Back to reality

Sara and I traveled up to Lewiston Maine today with one of our most important machines that we use for shoe making, to a place that sells and repairs antique shoe machine equipment. The skiving machine thins the edges of the leather for smooth folding and we're out of business if that machine doesn't work properly...our machine is about 100 years old and we did not want to replace for obvious sentimental reasons and are very grateful to the folks at Pamco who successfully repaired the problem pronto for us as well as adjusting 2 of my Singer machines that I sew all Cordwainer Shoes on. Our shoes are made today the same way they were back in the 1930's when Paul's father designed the original concept of the Cordwainer Shoe...a low heeled, round toe shoe...classic styling and comfortable for the human foot.

Sara and I continue this traditional way of shoe making and we really love using the old machines that Paul used for his entire shoe making career. Then we met up with Sara's daughter Audrey for lunch in Biddeford, at a charming little eatery. A very successful day..tomorrow we're back to the shop doing what we enjoy-making Cordwainer Shoes!

Contemporary Craft Market

We delivered Victorian Boots to our customer at the show...she loved them, (her 3rd pair!) This Victorian Boot is made with a copperhead kid and faux croc.


This is our 25th year of participating in Contemporary Craft Market Shows-June and November. We are very fortunate to have many loyal and satisfied customers.













Here's a new Plainsman men's shoe, in an exquisite combination cordovan calf and faux croc.



Today is the last show day and we fly home tomorrow back to New Hampshire! Home sweet home!

A day on Abbot Kinney

We've settled into life in Santa Monica like pros..had a great day on Abbot Kinney-Venice's very "cool" place to be. Stopped in to say hello to Elayne and John at their eclectic DoubleVision shop, (see photo of Elayne wearing her custom made Cordwainers!)then onto PinkBerry-where I had my first Passionfruit with raspberries and shaved chocolate... yum....then visited Stronghold, a shop that makes very high quality custom fit jeans-made in the USA..right in the workroom upstairs!

Today we set-up our booth for the Contemporary Crafts Market show which starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday-10-6 each day. Our trunk show at SALT was a great success...owner Holly was gracious and welcoming and we had a very busy day meeting many of her lovely customers and taking lots of orders for our custom shoes. Her store is tres elegant and her clothing seletion is exquisite and Sara walked away with a very special sweater and pencil jeans...I got some socks!

Trunk Show in Venice, CA

We have arrived in California and will be doing a trunk show today from 11-7 at SALT on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice.

Trunk shows are a new venture for us and we are really looking forward to it. SALT is a beautiful, upscale clothing boutique and we think our shoes will fit right in.

Friday through Sunday we will be at the Contemporary Crafts Market on Main St. and Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. We hope to see some of you there!