Chicago School of Shoemaking & Leather Arts, Chicago (Ravenswood), IL

You may recall I'm a bit of a fan of shoes ("kicks") and small leather goods. So, what better place to checkout than a shoemaking and leatherwork school?!

As a student, you can start from the very bottom and attend paid classes to learn how to do things the right way with a teacher helping you at every step. I've now done two of those classes and have made a handful of items in just a 4-5 hour window of time. I do like working with my hands and find this craft to be quite satisfying.

With your class tuition, they provide all the tools and materials you need as well. It could not be easier to get your craft on.

Sample projects...

[no, not mine...]

In the first class all six of the students decided to make belts. You pick out your leather width (1.5" below) & color, plus hardware. It's pretty cool and easy.

In the second class, which was titled "Small Lather Goods I", I went a bit gangbusters and made two wallets, a valet tray, and another belt (1.25" this time).

Our teacher for this class, who is also the owner, helped me find and print out a pattern, then assisted in anything else I needed or questioned during the class period. They let you roam most places for the leather you want to use as well as hardware. They also have dozens of hand-powered and electric machines in the studio for cutting, shaping and changing the leathers you choose. It makes most of the work enjoyable and simple.

This is a press I used to punch out the leather for the valet tray. It's like a massive cookie cutter press. They have forms/shapes for all manner of things right there for use too. You can see my chosen leather on the press table and even the cutter template in red there too... and a gray one to the right of it as well.

I don't know where I'll take this crafting, but I have already signed up for a 2nd round of the small leather goods class. It's pretty free-form, so I can go in and make some more stuff. They had a pretty cool wine bottle holder there.

I would also recommend this school overall. They have been very helpful in terms of changing chosen class days and times and seem really mellow about almost everything. Not only that, but very generous with their studio, time and knowledge as well. It's a nice way to get your craft on.

FeiYue Shoes, Morgan Hill, CA (by way of China)

I don't know why it's taken me so long, but I'm going to post about one of my favorite topics on the planet - shoes. Kicks. Sneakers. (Who has some other words?!)

While in China, I noticed a co-worker in the office wearing a brand I'd never heard of, FeiYue. I mean, granted, I did realize I was in China. It was a very simple shoe that reminded me of Ked's or Converse here in the US. I did some more research when I got back to the States, with some help of that co-worker, and landed me-self a pair of my very own. They cost me a whole $18 on eBay. I also deduced their sizing and went with my Euro size, so I believe fit will not be an issue.

They arrived from China via China Post (wild, right?). I can not get over their wrapping/packaging. What you see below arrived in two normal, Mylar-ish shipping "bags", one containing the shoes, and then that stuff into one final outer bag. So, after peeling through these two bags, this is what I found...

Can we talk about the retro-feel for a minute? Or the Pinocchio character!?!? I mean, Gepetto was a cobbler, no?

It was as if a shoe burrito was just delivered to my home... shoes wrapped in a paper sack.

Who needs tape? Just wrap the shoes in their own shoelaces - done!

Yes, they're not for everyone in terms of style, but they always remind me of the trip, and now this packaging.

No idea what this says. I'm guessing it's like a thank-you note.

Retail Therapy: The Full Kit, Iowa City, IA

I recently found myself in Iowa City for the night... on the way to Omaha. I'd never been in this city before (pretty sure), but lucked into a relatively cheap hotel room and paged through one of those "downtown" tourist magazines. I noticed a store that did some high-end gym shoes, and as any sneakerhead would do, I had to check it out the next morning. 

I arrived on a rainy Friday morning right at their opening time of 11AM, but the door was locked and no lights were on. Since I'd trudged out to the shop through the pedestrian mall in the rain, I didn't have a problem taking some exterior pics and waiting a few more minutes to see if someone showed. Plus, the storefront looked great and even if I had to wait a bit, I wanted to see inside.

As luck would have it, the proprietor arrived a few minutes later and let me right in. I was very glad I had waited. "Pretty little maids all in a row"...

They had a nice mix of product and brands from Nike, Levi's, Herchsel, Adidas, New Balance, Vans, Asics, Saucony, etc... including items like jackets, jeans, t-shirts, hats, etc. It seemed like the full price kicks had all the sizes for a size run still left, and kept the premium prices. The reduced price kicks got a break on the price, but were down to 1-3 sizes left in the size run, so you'd have to luck into your size. They also had a "skater" feel, which I would guess is how the store started, but now seems to be more of a men's fashion store with a casual or street vibe. You could still find a deck, trucks, etc. but that was alongside premium denim from Levi's skate collection (adding Cordura and Lycra), and other fashion accessories that a hardcore teenage skater wouldn't be interested in.

I don't know enough of the complexities to explain the levels of shoe store ranking for each shoe brand, but I believe this store is placed on a higher level than your local Foot Locker or Shoe Carnival. As such, they are given access to premium, exclusive, high-end products, that you can't find just anywhere. It makes the potential to be wearing a shoe almost no one else wears pretty high if you see it and buy it here. And sure, some of the shoes here are similar or the same models at larger stores.

As an example of this upper echelon product, below is a Premium series Vans shoe. High-quality, buttery leathers, and this one sports a zipped on/off option. I'd never seen one before. Pretty dang sweet, but not my size.

If you happen to be on the I-80 highway and would be driving by Iowa City anyways, I'd highly recommend you get off the highway for lunch and walk the ped mall. You can make this a quick stop and then get back on the road. I would also try-on in the store as they only offer in-store credit on returns.