Introducing: Shoe.ol.o.gy

I'm so excited to introduce my newest sponsor to you, Shoe.ol.o.gy, because it's a completely unique and inspiring business, run by Cheri and her husband. Cheri writes beautiful footwear patterns for slippers, shoes and boots and sells them through her website, Shoe.ol.o.gy. But what makes her shop really special is that she also sells the waterproof soling to go with them, enabling her customers to make shoes that are entirely wearable inside and out.

In the past, I've made a few pairs of tiny baby slippers myself (I've just noticed that was in 2007. Where has the time gone?) and have to say that I found the process of making something so very three-dimensional really thrilling - the techniques involved are fun to learn and easier to master than one might imagine, while the finished result is impressive enough to make you double-take your own work once it's complete in disbelief that you really did actually make them yourself: indeed you are that shoemaker and his elves all rolled into one seemingly very normal person! So, if that's the kind of excitement which making indoor baby slippers can ignite in a person, can you imagine what making real, waterproof soled, fully wearable, skipping-over-grass-verges-without-a-care shoes must feel like?

After falling in love with a tiny pair of Moccasins in a boutique in Canada, many years before she had children of her own, Cheri was left with a longing that stayed with her to make some herself. Finally, with babies in tow to test her wares she set about learning the art of shoe-making by taking ready-made shoes apart and studying the pattern pieces. She and her husband finally launched their first baby and children's shoe patterns in 2009 and later branched out into women's footwear.

Don't be put off if you initially find the sizing confusing: scroll down a little and you'll find that sizing conversions have been laid out in the description for each pattern (I was delighted to find that things start at an English two and a half). I will leave you with the cuteness of these owl and chick slippers. Wouldn't the chicks make a wonderful Easter gift for a child too young to eat chocolate?

Finally, I wanted to say thank you so much for your response to my last post regarding the release of my appliqué eBook - I have been absolutely amazed by the amount of lovely feedback, emails, mentions on Twitter and general support and enthusiasm I've received, as well as, of course, how many of you have chosen to buy a copy. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Florence x