June 2010

Here are few photos showing the process of the 2nd rand going on the Wholecuts.

Glued in place…

…attached with wooden pegs…

…trimmed…

…and filed down.

By the way, if you know a different name for this piece, let me know.

Finally I’ll start building the heels on the Slip-Ons and Wholecuts this week. Here’s the start of the process, a second rand that will need to be leveled, on the Slip-Ons.

I also finished the modifications that I needed to make to the lasts for the Silver Wingtips.

Here are the lasts that I’ll be making the Silver Wingtips on…

…and here are the orthotic inserts next to one of the lasts with some leather placed on the bottom to compensate for them.

Waiting for the glue to dry on the other last…

…and trimming to shape after the leather was placed on the last.

I also made some changes to the pattern to compensate for these and at the same time increased the back height. Before on the left; After on the right.

The return of the Silver Wingtips!

Here are a pair of test fitters I made a while back for a guy who wants a pair of wingtips (I think they’re called Brogues outside The States?) in silver leather. Ultra sophisticated glam rock! He doesn’t live in Seattle and I haven’t been able to get down to San Francisco to take his measurements in person, so it’s been a little tricky to figure out exactly what alterations need to be made to the lasts to improve the fit. There are orthotic inserts involved. Finally though we were able to talk through what was needing over the phone and with the help of a few emailed photos, I have a plan.

I closed the stitching channels on both the Wholecuts and Slip-Ons yesterday.

Next up for both pairs are heels.

I finally finished stitching on the soles of the Wholecuts over the weekend…

I finally finished stitching on the soles of the Blake Stitch Slip-Ons.

I’ve been fairly distracted lately from much shoemaking by few things, such as a very enjoyable extended camping trip and a very unenjoyable experience dealing with Jones & Vining about a shoe last order that they messed up. I’ve been waiting to see how this situation is resolved before I mention it here, so more on this later.