Redo My Shoe

They're done!

2012-02-27T17:20:00.002-08:00

I must say, this commission was a learning experience for me. Crystal sent her You You back in November(I know...), and I just now finally got to strassing them. I thought, Hey, the glitter can be that hard to strass. And I was definitely wrong. The glue I use is clear, so materials like patent leather make it difficult to distinguish where the borders of my glue end when I'm placing stones. Well, this miniglitter was worse. First off, the crystals were almost an exact match to the Silk crystals used. Second, the varying degrees of light and dark glitter made detecting my glue border near impossible. I literally could not see what I was doing. I made it passed the heels and slightly up the heel counter when I thought, You need to stop Joey. That's where Gem-tac came into the picture. I used Gem-tac on all my 2011 orders up until August, where I then switched to my current glue. I'd used it to successfully strass patent, suede, and regular leather. I figured its white consistently would make placing stones so much easier over the matching multiglitter background, and it did. The only problem(for me at least) was that because it's so milky in texture it tends to overlap the edges of the crystal after being placed. Because of this, I ended up spacing the Silk flatbacks really close together. Closer than I like, actually. But during the whole Daffodile debacle last November, Crystal contacted me asking if I could space her stones closer together. So in some weird way, everything worked out for the best. Plus, the glue dries clear so any overlapping won't be noticeable. The stones are close together, Crystal is drooling over the pictures, and most importantly, they're done(thank the f**king Lord). What I learned from this project is that any future glittered shoes must be painted over. While Gem-tac did save the day, I'd rather only use it in emergencies. And what you my followers should take from the post is that understated shoes like the You You 85mm can be sexed up, too. Contrary to what you might think, I don't don't only prefer 120mm and up styles. These shoes were gorgeous before, but I think Crystal is going to die when she see them.

On a side note, here are the Supra I intended to wear to New York but never got around to finishing. They're still not done, but I hope to finish them within the next two weeks. I want to wear these babies!

On a side note of the previous side note, this is what my office looks like right now; inundated with Louboutins. Those Daffodile up front are due mid-March, along with three other pairs. How the hell am I going to do it?!

And on another note, here are the Preciosa Olivine AB crystals I ordered for a Daffodile I have. That size 38.5 Daffodile is currently for sale on eBay, but if it doesn't sell these will be used for strassing. They're insanely beautiful!

Update: NYC trip.

2012-02-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

I think what you'll all notice first is the absence of pictures in this post. For that, I apologize. I'm usually the one snapping pictures at anything and everything I deem beautiful, which I encountered a lot of in New York. But for some reason, this trip didn't warrant any. For starters, I was freezing my ass off nearly the entire time. Here in San Diego, my fingers are ice cold at 70 degrees, and at 60 degrees I'm usually wearing a sweatshirt, socks, and sweatpants. In New York it was between 40 and 50 degrees the entire time, one day even raining. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy myself to the fullest capacity. I would absolutely rather brave the humidity of New York's summer than suffer through the chill of its winter. I'm thinking of making a second trip in a few months, now that I've taken the subway by myself. I took it to visit my best client Amber, which was such a pleasure. In fact, she gave me three pairs to take back with me(talk about trust). Aside from that, I also met with my clients Christiana(she's amazing), and Isabel, who I can tell is really fun. My great friend Elle accompanied me for the majority of the trip, which was surreal because it was the first time we'd met. But our chemistry was pretty natural so we had a great time, especially when popping into Bergdorf Goodman(which was swarming with CL devotees) and the Madison Ave. Louboutin boutique.

Which brings me to the Horatio boutique, and the point of this post. I popped inside while my Dad was across the street talking on the phone. The store was tiny and crowded, making the shopping experience uncomfortable in my opinion. I went over to the strass and was blown away, in a bad away. They had the Fire Opal strass Lady Lynch on display, so naturally I examined the workmanship. And let me tell you, it was and is the worst strassing I've ever seen in my entire life. Some of my competitors do sloppy strassing, but this was on a level of its own. I honestly can't comprehend how a shoe like that makes it passed quality control. Granted these were from a few seasons back(meaning the brand has had ample time to improve upon their technique), but still. I looked at the Black Diamond strass Pigalle 120 and it had the same flaws. How are consumers foolish enough to spend thousands on that shit? And I say shit, because it is. It's the perfect example of a designer's name being the sole driving force behind a product's sale. People CLEARLY aren't buying it for the attention to detail, but merely the fact that a fellow New Yorker can spot them from 20 feet away and instantly recognize that iconic red sole. As Cher says in Clueless, these shoes are the equivalent of a Monet painting; "From far away, it's OK, but up close it's a big old mess". It almost makes me mad that people will contact me and subsequently raise their eyebrows at my pricing, to then buy the strass in stores. Most likely Louboutin either acquires the Swarovski crystals for free, or receives a massive discount on them. I, on the other hand, probably receive just under 10% off retail prices. With that discount, it's still coming out to AT LEAST $400 per average order. In a nutshell, I only take in about half of what I'm paid, most times less. And yet, Louboutin charges $6,400 for a strassed Daffodile. Are you kidding me? This experience was basically the final catalyst for implementing a price increase, which is a decision I've been contemplating for awhile. Redo My Shoe is no longer a side job for me; it's my livelihood. If I'm serious about moving, or traveling, or just feeling comfortable living the life I want, I need to reevaluate how I'm treating myself. I am beyond fortunate to be in the situation that I'm in, and I don't intend on ruining that. A 50% price hike would obviously be ridiculous, not to mention unfair to my loyal clients. Which is why I'm considering a gradual change to better reflect Swarovski's rising crystal costs and USPS's shipping increases. I suffered last Fall from taking on way too many orders and allowing myself no leisure time. 2012 has been going great, but I think it could evolve into something better. Please stay posted for updates!

The rates below will go into effect May 1st, 2012. Your shoes must be in my possession before then to take advantage of my current pricing. Any orders received after the date above are subject to the rates below. No exceptions.

RATES
4” heel section only
$15 painting(optional)
- $200 for STANDARD stones
- $225 for AB stones
- $275 for EFFECTS stones
- $400 for AURUM stones

* Styles below are subject to a $50 fee for AB-coated stones, a $100 fee for stones classified as EFFECTS, and $300 for gold AURUM stones.

- 4” heel w/ heel counter
$450 with $25 painting(optional)

- 4” heel mules
$500 with $25 painting(optional)

- 4” heel wedge
$600 with $25 painting(optional)

- Amber/Ambertina 150 or any other 6” heel equivalent
$600 with $25 painting(optional)

- Ballerina flat
$650 with $35 painting(optional)

- 4” heel slingback
$700 with $35 painting(optional)

- 4” heel d'orsay
$750 with $35 painting(optional)

- Tsar 140, or any other 5.5" style equivalent
$800 with $35 painting(optional)

- Fifi, Ron Ron, Decollete, Sexy, Simple 100, Pigalle 100, or any other 4" style equivalent
$800 with $35 painting(optional)

- Pigalle 120 or any other 5" heel equivalent
$850 with $35 painting(optional)

* Styles below are subject to a $75 fee for AB-coated stones, a $125 fee for stones classified as EFFECTS, and $350 for gold AURUM stones.

- Very Prive, Declic 120, or any other 5" style equivalent
$900 with $45 painting(optional)

- Mago 140, Declic 140, or any other 5.5" heel equivalent
$950 with $45 painting(optional)

- Bianca 140, Banana 140, Bibi 140, Bambou 140, or any other 5.5" style equivalent
$1,000 with $55 painting(optional)

- Lady Peep Sling
$1,050 with $55 painting(optional)

* Styles below are subject to a $100 fee for AB-coated stones, a $150 fee for stones classified as EFFECTS, and $400 for gold AURUM stones.

- Lady Peep
$1,100 with $55 painting(optional)

- 4” heel wedge w/ upper
$1,200 with $65 painting(optional)

- 4” heel bootie
$1,400 with $65 painting(optional)

- Men's Louis Sneaker
$1,500 with $35 painting(optional)

- 4" heel with wedge/platform
$1,600 with $65 painting(optional)

* Styles below are subject to a $150 fee for AB-coated stones, a $200 fee for stones classified as EFFECTS, and $500 for gold AURUM stones.

- Daffodile, Lady Daf, Highness, or any other 6.5" style equivalent
$2,000 with $65 painting(optional)

- Daffy
$2,100 with $65 painting(optional)

- Daf Bootie
$2,500 with $75 painting(optional)

They're done!

