Fall/Winter 2019 Workshop Series
Sandalmaking with Rachel Sees Snails Shoes
We’ll explore every step of the sandal-making process, starting off by customizing trusted patterns to suit your own feet and design preferences. (Any design is possible: tying sandals, buckling sandals, or slides.) Then we’ll cut and assemble the leather pieces, paying close attention to fit and attach to a cushiony rubber sole. I’ll bring a wide selection of leather colors to choose from. You’ll be able to design and make any sandal as long as it has an open toe and an open heel. This class is hard work: be prepared to use utility knives, adhesive, hammers, wooden mallets, shoe anvils, and to get barefoot! The best part is, you’ll be able to replicate the process later on your own, with only a few basic tools.
My name is Rachel Corry and I make sandals and shoes in Portland, Oregon. I’ve been teaching sandal classes for 9 years. I believe that learning to make sandals is a great first step if you’re interested in making your own shoes. My brand, Rachel Sees Snail Shoes, began in 2010. Meeting a clogmaker in the UK first sparked my interest in shoemaking but it wasn’t until a fire in my apartment burned all my shoes (!) that I set out to learn to make my own, working to replace my favorite sandals one pair at a time. I drew upon the wisdom of various shoemakers, cobblers, and old books to help me along my way.
photo by Airyka Rockefeller
RACHEL SEES SNAIL SHOES makes simple, modern sandals- one pair at a time. RSSS believes in sustainable choices, working small, and empowering people to make their own shoes. Rather than creating just more products for the consumer market, I hope to make unique shoes that have a personal connection to their wearer. Whether you’ve made your own shoes in my class, or collaborated with me on a custom pair, I want my shoes to stand out as wearable art objects worn with pride and a knowledge of how they were constructed.
COST: $150 plus $100 materials fee (Please pay material fee directly to the instructor.) *SPECIAL NOTE: This class requires a deposit of $150 at the time of registration. Please no cancellations. If a student must cancel and does so before August 14th 50% of deposit will be returned. If the workshop is canceled for any reason we will refund 100% of the deposit to all students.
BRING: Wearing easy to slip on/off shoes is helpful. All supplies provided. Please bring a sack lunch and/or snack for lunch break around 1pm. Coffee and tea provided.
This workshop is for students age 15 years and up. 3 students min, 6 students max.
RSVP: via 360-642-2542 between 9am-9pm *Please be ready to pay a deposit of $150 at time of RSVP.
The Sou’wester Lodge at 3728 J Place, Seaview, WA 98644
This class is part of the Fall/Winter 2019 Workshop Series. All classes are open to the public and all skill levels welcome. Visit www.souwesterlodge.com/art/workshops to see the full schedule of artist-led workshops.