My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Refurbishing Some Red Shoes I Love for Pink Saturday 12/5/09

A friend of mine is doing a series of photos of Victorian Christmas' through this whole month. It is "eye candy" for sure. So won't you please go visit her at Aunt May's Cottage.

~*~

Visit with Beverly at howsweetthesound for more participants for Pink Saturday. You'll not be sorry. Hope your holiday was wonderful!
~*~

Beverly has asked us to share a Christmas memory and mine just happens to be about a pair of red shoes!

In the late 1950s we lived in Yorktown, VA. and did our shopping in Williamsburg. One day while shoe shopping my mother wanted these red shoes for me and I wasn't particularly fond of the style. I would only agree to them if she bought me a pair I liked. I was a teenager and a bit obstinate. So we bought 2 pairs of shoes that day: the red pair and another pair that the color escapes me after 50 years, but I rarely, if ever, wore those red shoes and never did hear the end of it from my mother. Oh, I loved the color, just not the style.
~*~

I've had these shoes for over 25 years. They were my favorite pair of shoes but as you can see they've just about had it. Who am I kidding; they've definitely had it. They just went with anything: skirts, dresses or pants. I love them. So instead of throwing them away I've redone them to keep in a spot in my home. If I could find a shoemaker to duplicate them I'd have another couple of pairs made. But, alas, around here no one would take on the challenge. That surprised me because they definitely look easier to make than a pair of cowboy boots!



First step was painting them. I didn't necessarily want them to match so I painted one pink and one white. It took several coats of paint for them to even start to look better.

First I added german glass glitter to the outside. Then I started with the embellishing.

I painted the heel alizarin crimson red. That's about as red as you can get. I've given it many coats and may have to do many more through the days just as high end house painters and decorators do to those fabulous homes in magazines. Do you realize that in some cases those homes get 25 coats of paint? Yep, they do. The more paint the more luminous the wall. I've never done less than 3 coats of paint to any wall I've ever had.

Then I added some gorgeous vintage lace and some ribbon roses.

Since I call just about everyone "chick" I decided to add a little chickadee and a frivolous bright pink feather. A paper rose tops it off.

I wrapped some beautiful fabric around some poly filling and stuck it inside the shoe. After all, who wants to look at the yucky inside. On the sole I glued some pretty paper on but didn't take a picture of that.

And voilĂ  the end result.
~*~


I'm grateful to have lived in many places in the U.S. and having visited other countries because I then can truly judge about how wonderful this country is.
~*~


47 comments:

  1. Hi Connie! your shoes are gorgeous! I'm going to have to get me a pair of old shoes and make them beautiful...I hope after Christmas I'll have more time to be creative....Have a sweet weekend! Hugs, Jennifer

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  2. Oh my goodness...this is just amazing, Connie. Who would have ever thought to do this to a pair of old shoes. You are awesome, Connie girl....It is just beautiful!
    Have a fun weekend...
    xo bj

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  3. Hi Connie and HAPPY PINK SATURDAY!
    I had shoes just like yours in many colors....yes, they went with EVERYTHING! I wish they would bring that style back, too. I have seen some similar, but not quite.....
    Loved your story about shoes and your Mom!
    Hugs,
    Jil

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  4. Happy Pink Saturday, Connie.

    Girl, you are something. It would have never occurred to me to decorate a pair of my shoes, and yours turned out beautifully.

    I smiled at your memory of your mother and the red shoes. I love seeing the sparkly red "Dorothy" shoes in the store. I imagine any girl would love a pair.

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  5. How fun! I have two pairs of red shoes and wear them with EVERYTHING!! Happy Pink Saturday!

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  6. Okay, I am VERY impressed with these, Connie! You did a super-duper job on them. Love the embellishments and the fact that you honored a pair of shoes that had served you so well. BRAVO!