2012-02-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

First off thank you to Madonna and Taylor Swift, for without you two I would have suffered through this project. I had Taylor Swift's new song 'Ours' on repeat for an entire day I believe, and Madonna's 'Give Me All Your Luv" for at least half a day. To anyone that wants to attempt(strong emphasis here) doing this themself, music is essential. Otherwise you want to blow your brains out. Strassing is quite tedious, so any distraction is welcome. But back to Whitney's Daffy. She contacted me in late October about strassing these formerly red suede Louboutins. It was a toss up between Jet Hematite and Volcano, and honestly I was sick of the former. I'm not a huge fan of Volcano either but I figured it would have been more eye-popping so naturally I recommended it. Volcano is the type of stone that doesn't, in my opinion, look good during strassing. It's only when the shoe is done and the colors are able to reflect off each other that I then think, Now I get it. These shoes turned out stunning, but I'm contemplating offering different base colors when using Volcano. It portrays hues of fuchsia, purple, green, orange, and yellow. Normally I paint the background purple, but a client brought it to my attention that a gold background would look amazing too(as it lessens the severity of the stone). It would definitely help my eyes out, as this project practically killed them. On a side note, I will be heading out to NYC on Wednesday morning. Time to finish my Supra sneakers!

Fun with PhotoShop: Daffodile Strass Edition(Part IV)

2012-02-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

All are STANDARD stones and fall under the $1,600 strassing rate.

Amethyst

Burgundy

Capri Blue

Cobalt

Jet

Light Siam

Mocca

Montana

Purple Velvet

Ruby

They're done!

2012-02-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

I started these on Wednesday night and finished them on Saturday night. Really I could have completed them on Friday, but I got my shopping on with my brother at Fashion Valley mall. In preparation for New York in ten days I was on the hunt for a coat and some pants or jeans. Unfortunately, I had no luck as my body is hard to fit(long torso, short legs, and broad shoulders on a 5'6 frame). On Saturday I was successful in snatching up two pairs of Levi's, though. But anyway, the point is that these are done, nine days before Valentine's Day. Not having to rush makes me feel like I'm doing things right. It seems that everything is on schedule at the moment, and I'm proud of myself for that. Although, I may switch things up a bit with my strasing style. Seeing as 2028-cut stones are being phased out I have to reevaluate how I place the newer 16ss and 20ss 2058-cut stones. As mentioned in the previous post, they're much pointier and lose the overall water droplet effect(which I love). Swarovski, why the hell did you change things? So aside from how productive I've been I will try and reduce the amount of 20ss I use. Regardless, Ashley's formerly silver miniglitter pumps turned out splendid. They are so F**k Me Pumps that it's not even funny. We're all adults here. I can write that kind of stuff and we can take it in the humorous nature it was intended, right? Well if you can't then leave now, because I can get quite scandalous on here. Speaking of which, I'm a little bummed about deleting a progress video on YouTube of Amber's Jet Hematite Daffodile. It was my highest-viewed video because it was a direct link from a GIF on Tumblr. In a nutshell, it attracted the dumbest of the dumb and I found myself getting snippy with those that left moronic comments. After a while, it just got old. So many times I just wanted to write, 'Read the f**king description!' However, I'm in the public eye(relatively-speaking) so that would only damage my reputation even more. I figured just delete it thwart further negativity. One thing I've learned is that you HAVE to stick up for yourself or people will walk all over you. If I lose a client from it, oh well. I have so many wonderful repeat clients that it doesn't phase me anymore. Ashley is one of them, and I know she'll die when she sees these!

They're done!

2012-02-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

This commission flew by, and let me tell you, I'm certainly feeling the repercussions. Sitting for three hours on end wreaks havoc on my abdominal muscles, especially when I'm slouched over. If I'm going to be wearing an itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, yellow polka dot bikini I need to transition into starvation mode for the next few months. Luckily, my dad built me a huge worktable and set it up in the back room, which means I am now out of the kitchen and away from temptation. But I digress. Like I said, these Very Prive were strassed like that(snaps fingers). I am quite proud of how fast I completed them. However, being the malcontent that I am I'm a tad dissatisfied with how the stones look. I think my placement is excellent, but the newer 2058-cut Swarovski stones in 20ss and 16ss are bothering me. This newer style has a pointier top, which is made more apparent when surrounded by smaller stones. For me this translates to strassing more strategically, in a way that'll tone down the differentiation between the sizes. Also, for some reason the larger 16ss and 20ss stones were more saturated with peach undertones than the smaller sizes. Regardless, they look fantastic and Light Peach has become a new favorite of mine. Now I have Ashley's Pigalle 120 to complete, Crystal's You You, Whitney's Daffy, and possibly Marisa's Daffodile, all before Valentine's Day!

I look fugly in this picture but Jessie was sitting on the stairs while I was outside snapping away, and she was just too darn cute to not take a photo with. I love my girl.

They're done!

2012-01-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

Loren's daughter Amber contacted me on Monday or Tuesday telling me her mom wanted these for a conference she was speaking at in early February. I bought them on Net-a-porter a few months ago and waited too long to return them. But of course, things always seem to work out in Redo My Shoe's world and I'm so happy they were finally claimed by a client. I was still working on AJ's Daffodile so I knew I had to squeeze this order in between that one and Kellie's Very Prive. And let me tell you, I nearly went blind strassing these. So much so that I might consider charging a fee for using Jet crystals. Against a black background, they're near impossible to see. Regardless, they're done and they look amazing. I forgot how much I love Jet crystals, because they give off just a hint of sparkle. I started these yesterday and they're on their way to Loren right now. I hope she loves them!

They're done!

2012-01-25T14:18:00.000-08:00

I was talking to my Crystal from Red Soles Reborn the other day and she mentioned how she thought I wasn't acting like myself lately. I told her everything was good, but still she insisted that something was on my mind. The Joey she knows in crazy enthusiastic, one that makes jokes, one that does impersonations, one that's generally cynical(with humor thrown in). What I failed to recognize while on the phone was that the Joey she's used to is the Joey that's always stressed out. When I was really swamped back in November and December, I wasn't myself. Fortunately, 2012 has started out smooth for me. I haven't have ten shoes to complete within a month's time, or three Daffodile waiting to be strassed, or even dissatisfied customers to deal with. This year's Joey has been taking it relatively easy. It's not the greatest for business, but it's the best thing for me. And when I'm happy, my clients are happy. Case in point; AJ's Daffodile. I received them on the 15th of October and STUPIDLY let other peoples' orders take precedence over hers. So you can imagine, I'm very disappointed in myself for having taken this long. Luckily, AJ wasn't impatient at all. Never once did she send me a frantic email asking what's taking so long, and I really appreciate that. She is a client I like, because she understands that this is a process. Think of it as putting yourself on a waiting list for something special. Those waiting lists sometimes take three months, so if you don't need it anytime soon, why fret? The point is, they're done and off to her. I'm not a huge fan of Siam crystal, but a Daffodile makes any color look great.

Paid: $1,690

And I have to share Florrie, an artist that got me through this project:

They've been done!

2012-01-20T17:26:00.000-08:00

I actually finished these Bana last week, but I was waiting on larger 30ss stones from Dreamtime Creations to apply to the button portion. This project was an absolute breeze, though. Ashley sent these to me having already painted over the multiclor miniglitter. She actually considered selling the pair because she never wore them, but after telling her glitter can indeed be painted and strassed over, she was all in. And I was so excited, because she chose Heliotrope crystals, which is my second favorite Swarovski stone. (Side note: I will be strassing a *drumroll* Daffodile in Heliotrope(are you dying yet?)) But anyway, the Lumiere paint matched the stones perfectly, creating a flawless result. These are the types of commissions I like. Sometimes when the background doesn't complement the stone I mentally beat myself up the entire time, trying to convince myself it looks good. These turned out beautifully and the video doesn't do the shoes any justice!

Update: Fastissima & Clichy.

2012-01-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

I'm dying over these Fastissima's progress right now. I just only wish they were a larger size!

My Australian client Zahra's Clichy came in straight from the seller. They are the most gorgeous shade of opalescent baby blue. I prefer it over the Pigalle, actually. This style doesn't get enough credit!

Four months later, they're done!

2012-01-07T23:51:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of the Simple 100mm pump, or frankly the 120mm version either. Although, it is comfortable(I say that having tried on the 120mm version). And with crystals, what it lacks in design it makes up for in wearability. This pair was a challenge in the beginning, though. Because it's such a 'simple' shoe, the possibilities were endless crystal-wise. I think Zahra wanted Volcano or something else that stood out(because she takes risks). She decided on Preciosa's Light Siam AB, which is similar to Swarovski's version but without the excessive blue coating that comes on all AB stones. She also opted to leave the background teal, which turned out to be a great decision. I wasn't sold on the color until I actually started strassing with it. One size of crystal I ordered turned out to be more green than blue, but it went perfectly with the lamninato base and played a huge role in tying all the colors together. I have one regret regarding this project; I didn't get them done before Christmas. The color scheme would have married perfectly with the seasonal attire. But there's no point in worrying about that seeing as they're done now, and well worth the wait I must say. I fell in love(surprisingly) with this stone so much that I've decided to use it on a pair of pink miniglitter Pigalle 120 I have. I cannot wait to see the finished project!

