Auteur: admin

You have all seen the ASSIMILA shoes during the Haute Couture Presentations one year ago in Paris.

Only 9 pairs of this exclusive handmade shoe collection are now available worldwide.

The price per pair is €750,00 (shipping excluded)

Available sizes and colours:

5 pairs with rose gold heels in EU size 39

4 pairs with emerald green heels in EU size 39

Interested? Let me know and send me a personal message.

A contour gauge is a simple, but smart tool that will make your life as a shoemaker a lot easier. You can buy it at a DIY store and its normal purpose is to copy angles.

I use it to mirror-copy 3D surfaces of all sorts, like heels and lasts.

The images with the lasts show a modification at the back of the last.

The first image shows the original last.

The second image shows the modified back of the last, with the contour gauge which still has its original shape.

The third image shows the new shape after modification.

A new contour is made with the contour gauge which can be used as a guide to shape the back of the second last.

The images with the heel show how the contour gauge can be used to mirror the left side and the right side of a heel.

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How to make a narrow cutting board.

Wait, what is a narrow cutting board?

It is a selfmade appliance that I use to cut of the extra allowance after stitching. Simply wrap the upper around the cutting board for easy access. I also use it to punch holes for eyelets in spaces and locations that are difficult to reach.

So, let’s get started.

We have all experienced that after a while cutting boards get worn out, especially in the midsection.

But the quality of the edges is often as good as new.

Here is a tutorial to turn those edges into this useful appliance.

In this example I have used a bar of wood approximately 70x6x4 cm.

step 1: mark the width of the wooden bar onto the edge of the cutting board

Step 2: saw off the marked edge.

Step 3: roughen the surface of the wooden bar and also the underside of the cutting board.

Step4: glue the cutting board onto the wooden bar with an expanding glue to make sure it’s attached really well. Let it set until the glue is cured.

Step 5: sand the edges of the cutting board as well as the rest of the wooden bar and make sure the edges are smooth.

Step 6: the narrow cutting board can easily be attached onto your workstation by using a clamp.

The narrow cutting board is part of my interchangeable workstation.

When you find this information useful, please feel free to like and share.

I have a 4×8 meter workspace.

This means there is not much room to install all of my machines and equipment.

Especially the small, hand operated machines like a fudge wheel, hook-ring machine, sole trimmer and leather stamping machine take up a lot of space on a workstation.

So, I came up with the solution to attach them to a piece of MDF and keep them stored in one small area.

This way I can access them very quickly and attach them to my workstation with two woodworking clamps whenever I need them.

When you find this information useful, please feel free to like and share.

HEELS

During this one-day workshop you will learn how to create a heel that fits your last.

We start the day by creating a prefab insole with a reinforced shank on your own last.

Then the heel will be made and sanded into the shape you have designed.

You are free to make any kind of heel you want, a block heel, stiletto or wedge.

As not all participants will make the same heel, you will learn to make multiple designs by learning from others.

There is a maximum of 3 participants for each workshop, which guarantees a lot of personal attention.

€ 275,00  (21% VAT and materials are included)

The workshops take place in my atelier in Hoofddorp, NL on Saturdays on the following dates:

• No workshops are planned at this moment. When you are interested in this workshop please feel free to contact me with your request for a date.

The spoken language will be Dutch, but upon request it is possible to arrange an English version.

Please feel free to contact me on the possibilities for your project.

MOLDS

Because it is quite difficult to make 2 identical heels, I have set up the workshop mold making.

During this one-day workshop you will actually make a silicone mold which allows you to make countless casts of your favorite heels.

You can use the heel you have made in the HEELS workshop, or you can make a mold using an existing heel.

There is a maximum of 3 participants for each workshop, which guarantees a lot of personal attention.

€ 325,00  (21% VAT and materials are included)

The workshops take place in my atelier in Hoofddorp, NL on Saturdays on the following dates:

December 3          fully booked

The spoken language will be Dutch, but upon request it is possible to arrange an English version.

Please feel free to contact me on the possibilities for your project.

Punching holes can be a noisy activity.

Try placing some solid material underneath your cutting board.

In my example I have used a marble skyving stone.

You’ll notice the noise is immediately reduced.

When you find this information useful, please feel free to like and share.

The human foot is built up out of 26 bones which makes it the bodypart with the highest number of bones in the human body.

Because of this network of bones, joints (33), ligaments (107),muscles  and tendons (19) healthy feet are able to carry our bodies day in and day out.

They are capable of instantly adjusting to a vast variety of surfaces. It is quite amazing that this relatively small body part is able to keep us in balance. Even if the surface we are standing on or walking on is constantly changing.

Because of the flexibility of your feet you are also able to stand on the ball portion of your foot. I think that evolution made them this way, probably to be able to reach a little higher and run a little faster.

This brings us to high heels.
Well… it’s not natural and obviously not good for your feet, but we already knew that.
My advise, if your feet hurt, while wearing them, do yourself a favour and kick ‘em off.

Our feet are our contact with the earth, made to carry us on our life’s journey.
Take care of them and keep them in good shape, wear flat flexible shoes as much as you can.