Heels are finished, made top line tape, more colors!

Sent my skiving knife off to get sharpened, which has ground everything to a halt here. 

On the other hand, I did finally make top line tape.  Top line tape runs around the upper edge of a pump, to give the top line of the shoe some reinforcement. Leather stretches - this stuff doesn't.  You can purchase top line tape, but I made some (like we did in class) from two layers of nylon ripstop fabric, glued together with Duall 88, and cut into 1/4" strips.

 

 

I also got my shipment from Sheridan Leather - Kangaroo in Fuchsia, Pink, Scarlet, and Orange.  Their prices are really good (about half what anyone else is charging) so I figured I'd grab these while I can.  They're out of the fuchsia now - I got the last one.

 

 

I've also finished making the oak heels.  I don't know if this will work or not - again, wood is not recommended for heels, because it splits.  On the other hand, I don't have a lot of choices, and the oak is free.  I think I did pretty good at getting the two to match eachother fairly well.  Once the shoes are lasted, it'll be easier to tell if they're a.) the correct height and b.) cupped enough on the top.

 

 

I think I've finalized the design for the second shoe.  Again - horrible lighting for photography in my workshop, but I think you can see the pencil lines clearly enough.  I ordered a book - Handmade Shoes for Men, by Lazlo Vass and Magda Molnar, which I'm hoping will answer some questions I have about the area where the laces go, and how the lining interacts with the outer in that area.

What I haven't been able to figure out is the color scheme for this shoe.  I now have a whole lot of colors, but can't choose.  And even once I choose, which color should be the dominant color (toe, heel, lace area) and which the background/accent color?  I've got cobalt blue, turquoise, light blue metallic, lilac, hot pink, light pink, orange, scarlet, black, white, and gold metallic, as well as a matte black and both grey and orange/brown suede.  And other than the black/red and black/white, I'm not sure I like any of the colors together.  It's a problem.  Any comments from the peanut gallery?