Every Clog Has Its Day

This 'n' That...From Here 'n' There

ive years ago I reached one of those birthday milestones. Being someone who prizes symbols and significant gestures, I wanted to do something with my closest friends to acknowledge the occasion. And also being someone who was only a year and a half into the new venture of launching myself into the world on my own, it was easy to think of the perfect way to capture the moment. I treated myself to a dramatic cake to set the tone for the evening. Chocolate, of course. As we enjoyed the endorphin rush, I passed out blank note cards and pens and asked my guests to write down where they'd like to be in their lives in five years' time. Then we sealed the cards, wrote our names on the outside, and I gathered them up and tucked them in a dresser drawer and waited.

 

 

I waited for five years to pass. I kept the cards where I wouldn't forget about them. I waited for my 2012 birthday to arrive. And when it did, I tore open the padded mailer I had sealed them all in and dug out my own message to my future self. At my side was a dear, dear friend I had come to think of as a soulmate, and I wanted to show this person that I had been hoping for a relationship like ours long before we met. The card was dated 09/01/07, and I had written,

    In five years, I hope to embrace myself without reservation.

    I hope to have my children securely launched into their futures.

    I hope to have followed my passion to a place where music plays even more of a role in my life.

    And I hope to have found a partner I can share my passion with.

Well, three out of four ain't bad. Still making headway with goal number 1. But with both my children finding success in college and with my skill as a musician finding more and more outlets and even more importantly with my passions having found a special someone to share them with, I think 2012 has turned out better for me than that Mayan calendar seemed to predict. This is the week of Thanksgiving here in the U. S., and I, looking for the significant gesture as always, am spending the holiday bringing that special someone cross country to be by my side.

 

I sent the unopened cards to other friends, and they've written back to say they appreciated seeing their goals in print. One friend had successfully retired, though he was still working on paying off his house. Another friend said she hadn't given up on her hopes either—they were all still in the works. I enjoyed the exercise of looking ahead. I know life is not about the destination. It's about the journey. But I like to think that every journey is made up of separate stages. We complete one leg of it, and then we're entitled to take a moment, catch our breath, and then launch into the next stage. I'm excited to report that I find myself catching my breath at the moment. My 2012 checklist seems to have guided me where I find myself today. And now I'm in the process of setting new goals and throwing myself into the next stage.

Stay tuned!

 

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Swedish Hasbeens free shipping

I got the e-message the other day that Swedish Hasbeens is continuing their free shipping to the U. S., but I noted on their website that that same free shipping applies to customers in Canada and France as well. 

 

Free Shipping to the United States & New Rubber Wedge Style Since you have all requested free shipping we just want to say that we will continue with free U.S. shipping due to popular demand. Save $55!

 

Personally, I remain more enamored of their clogs than their recent non-wood-soled excursions, but that discount certainly makes me give some thought to adding another one of their styles to my collection.

 

 

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Really old clogs

Spotted this on the website AIBOB, subtitled Blog of a Bored Engineer. He has a number of antique shoes posted on his Oldest Shoes Compilation, but naturally the ones labeled "clogs" caught my eye. Especially the pair on the left with their massive wood bases.

 

 

 

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Really young clog fan

Regular reader Pips sent along these photos of a burgeoning clog fan in her household. She writes,

Thought you all might get a kick out of these!

Found a tiny pair (size 36) of Krone clogs at the thrift store and thought I'd let my son give them a try.

Once I told him they were European, he promptly put them on his feet and ran off, then nearly fell over!

(He's got a thing for all things European...)

 

 

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[On my feet as I blog: well, I had my Beet Root colored XRAY clogs from Bernardo Footwear on during the day. But that was before I fell asleep on the sofa after a late night phone call with my sweetie. Now I'm dressed for bed with a pair of my Sven Clogs Bikers! on my feet.]

 

This 'n' That...From Here 'n' There

ddly, this grab bag topic has become one of my favorites to post. I love getting pics from friends and fellow fanatics that I can share with you without having to wrestle the content into a coherent theme or surrender too much time to doing research. And I love that I have readers and well-wishers alike who take the time to send me images and trivia to blog about. I guess posts like this one remind me of life...which itself is an unruly mishmash of happenstance, coincidence, and fate somehow loosely related to a theme. It's a challenge to pull it all together and make something of it. But what other choice is there? 

