Retired Shoe

16 years ago

I was on my way to the ironing board to transfer it to the workshop when I decided to clean the work table. There sat the shoe - all prepared to glue. I w/NEVER mosaic the inside of a shoe again. HOW w/I grout this puppy??!! First mistake was to use Weldbond instead of thinset. Oh, well, I learn slowly. This was a before-daylight project. Mowing now is a must.

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Comments (40)

haziemoon
16 years ago
LOVE IT Slow! So glad to see another shoe from you!
I was thinking about doing another one for a Christmas gift.
That will get my juices flowing! I sure wish I could work as fast as you. I have so much piled up.

So glad we are done with the mowing this year! I'm always happy to mow for the last time, and blow out the irrigation pump! I love this time of year!

Hazie
stjohnsgypsy
16 years ago
More evidence...nothing is sacred when it comes to mosaicing! Going to be another Slow beauty!

Just threw away a pair of shoes that my schnauzer chewed on.............! However, they were toeless........dog must not have sense of smell.
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bamasusanna
16 years ago
Oh geez Slow! The INSIDE? I know that has to be a tough job, but it'll turn out great. I love that pin/shoe clip next to it. Will that be on it?
bianchi2
16 years ago
WOW! I dont know how you did it, but it looks great. Although grouting the inside is going to be a pita, but you can do it.
Cant wait to see it finished. Its gonna be beautiful.
Bianchi
Calamity_J
16 years ago
Nice! And the pin will be perfect for it!!!
klinger
16 years ago
Very nice, I know the grouting will be a b***h, but it will be too spectacular when you get it done.I love it,
Cindy
sunshine_funshine
16 years ago
Hey Slow, drew ya' to it, huh?

This leads me to a question I have wanted to ask for awhile. I took one of my old shoes-pre stay at home mom pumps-and stuck thinset in it to prepare to mosaic. Will I did not get it full at the toe. Anyway to save it? I have not put thinset on the outside of it yet 'cause I didn't want to waste it if there was no hope. I was thinking of a thick coat of thinset on the outside, but that gets misshapen too easily for me. So, I have some metal that I used when I cast leaves. If I took a small piece and stuck it in the thinset and then added more thinset would it be stiff enough to mosaic? Or should I just chalk this up to a failed experiement?

Did I make any sense?
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Like a magnet, SUN - I'm so addicted. Re your question on how to stiffen the shoe. On this one I covered it in a thick, overlapping layer of the plaster wrap. Then when it was completely dry, I gave it a very thick layer of Gesso. It's VERY stiff. Second one I did, I filled it up w/Plaster of Paris, then covered that up w/a piece of velvet. First one, I didn't prepare it all all, but used 1/4" floor tiles (cut w/the wet saw), and it held fine. Don't know why it worked, but it did - hard as can be. In your case, I w/suggest covering the outside w/either the plaster wrap and Gesso, or you could try the drywall tape and use the thinset. Haven't tried that technique yet myself. I suppose the thinset w/work on the plaster wrap too. Thanks y'all. I probably w/be grouting w/a brush.
Here's the first and second shoe, SUN
mmqchdygg
16 years ago
How about if you took a razor and made an "open toe" out of it? If you were careful enough, it would seem an easy way to get at that toe portion, and it wouldn't look any different than a typical open-toe style.
nicethyme
16 years ago
the inside????? you are really up for a challange huh? That looks great, I love the design so far.
barbfrizzell1955
16 years ago
You certainly like a challenge mosaicing the INSIDE of the shoe!

BTW...I think Dorothy would have loved those red shoes...

Barb
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all. DD #1 collects Oz things, and she grabbed the first one and put the bow on it. DD # 2 grabbed the second one. This one is for me. I just finished covering it and it's too ugly to show!!!:(
chickeemama
16 years ago
The inside is awesome....cant wait to see it finished.

You just covered it and now its too ugly to show??? I hardly believe that!!! Im sure its great!!

What is Gesso??????
barbfrizzell1955
16 years ago
Gesso is a type of white paint that primes a surface. I've used it on terra cotta pots and gourds. At Michaels I think it is in the aisle with the oil painting/canvas stuff. It isn't in with the acrylic paint.

Barb
fiddlekate
16 years ago
Yup... I hardly believe that either! Ready for the next picture... please?!? :) Love the other shoes... but glad you're doing one for YOU!

Hey... did you see the young boy on Jeopardy tonight? He's from Texarkana... and what a nice sounding and SMART young man! Oh my... this kids week is amazing!!! Bet he'll be in your local paper!
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Gesso is what artists prepare their raw canvas w/in order to paint. It is a good medium to prepare most any surface for painting. Seldom watch t.v., except for the news, and our local paper is, well, I'm not going there. Don't subscribe. I'll probably be pulling stuff off that shoe tomorrow.
sunshine_funshine
16 years ago
That's a thought I hadn't had MM. Will certainly consider that when I finally get back to it. It's been sitting there mocking me and my ignorance for a few weeks now. Gonna have to work on it sooner or later.

Love your shoes SLOW!!
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Already started pulling off the tiles to start over. **sigh**. I'll work on that until daylight, and then work outside most of today.
haziemoon
16 years ago
Hoping for a shoe update!