I especially love how the light captures and accentuates the facets of the crystals in this picture.

What would a RMS post be without a picture of one of my girls? Gabby's been down lately, on account of not being walked. However, she was able to get a 45 minute walk a half hour after this was taken.

These are the Pigalle 120 I mentioned above.

My top ten favorite commissions of 2011!

2012-01-05T16:56:00.000-08:00

It wasn't until a few months later that I actually fell in love with how I strassed Elle's Pigalle 120. I'm no huge Volcano crystal fan, but these are simply stunning. And although I no longer space my stones this close, I wouldn't change anything about how I transformed these. Well, maybe I would have used a different glue.

People near died over Angela's Daffodile transformation, and I jumped right on that bandwagon. After finishing them, I could not believe I had done so. I was in awe of my talent(not to sound like I'm gloating). I mean, from black leather to oceanic crystal; wow! And I became an instant Aquamarine AB crystal fanatic, too!

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a huge lover of Meridian Blue. However, on Yvonne's Very Prive the Lumiere paint I used absorbed so beautifully that I knew this commission would be a breeze. The results were nothing short of amazing. She actually had me send an extra bag of crystals to use on her wedding invitations as well. Matching shoes to your invite; how cute is that?!

I couldn't find a better picture of the original(which means I don't feel like Photoshopping at the moment), but Jennifer's shoes came to me completely untouched by a crystal. We went back and forth on crystal color, but ultimately decided on Jet crystals, which were a fantastic choice. I have to say I was quite proud of the strassing I did on the fishnet as well. These Tsar went from out-of-place, "Why is she wearing those to a cocktail party?'" shoes to fabulously elegant, "I will divorce my husband for those" showstoppers. I don't use the word fabulous EVER, but this outcome definitely warrants the use.

These Very Prive were fugly, let's be honest. For those of you that read my post about this pair(before Cheri claimed them), you saw that I had painted the fabric a pastel mauve color. Well, after Cheri chose Cobalt crystal, I was ecstatic. Cobalt is without a doubt my favorite stone, and this commission absolutely influenced me to do another shoe in this particular crystal. The blue is almost a violet in real life. It's a must!

After receiving these Petit Rat from Zahra(my favorite international client), we had no clue which stone to pick. I think we exhausted all the EFFECTS stones choices before narrowing it down to Vitrail Medium, a color I fell in love with after using them on a pair of Madame Claude in 2010. The shape of the shoe was rather difficult for me to envision crystals on, but like I posted about after completing these, I now can't picture any other stone on this pair. Vitrail Medium was made for Zahra's shoes. We were both happy with the end result, and that's always the best feeling.

Frankly, I didn't think Jacquelyn's Banana could be salvaged. The damage was so bad that I almost sent them back. I was of course apprehensive painting patent leather, but it turned out fantastically. The Aurum instantly added that luxe factor she was going for, and I think this was probably the best before/after of the year.

Janette sent me her Giuseppe Zanotti pumps and all I could think was, Damn these are high as hell! Aside from the fact that I didn't charge enough for this commission,

I finished Sunshine's Simple jump before heading to my aunt's house in Los Angeles, after which I got sick. Having all that time to reflect on Redo My Shoe while trying to kick the cold really made me appreciate the work I do. I watched the YouTube video I made for these and thought, Wow, I can't believe I did that. Needless to say, I was happy with how they turned out. And Sunshine was too, receiving these and an engagement ring this holiday!

These were my first Daffodile commission, and have become my most watched video on YouTube. Aside from how hard I worked on this project, in the process I solidified a great business relationship with my client Amber. My only regret, though, not taking enough pictures of the amazing outcome!

Reflection; Thank Yous; Resolutions for 2012; Seven Things You Don't Know About Me; Final Thoughts

2011-12-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

REFLECTION

'Wow' is the most fitting word I can use to describe all that's happened to me this year. It's truly been a completely crazy ride. There's so much to address, but I know I'll forget most of it. What stands out the most, though, is the fact that I've been a brat. I have been so ungrateful for what I have, and for the people that have helped me gain it. I have been called an ass, stupid, an idiot, a brat, immature, a fag, gay, a woman, rude, mean, cheap, you name it. I have badmouthed potential clients, spoken unfavorably about existing ones, whined about YouTube, complained about eBay, griped about my schedule, and have all around criticized every aspect of my life. I have been blind to the opportunity given to me. It's borderline disgusting of me to wallow in the trivialities of Redo My Shoe. I mean, how many other people can say they get to work from home, at their own pace, on their own schedule, and make money while they do it?

I always ask myself, Why Joey? Why did you just write that? Why did you say that? What are you trying to prove? I have realized that speaking my mind, saying exactly what I want, disclosing private dialogue, has gotten me absolutely nowhere. All it's done is give ammunition to those people that flat out don't like me. And I know you're out there. I have alienated and offended countless people this year. And sure some may like my no-bullshit bravado, but I assure you, it's a fragile facade. Of course words are easier to spout out when used over the medium of a keyboard, but that's no excuse. I can't tell you how easy it is to call out a client over my blog. If I had that same person on the phone, there's no chance in hell I would say what I write. I contradict myself constantly, as you probably all know. Acknowledging someone's shortcomings comes easy to me(I hate to say it), but when the microscope is turned on me, that's when I cringe. I for sure can dish it, but can I take it? Hell no I can't. Back a few months ago when TPFers were commenting about me, I have to admit, it really hurt my feelings. I am so sensitive to even the most innocent of criticisms that it bewilders me as to why I'm still compelled to insult others. That begs the question, then; Why do I do it?

In fifth grade, I was one of the most popular kids. When I was went on to 6th grade, I parted ways with all my best friends. I was scared, I was unattractive, I was low on confidence. Needless to say, I was pretty lonely in middle school. I was that funny kid that had plenty of 'class friends' but no real friends. Not once was I invited to a party. At lunch I sat with a group of kids, but didn't socialize. Lunch was actually the worst part of the day for me. I absolutely dreaded it every single day. During those years, no one really cared what I had to say. I considered myself to be pretty invisible. I thought, They're not going to find me interesting anyway so why even bother? Growing up not being in the popular group makes you feel like you have nothing to offer. Because you're not good-looking, or don't play sports, or resist drinking or doing drugs, makes you feel unworthy of attention. And now that I finally have it, honestly I don't know how to handle it.

Fast forward to 2011 and people come to me for advice. People want to know what I think; my opinion matters. Woman I've never even met are entrusting their possessions with me. I, for the first time in my life, am being praised by a whole subset of people. It's intriguing, to say the least; irritating, at the most. But on that same note, it's lethal. Having people come to you for guidance gives you a complex. Now that people care about what I think, I admit I abuse that power. I hate not being able to defend myself, though. Someone attacks me, I attack them. An eye for an eye, as it's commonly referred to. 2011 gave me plenty of these situations, in which I always came out looking like an asshole. But hey, I was asking for it. This year gave me a whole lot to think about, including the meaning of being professional. Is being professional really synonymous with kissing the customer's ass and bending over backwards to satisfy their every need? Is it pulling money out of your own pocket to make sure everything goes as planned? Is it sacrificing your schedule to make sure your client's runs smoothly, all without a "Thank You"? Or, does acting professional translate to being matter-of-fact, assertive, and adamant in your principles? Nine times out of ten I'd choose the latter. While it's not the most business-savvy method, really it's the only way that comes natural to me. Redo My Shoe brings out the authoritarian in me, which is odd because I'm naturally a soft-spoken person. If someone bumps into me at the grocery store, I say sorry. My natural disposition is to be a pushover. That's how I conducted myself for most of 2011, and people took advantage.

My plan for 2012 is to definitely be more patient, while still maintaining my honesty. Patience and kindness go hand in hand, in my opinion. And honesty is always the best policy. My inclination is to resort to snippy responses when given any sort of criticism, which has alienated a small portion of my followers. This usually occurs when people ask me questions where the answers are obvious, such as when people call me to ask how much it costs to strass a Daffodile. All I think is, Ok, the only place my phone number is available is the CONTACT tab, which is inches away from the PRICING tab. Really... I hate idiots, and I've made it known. Therefore, I've noticed the hype surrounding Redo My Shoe significantly decline since the beginning of this year, and I don't like that. I'm certainly not blind to the fact that people are using my competitors' services, even after contacting me. People don't like mean Joey; they like naive Joey. Some people want to hear, "You're fabulous. Your shoes are fabulous. Your life is fabulous. Sure I'll give you a discount!" But I don't like inauthentic Joey. I don't operate like that. I'm not too keen on being fake, which is sort of why I loathe the fashion industry. In fact, I hardly read the five WWDs that come to my door every week. I like being honest and I've established enough of a reputation to live up to that everyday. I find it so empowering to be able to say, "You know, I just don't think that shoe will look good with crystals." It makes no sense to turn down business, but at the same time I have both a reputation and an aesthetic to maintain. That's when the transition from Redo My Shoe to another strasser usually occurs. But at some point you just have to think, Take it or leave it.