So it's another day. What cards have I been dealt? Let's take a look.

 

 

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Pedro Garcia clog pumps

Just got an e-mail from Leah over at BigFootStrikesAgain. She spotted the Erika clog pump from Pedro Garcia on the company's Facebook page. I first showcased the style on ECHID back in August, but I found the photo...and the shoes...appealing enough to share with you here. I really love how the size is actually engraved in the rubber sole pad. Clever!

 

 

 

 

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Rockport clog boot sighting

A good friend and fellow footwear fanatic by the name of Minax used to live in Chicago, and ever since she relocated to San Francisco for the better business opportunities, I've missed comparing shoe lusts with her. Fortunately, she still gives me a glimpse into what's keeping her feet on the ground. Take these Tardy booties from Jeffrey Campbell, for example.

 

Or this Jeffrey Campbell saddle shoe/Nightwalk mash up that caught her eye on eBay.

 

Knowing what a passionate clog fan I am, Minax keeps her eyes peeled for me and her iPhone handy. And happily, she caught sight of the Meja clog boot from Rockport in the wild. I love them in green. Partly because it's such an unexpected shade. And partly because it's the color I turned when I saw the image. I was won over to Rockport clog boots with their Katja style back in February. (I think a drop in price had something to do with it.) Once I tried them on and discovered how well they fit me, I suddenly remembered the Meja clog boot that had come out the year before. And which I neglected to take for a test drive. So when I finally realized that the Meja might have fit and that I'd love a pair in green, they were all well and truly gone. Seeing this picture from Minax gave me a pang. You've probably felt it, too. The recognition of the shoe that got away. 

(sniff)

Give me a moment to collect myself.

 

 

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Calleen Cordero Spring/Summer 2013

It always feels odd to be contemplating what I'll yearning for next summer when I haven't fully broken out my winter sweaters yet, but here I go. Take a look at the wooden wonders this California designer has recently dreamt up. Coming soon to CalleenCordero.com.

 

 

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Leatherwork and wisdom

I made the trek to downtown Chicago to visit what I think is the best shoe repair shop in the city. Years ago these folks had worked wonders with a number of my prized footwear possessions. Occasionally I had found a great fitting boot that wanted to wear to work with leggings, but the top of the shaft was clearly fashioned for fuller calves than mine. So rather than flop around in a body-conscious style that was fitting like a seven-league boot, I took those spacious pairs to this singular shop to be taken in. And that's exactly what they did. I put on the boots. The cobbler marked up the leather to be taken in. Then they split the seam of the boot up the back, made the adjustments, and put them back together looking as good as new. You can understand why I'm thrilled with their work. And in my many visits in years past, I struck up a genial relationship with the owner. He came to appreciate my eclectic style and welcomed me warmly every time I visited.

Flash forward to Monday when I drove to the Loop, put my car in a garage, and made my way to their current location. Plans were made to repair and revise the two pairs of boots I brought in, but before I left, the owner arrived and we spent some time getting reacquainted. It was great catching up considering that I hadn't been in in about six or seven years. Maybe longer. It was as though no time had elapsed at all, but clearer the two of us had had our share of knocks in the days that had passed since we last spoke. I loved catching up, but what I took away in particular was his assessment of life in his later years. He spoke of turning 60 and finally reaching the point where he didn't care what other people think. Listing off some of his learning experiences, he summed up the philosophy that was making him happiest today: f**k anxiety, f**k depression, and f**k guilt. 

Brilliant! I'm sure that approach would definitely solve a few problems for me, too!

I'd love to introduce you to this exceptional shoe repair shop if you ever find yourself in need in the Chicago area, but considering the owner's colorful way of expressing himself, I didn't want to turn what was a private conversation into a very public one without permission. But if you contact me via the About page, I'll gladly steer you in their direction.

 

 

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[On my feet as I blog: those glorious Savanna shearling lined boots from UGG Australia. I do believe I walk a little taller with them on my feet, taller than the 4" heel alone can account for.]

 

 

This 'n' That...From Here 'n' There

ey! Wait! I wasn't done with that weekend yet! Where'd it go???

Ah, phooey.

Well, at least the dawning of a new week brings me a few steps closer to the arrival of a new pair of clog boots (insert exclamation of delight here) and it means that another exciting arrival is on the horizon, too! But more about that as the event nears! In the meantime there are wooden wonders to overwhelm us with awe. Let's take a look!

