Blog of a Beginning Shoemaker

I wanted to repair my leather iPad Smart Cover, which was delaminating in several place. When I...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:00:00 -0400

I wanted to repair my leather iPad Smart Cover, which was delaminating in several place. When I unpacked my contact cement, I found mold growing in it. I didn’t even realize mold could grow in it.

It wasnt the only material that didn’t make the move. One of my store bought dyes leaked and covered several other dye bottles with black dye. At least the vinegar dye and kakishibu are still good. I’m keeping my eyes on upcoming sunny days to try adding kakishibu to my hunting jacket.

Pittsburgh still has a working funicular. I wish I could have...

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:36:16 -0400

Pittsburgh still has a working funicular. I wish I could have seen the old ones built to take cars up the hillside.

Inflatable Buddha

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:34:12 -0400

Inflatable Buddha

Fun Saturday night at the ER. I cut my middle finger while doing...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:26:48 -0400

Fun Saturday night at the ER. I cut my middle finger while doing some home repairs. I got a tetanus shot and now can’t bend my finger for 2-3 days. I may inadvertently flip off lots of people.

Hat hook

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:59:16 -0400

Hat hook

Finally installed coat hooks

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:58:00 -0400

Finally installed coat hooks

I took a bit of time today to start gardening.

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:19:45 -0400

I took a bit of time today to start gardening.

amazing blog. what inspired you to be a shoemaker?

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:56:54 -0400

Thanks. My inspiration was mainly practical. I needed custom shoes, and learning how to make a pair cost about the same as getting a pair made. I was surprised how much I enjoyed making something. I hadn’t made anything successfully until the class.

It’s not often you come across a dangerous bonsai tree,...

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 12:07:41 -0400

It’s not often you come across a dangerous bonsai tree, but this one is poison sumac.

We’ve been in the house for a week, there’s still a lot of unpacking and setting up to...

Fri, 31 May 2013 12:53:46 -0400

We’ve been in the house for a week, there’s still a lot of unpacking and setting up to do. I’m only beginning to get an idea how to set up my workshop, so it will be some time before I can get started on shoes again. I am hoping to do some kakishibu dyeing in the near future.

Even though we are in the city and closer to my office, I feel like we’ve moved to the suburbs. Our apartment was one block from a large commercial district, while our house is a ten minute walk from a much smaller commercial district. It is also extremely quiet, nobody drives onto our street unless they live on it or are visiting our neighbors.

Waiting for the movers to arrive. Even though I’m excited, I am nervous. This apartment...

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:39:44 -0400

Waiting for the movers to arrive. Even though I’m excited, I am nervous. This apartment building has been my home for 11 of the past 12 years. It is the first place I lived without roommates, the only place I’ve lived with my wife. My best friend lives across the street, as does the friend I’ve known the longest in Pittsburgh. I’m leaving behind so much of how I’ve been living my life. I want to start new, better ways of living, and while I know the house will help with that, it’s hard to let go of the past. But it’s time to let go of the things that weren’t working, time to try something new.

Hand carved broom for our new house. I’m trying to make sure our...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400

Hand carved broom for our new house. I’m trying to make sure our tools will be functional and beautiful.

From Broomchick on Etsy

Looks like a yellow warbler hit a window at my office. I was...

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:17:28 -0400

Looks like a yellow warbler hit a window at my office. I was tempted to take the feathers, but didn’t have a good container with me.

Surfing in Pittsburgh isn’t something I ever thought...

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:11:05 -0400

Surfing in Pittsburgh isn’t something I ever thought about. It’s fascinating that somebody came up with the idea and tried it.

I have a head start on my garden: mint is already growing in my...

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:26:01 -0400

I have a head start on my garden: mint is already growing in my back yard.

Before and after shots of my basement. It still needs some work,...

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:29:12 -0400

Before and after shots of my basement. It still needs some work, but it’s quite a transformation. My step father did most of the work, I assisted.

My father’s antique tool box. His tools were sold off...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:29:42 -0400

My father’s antique tool box. His tools were sold off years ago, but the box was kept. Now it’s full of leather tools.

I had an unexpected windfall today. I essentially inherited a...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:27:05 -0400

I had an unexpected windfall today. I essentially inherited a leather working workshop from a friend of my step father. There is plenty of leather and many tools. Soon I’ll be able to set it all up in my own work space.

Vintage LL Bean hunting jacket bought on eBay. After we are...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:46:35 -0400

Vintage LL Bean hunting jacket bought on eBay. After we are settled in the new house, I’m going to dye it with kakishibu.

My new home.

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:29:03 -0400

My new home.