The Power of Intent: Ritualizing Your Leathercare
The conscious use of ritual and intent is a powerful path to increased intimacy, connection, and eroticism that will revolutionize your leathercare from both sides of the chair. In this class we will explore ritual and intent and learn how each participant in leathercare shapes and guides the experience of both parties. Lily and Paul will also provide guidance for ritualizing your individual process. This class is suitable for all experience levels and is highly recommended not just for bootblacks but for the people who sit for them as well.
Instructors: Lily Seville and Paul Grosart, International Community Bootblack 2013
Instructors: Lily Seville and Paul Grosart, International Community Bootblack 2013
Bootblacking 101/201: The High Shine
Join us in this hands-on workshop to learn the basics of boot and leather maintenance. You will gain an overview of basic leather products and techniques used to care for both high shine and oil-tan boots. After the introduction, we'll dive into the production of a sweet and shiny high shine. I'll share with you the techniques I use to work through the base shine, and then a detail shine that will really make your boots stand out. If you've got boots to work on, bring them along. If not, you can still take great notes and learn.
If you have them and can do so, bring along the following products to practice with: dauber/shaving brush for cleaning, lint-free cloth, small spray bottle of water, black Angelus or Lincoln wax polish (or other color, if your boots aren't black), hosiery. I will also have some products to share.
Instructor: Dara Bryant, Oregon State Bootblack 2013
If you have them and can do so, bring along the following products to practice with: dauber/shaving brush for cleaning, lint-free cloth, small spray bottle of water, black Angelus or Lincoln wax polish (or other color, if your boots aren't black), hosiery. I will also have some products to share.
Instructor: Dara Bryant, Oregon State Bootblack 2013
Knot another Lacing Class
Ever had someone in your chair ask you to re-lace your boots a different way? Even called a specific lacing style that you didn’t know? Don’t know which style of ladder lacing to use with a particular length of shoelace? Well, by the end of this hands-on class –hopefully you will.
Taken from the wildly popular book by Ian Fieggen (or Professor Shoelace) – “100’s of Ways to Pimp your Kicks” – we will cover various lacing techniques for different styles of boots including the more traditional criss-cross and ladder styles, as well as some trickierones such as the zipper, zig-zag and star. For thetruly nerdy amongst you, there will even be algebraic formulas for how long your lacesneed to be for a given style, helpful if you need to cut a new length of shoelace.
We are Knot finished though – you can’t really tie a shoelace without a Knot, so we will also cover a few different ways of finishing off your lacing including a traditional, a surgeons knot, and even Ian’s custom developed Knot.
Last, if you ever have frayed shoelace ends, we will cover a couple of different techniques for creating aglets (the hard end of the shoelace).
The whole class will be interactive and hands-on. Participants are encouraged to bring boots and/or laces they would use to try different lacing styles. I will be inviting people to share their favourite lacing styles and knots so that we can learn from each other.
Instructor: Nick Elliott, International Mr. Bootblack 2012, Oregon State Bootblack 2011
Taken from the wildly popular book by Ian Fieggen (or Professor Shoelace) – “100’s of Ways to Pimp your Kicks” – we will cover various lacing techniques for different styles of boots including the more traditional criss-cross and ladder styles, as well as some trickierones such as the zipper, zig-zag and star. For thetruly nerdy amongst you, there will even be algebraic formulas for how long your lacesneed to be for a given style, helpful if you need to cut a new length of shoelace.
We are Knot finished though – you can’t really tie a shoelace without a Knot, so we will also cover a few different ways of finishing off your lacing including a traditional, a surgeons knot, and even Ian’s custom developed Knot.
Last, if you ever have frayed shoelace ends, we will cover a couple of different techniques for creating aglets (the hard end of the shoelace).
The whole class will be interactive and hands-on. Participants are encouraged to bring boots and/or laces they would use to try different lacing styles. I will be inviting people to share their favourite lacing styles and knots so that we can learn from each other.
Instructor: Nick Elliott, International Mr. Bootblack 2012, Oregon State Bootblack 2011
Appreciating the Femme Foot
In this workshop we'll be diving into the intense enjoyment of the femme foot and how to build scenes that incorporate foot play and those that are centered on foot fetishism. Learn how to pick the right heels, what kinds of sensations we can give with shoes, boots, and feet, how to kick in high heels, footing, and so much more! There will be live demonstrations of everything discussed.
Instructor: Annamarie
Instructor: Annamarie