Easiest way to repair shoelace tips (aglets)

For these shoelaces I used clear 3/32" heat shrink tubing, a hair dryer, and tweezers to prevent burning my fingers.

1. Cut the desired length of tubing
2. Slip shoelace inside
3. Hold lace with tweezer
4. Apply heat with hair dryer

So fast and easy! The shrink tubing is great for quick fixes of crushed plastic aglets, to shorten your laces or to make custom laces out of other cords or ribbon. I am going to try the colored tubing next. Thrilling! 

Latest addition to my shoe collection

Size 11(!) baby doll style flats.

Red Sandals ~ finished!

Lots more mistakes made and lessons learned!

So sweet and inspiring! A shoemaker from my area.

...and a pair for me

Made out of a lightweight polka dot fleece fabric with a green wool lining and leather sole (sueded side out).  I used the sole of an unworn pair of flip flops my aunt gave me as "the filling".  Any part of my body + thong = not gonna happen.  I ripped out the thong part, trimmed the toe area a bit to make it rounder and then used it as a template for the rest of the pattern.

Although it feels good on the skin, I don't recommend using fleece for something like this. It already started to pile from just making it. [Insert "did I just waste 10 hours of my life?" sad face here] Even though I interfaced all the pieces I feel like it is not going to hold up that well and will collect dirt and dust easily.

For the top part I used the pattern piece from the other pair, but adjusted the pattern to make it longer lengthwise for more footsie coverage.

Sal slippers 2.0. Didn't match up the pattern, whoopsie!

Recycled leather sole and foam padding from the last pair and used more of my shrunken wool sweater for the lining.

The years of dancing school really paid off.

balmoral boots finished (finally!)

I finally finished the Balmoral style boots that I started in April! While awaiting feedback for the project I'm currently working on, I decided to try to finish up these boots. This is my first attempt at cutting, dyeing, and attaching the leather sole and heel myself. If I wasn't worried about getting brain and nerve damage from the toxic glue it would have been a tad more fun. I might leave the soling up to the pros the next time around. Maybe. Or set up a shoemaking station outside of my apartment :). I still need to make the insole lining (polka dot lining temporarily borrowed from my other shoe) and find some navy blue shoelaces. Yay!

shoe cabinet in action

Here is the shoe cabinet I've been waiting to get. It is heavily guarded by Grandfather Owl up on top. He is on the lookout for potential shoe thieves. You know who (who) you are.

Warning for potential shoe cabinet purchasers:
High top sneakers, boots, etc. will not fit in here. Seek alternative methods of shoe organization.

March of the Ten-tens

My size 10's eagerly awaiting THIS shoe cabinet from Ikea. I'm also eagerly awaiting the arrival of Ikea in Brooklyn! I think it will make my life at least 3.5 - 4% better. Its arrival (spring 2008?) is definitely causing a lot of controversy in Red Hook though!