Gone but not forgotten.

Home again, home again. Got back last night to a waiting Lady Friend, some delicious tacos and a North Carolina Spring. Gonna go and ride my bike now. 

Here Today. Gone Tomorrow.

Finished the Chukah's today. English Stitch and all. Didn't get to spend as much time on the finishing as I would have liked to, but I need to pack. 

Wish I were better with the words, as to convey the full level of appreciation I have for Marcell for teaching me. Thank you for putting the craft in my head, heart and hands. You and Ya-Ya(I know that is the incorrect spelling...sorry), please keep my seat at the workbench warm until I get back for whatever is next in this path. I will be back. Love to you both.

Craig and Ana- Good luck over the next few weeks. I'll miss you guys. 

And I'm out.

Level 2.7

I'm drunk and sleepy so I'll keep it short. I graduated Koronya Shoe Making School this evening as a Level 2 almost Level 3( out of 10) Shoemaker. I'm coming back for that Level 10. Believe that. Holler.

"Oh My God"

"Oh my God! Ana, what are you doing?" I don't know how many times I heard that one, during the making of these shoes.  They are a full brogue, english-stitch that Ana designed and made from beginning to end. Impressive. In fact I find Ana to be an impressive individual all round. I am always taken with people that decide what they want and go for it, regardless of what other folks may say or think. Ana is one of these people. She's here after completing Law School ... I think she might be ducking the bar a little bit. Even so, she decided she wanted to learn how to makes shoes and here she is in Budapest learning how to make shoes. I count myself lucky to have a met and forged a friendship with her, and by friendship I mean "shit talking" and humorous banter across the workbench. I'll miss that. I hope she comes to visit Kim and I in the states sometime. 

You know the name Ana to the Santana, aint a damn thing changed.

Lions, Tigers, but no Mangalica

What a day, what a day. Started off with fried dough covered with cheese at the flea market where I tried to buy a prosthetic leg for my Uncle Liam, but to no avail, the vendor disappeared. Oh well, wasn't really sure how I was gonna get it home and the idea of explaining to customs... Ana bought herself some shiny new brass knuckles, not sure what for, but one Gypsy vendors trash is another Brazilian girls treasure.

We made a trip to the zoo, specifically to see these. Hairy Pigs! Kim and I have been talking about getting pig for a while, and whether or not it actually happens, the idea of it has gotten some mileage in conversation. We have gone so far as to visit a farm in NC that raises Guinea Hogs, a heritage breed originally from Africa. In fact, we dragged another couple with us, so needless to say,  I was thinking about you Kim, Nathan, and Elizabeth. Unfortunately, there were no pigs to be seen in the "Traditional Hungarian Barnyard" area. Perhaps they ended up in the concession area? Bummer. So instead you get this photo a link to a youtube video of the Budapest Zoo. They did have an unsettling number of Rhino's though. Maybe they could trade some of those Rhinos, which aren't nearly as delicious as pigs, or so I am told, for a couple of Mangalica hogs. 

                            

This is the look Ana makes right before she reaches in her purse for the brass knuckles, to knuckle dust you.

As promised. Welted, even if it is a day late.

Auntie Shju-Shja.

I need to make a correction. Marcell's upper makers name is Susan, not Eva, as I had previously posted. It's pronounced Shju-Shja, or something close to that. Man.... she is a bad-ass. I spent the day learning about upper making, which she had been doing for like 30 years. She owns the the post-bed sewing machine, which if you have ever used one, is not an easy thing to do well. She also reads leather like a book. Even though we don't speak the same language, I still know the look of "You didn't do that right and you know it" when I see it. I think it's universal and especially poignant when it comes from the older lady aunt-like figure. Being the charming young man that I am, I jokingly blew her some kisses as she left the shop and she called me "A flower in the dirt".... I think that's what she said. Which I gather is an endearing expression used to describe children doing child like things. 

Cutting uppers. 

Beginning of the english-sewn welt. Gonna be a little bit of a time crunch to finish it before I leave, but I'm up for it. Makes me sad that I'll be leaving my Koronya Crew next week. I have gotten really attached to them all. They're kind and generous folks but most importantly they make me laugh. Good peoples.

Chukah of my design. Lasted today, welted tomorrow. 

Tool. For scraping out the stitching channel, before you sew the outsole on. I photographed a bunch of random tools today so my friend Dan can help me make some when I get home. That's about it. I like this song.