleys? Hiding in shoe stores? Stalking fashionistas? Will I know them by their shoes?

Counting Eyelets

Last weekend was spent at the Chicago Mosaic School displaying shoes and talking about the Chicago School of Shoemaking.. We captured 2 pages of email addresses for our newsletter by asking people to guess the number of eyelets in the jar. It was really interesting to watch all of the different styles of guesses. Some people were very calculating–counting the top layer and getting out their phone to multiply the rows….and others closed their eyes and used their intuition. We had guesses from 9,000 to 750.
Lisa Brumby won the day with her guess of 1300—the closest to the actual count which was 1343. And yes, I did count them all! Thanks to everyone who played our game and who will now receive our newsletter. :)

PS–Eyelets are the coverings for holes on your shoes where the laces go through. They are part of a larger group of shoe hardware known as findings. Now you know something new, eh?

Awesome Students

Will's Shoes

As I teach the beginning class to a variety of students, I realize that each person has a dream that they are reaching for. James wants to be a shoemaker. [period] He wants it to be his primary job–to make shoes for people around the world. Will wanted to have a pair of shoes he made for his portfolio. He’s applying to a school in Florence, Italy in leather work. Damani has dreamed of designing and making shoes for years and wants to build her fabrication skills so she knows what’s possible. Everyone has a dream. What’s yours????

What’s New ?

Join us at the Chicago Mosaic School this weekend for the Ravenswood Art Walk event. Speak with the Master Cobbler, pick up a “shoepon” or 2 for a discount on classes. See you there!