I'm still adamant on the fact that I was the first one of my kind to do what I do, on a freelance basis. Sure people were strassing shoes, but not of the caliber I now do. I mean, we're talking $1,000 Louboutins! And I'm one person doing all of this. At the same time, though, I do realize it comes with its disadvantages. My behavior during 2011 on my blog has been pretty amateur, if one were to look at it from the public relations perspective. Insulting someone on a public domain is pretty low I'll admit. And I'm certainly guilty of doing that. However, I think what people love about Redo My Shoe is actually getting to see the whole process. A year ago we were used to seeing a strassed Louboutin come out every few months, with no indication as to how it was envisioned. This year, I've asked for advice, given tips(stupidly), displayed progress pictures, you name it. My personality was bound to come through, and it did in a big way. I know I've been rude this year, but I'm hoping for the sake of my reputation that 2012 will portray a toned-down Joey.

THANK YOUs

Christian Louboutin

- Yes, I bash Louboutin. Yes, I have bashed Louboutin in the past. And yes, I will bash Louboutin in the future. I am a critic just like every other consumer out there. However, if it wasn't for Louboutin's strassed creations, where would I be without that inspiration? While I remain adamant that my strassing far exceeds the brand's technique, I still eagerly await the unveiling of each collection every season.

Crystal Rieger of Red Soles Reborn

- Without a doubt Crystal and I have had a checkered past. She contacted me months ago about me strassing a pair of Pigalle 120 for her wedding. Months after that she became a very active member on The Purse Forum, absorbing all the information she could about strassing. Finally, she decided to try it on her own and realized she had a knack for it. Upon starting Red Soles Reborn in August I believe, I was absolutely livid. I basically thought, 'How could you?!' We had exchanged strassing-related ideas from the get-go, so I assumed she had stolen my tips and used it to create a business. That was not the case, rather it was from her own research and experimentation that she discovered she could make money at this. After our blow up a few months ago, things have actually been great. I called her one day pretending to be a prospective client and then surprised her by revealing my true identity. I think she was taken aback, but that conversation later went on to last 45 minutes. She is the one person I can turn to when I'm feeling down about Redo My Shoe because she knows what I'm going through. We swap horror stories, crack jokes, exchange tips, and in general really enjoy each other's perspective. I can confidently call her a 'good' friend, and I don't have many of those.

Elle

- I first had contact with Elle in early 2011. She inquired about me strassing her Samira suede Louboutins. From then until now we've had a rollercoaster of a friendship. There have been times when I wanted nothing to do with her, and her with me. I'm the type of person that really doesn't care about other people's problems. I only care about people's problems as they pertain to me, so obviously I find it difficult to make and then keep friends. With Elle, it's different. I've yet to meet anyone that I've been so enthralled over. Despite how much we've divulged about one another, she still remains a mystery to me. I never thought I could develop such a close friendship with someone over the internet, but this is real. I respect the adversity she's faced, and how far she's come. We haven't met yet, but we've had hour-long phone conversations before. Like I mentioned above, I don't consider many people true friends, but I do with Elle. She is someone I can see being lifelong friends with. Elle, 2012 is your year girl!

My Clients

- Where would I be without your support, both monetarily and spiritually. My family kept on saying, "You know, when this thing blows up..." to which I would always reply, "I don't know if it will." This was the mindset I had going into this, after losing hundreds in 2010. I honestly had no idea people would be so fascinated with the process and even enthralled with the outcome. I've come to truly embrace quality because of the standards I am now held to. I fully intend to make 2012 even better for you guys.

My Followers

- I recall one of my first blog posts including to the two people reading this. Now, I have people from all over the world reading my blog. Second to my clients, you're why I'm here. I notice that people enjoy my candor and love when I'm open about my life. Keep on doing what you're doing, and I'll return the favor.

My Haters

- Yes, I'm using the word hater. Because that's what you guys are; you hate on me. You're some the catty bitches on TPF, you're the illiterate morons on YouTube, and you're the snooty fools that pay full price. Sure, you've made me sink to my lowest, but you've also driven me to my highest. I am not in this business to please you. In fact, I can't please everyone. Not all of you will like what I have to say, but honestly, that's ok.

My Parents
- Ironically, what I feel is inhibiting me from expanding is the one thing that's helped me thrive. If it weren't for my parents' support, I'd probably be sweating in a suit working at Nordstrom. Before, I worked for my Dad up until May, when I then requested to be removed from payroll as I was making enough money to support myself. For the first time in my life, they haven't really had to worry about me. Not that I was ever a problem child, but every parent wonders how their child is going to sustain themself. I mean, no one wants a deadbeat living under their roof. They've tolerated me making a mess on the kitchen table, finding crystals in almost every room in the house, neglecting my household upkeep because I was working, and basically every other problem that comes with working from home. They are my biggest supporters when it comes to strangers, my Mom once telling my gastroenterologist that someone paid me $8,000 to strass a shoe, to which I replied, "No one's ever paid me that much to strass a shoe. What are you talking about?!" Regardless, she spreads the word because she knows I'm not too keen on doing it myself. And my Dad, I think he's just plain proud of me. Whenever he gets the chance he asks, "So any new orders?" I think he's pretty fascinated that people pay me what they do when I "dress like a homeless man" as says. Despite 2011 being a rocky year for my family, I know the success of Redo My Shoe has alleviated some of the stress we've all had to endure. If you guys read this, I love you!

APOLOGIES
Crystal Rieger of Red Soles Reborn
- After finding out Crystal started her own business, I was absolutely off-my-rocker livid, the kind where you're left utterly dumbfounded. On Redo My Shoe's Facebook I encouraged people to not use her service, claiming she stole all of my tips and basically mooched off my business model. This of course was wrong. Anyone starting a new business constantly seeks inspiration, and they use it to better their own business. It's irrational to think that Crystal started her own company solely based on my advice. I mean, cocky much Joey? She took the tools she learned and found out she was actually good at it. This wasn't a run-of-the-mill TPFer that thought just because she strassed her own shoes that she could suddenly charge for it; Crystal gained knowledge, knowledge that she channeled into a niche business. Like me, she does it all on her own, and with a three year old! How she manages to fulfill orders and still keep sane, I don't know. I feel so horrible for ever doing that to her, for publicly criticizing someone I now call a friend. While I'll always feel bittersweet about having her as my competition, above that I will never forget how wrong I was to accuse her. I only wish great things for her.

Nina of Sophie & Ava
- Before Crystal, there was Nina. Being the dumbass that I am, I also was flabergasted to discover her doing her own thing with crystals. How dumb was I to think that others wouldn't take advantage of such a lucrative market?! In July I blogged about how she stole my idea, had no creativity, blah, blah, blah; I was bitter I admit. I didn't(and still don't) like seeing others come into the game all prepared with a price chart, samples done, and the whole shihbang, because that's not how I started. Basically my sentiment was that I had to struggle to get where I was, and they just came into the game already knowing what and what not to do after observing my experience. Needless to say, I bashed Nina both publicly and privately. And all the while I felt so guilty for doing it. As far as I know Nina has never publicly defamed Redo My Shoe, and from reading her posts on TPF and from her blog I can tell she's a sweetheart. Case in point for why I feel like a complete asshole. This is a woman who knows the ups and downs of custom strassing like me, so why do I judge? Honestly, to make myself feel better. I'm a very jealous person, and I don't like to see others succeeding when I'm just as capable. In a nutshell, I saw her as a threat. However, everyone has their own style. I know she'll attract clients that I don't want and vise versa. Nina, if you're reading this please know that I'm sincerely from the bottom of my heart sorry for ever speaking negatively of you. I wish you a successful 2012.

Starr
- I've pretty much dug my own grave with Starr at this point, first canceling her Aquamarine AB Daffodile commission and then talking about it on my blog. Truthfully, I enjoyed Starr as a client. She was extremely sweet and respectable, and I think the whole thing escalated because it came at a time when I was swamped with orders. Every time I look at those shoes, I'm now reminded that I let someone down.