Hazie
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Hey, girlie. Update is: before daylight I pulled off all the tiles except the half half marbles around the top edge. Of course, this put the cheescloth on the plaster wrap in tatters. Mixed up some plaster of paris and brushed on a thick coat to smooth everything out. After pulling weeds and deadheading roses for three hrs. I'm so tired I can hardly sit here, but planning to go see what I can come up with for the shoe. Got the ironing board there too and some scrolls chalked in.
haziemoon
16 years ago
Hope the shoe is comming along better today. It's too bad you had to do so many repairs. That's when I have a hard time finishing things........because my mind is already on the next project.

Hazie
bamasusanna
16 years ago
O.K., Ya gotta have that yard whooped into shape now.
How's the shoe?
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Ho hum the shoe is done and **yaaaawwwn**, I'm glad it's OVER. Boring as dirt. Shoulda stuck w/one color. Lost a couple of the teensy blue tiles in the swirl line and was so **yaaaawwwn** bored w/it I didn't bother w/filling them in.
Shoe finished
haziemoon
16 years ago
IT'S FABULOUS SLOW!!!! IT REALLY IS!!!!
I think it's the best one of all 3. I LOVE IT!!!
It inspired me like crazy to do the one I've got waiting.
REALLY LOVE IT!!!!WOW!!

Hazie
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
HAZIE: You blow me away w/your compliments. If this **yaaaawn** thing inspires you to do one, then it was worth it. Yours w/be a masterpiece. I'm thinking one would be nice in emerald mirror glass, BUT NOT THE INSIDE!!!!!!!!!! Actually, grouting the inside wasn't as hard as I'd imagined. I used a brush, then a small sponge.
meadel
16 years ago
Holy cow.. I wish I had a tenth of your energy! Everything you make is amazing.. truly amazing..
Lori
bamasusanna
16 years ago
Holy dawg snot slow!
That there is one bodacious clod hopper!!
I can't believe you're bored with it. Stick with one color? How yaaawwwnnn would that be?
Great job as usual!
stjohnsgypsy
16 years ago
I tell ya....Cinderella is so bloody envious of this shoe.........as usual..............beautiful Slow!
sunshine_funshine
16 years ago
That's not boring Slow! Love how you used half glass globs on the rim. The red heel is very fancy, and I really like how you did the inside. I would not have thought of that. It's really fabulous, but if it bores you, don't you have it's sister shoe around there, somewhere-feeling nekkid? and REALLY boring? saying "mosaic me, mosaic me." Huh, huh??
nicethyme
16 years ago
Now that's a kick'n SHOE! sounds like you need a new experience... forget the iron board and pull out that mannequin! that will get your creative juices flowing
Shades_of_idaho
16 years ago
OH Slow I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! Course I just love all of your work!!!

I can't wait for snow!!!!! Still so much to do before we are snowed in and I can play play play. :^))

Chris
shrty411
16 years ago
Great Shoe!!Those blue blobs and the red heel are beautiful!!

Maria
haziemoon
16 years ago
I totally agree with NICE!!!!!
That mannequin has been waiting way too long! I even did one, and am freaking out about my next....she got here yesterday, and has been sitting here looking at me!( with no head!) kinda glad the glass tiles and tigers eye beads haven't gotten here yet! I'm scared to death on this one!
I want to do something so not me......and spent WAY too much
just playing. So now I'm afraid!!! Need your help here Slow!! INSPIRE ME!!! hahaha

Hazie
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
The mannequin stands in the workshop w/my gardening hat over her "no-head", y'all. Every now and then I stick some flowers in those spots that drive my DD#2 crazy (she always says "MOM!!! You and your boob art!"), then take them off cuz I want this mannequin to be done well, and I'm afraid it won't be. After the mannequin's I've seen here, and BTW, HAZIE, I don't remember seeing yours - SHOW/TELL, please - how can I even make an attempt, but NT/HAZIE, I think I'll start her, right along w/the ironing board, cuz now that's in my way! Thank y'all for the nice comments on the shoe.
coppertop367
16 years ago
AWESOME!!! I just need half of the energy you have, Slow.
Calamity_J
16 years ago
I too, Love everything you do! And really like the colors on this one! Save the blingy emerald mirror for the bodacious bod!!!
haziemoon
16 years ago
This was my first one....

I don't want to dress the next one, I want it to be more like gypsy's warrior. The out of my comfort zone kind of thing.

Hazie
texaswild
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks again, y'all. Oh, HAZIE. I'd completely forgotten about this torso. BEAUTIFUL. How are you displaying her? Anxious to see your next one. I gathered lots of stuff yesterday at garage/estate sales all over town to add to my mannequin, which I'll be starting soooooooon. I have a "student" coming today. She was lost in my neighborhood and admired my gardens and came to knock on the door and saw the front walk and columns, and left a note on my door sorta pleading for me to sell, tell her where to buy or teach her how to do the column in the front garden. Ahhh, another life is about to be swallowed up into mosaics.
nicethyme
16 years ago
That is soooo coool Slow! wow - totally accidental. yep yep pass along the addiction.

Can you imagine what she'll think of the interior of the queendom? stunned I sure
haziemoon
16 years ago
That's so exciting! I think you should do workshops or classes.....that would help fund you illness!

I gave this one to my daughter 20, she has it hanging on her bedroom wall.

Hazie

Retired Shoe

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