Where January went we have know idea, but suddenly February is upon us. We are looking forward to plenty of fireworks and Chinese New Year's parties here in London on the 8th, to welcome in the Year of the Monkey.
This is a special one, as it is Year of the Fire Monkey! Let's hope that the coming months bring us all plenty of the Monkey's creativity, enthusiasm, energy, dexterity, stamina, wit, intelligence and curiosity and not too much impatience, impetuousness and naughtiness!
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The Big Apple beckons for May |
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NY 2015: Shoemaker and lecturer, Marika Verploegh Chasse gives a pattern master class |
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NY 2015: From last to pattern in five days |
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NY 2015: Shoemaker and tutor Jesse Moore with proud, tired but very happy students |
and the Intensive Hand Sewn Shoe Making Course...
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NY 2015: The intensive course gets under way at Brooklyn Bespoke |
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NY 2015: Time to finish, pull the lasts, fit and to polish before proudly taking their finished shoes home |
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NY 2015: Giving their shoes the finishing touches |
Our shoe making courses are distinct because they offer the rare opportunity to be trained by experienced, working shoemakers in a busy, shoemaking business; so you can get a feel for the day to day life of being a shoemaker and be surrounded by the tools, leathers and work in progress that it entails.
Both courses take place in the spring at the wonderful work space of friends and fellow shoemakers Jesse and Marika at Brooklyn Bespoke in Williamsburg.
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Brooklyn Bespoke in the heart of Williamsburg |
We're delighted to say that we won't be the only Brits visiting them in the Big Apple this Spring. Fellow Cockpit alumni and leather expert, Kathryn Pogson, will also be running one of her specialist Designer Courses at Brooklyn Bespoke. She is holding a special Masterclass in Glove Making in April - possibly an even more rarified craft than hand sewn shoemaking!
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Perhaps because of my shoemaker's hands, I love the idea of a soft pair of gloves! |
She also runs courses here in London on moulding leather and hand stitching small accessories, so if you fancy making something for your hands or with your hands then click take a look here for dates and more information.
Now last month we promised that there would be many, many more pictures of our men's bespoke shoes, so here are the latest pair to be delivered - a delicious pair of claret red Derbys.
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Neat three-hole lacing and matching waxed laces |
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Black/burgundy edges and blacked sole |
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Slightly deepened toe box and clean, classic toe shape |
That's all for this week...more new shoes and news next week. We hope to see some of you in New York and in the mean time, happy shoemaking.
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