'forward motion'

'Forward Motion'

So, I've made two new lasts, both of wood this time. It's definitely more of a challenge to carve a wood last than to sculpt one of clay but the wood has real advantages.  I cut one of the lasts into three pieces that are held together by a screw and wing nut. This allows me to disassemble the last to remove it from the finished shoe.  I am still perfecting it, but have made a simple shoe to test it out.  The shape of the last needs refining and I will need to apply a coat of polyurethane followed by a coat of Renaissance Wax which I hope will allow the shoe to slip off  more easily. But overall I think this change is just what the doctor ordered.  Eventually I hope to have perhaps five lasts since each shoe shape (square toe, round toe, high heel, low heel, etc.) requires a different last.  I carved a heart shaped wooden heel for the 'test' shoe.  I will absolutely explore this further.