2012 RESOLUTIONS

My resolution like most of America's is to lose weight. Granted I am down about ten pounds since last year, I would still like to lose an additional fifteen. The biggest factor affecting my weight is Redo My Shoe. I have finally developed strassing schedule per pair. If all goes as planned, I can have a Daffodile done in five days. At most, I can do six pairs a month which translates to over 70 orders a year. I of course refuse to push myself to that limit because it leaves me with no social life whatsoever. But more importantly, it kills my exercise schedule. While I admit I'm not a fitness feen, I do like to take Saturday off every now and then to go on a hike. When I'm swamped with back-to-back orders, strong exercise is avoided because it tires me out. And when I'm tired out, I take a nap. Soon enough 8PM rolls around and I'm too lazy to start working. You can see it's kind of a vicious cycle. I'm trying to stick to a weight-lifting one day/abs the next type of schedule, because I'm sick of my gut. Gosh darn it I know I'm cute, but I just need this extra weight off!

Above that, though, I need to save(hoard) money in 2012. My plan for saving $10,000 in 2011 got sidetracked after loaning my brother $3,000, allotting another $3,000 for rent, paying a $1,400 veterinary bill, and purchasing too much inventory. I am so disappointed in that I wasn't able to control my spending this year. I'm thinking of branching off into styling for 2012/2013, but nothing's set yet. I was talking to my cousin today about the prospects San Diego has to offer, in both my personal life and my career. I foresee a move in my future to some place exciting. I feel what my life lacks most is excitement. If the majority of my savings are going towards any one cause in particular, it's real estate. New York is appealing to me more as I get older, but I still have my reservations; what with the cold winters and incessant taxis. But it is exciting; I'll give it that.

To contradict what I just wrote above, I'd like to allocate a portion of my funds for 2012 to animal-related causes. I'm playing around with different promotions I may offer that benefit animal welfare while also saving you money off your strassing order. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, my dogs are one of the few things that truly warm my heart. Nothing makes me happier than to see my girls after a long day, and I want to be able to share that love in whatever way I can with animals less fortunate.

In my first Seven Things You Don't Know About Me post I announced that October marked the one year anniversary of me coming out. Well, nothing's changed since then. I'm still single, and I'm still hating it. Or am I? I often wonder, if I were to suddenly meet someone incredible, would I be able to sacrifice my work schedule to be with him? My heart says yes, but my conscience says no. For so many gay men my age, it's all about sex. For me, as much of a romantic I claim NOT to be, it's those nights when I'm lying in bed alone that really get to me. I'm lazy and want things to happen organically, like meeting someone in Whole Foods while browsing the skincare aisle(God I'm a cliche). But it never happens like that unless you're in a romantic comedy where everyone is magically witty and never stumbles over their words. Not to mention everyone is well-off and yet they never work. Online dating is humbling(I've learned), and going to a bar and forcing myself to drink is not something I want to do. My problem is I know what I want, but I don't know what I want because I haven't experienced anything. That, and I'm just plain scared. Dating is nerve-racking, and especially risky if things progress. I hardly feel masculine as it is so how am I going to take charge in a relationship? I can't keep hoping some hot(and intelligent!) guy emails me one day about placing an order and we hit it off from there, because frankly that's delusional. My plan for 2012 is to have no plan. I'm pretty set on the It'll Happen When It Happens mentality. Have any of you guys had luck with that?

Lastly, I'd like to get back into sketching. I pretty much took a hiatus from drawing this year because I didn't feel inspired, ironically. I was around all these shoes and yet the inspiration was null and void. I have thousands of shoe sketches that I frequently refer back to for design ideas, but because the market is always changing, I need to stay on top of trends. I've limited my exposure down to Elle and Harper's Bazaar. Vogue sucks, W is too short, and anything beyond that is far too artsy. I do subscribe to Marie Claire, but that magazine doesn't know what it's trying to be.I'm not one for inspiration boards, so most ideas are in my head. Articulating them onto paper is where I run into a roadblock.

SEVEN THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME
1. I currently have two members of my immediate family living with cancer; one being my Mom, the other my half brother. He's recently gone blind, so the relationship between my parents and I has and will only become more distant as they'll need to allot even more time to taking care of him.
2. Through trying on Louboutins, I've learned that my left foot is at least a half size shorter. But above that, I've come to know just how uncomfortable Louboutins actually are.
3. I celebrated the birth of my niece last year, but now I'm unsure if I want kids. Redo My Shoe has made me more impatient than ever before, and I don't know if I possess the mental stamina to deal with children.
4. I've spent $1,200 on a Daffodile, but I hesitated before buying a $50 Urban Outfitters cardigan. I definitely prioritize my money for Redo, opting for threads from JCrew, Old Navy, and Macy's to save money.
5. I consider myself to be very intuitive, but I seldom have the patience for other peoples' problems. I've come to learn that it's a form of narcissism.
6. I either like songs that I can move to or ones that evoke a melancholy feeling. The top three songs on my iTunes are Your Love by Keane, Misread by Kings of Convenience, and Buy My love by Wynter Gordon.
7. I only explain Redo My Shoe to people unless asked to do so. I hate to admit it, but when I say, "I put crystals on shoes" it seems less than aspiring.

FINAL THOUGHTS
People that live by the motto No Regrets are seriously kidding themselves. It's a crock, in my opinion. Everyone makes regrets. Everyone wishes they could take back something they said, something they did or didn't do. I view regrets as mistakes. Mistakes are flubs that we learn from. These fumbles in judgement prepare us for the future. I cannot tell you how many purchases I wish I never made, how many words I wish I had never written, and most importantly, how much time could have been spent more productively. I can't change the past, though. If 2011 has taught me anything, it's to look at every obstacle as an opportunity to grow. As a 22 year-old, I still don't know the person I am, or the man I want to become. This period is a difficult time for anyone my age. I'm not nearly as smart as I wish I was, or as confident. But these are all things that come from challenging myself, which is something I need to do more of. On the contrary, Redo My Shoe has taught me that you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You are entirely responsible for the decisions you make, and the subsequent effects that choice has on your life. Don't let anyone dictate your life. Do what makes you happy, and if someone gets offended, know that you can't please everyone. I'm so excited to start the new year fresh. I hope all of you stick around for 2012. Have a safe holiday!

* I will be editing this post as new thoughts come.

They're done...well, they've been done!

2011-12-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

They're done!

2011-12-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

And I must save, they're A-mazing. I have to admit, though, I haven't been a fan of Volcano for the past few months. It seems like everyone goes crazy over this stone in particular, but the reality is, it only looks good on certain styles. On regular four inch pumps like the Decollete or Ron Ron, I just don't like it. On the Fifi and Sexy, I love it. In this situation, it was used right. I chose not to strass the ankle strap because it would be more prone to crystal loss. I also left the peeptoe black to tie in with the black strap. The results are absolutely stunning and I cannot wait for Janette to see them.

They're done!

2011-12-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

Phew! I'm so glad Desiree's Daffodile are done and out of my sight, in a good way. With international shipping, there's always a lingering What If? in regards to them being delivered. I started strassing these on Friday night, so I'm pretty happy with myself right now. With Christmas 11 days away, I think I shipped these within a reasonable timeframe, right? Regardless, the finished product as a whole is nothing short of stunning. Would I use these crystals again? Probably not, because I'm not crazy about the muted hue. But for those of you girls that want that sparkle without the flashiness of a color, this for sure is your go-to stone. What do you guys think?

My Christmas List for 2011.

2011-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

I seldom request anything special for Christmas. The most memorable gift I can recall receiving as a boy was a Barbie Dream House(yes, I was that gay), and as a teenager a cell phone. But the latter happened when I was a freshman in high school. Since then, I think every Christmas has been riddled with Why did you get me this? gifts. I don't think I've ever gotten socks, but hey at least I can use those. I hate clutter(albeit my bedroom is currently a strassing catastrophe, or castrasstophe?), so whenever I get something I don't want I think, Great, more shit to put into the house. That's why I dislike white elephant games. While they're always fun, I'm always the person to end up with THE WORST gift. Two years ago, I ended up with the gag gift I bough to give to someone else, and being me you know I kept the receipt and returned that shit! God, I am cracking myself up right now. Anyway, this year I'm asking for things I really need. All are integral to my daily life, and oddly enough all somehow relate to Redo My Shoe. I know I'll forget a few.

- High-quality electric razor: For those times when Redo My Shoe requires I become a temporary recluse, I need a great shaver to power through the discomfort that is my beard. I look good with a little scruff, but it causes ingrown hairs after a week.

- Steam mop: I have three dogs as you all know, and although I sweep the floors often I cannot stand seeing watermarks or smudges of grease on the hardwood. A clean house is a clean mind, I always say(no I don't).

- iTunes giftcard: Strassing is tedious, in case you haven't noticed. When I'm having four-hour strassing sessions, if I've exhausted the new Howard Stern YouTube videos for the day, Plan B is always iTunes.

- eBay giftcard: I'm an eBay kind of girl, or guy, wait what? Pat? Whenever I'm searching for something to buy, I always go to eBay first, where you'll come across some of the dumbest people on earth, second to YouTube.

