Sewing shoes - yes! Shoes!

Little Sister and Middle Sister needed new Sunday shoes this fall.  And I was not finding anything that suited me, their likes, and their dad's preferences.  He is a firm believer in all leather - at least the uppers and the lining.  And I've come to think like he does!  They are more comfortable, they look nicer longer, and they last longer.  But I find it very hard to pay the money for children's shoes that they will wear one season and then outgrow.  So I searched and I searched and I stewed a little!  I finally decided on these flats from Mini Boden.  They are leather with leather lining, they were the color of brown I wanted and with a coupon I got them for $33 a pair.  Much better than $80 and up for most of the others I drooled over!  Now I know I can go to P*yless and get shoes for $15 or less but they are not real leather (even if they say they are!) and besides I don't like anything they have right now!!  So don't tell me how ridiculous it was to spend over $30 on shoes for each child;)

 Aren't they adorable?  And let me tell you they look like the cat's pajamas on my two little darlings!!

 We did have a slight problem with Little Sister.  She couldn't keep them on!!  I was worried about that because it seems my girls have all had that problem with shoes that don't have a strap to keep them on.  I was hoping she was old enough to learn how to walk in them anyway.  But, alas, she just couldn't do it.  So... after debating on whether to send them back and exchange them for a size smaller, I decided to bring some sewing skills into the picture:)  Enter some chocolate colored bias binding and a scrap of elastic, and voila!  A strap to keep them on!

 Because they are made of suede leather the sewing part was really quite easy.  The hardest part was getting the side of the shoe and the binding under the machines presser foot at the right angle.  But I was determined and figured it out:)

Little Sister loves them!  And she can keep them on her feet.  So the next time you buy a pair of flats for you little girl and she can't keep them on, don't despair.  A little time, some bias binding, a scrap of narrow elastic, a sewing machine and some thread to match your shoes and you have a cute little strap to keep them on her feet!

I would also like to share a couple links to a couple people who actually MAKE the entire pair of shoes!!  I am in awe!  Now I probably wouldn't wear these to town and places that would be hard on them but for a wedding?  Or special occasions?  DEFINITELY!!  They are on my 'wish' list and I am just amazed at the talent and ingenuity that goes into these.  Check them out!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheGeneration  this is my favorite pair on this site: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62064053/oriental-chic-vegan-mary-jane-style-b

And another site:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/HydraHeart?ref=seller_info  and this is my favorite pair on this site:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/57883024/lotus-mary-jane