Hello! We’re Carolyn’s feet; don’t know if we’ve been introduced yet, but hi there!! We’re here today to model some more shoes that she’s made… *sigh* yep, we’ve managed to avoid too much of her self-made nonsense for years and years now… we’ve just kept to ourselves, all quiet and unobtrusive down here, hum de hum hum, nothing to see here! and thought we might just have got away with it but NOPE!!! it seems we could not go by unnoticed forever *deeper sigh*
Oh well. Today we are wearing a new pair of ridiculous shoes, made out of tape again… I know, right?! you’d have thought that one pair was enough, but NOPE!! Carolyn got into the painting supplies in the shed and eventually unearthed a roll of black all-purpose builder’s cloth tape, and whipped these up. OK, so we have to admit, they are a bit of an improvement on the yellow pair, quite a bit sturdier and actually engineered to a slightly higher degree on the inside. The lining is made of an old, well-washed black Tshirt… so it is nice and cuddly soft on us, mmmmmm… Then Carolyn made proper heel counters and toe puffs on her lasts using stretch cotton denim and PVA glue, so these shoes are a lot more like real shoes. We have to hand it to her, she does seem to be actually improving infinitesimally with each new homemade pair of shoes she’s forced upon us.
She was shamed into showing these to an actual real shoemaker, who happened to be around at the same time Carolyn was out with her mother one day, and her Mum thought nothing of announcing to him what Carolyn was up to, and made her hand them over for inspection… laugh! We thought Carolyn would die of embarrassment right then and there! but rather surprisingly the shoemaker actually praised them and reckoned she was doing great. We figured he was probably was just being nice to her, polite, you know. He even urged her to get going on her leather supplies because he reckoned she’d get much better results. It was totally the wrong thing to say, of course; because she got home all fired up and immediately got out her leather supplies and started cutting into them. Dammit!!! we could have kicked him!! Now we’re just waiting with bated breath to see what she’s got in store for us next… honestly, if we had eyes they’d be rolling so hard right now. But we don’t, so you just have to imagine we’re doing it… on the inside.
Oh, and what else is new? the weather’s been getting fresher, so she got in and made a few new pairs of boring black tights. Four. ALL black! *yawn* Seriously, but that girl has no imagination. These are going to last all winter. Well, at least we’ll be warm.
Ok, well that’s all the news for now… Feet; signing off!
*my tutorial for making your own custom-fit tights pattern is here*
Haha…..welcome to the digital world Carolyn’s two feet…..looking good in these new black derbys.
Those are some lucky feet! I like the black tights. I’d say they’re pretty much essential, at least in my world since I don’t get that much wear out of patterned ones.
Any plans for ballet flats? If I were to venture into shoe-making, I’d really want to make ballet flats. Actually, when I mentioned shoe-making to my husband, he thought that was pushing it a bit. But your shoes as well as these and these, and these are so inspiring. The idea of making shoes myself is beginning to seem less “out there” than it once would have. Though, yes, there would be so much to learn!
thanks Kalimak! I’m not a ballet flat sort of a person, but I’m very interested in making some high heeled pumps or court shoes… I need to get some new lasts for those though!
If I were your feet, I wouldn’t complain so much! 😉 I really need to start making my own feet some tights! And those shoes look great!
This was a GREAT post! Thank you feet for keeping us up to date on all the creative goodness that Carolyn’s been up to! 🙂
Thank you, Carolyn’s feet, to show us your new derby shoes which look great!
Ha! Oh these tape shoes are even better than the last. Love the shape of these!
These are some good-lookin’ shoes – amazing!
Those are some seriously awesome tape derbies – way to go!!!
The shape is good isn’t it and you must be learning new stuff all the time on every pair. I know that is how I made better bras. Jo x
Truly amazing & very funny.
Great shoes, I really love the shape of these. I cant wait to see the leather pair you come up with.
I never expected feet to be so well-spoken! Consider yourselves lucky, it’s not every foot that can get custom shoes. 🙂
LOL…thank you feet, for keeping us current with what’s going on above you.
Totally fabulous and I am transfixed. Can’t wait for the next shoe update
Tape 🙂 Look like smart patent shoes to me – they are really imaginative. I’ve been waiting for you to start the leather …you will do well, I know.
Oh really feet – show some gratitude! Carolyn has made great clothes for years and now you are in on the action. Those tape derbys look great, and you will be very grateful for those tights as it gets cooler
oh I am so impressed with your shoe-making activities! Keep it up Carolyn, they look smart.
I kept looking at those shoes wondering what the fancy fabric was, and it’s more tape! So clever! I am about to embark on tight making, so hope mine are as good as yours!
oh my you are living my dream. somehow I think flat sandals with leather soles would be easier ? but I guess autumn is upon you and so actual shoes are needed. These are looking great and I agree with the shoemaker – can’t wait to see what you do with the leather and actually I bet they shape and breathe more how you will want.
Hi feet! Nice tights and shoes. You are lucky to have Carolyn working so hard for you.
Brilliant! Love the shoes too x
So good to meet you Carolyn’s feet, sorry you didn’t feel so pretty in your socks, but those shoes sure look amazing and good to hear they are making you feel so good.
Custom-made shoes: your feet are so lucky!
Love those shoes! I would wear them. Welcome to Carolyn’s feet, lovely to meet you. Hope she is good to you for all the hard work you do for her!
Hi Carolyn’s feet, you’re looking very smart in those fantastic shoes. Would you mind asking Carolyn where she gets the fabric for her tights, please?
thanks Kate! it’s just the black, 4-way stretch polyester from Spotlight, I’ve found it to be fantastic for tights, a nice thickness and it’s warm too 🙂
Holy jamoly!!! These tape shoes! You are truly gifted. And take the compliments from the shoemaker. A compliment is not always a platitude (I’m also talking to myself here, heh). Grab the compliment and tap dance across the floor in those TAPE SHOES. Your imagination has no bounds. Go, Carolyn, go! Love these.
I missed how you decided to get into shoe making. Would you consider doing a post on how you actually are making these?
I made these using the same method as for my yellow shoes here; except that I made toe puffs and heel counters using denim and PVA glue for these, as described in detail in this post on my desert boots 🙂
That was a fun read! You’re a marvel, making all those shoes!