- Weight-lifting bench with bar: Redo My Shoe has he hunched over like Quasimoto, or Quasihomo as I call it(I need to trademark that). As you know, being slouched over for extended periods of time all day everyday day reaps havoc on your abdominal and pectoral muscles. And honey, I'm gay so I have to look good. I am not a gym type of person at all, so if I have a cushioned bench for lifting weights on and doing crunches up against, I'll be the bell of the ball come next summer. It's about time, too, because I'm sick of being a fat bitch.

I've already ruined the sanctity of Christmas by giving my two brothers and my Mom their presents. But here's my logic: what's the point of wasting wrapping paper when you already know what you're getting? Christmas used to be so...magical, dare I say it. Now, it's just a bummer. I love Christmas-time, don't get me wrong. I'm dying to experience the Christmas season in New York one year. But, I hate Christmas day. It's so uneventful and repetitious. The specialness is over, and all there is to look forward to is New Years Eve, a celebration where I've never actually celebrated like you're expected to. I told my client yesterday that every time I see the trailer for New Years Eve I think, Awwwww. Not the, 'Awww how sweet', rather the 'Awww shucks'. It looks so exciting and grand, nothing compared to the dullness that is San Diego. But hey, I don't drink so even if I did alcoholically celebrate with family it wouldn't be as the authentic Joey. I hope you guys enjoyed this post. Stayed tuned for my Year in Review one I'll probably be writing on the 31st.

Update: Jorge & Janette.

2011-12-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a f**king catastrophe. Jorge's Alfani loafers turned out beautifully don't you think? Well, when I went to go pick up the remaining payment he presented the shoes to me in all their first-time-worn glory. As a disclaimer(why do I have to issue so many of these?), it wasn't my fault nor was Jorge to blame either. When it comes down to it, it was the shoe that was(and always is) the variable. Where the shoe creased(about midway from the toe to the top where it meets your foot), the crystals were dangling off the shoe, securely fastened to a clear sheet of glue. This was not due to shoddy strassing at all, but simply occurred because the leather didn't absorb the glue. So basically, the glue and crystals floated over the surface of the shoe. I have used this glue on patent, calfskin leather, and suede, all with great results. In the past after letting the glue dry overnight, I've had to struggle to remove one because the glue I use is impact-resistant. When you pull on it, it bounces back(That's what she said...not the right time?). Anyway, there must have been some sort of sealant on the leather to protect it from surface scratches. After all, it was pretty sturdy material(similar to faux) and not the same pliable leather you'd see on a high-end shoe. Needless to say, I was ABSOLUTELY MORTIFIED. I have never been more embarrassed about any one commission than this one. Luckily, Jorge was totally cool about it. If I had shipped these out and this had happened, without a doubt I would have gotten a scathing email from a client. Those are always the worst, soul-crushers I tell you. Dissatisfied customers are pretty discouraging, I'll admit. It makes you think, 'Why am I doing this? Is all this hard work even worth it?" But because Jorge's event isn't until the 18th, it gives me time to rework his shoe. The only downside is that I'm basically subjecting myself to another commission on top of the overdue orders I already have. In addition, I essentially wasted hundreds of dollars in Jet hematite crystals on that order. I can enlist the help of my younger brother to separate the stones from the glue, but I assure you it'll cost me. Below is the progress I've made so far on his loafers. I went the spiked route to ensure that nothing would be lost this time around. I also started adding silver Comet Argent Light crystals on there to create a Potpourri look. I don't have time to completely strass the whole top, so I placed the stones sporadically to create a galaxy-esque effect(which I'm loving by the way). I'll also be adding clear Crystal, Jet Hematite, and maybe some Jet crystals in there for a custom look. If all goes well, I may just use this pattern on my own shoes.

I made a huge mistake on Janette's commission; I didn't charge enough. With the amount of shoe I have to strass, it's basically comparable to strassing a Lady Peep. I believe I only charged her $100 extra from the $700 strassing rate because the heel on these is 6". Oh well, though. You live and you learn. Here is the progress I've made on her Giuseppe Zanotti so far. I've completed my least favorite parts so far(aside from the heel), so the rest of the shoe should be a breeze. I have to admit, though, I'm getting burnt out on Volcano. It's a hard color to match, paint-wise. I hope Janette loves them regardless.

They're done...finally!

2011-12-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

Wow, as I sit here typing this post I can't help but feel happy that I'm finally done with this commission. Amber sent me these shoes MONTHS ago, and they just kept getting pushed to the backburner. I finally pulled it together enough to say, 'Joey, finish this f**king project. You've already made her wait long enough!' The great thing about this transaction was that Amber didn't bug me about when her shoes were going to be done. In the past I've had clients contact me a week after sending their shoes asking, "So how are they looking?" All the while I'm thinking, 'Do you not read my blog? Do you not realize I have five other orders before yours?!' But I realize we live in an instant gratification society, so the longer people have to wait the more disinterested they become in the project. That, or they assumed I spent the whole time meticulously placing each stone perfectly(which is why it must have taken so long). Now while I do take great care in how I place my stones, if I have your shoes for an extended period of time it's ONLY because I have other orders before. Anyway, I'm thinking Amber won't be either of the two. She has been nothing short of respectful towards my time and effort throughout this whole matter. And despite the Simple not being my favorite shoe to strass, with clear Crystal it looks stunning.

They're done!

2011-12-01T13:20:00.000-08:00

They're done!

2011-11-30T10:53:00.000-08:00

These Ambertina belong to the now infamous Starr from the previous two posts. Starr and I aren't feuding, FYI. Like I mentioned before, it was just a difference of opinion. I felt the easiest way to resolve it was through a refund. Who knows, maybe she'll buy them when they're finished. But anyway, back to this post. As you can see, these shoes had already began their strassing transformation courtesy of Starr. I thought it would be easy just to finish where she left off. Unfortunately, I was mistaken. Any precision artist(because really, that's what I am) will tell you that it's incredibly difficult to continue a pattern that's not yours. It's the same with painting a wall with new paint over paint that's been there for a year. The two colors may be the same, but there are going to be a noticeable differences in appearance. First off, I don't know why Louboutin thought placing a purple/magenta stone over a multicolor miniglitter base would look good. The two don't even complement each other. And no foul to Starr either, because she just wanted to recreate the look. But honestly, I think the Louboutin brand is lazy when it comes to the details. From far away, of course no one will notice the clashing of the two hues. But up close, it's so distinguishable, even bothersome. I offered to remove the current stones and start fresh with a new coat of Lumiere(which had to be custom-blended multiple times to achieve a coordinating color). Starr was apprehensive, but agreed after I reassured her that it would only enhance the color of the Volcano crystals in the end. For those of you that have miniglitter Louboutins you want to redo, that material can be painted. The paint goes on easy, if not easier, than if I were applying it to leather. After all was said and done, I began strassing Monday afternoon, finished one entire shoe that night, and completed the other shoe Tuesday morning. In all, it was a three to four hour job, which Starr paid $320 for. I think the results speak for themselves. What do you guys think?

If the time permits, my Spring 2012 lineup:

2011-11-29T18:24:00.000-08:00

Wow, look at the collection I've accumulated. I must say, I'm proud of myself. Almost all these shoes are new, with the exceptions being the Pigalle 120 and the pink Very Prive. I realized buying brand new pairs was similar to ordering off the website. The excitement of opening up the box, trying on the shoe, and knowing that pair are truly yours is the experience I want to give to my clients. And even better, your pair will be one of a kind with Redo My Shoe. Now, for a breakdown of what I have:

Pigalle 120 spike

I have the crystals, but don't have the time. My friend Crystal is urging me to take a few days off each week to work on my outside orders. I may just do that so I can finally finish this project. Too bad she already beat me to it.

Very Prive pink

I will be using the same Fuchsia AB Preciosa crystals I used on Zsofi's New Declic. I'm debating whether to use them as samples or actually sell them.

Lady Page

I'm up in the air about what to do with these because I want to create something completely outside of the box. Ladies, I know this style is relatively rare, so please don't give me any s**t about strassing them. I missed my opportunity the first time, so I'm taking it this time. Any suggestions?

Lady Peep

I'm torn between Sage crystals or Blue Zircon stones for this pair. I absolutely love both. The Sage will work great year round, but the Blue Zircon will be best for summer. Hmmm...

Lady Peep Sling

This project is going to be difficult. I really hate strassing slingbacks, but the deal on these was too good to pass up. I'm considering keeping the shoes as is and strassing each portion with coordinating stones, but I don't like mixing matte stones like Jet with clear stones like Light Siam. Painting is definitely a possibility, but only for the uppers and platform portions.

Paola

Obviously Jet is the best choice, but it's a tad boring don't you think? Maybe Black Diamond or Amethyst.

