Make your own dreamy leather sandals!

It’s no secret we’re big fans of  The Shoe Camaraderie here at Peppermint. Run by our very own office manager Lisa, we were lucky enough to be the first people to try out her super-relaxed, super-awesome shoemaking workshop – and we’re all still banging on about how amazing it was. With dates coming up here in Brisbane, around Australia and even in New Zealand, we thought we’d share a few snaps from the day we each made a pair of butter-soft sandals with own fair hands.

First up, we each chose our fave shade of sustainably-sourced leather and our dream sandal style. BUT HOW CAN YOU CHOOSE A FAVOURITE CHILD?!

Lisa had beautiful little bags all ready for each of us, containing everything we needed to get our shoemaker on.

May the cutting and gluing commence! Nerve-wracking but oh-so-fun (and all scraps are either kept or donated to other makers, depending on the size and what they can be used for). Hurrah!

Lisa was always on-hand to serve up wisdom (and delightful refreshments) throughout the day. As she says, “The day’s all about slowing down, taking the time to connect with others through a shared experience and walking away feeling uplifted – and proud of your new, thoughtfully made footwear.”

The Shoe Camaraderie essential: delicious locally-sourced lunch and good ol’ chats.

The Shoe Camaraderie non-essential – a small, mischievous hound.

As things started to take shape we couldn’t believe we were actually MAKING SHOES.

Did we mention it was SUPER FUN?!

And that the fun was too much for one participant?

We ended the day with that great feeling you get when you’ve achieved something tangible – we totally made some shoes!

The experience reminded us of the simple pleasure of slow, mindful creation. By making our own shoes, we were connected to them, and grateful for them, in a way we wouldn’t have been had we just bought them from a cheap and cheerful retailer. If you fancy living this dream, head to The Shoe Camaraderie website to find out about imminent workshops in Brisbane (this weekend!), Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.  We’re biased, yes, but we can’t rave about it enough. We love The Shoe Camaraderie!