My adventures in sandal making.

It all started with a book. A really nice-looking, intriguing book. It was “The Sandalmaking Workshop” by Rachel Corry. Now I often describe myself as a multi-passionate creative, but I must admit that I’ve never tried to make shoes before. Could I cobble? I have dabbled in leatherwork and, in fact, still have a couple tools and hides leftover from these exploits. I decided to commit by buying the book and buying an old shoe anvil from my local antique store. Now I HAD to do it.

I’ll let YouTube Amy take things from here. I recorded the whole process step by step and shared my triumphs and mistakes.

In my opinion, this book is not for beginner crafters. However, it is excellent for more experienced makers looking for a new challenge, and is a fascinating look at the mechanics of shoe making. The structure of the book was confusing at times, but Rachel clearly is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and knows how to teach through writing (NOT an easy thing to do). Plus, how cool is it to make your own shoes?

On to the next adventure…