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About Shoemaking Workshops

The two-day Shoemaking Workshop offers an unique experience to create your very own pair of shoes!

In this course you will learn to make a custom pattern for your foot and how to lay out the pattern on the leather.
Learn how to dye the leather and how to sew your shoe.
You will choose your colour for leather and the colour of thread and you can personalise your shoes with stamps and acrylic markers.
We will be using all hand tools and anyone can do it with a little strength and patience.
You will leave with a custom pair of your own handcrafted leather shoes, suggestions for sourcing tools and materials, and the skills to make your next pair of shoes!

Drop out of “normal life” for a weekend and have a wonderful time learning a new skill!

Group Shoemaking Workshop

2 day shoemaking workshop for max. 5 people. This workshop is suitable for beginners. You will be making one pair of leather shoes (ankle boots or ballerinas). You will receive all materials and will be using only hand tools to make your shoes.

Shoemaking Retreat

2 day private shoemaking workshop for max. 2 people in the heart of the Wicklow mountains. The dates for this shoemaking reatreat are flexible and you can choose the style of shoes you make. Included is glamping in a cosy yurt, 1x breakfast and 2x lunch, tea/coffe and home baked treats. A hike in the surrounding mountains is also an option.

Join the Introduction to Shoemaking Facebook group to be the first to know about new workshops and get tips on shoemaking.

Making a pair of shoes, by hand, in two days?…hard to imagine! But

Veronika is a super organised person, giving the perfect amount of instruction at each stage, and having all the tools and materials ready for us, not overwhelming. She has a clear, bright, friendly way of teaching and is there to help at any stage. Who would have thought we’d walk away with finished shoes! We did it! Thanks to Veronika’s attentive care. I love my shoes. Two days of concentrated effort, and well worth it.

Daphne Babington

Having completed Veronika’s 2 day Workshop for Ballerina shoes – I’d like to take this opportunity to share my experience.. I signed up for this course because.. I love barefoot shoes. I love crafting & feel the buzz from making something is immensely satisfying. I enjoy meeting new people especially so many of these opportunities were taken away in the pandemic. After Veronika’s workshop I learned ; It’s possible to learn how to make a pair of custom made boots/shoes in a group & to enjoy it ! It is possible to go away and make more shoes independently ! It’s possible to meet a person like Veronika & see what an amazing ability she has to share her craft & to teach others to make that craft, their own.. Not everyone has her skill set but Veronika made us all feel like we could succeed… This in itself makes the course invaluable.

Why this workshop was beneficial to me & many others ; I feel anything that allows us to step outside of our comfort zone & to try something new is a positive thing. Making a pair of boots/shoes was something I would never have considered & yet I’ve made 2 pairs of boots, a pair of shoes & have bought more leather for another pair & for a bag… the sky’s the limit ! I feel that with Veronika’s teaching ability everyone has the opportunity to make these boots. The satisfaction of doing this, is simply priceless. I believe the benefits of this course & others like it far outweigh the joy of having a custom made pair of boots/shoes. The opportunity to get back to basics – away from screens & shops – to appreciate our own skills & mind our mental health is invaluable Practice some Productive Mindfulness sign up for a Shoemaking workshop with Veronika Pavlisova