SHOES!! I have had dreams of becoming a shoe cobbler for a few years now. One (at least) of my ancestors was a master boot-maker, Benjamin Joseph Green. When I was about 21 or so years old I saw that a local shoe repair shop needed help, no experience necessary. I went in eagerly to inquire about the position. The woman working there told me I wouldn’t be strong enough because I was a girl. RAWR, eff-you! I was at my strongest physically at the time, too bad I didn’t have as strong of a will and enough conviction to convince them I would be worth the investment…! As a shy and easily discouraged 21 year old I left feeling betrayed and utterly disappointed. I knew I was strong enough! I assumed all other shops in Peterborough would react the same. Fast-forward ten years later and shoe cobbling comes up in my mind and in reality again! My sister talks to a shoe repair woman in Kensington Market and my mom finds a class offered at Haliburton School of Art in shoe-making taught by Jon Gray. I signed up for the course and have been in contact with the cobbler in Kensington Market. The following series of pictures shows just a few of the steps involved in making one pair of shoes over a six-day period of time, eight hours/day…enjoy!
So many nails to hammer in and pull out!
Lots of precision cutting…
Gluing
Shaping
Hard work and dirty hands
Cork!
Soles!
Heels!
This group of people where very entertaining and mostly fun to be around :) It was the hottest week of the yea last summer and we had no air conditioning. It was kind-of insane-making.
One year later, trying my shoes on for the first time (it’s a long story)!!
Jon Gray, himself, re-training me in the art of shoe lace tying… :)