Daffodile purple

Heliotrope has already been assigned to these Daffodile, and I'm beyond excited!

Daffodile navy

These can be any color of the rainbow, but I'm thinking Amethyst, Cobalt, an AB, or maybe something insane like Vitrail Medium.

Daffodile Aqua AB

Can't wait to finish these!

Very Prive black

These can also be painted any color. I'm envisioning a blue.

Not pictured

A black kidkin Daffodile

A black calfskin Banana

Update: My Aquamarine AB DAFFODILE.

2011-11-28T22:53:00.000-08:00

Well there's a first for everything. In this case, I'm actually happy with the outcome. As you may or may not know, Starr contacted me in September and claimed these size 39 Daffodile I was offering for strassing. She was paying in installments, so the whole transaction was relatively stress-free. However, things took a 180 yesterday. As a full disclaimer, my method of doing business has changed since the beginning of last year. I evolve month by month, improving in both productivity and technique. With these changes there will always be someone that's dissatisfied. Starr is unfortunately one of those people. She is a really sweet person, don't get me wrong. I actually like her. We just don't agree on aesthetics. Starr wasn't happy with how her Daffodile were looking compared to Angela's Daffodile I completed in August. On Angela's Daffodile, I spaced the stones closer together. On Starr's, I spaced them slightly farther apart. I mean, we're talking fractions of a millimeter difference between the placement on both pairs. I personally love them spaced farther apart, mind you. Anyway, her and I went back and forth on what to do. Seeing as she wasn't happy with the progress I had made, I offered her a refund. Starr declined, but said I could have more time if I wanted. I of course knew she would like them once she saw them in person, but I was getting a negative vibe off the whole dialogue. And if you've read my blog for the past year, you know that I have a relatively short fuse. I was not about to bust my ass working until 1AM for three days straight to complete a pair of shoes that the owner already expressed dislike over. I don't like being taken advantage of like that. Redo My Shoe is grueling yes, but it's only worth the blood, sweat, and tears(speaking figuratively of course) if the client is happy in the end. I sensed Starr would not be happy, so I went ahead and refunded her the money. The Daffodile were purchased by me, so no money was lost on her part. Needless to say, the Daffodile are mine now. I cannot tell you what a stress-reliever this has been for me. In the future, if a client and I disagree over the vision we each have for the shoe I have no problem sending the shoe back. Redo My Shoe is thriving because people like what I do. If my clients hated my work, where would I be now? I love my work, my repeat clients love my work, YouTubers love my work, so many people love what I do. In my opinion I took the road less traveled on this one. But honestly, what would the high road have looked like? What was I supposed to do, remove the crystals and start over? I know many of you will think what I did was unprofessional, but it's for the best. I'd much rather have someone buy them completely strassed and love them than have someone commission them and just like them. Take a look at the pictures I've included below; in your opinion does the spacing really detract from the overall look?

Update: Starr's Aquamarine AB DAFFODILE

2011-11-27T00:25:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I've been working non-stop lately. If I take any time off, they're only half-days to simply unwind and give my eyes, back, and neck a rest. With this added workload comes added stress, and lots of painstaking responsibility. I was watching The Devil Wears Prada this evening(which is my favorite movie) and there was that scene where Nigel says something along the lines of one knows they're doing well at work when they're relationships start to fall apart. I never could grasp the true gravity of that statement until now, when even attending a three-hour family lunch seems like time lost. Yesterday was basically a family day for me, and I truly enjoyed the time I was able to spend with them. But at the same time, I lost a complete day of work.

Today I expressed to my friend Crystal of Red Soles Reborn(whom I refer clients to when I can't accommodate their rush-order) that I was singing the blues over a multitude of issues going on in my life right now. Issues weighing so heavily on me that two nights ago I turned on the OWN channel and started crying. As cliche as it is to admit as a gay man, I cried watching the Oprah show. Yes, I have that much built up emotion inside me. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good cry. You know, some cries are really stress-relieving and others just temporarily suppress your pain. Well, mine was the latter. I did have tears running down my face, though. Why am I telling you this? Oh screw it, I've already crossed the boundary between this being a professional blog as opposed to a personal blog. Think of this as my life's blog.

But anyway, back to the purpose of this post. Starr called in September I believe and claimed these size 39 Daffodile I was offering for sale. I had to keep on postponing their completion because I became overwhelmed with rush-orders. I almost kept putting it off because I already knew what the end result would look like having strassed Angela's Daffodile in August. But now I've finally hunkered down and started strassing them for a December 3rd deadline. This is how far I've gotten since last night. Granted I could have achieved more progress than this, but I've already strassed my least favorite parts so the rest should be a breeze. You'll notice that the crystals are spaced farther apart than how I use to strass a couple months go. One: it makes the organic pattern of the placement more visible; and two: it translates to less crystals used and therefore less strassing for me. In the end, you're still getting more bang for your buck than Louboutin's $6,400(which ladies, you're fools for paying). Unfortunately I have another Daffodile due right after this one.This shoe will be the death of me.

On a side note, here's a picture of Luisa's Crystal AB Very Prive that I'm just now receiving pictures of. The lighting wasn't too good on this one, so I cropped, lightened, and saturated it. Expect more fantabulous pictures in the very near future.

They're done x 2!

2011-11-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, when Zahra first shipped me her Petit Rat shoes, I really didn't think any crystal could salvage the ballerina-styling of the shoe. The toe is square and the trim is crossgrain, almost making them look like a flat with a heel attached. We went back and forth on color; reds, ABs, blues, EFFECTS stones, you name it. Zahra(because she takes risks) finally decided on Vitrail Medium, and I am so thrilled that she did. The outcome is absolutely, positively, extraordinarily stunning. In my opinion only this stone can complement the shaping of this shoe. I'm sure other stones would have looked nice once fully strassed, but this crystal and the way it changes colors just accentuates the pair so well. And I'm loving the crossgrain trim; that's what tied it all together. I haven't used Vitrail Medium since last November, so it's nice to come back to an old favorite. Zahra, thank you for being such an amazing client and reigniting my passion for this job.

Now on a more sour note, this Maggie commission I do not like. Granted I finished it in less than 24 hours, but I can't put my seal of approval on it. First off, I love the Maggie as is; the metal grate on the toe is very unique and the fact that this pair is a 160mm makes me love them even more. But to get down to the nitty gritty, this shoe had a serious flaw with the toe. The cage protrudes a good 1/4" beyond the actual toe of the shoe, so I wasn't able to put crystals between every grate like I thought I'd be able to. In addition, the grate isn't flushed with the base of the shoe. This is clearly a testament to lazy work performed by whoever was assembling this shoe at the Louboutin workroom. That basically killed my enthisiasm for this pair, well that and I had to strass straight suede. When I don't 100% believe in a project, I find it extremely difficult to finish. Luckily, these are done and I don't have to worry about them anymore.

They're done!

2011-11-22T22:54:00.000-08:00

I haven't been myself lately, the Redo My Shoe you all used to love. Every post seems to be entitled, 'They're done!' because that's all I've had time to do recently; work. These back-to-back commissions are draining my enthusiasm for this business. A few months ago, getting my first Daffodile project was a dream. Now, I almost dread them because they're so much work. A couple months ago, having two orders at the same time was exciting. Now, my Dad asks me everyday, "Any new orders?" because he's seen how much Redo My Shoe has evolved. A couple months ago, I took up to two weeks to finish a shoe. Now, I can have a Daffodile commission done in three days(which I hate doing to myself). Luckily this past commission wasn't too much work. And I loved the way they turned out, which comes few and far between nowadays. Cari's flats started out as those fugly(and I mean fugly) gold laminato leather with the graffiti accents. Seriously Christian, how did you possibly give the OK on that hideous design? Anyway, Cari was smart and had me paint them black in preparation for the Jet Hematite crystals. To tell you the truth, I can only take Jet Hematite in small doses now. It's a gorgeous stone, don't get me wrong. But it's a tad boring. I really love it on sneakers and flats because it gives that added pop to otherwise plain shoes. They did just that with Cari's flats. I definitely plan to use this stone on more of my sneakers in the future.

They're done!

2011-11-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Again, here's another project I am so relieved to be done with. These Daffodile belong to Loren Ridinger, Senior Vice President of Market America. Loren's daughter Amber had already commissioned four pairs from me, and after seeing her daughter's Redo My Shoe transformations she decided she wanted one for herself. Both Amber and Loren are very special clients to me for a variety of reason. The first being that they're wealthy and can easily afford the $6,400. They know luxury when they see it. For them to use my service says so much about one: how much they trust me; and two: that my quality meets their standards. Aside from that, Loren is an amazingly talented jewelry designer, and Amber an aspiring stylist and overall fashionista. They know people, including the hottest, who's who of the entertainment industry. For me, this is surreal because I'm just a small town girl with big city dreams. LOL but really, I'm not the Hollywood type. As I sit here with bedhead, wearing basketball shorts, and with a greasy complexion, the mere thought of even meeting someone I've seen in magazines is both terrifying and exciting. To think that Redo My Shoe could open those kind of doors(possibly leading to design work) is a dream superseding any aspiration I ever could have had for myself. I look forward to strassing many more of the Ridingers' shoes, and who knows, maybe you'll see one of my creations on a celebrity in the very near future.

