bespoke shoes
Meet Peyton Bray, my Summer Intern, from Savannah College of Art and Design. Peyton is majoring in Fashion Design and minoring in Accessories Design. He will be a Senior at SCAD this fall. Today was his first day and he will be working at Deborah Shoemaker on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He’s helping me put together my collection for the Southern Highlands Craft Guild Fair in Asheville in October.
Save the date, October 15-18, 2026.
Excellent news arrived yesterday. I got my acceptance letter to the Southern Highlands Craft Guild! I have been working towards this goal for more than a year. You see, for the Object Jury one needs to submit five items that show their very best work. As a bespoke shoemaker I don’t keep five pairs of shoes lying around since I have shipped them off one at a time to the clients. I borrowed back a few pairs of shoes. I happened to have on hand a few additional pairs of shoes that I had made in demonstration for my students.
I am so pleased and honored to now be counted among the card-carrying guild members. So grateful to have found my tribe.
Last night one of my fellow folk dancers announced my achievement to the group. Another fellow folk dancers said, It’s like getting your PhD!
Newborn baby girl shoes with pointy toes
I am soon to be a great-aunt! I was pouring over the baby shower wish list and soon realized that I can make the baby girl some footwear! I can make her shoes all the time! She will be learning and growing and so will I (learning only, no growing). Next year I can teach myself how to make little baby walking shoes. For now the shoes are a lot like slippers. The possibilities are endless. What a fun job.
This leather is dark pink and sparkly. I bought it 10 years ago on my first buying trip to NY.
This summer I went Out West. I was visited at my campsite in Cloudcroft, NM, by a young bull elk. His antlers were still in velvet. I quietly spoke to him and explained how handsome he is. It was a magical moment and one of my favorites from the trip. How enchanting that he spoke back to me with a soft, quiet bugle.
Fast forward to yesterday when I learned the article on me and my school is out in WNC Magazine. Imagine my surprise to find my spirit guide on the front cover. See the story which begins on page 39. https://wncmagazine.com/digitaledition
In kindergarten I had a pair of red and white saddle oxfords. The saddle was red patent leather. I wore them everyday. One day the teacher asked us all to stand in the middle of the room. Then she said “all of the people wearing black shoes, go stand over there,” and then “all of the people wearing brown shoes, go stand over there.” There I was, standing alone in the middle of the classroom in my red and white shoes. I was embarrassed and shamed. I made these shoes for the little girl in me, the little one who the teacher tried to quash the artist out of. I don’t know where that teacher is, if she’s living or dead. I don’t remember her name, but I thumb my nose at her!!! I’m going to wear these shoes with pride and confidence. She did not succeed in making me conform.
The Autumn 2023 shoemaking class for returning shoemakers has been filled. Thank you all for your patronage and for getting the word out. Your enthusiasm to learn and ambition to hone your skills inspires us all.
Starting on Sunday, August 27, 2023, I will teach another sandal making class at the John C. Campbell Folk School. The class runs through September 2nd. Last year we got so much attention and so many compliments. Come and learn to make sandals that you design specifically for the size and shape of your feet. Bring embellishments from home to personalize your sandals or choose from my collection of buttons, beads and semi-precious stones gathered over a lifetime. I will introduce as many shoemaking techniques I can into the course.
Last year we had questions like: Is this an advanced class? The answer is ‘no’. You, too, can make yourself a custom pair of sandals for your feet, no matter what the size.
This link will take you to my class in the John C. Campbell Folk School catalog: https://folkschool.configio.com/pd/1495/make-your-feet-happy?st_t=2077&st_ti=2486&cid=2527&returncom=productlist&source=search
Reserve your spot now for my beginner shoemaking classes that start in January. See the Toe River Studio Tour booklet that is out now for the Autumn tour. My ad is on page 10.
Class size is limited to five. Let me know if you have availability for other days of the week. I will open additional sections for the class as the seats fill. Early registration recommended.
Come by on Sunday, May 1, 2022, 2-4 pm
Bring your dream shoes to life
121 Montana Avenue, West Asheville
There will be a drawing for fabulous prizes!
I got some publicity in Mountain Xpress for Deborah’s School of Shoemaking. I recently dreamt up this image of me posing as the Virgin of the Guadalupe and using lasts as the light rays from my halo. I’m so pleased Mountain Xpress used my photo and what an honor for my new school to be featured. Check out my School page because classes are forming all the time. Gather some friends together and we can have a class time whenever works for you.