 

 

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Cape Clogs on sale on Zulily

You'll have to sign up to take advantage of the savings on this site for retail deals, but it doesn't cost anything. And I have to say on more than one occasion the daily e-mailing has contained something that caught my eye. This listing for example could get you knocking around in a new pair of clogs for only $39.99 or a new pair of clog boots for only $129.99. If you're already signed in, this Zulily link will take you right to the page you want.

 

 

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Now where do you think we'll need to use that?

A couple weeks back, regular reader Grace wrote with news of co-worker JH whom she spotted working a pair of sturdy clogs (covered on ECHID here). In her e-mail she mentioned that JH had ordered some new clogs to replace the worn out pair he wanted to retire. But imagine his surprise when his slip-on shoes arrived with an unexpected extra item. JH told Grace,

"In the box with the clogs was the "Most Zen Gift"...a curved piece of plastic with the Troentorp name and logo... A shoehorn for clogs... Is that a clog horn? What could be more zen? I think I hear the sound of "One Hand Clapping." 

To which I replied, at least they didn't send you a pair of shoelaces!

 

 

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A different kind of wooden shoes

Behold the work of Denise Nielsen and George Worthington. This husband and wife team from Saugerties, NY, has been creating exceptional works of art together for more than 25 years. As they explain on their website's FAQ page:

We first worked as jewelers, carving in wax and precious metals with flexible shaft power tools. We realized with some modifications that we could carve larger sculptural wood pieces using the same technique. 

I've long had a fascination for shoes made of wood, but I never dreamed they could look as exquisite as these!

 

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[On my feet as I blog: nada at the moment, but I did have on my Arielle2 lace up booties for my grocery store run. Yes, normally you'd find me in a pair of wood-soled shoes, but this style was a recent Topshop acquisition that was a little snug. I gave them some major stretching on Friday, and I wanted to test drive my modifications. The verdict? I made them more wearable so you know I'm smiling!]

 

This 'n' That...From Here 'n' There

he quest to clean house and make space continues! I moved into this condo seven years ago and haven't really done anything to spruce up the layout in the time since. But now I have the motivation to clear out the dead wood (no pun intended) and make way for new life and new possibilities. And that inspiration found me spending my Sunday emptying out my second closet and swinging a box cutter liberally to and fro. The end result? Take a look below! All that stuff that was taking up needed storage space has made way for a more inviting home. I like the sound of that. And even more I like the idea of living in that!

Of course, this is all a work in progress. And any blogger who deserves the name would naturally be providing regular updates. You can count on that here. Stay tuned!

 

Before

 

 

After

 

 

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Sven Clogs with Rosemaling

No, it's not an alternative postal service. It's the practice of decorating Swedish clogs with painted embellishments. Lisa at Sven Clogs recently had a customer drop by with a pair of 1970s era shoes. Writes Lisa, 

She purchased them in the mid to late 70's. She told Marie [the owner] they were to pretty to wear...and she has kept them in the box ever since. But they are on display on the file cabinets in my office!!  They are simply georgous!!

And according to Lisa, the woman who did the painting is still employed today...painitng designs on grandfather clocks. But she is available through Sven Clogs to adorn a pair of shoes if anyone is interested.

 

 

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Mohop Shoes Sale

Thanks to regular reader Tea for turning me (and us) onto this! Visit the Mohop ready-to-wear styles here.

 

 

 

 

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Timberland Boots

A regular reader alerted me to these styles about a month ago when they went on sale on a fashion discount site, but I couldn't decide if they were truly clog like enough to merit a post. The sale is long gone at this point. And you are welcome to cast a disdainful glance in my direction if you wish I'd mentioned them sooner. But we do have these photos to enjoy. Should you wish to do an eBay search for them or scour the web for final items, the product names are listed below each style.

 

Marge Mid Boot from Timberland

 

 

Marge Tall Boot from Timberland

 

 

I did discover a comparable Marge style currently available via Zappos.com. I think you can see from the product photo that the sole is not truly wood. The sense of "clogness" is only suggested by the nailheads on the heel patch. Still, it's a fine looking boot.

 

 

Marge side zip boot from Timberland.

 

 

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[On my feet as I blog:  living out the courage of my Convictions courtesy of John Fluevog...and an astounding friend who brought them into my world!]