    I had a pair very similar to those in black. Are they Ninas??? I think that might have been the brand, and girl, you aren't kidding they were perfect and went with everything... dressed up or down, slacks or dresses. I wish I had some like those, too. Instead I bought a $20+ pair (on sale) from Kohl's made by Vera Wang, and they hurt my feet! They're cute, but they hurt. LOL!

    Love to you on this Pink Saturday and always...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  7. Pretty cute, I am a nut when it comes to shoes. I always have been, and Mama was worse than me.
    And red shoes and handbags I love, and red kitchen stuff...
    I tell my kids"I don't care what color you get me, just as long as it is red...they say I am too predictable....Oh well.....
    They all are getting the bug for red now, and when the garage sales are on, we have a race for the red....good fun..love my kids.
    Merry Christmas Connie...
    glenda

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  8. Hi!
    Thanks for sharing this beautiful story with us
    Happy Pink saturday!
    xoxo

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  9. Oh, Connie, what a fabulous job you did with those shoes! You are so darned creative! I was always partial to red shoes...some of my favorites have been red!

    I scheduled my post - that's why you saw it when you did! I'm getting wiser in my older years....

    Happy Pink Saturday, my friend.

    xoxo
    Claudia

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  10. This is a charming way to preserve such a treasured item. You did a lovely job, the lace is so pretty!! Love your pretty flower decoration in the previous post...you really have a talent for taking things up a notch!!
    Happy Pink SAturday! xOxO Nerina :)

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  11. Wow, some amazing creativity there! I am so inspired- and I learned how many coats of paint I need for a pretty room. Happy PS.
    Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
    Charmed giveaway!

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  12. Lovely Upcycle of your favorite shoes. One would never know that under all that lace and glitter is a red shoe. Love the post.

    Happy Pink Saturday.

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  13. Painting shoes, who would have thought, great idea! Love how you redid them my friend. Happy Saturday to you, T

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  14. Connie, As always you make me laugh. It's a gift having someone put a giant smile on your face even if they are not in the room.

    I am loving these shoes. So cute and the chick, OMG! too adorable.

    You're the best my friend.

    xo Cath

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  15. I love what you did with those red shoes. Now they are absolutely gorgeous!! Pink Blessings!
    Gwen

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  16. Happy Pink Saturday sweetie...
    I so love these shoes. They are just about the cutest thing I have seen. I don't know how many perfectly worn favorite shoes I have just tossed out the door, when they could have become a beautiful slipper like yours. Thanks for sharing. I love it when you do.

    I am so tickled you loved my story too. Happy PS sweetie.

    Country hugs, Sherry

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  17. what a sweet way to preserve your precious shoes! I would have never ever thought to do this! I used to have a pair of red shoes similar to these and I loved mine too!

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  18. What a beautiful "makeover"! You are one clever lady, and so talented. Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea! Happy Pink Saturday!

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  19. That is a stunning and gorgeous transformation, Connie. You have brought a well loved pair of shoes to be a work of art. Bravo!
    Susan

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  20. What an amazing idea...repurposing your old and comfortable shoes!! Looks GREAT!!

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  21. Connie, you are such a clever thing! You've made something old new again. I loved your story and the pictures showing how your new creation came to be. Have a wonderful day.

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  22. Oh Connie! You Crazy Creative Chickadee! Those are darling! Good job!

    ~Liz

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  23. Oh gosh Connie, I love your shoes. What fun. Mollye

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  24. Cute as can be, Connie. Now I wish I'd saved my granny boots. I loved them and wore them to death. I had them re-soled them twice. Kathi

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  25. Connie this is an amazing idea, I love the shoe wow it turned out great.

    Wonderful post

    Happy Pink Saturday

    Blessings




    *-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•:*HEIDI*-:¦:-•:*'""*:•.-:¦:-•:*

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  26. Connie..how creative are you? VERY! What a way to keep something around & enjoy the heck out of it!!!
    Love it.
    Many Blessings..xo Tami

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  27. Hi Connie,

    You are one crafty chick.Love what you did with those shoes. I hope all is going well with you. It has been a while since I visited.

    big hugs,
    Barb

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  28. Tres chic Connie! A nice way to save a favorite pair of shoes!!! Loved them red too!! HPS!

