Join me in Portland; It’s my once a year visit!

We’ll explore every step of the sandal-making process, starting off by customizing trusted patterns to suit your own feet and design preferences. (Think tying sandals, buckling sandals, slides, or anything you can show me a picture of, within reason.) Then we’ll cut and assemble the leather pieces, paying close attention to fit. Finally, we’ll attach the soles: a shapely stiffened leather sole with a stacked leather heel, or, if you prefer, a cushiony rubber sole (email me in advance for colors).

I’ll be bringing along several leather colors to choose from, always natural, black, browns, and many fun colors. This class is hard work: be prepared to use utility knives, adhesive, hammers, wooden mallets, shoe anvils, and to get barefoot!

The sandals will be wearable at the end of the day but you will want/need to get the edges finished/sanded at any local cobbler. This will smooth out the edge layers and make them look totally professional. Should cost about $20 and not take too long as this is a quick step and doesn’t require ‘repair’.

After the class, you should be able to replicate the process on your own with only a few basic tools!

((Please bring easy on/off shoes for our day of working with our feet. You might want to bring some water, and also bring reading glasses if you use those for seeing up-close.))

10am - 5pm-ish, with a break for lunch around 1.

at MADRE HQ, 2024 N Argyle Portland, OR

Max. 5 people