We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the west to see family. It was great to get together and just enjoy each other's company. For those who did not know, this trip also included our girl moving out. We stopped in Manitoba on the way back, to visit friends and get her settled. She starts her first day at the bakery today.
Our trip home from Manitoba, was the least enjoyable part. We faced horrible weather delays, to start. This had us arriving home a full 24 hours later than planned. There was one poor girl who was sick the whole time, and we had the unfortunate circumstance of having to hear her in the bathroom for 24 hours.
All of that being said, we are happy to be home, and returning to our regular routines. I just received a bolt of wool to start sewing coats again, Hubby is back to the hectic pace of two jobs, and the boy is back to school. (We all took yesterday to sleep, and recuperate. Two nights on a bus do not amount to a good rest.) We are also starting now to put a little money aside, to allow us to FLY out again. We hope to come in the summer.
For those of my family who are on Facebook, you already know that I have been trying to make shoes. It has been an ongoing process, as I try to get the shape right. You may wonder why I would try something so crazy. We really enjoy our reenacting hobby, but some aspects can be quite expensive. One of these aspects is footwear. I was fortunate enough to be given a used pair of shoes that work well for everyday wear. I have however been desirous to have shoes that went nicely with my fancy gown. Shoes of the 18 Century had a particular shape, and so I cannot just go down the street to buy a pair at Walmart or Payless.
These shoes would only be worn a couple times each year, and so I did not feel that I could justify paying $100-200 for a pair of fancy shoes. (yes, some people do pay that for a nice pair of leather shoes) I started looking online to see if I could alter a modern pair and fake it, but I did not find much I could use. I did however find a book that teaches ladies how to make their own shoes. The techniques are modern, but I figured I could alter them enough to get the look I wanted. I have a friend who had a pair of shoes made after she embroidered the pieces 20 years ago (they are the ones in the bottom picture). She let me trace her shoes, and the fun began. The shoes are not perfect, but for a first try I think they turned out pretty good. I used scrap pieces from my camp gown for the first pair. With some minor readjustments, I think I will be ready to make another pair soon. If they are right, then I can use the remnants of my fancy gown to make another pair. I will be dressed for high fashion indeed.
