Just when I thought these collabs couldn't get any better... This is our latest 'Get Inspired' collaboration with Kiwi artist @phoebeganderart ☀️
'Get Inspired' is a series of shoe design collaborations with the intention to inspire our community to unlock different creative practices and apply them to shoes. All the shoes made in this series (or variations of them) can be made by following the instructions in our Online Footwear Masterclass.
@phoebeganderart is a mixed media artist based in New Zealand who paints both abstract landscapes and still life, using media such as acrylics and oil. As Phoebe creates her artwork on canvas, we weren't sure if painting on leather would have the same effect or whether the paint would crack.
We had the idea of creating a pair of high ankle boots and Phoebe suggested using quality acrylic paint that is safe to use on leather and would be permanent & flexible; bingo!
We made the boot uppers in beige leather so that Phoebe had a blank canvas to start painting on and we are SO happy with how they turned out.
Here’s a little run through of how we made the boots…
Step 1 - We cut, stitched and assembled the uppers in creme leather and covered the heels too. We then sent them in the post to Phoebe so she could work her magic!
Step 2 - Next, we cut the shanked insoles to size and covered them with the same cream lambskin leather.
Step 3 - Once Pheobe has painted the uppers and posted them back to us, we lasted the linings, inserted a pair of toe puffs and counter stiffeners to make sure they hold their shape, and lasted the uppers.
Step 4 - We attached the leather randing to the feather edge of the boots, then added a cork bottom filler to the base of the boots to create a nice flat surface for the soles.
Step 5 - Next, we attached the soles to the base of the boots and hammered the heel tips onto the heels.
Step 6 - Finally, we drilled the heels to the boots and added a small insole sock to cover the screws and add a little comfort!
Estimated time to make = 8 hours
learn shoemaking for yourself
I created a free 40-minute online course called 'Introduction to Shoemaking' to show how easy home shoemaking can be and to give you a little taste of what I Can Make Shoes is all about. SIGN UP HERE for instant access.
If you are wanting to dive a little deeper into the world of home shoemaking, my online Footwear Masterclass is one of the most popular shoemaking courses in the world!! 🌍 (Casual brag! lol)
The course covers how to make shoes from scratch including heels, flats, boots, sneakers, sandals, and more. The thing that really sets this course apart from others is that it's specifically designed for total beginners and requires very little in the way of tools & equipment, there's even a bonus module on how to start your own shoe brand. To make getting started even easier, the course comes with a FREE Shoemaking Starter Kit, delivered to your door, anywhere in the world! 🌍
We are a tight community and regularly limit our intake to ensure the best experience for our students - so if our enrolment is closed I would recommend you sign up for our FREE Introduction to Shoemaking course while you wait.
Happy Shoemaking, Amanda xx
Pssssssst.... If you want to have a look at the shoes our students have been making, give us a follow on Instagram.
