Snippets of a Sandal Maker

Last Saturday saw my final Sandal Making Course for 2014. It was a blast. I love showing shoe addicts how to make their very own footwear. So, a big THANK YOU to all those ladies that have made my sandal course so much fun.

With course dates for January full, 2015 is shaping up to be yet another Sandal Making Frenzy. Do not fret, as I have the following dates available (with more to come):

Saturday February 7, 2015 - Full
Saturday February 21, 2015

Location: 53 Ridge Street North Sydney
Time: 9am - 5pm. It is a big day!
Includes: A light lunch and every thing required to make a basic pair of strappy sandals.

Cost: $220.00

One Day Sandal Making Course - New Dates

Learn how to make a basic pair of strappy sandals.

Venue - Shiny 2 Gallery: 53 Ridge Street North Sydney. Time: 10am - 4pm

Dates:

22nd November 2014 - full.
6th December 2014 - full
20th December 2014 - 3 seats available
10th January 2015 - full
7th February 2015 - 4 seats available
21st February 2015 - 4 seats available

Cost: $220 includes a light lunch.

For more information or to register your interest in this unique course
please Contact me at victoriachu.com.au

The Truth Behind Leather

Whilst willing away insomnia induced idleness I came across a video on Gizmodo. It covers the process of making leather. It emphasises the environmental/health reasons about why we ought to purchase quality leather and conversely the implications of penny pinching on our leather goods. 

As blogger Casey Chan says "Leather is beautiful, luxurious and natural and one of the great materials of the world. However, it is absolutely gross to make." So, let this be a warning, the video linked below is not for the faint hearted, the vegan (there is no animal cruelty), nor those on time constraints (12 mins). 

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2014/11/the-process-of-turning-raw-cow-hide-into-leather-is-really-gross/

Shoe Making Event

 'One Day Sandal Making Course'
Venue - Shiny 2 Gallery: 53 Ridge Street North Sydney. Time: 10am - 4pm

Dates:

22nd November 2014 - full.
6th December 2014 - full
20th December 2014 - 3 seats available
10th January 2015 - 1 seat available

Cost: $220 includes a light lunch.

For more information or to register your interest in this unique course
please Contact me at victoriachu.com.au

Lights Camera Action !

Beneath is a sneaky peek of shoe making in action. The very talented Kevin from Shoestring Shorts filmed this great little sequence at the William Street Paddington Fashion Fair. I was the shoe making installation in the window of Pelle Shoes.

Click here to watch the Video

Tools of the Trade

My tools from left to right: tape measure, uber scissors, tack knife, skiving knife, clickers knife, awl, dolly hammer and lasting pincers.

Pelle & CHU

Yesterday saw me as a cobbler installation in the window of Pelle Shoes, Paddington.
It was a fantastic day, I love showing people how shoes are made.
These two little monkeys were super cute.

Kenton Magazine

Another archived find, this time from an editorial for Kenton Magazine. The brief was "exaggerated body form". My shoes were one of those last minute details, I think I had 24 hours from concept to shoot. Photographed by the very talented Katie Pashley. 

Le Magazine

Trawling through my archived photos, I found this colourful picture from an editorial for
Le Magazine. These pretty shoes are vegan friendly (not that you would eat them).
The upper is constructed of canvas and silk.
They were created in collaboration with the clever Fi from Vigilantia. 

Beautiful Box Guitars

These wonderful noise boxes are hand crafted by the very clever Jon Watkins.

You can find him and his wares here Watkins Guitars

Opening Night This Thursday

This is our Shiny Shop: Shoes, Guitars, Furniture, Sculptures and Portraiture.

All lovingly handmade by local Artists.

Come in for a tipple this Thursday night (22 May) and meet the crew.
5 Coronation Street, Hornsby

The Circle of Brogues

... well, semi circle.
Sorry, that was terrible. It is late!

Pop Up Shop

If you would like to try my shoes on and see some other really cool stuff. You can visit our pop up shop.

I will have some tools there and will be working. If you are interested in shoe making, this will be a good chance to come along and ask some questions.

My Workshop

This is my little oasis.

To the right of me is my collection of lasts. To the left and behind, my current line.

Technical drawing department

This is the pattern of an 'upper'. 

It consists of a toe cap (the bit that covers your toe) and a vamp (the piece that appears to have wings). 

You may notice little circles, these remind me to include underlay and folding allowances.

Clickety Click

In the world of shoe making a Clicker is the person who cuts the uppers for the shoes.

The job was historically named prior to mechanism, due to the sound of the operator's hand-knife blade clicking against the brass edge-binding used to protect the patterns.

New Threads

I have acquired some über durable Bonded Nylon thread for footwear.

Pantone New York Autumn 2014

These rustic colours are not rustic enough.

I got distracted

I love the leather.

Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful ...

I feel like one of the Seven Dwarfs.

Two Tone

I Love Coffee.

Push

My shoes were published!

Last Glance

Here is a little line of lasts,
prep-ping for my day of power in Melbourne.

That's some Mean Forme...

Putting pencil to paper to create the Mean Forme of each last.

Test shop