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  29. Connie,Happy Pink Saturday!Your shoes came out so pretty.Love the lace on it.Hugs!Love ya,Jennifer


    ps
    Thank you so much for visiting and your sweet comments on my blog and on Angel.She is crazy today with this snow.LOL

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  30. A lovely memory and an incredible project! I dunno how you do it, seriously. Happy Pink Saturday!

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  31. Connie...you are soooo clever! I have my wedding shoes of 23 years and have planned for some time to spruce them up...now I just need to do it huh? lol

    Love ya..Happy PINK!
    Lorena

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  32. Happy Pinks, Connie! Love the beauatiful redo on some well worn well loved shoes! You did a beautiful job on it!

    Have a lovely weekend!

    xoxo
    Tina

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  33. Connie, What a great idea and a beautiful memento to have around. I have boxes of the roses in every color imaginable in different sizes, so hoping to get some crafting energy for the start of the New Year. Now you will have us all digging in our closets for old shoes. Beautiful work. Love and Hugs, Pat

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  34. Very creative Connie I love the idea! What a great way to honor a memory. I haven't stopped by in awhile so thought I'd better come see what you have been up to. And I'm glad I did because you have been a busy bee. Love your creations, Pearl

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  35. Hi dear Connie,
    Oh I love how you have restyled these beloved shoes! They are beautiful! How creative you are! I love the fact that these didn't make it to the trash bin after you had worn them out!!!
    Hugs~

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  36. Hi Connie...Love your referbished shoes!!!! and your whole blog! Just found you...fun, fun, fun here! Now I need to check out the old shoe situation here, thanks for sharing, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings...Stop over for a Holiday visit! Love to have you...

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  37. Hi Connie....

    Can you make EVERYTHING new again?....Who would EVER know those were old shoes?....They look dandy now....You clever girlie.

    Happy Pink Saturday...Yes...I do know I'm late...

    Hugs,
    Spencer

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  38. A FABULOUS IDEA, Connie. I love your gorgeous re-creation of them. Who would think of this, surely not I. You have such a wonderful imagination for touches to items, Connie.

    Please convey to your DH, & you, tomorrow ... TY for your service to this country. I hope you will pop over to both blogs to read our posts of the past few days reWWII.

    TTFN ~Marydon
    Visit/join our new blog ~ blushingrosetoo.blogspot.com

    Our 6 GIVEAWAYS ends Dec. 8th

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  39. what a fabulous way to repurpose your favourite shoes Connie! Rachaelxo

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  40. Hello Connie, I'm still making my Pink Saturday visits. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a sweet comment. Love your pink post, what you did with those shoes is amazine. They do look comfy, also your Christmas Memory is so dear!
    Blessings to you! Shirl
    Shirls Rose Cottage

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  41. Hello Connie;;; You are such a talented Chick.... love the shoe, so pretty, great idea will have to see what I have.... have a great week.

    Hugs;
    Alaura

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  42. What a pretty idea for old shoes! I would never ina million years think to do that, but they are just beautiful!

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  43. Connie, this redo is wonderful and I love it. I have painted shoes and I know you had fun, but your creative embellishments really make it fantastic.
    New life to a favorite!
    You are always so creative!

    Love to you, Celestina Marie

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  44. Hi Connie, Now that beats all, you took creativity to a new limit, I would have never even thought to turn my shoes into a craft, love it! Happy Late Pink Saturday! Suzie

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  45. That is about the cutest thing I have seen you do yet. You surprise me every day.
    QMM

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  46. Connie this is truly one amazing transformation.

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  47. These turned out so sweet! I've seen a site somewhere that offered similar ones for sale for BIG BUCKS!! If I ever run across it again , I'll send it to you. You may have a new career here!

    Love,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.