Back to Loren's shoes; they were originally black patent leather, a material relatively new this season on the Daffodile. I started by strassing about two inches of these and thought, F**k this. The patent leather was, and still is, so difficult to strass as is because of its high sheen. Coupled with the clear glue I use, my eyes were seriously killing me. I decided to paint them the darkest shade of midnight blue and let me tell you, the patent held the paint well. Despite this, the dark stone against the dark surface was very hard on my eyes. But now, after three days, they're done and have been shipped. I had to haul ass through this commission as Loren plans to wear them for her birthday. I absolutely love how they turned out, and this stone will literally go with every outfit. When I see shoes like this strassed in colors I love, I get a little bummed that I won't be the one wearing them. All you girls are so lucky to have these options, footwear-wise, to choose from. If I was a girl, best believe my shoe collection would be INSANE. But enough with the wishful thinking.

I have one thing to point out about this transaction. To all of you that plan to send me a Daffodile in the future, please do not rush-order it unless you absolutely have to. They take up so much of my time, especially when they're under deadline. I literally can't go anywhere without thinking I should be back at home working. My back is aching right now because I've been slumped over for three days. Now, this is not to say that I won't strass a Daffodile that's under deadline. Don't get me wrong there. The underlying point I'm trying to make is don't rush a Daffodile that's using a dark stone. Dark stones are a pain in the ass to strass with on dark surfaces. The darker the stone, the more I have to strain. The more I have to strain, the more I have to slouch. How unglamorous, right? Seeing as I live life in the fab lane, I want orders that inspire me and influence others. A fast commission is one that excites me. To be honest with you all, I don't look forward to strassing the same style shoe with a stone I've used before. (If I get a request for another Aurum crystal Daffodile, I may just turn it down, or at least suggest a different stone). As you know, I'm all about color and women that want to take that risk. Where are you ladies? I'm craving the ones that want a pink Daffodile, a yellow Pigalle, a Tiffany blue Lady Peep. Even if you're a guy, take the plunge with your sneakers, or even heels. I know you're out there, don't lie. I still take extreme pride in seeing all my orders transformed, but God damn it gets boring have to work with the same stone. My stance is if you're going to be spending this kind of money on a shoe, have me create one no one has. Why am I complaining? Maybe I'm looking too far into the future. I know you trendsetters are out there. Contact me when you're ready to blow my mind! ;-)

Seven more things you didn't know about me...

2011-11-11T21:22:00.000-08:00

Hi guys. Here are seven more tidbits about me that I thought would be fun to share.

1. I read the nutrition panel of almost every non-produce item I buy.
2. I disliked Lady Gaga when she first emerged; now I have about ten of her songs.
3. When people associate acting 'ghetto' as simply being 'black', that's offensive to me.
4. A major country I could go without visiting would be China.
5. Two of my three dogs sleep on my bed every single night.
6. As someone who charges hundreds, I think designer shoes are overpriced.
7. If I were a woman, my one wish would be to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

They're done!

2011-11-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

Phew! I'm so so glad to be done with Zsofi's New Declic. But let me be honest with you, this commission was an absolute pain in my ass(and not in the good way). Just playing with you all. Or am I? I am. Anyway, what I mean is that Zsofi contacted me a few months ago about strassing her New Declic. In a nutshell, she took a few months to pay for them(in installments) and along the way they got pushed to the backburner. She initially wanted them done by November 7th, but there was no chance in hell that that was happening. Not because I was being lazy, but because I had five other orders to fulfill. On a side note, everyone should understand that I'm not taking my sweet time with these commissions. Once I finish one order, I start on another. While I may have taken it easy through August and September, since October I've been working my ass off and have completed ten pairs. But back to Zsofi's pair, which were then given a November 15th deadline. I started them on November 8th and finished the pair by 12:55AM on November 9th. They were shipped this morning using Express Mail and I'm praying she receives them in time. Am I pleased with them? Not really, but in the end it's about Zsofi. I'm sorry to all the lovers of this style shoe, but the New Declic is the Declic's ugly stepsister. Along with the Yokamia, the Simple 120, and the Helmut, the New Declic has been added to the list of Louboutin styles I will absolutely not strass again.

In case you haven't seen, sneak peeks for Christian Louboutin 2012!

2011-11-08T14:55:00.000-08:00

I really don't like either of these wedges. The first one mixes too many different textures, in my opinion. If the raffia portions had been patent or satin, and the leopard wedge satin, then I'd like it. Also, the angled strap where the snap closure is bothers me. As for the second wedge, I appreciate the styling of the upper, but it just doesn't mesh well with the cork. Cork I find is being used way too frequently with Louboutin on styles that don't complement it. I hate to say it, but both shoes look like Steve Madden knock-offs.

The first shoe is great. Although I would have done something interesting with the leather strips, perhaps a single row of tiny crystals on each one. The second stiletto isn't working for me. I love love love the strassed/spike toe, but it doesn't complement the aqua python. Again, too many textures being used.

I'm not feeling either of these styles because they're too limiting to what type of clothing you can wear them with. I'm all for beadwork, but these two were not executed gracefully.

Love both of these shoes, but why choose neon yellow? A true yellow would have been much better. And PVC I love love love. Also, how the hell do you walk in these without sliding out each time you walk?

Love the Lady Peep, but these are just a mess.

It's funny how I could probably strass a shoe like the first one, list it for 1/3 the price, and it wouldn't sell. I guarantee these will be seen on celebrities, and I can see why as the green studs/spikes/crystals combination looks great on that heel. The Python I don't like, though.

Too many design elements going on with each shoe.

They're done!

2011-11-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

You all see the pictures I post showing completed pairs. I'm satisfied with almost each and every commission I receive and eventually complete. Some, though, I really dislike and can't wait to get out of my site. Either the shoe looks bad with crystals on it or I'm dissatisfied with the placement of crystals. Some shoes just aren't meant for crystals, and some stones colors look sloppy when strassed. This particular commission I really love. The Aurum crystals are brilliantly shiny, expensive-looking, and all around spectacular. Jacquelyn chose to have me to paint the new black heels and the black border gold as she wanted no reminder that these were ever black patent. I say she made an excellent choice. The BANANA is now one of my favorite styles, amongst the Daffodile, Lady Peep, Pigalle, and Very Prive.

They're done!

2011-11-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

They're done!

2011-11-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

They're done!

2011-10-31T17:08:00.000-07:00

They're done!

2011-10-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

Updates!

2011-10-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

Taking into consideration the amount of work I have left to do on these five pairs, I'm surprised I haven't had a nervous breakdown. I actually had a dream last night that my older brother had dumped three jars of different color crystals onto my bed, mixing all three and leaving me to sort through the mess. I, of course, was absolutely hysterical and even crying. To fathom sorting 30,000 crystals into three different piles makes my head hurt, more so my eyes. Thus, you now see, Redo My Shoe has consumed me. My younger brother now describes me as a recluse, but if I'm making money doing it so be it. As depressing as it is not having an exciting social life(and it is), the knowledge and life-lessons from I'm gaining from Redo My Shoe are worth the sacrifice. I had committed myself to hoarding at least $10,000 by the New Year and I still plan on keeping that promise. Which leads me to the purpose of this post; here is where part of that $10,000 comes from.

Update: Amber's BYE BYE.

2011-10-22T21:40:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons why I love my client Amber(other than her being a sweetheart) is that she has a very close connection with the Louboutin brand. Therefore, she has access to the latest styles released every few weeks. These BYE BYE 160mm are no exception. They are brand new to the E-commerce site and Amber sent me hers on Wednesday, which I so appreciate. That's trust right there if a client feels confident enough to send me a brand-spanking-new pair of shoes to have strassed. For this particular pair, the portions painted were originally a brown suede and in my opinion made the shoe relatively unattractive. Think of a shoe that literally goes with nothing, outift-wise. Well, maybe it went with khaki and beige. Regardless, with the new coat of paint(a custom mixture of three different pigments), I think they look absolutely amazing. We mutually decided to use Greige crystals, which is an excellent choice.

These size 35 FASTISSMA 120 are up for grabs!

2011-10-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

I purchased these Fastissima 120 to strass and sell under Redo My Shoe. I was thinking of doing something crazy with them, but I seriously have no time with the 20+ commissions I have. They are a size 35 and extremely hard to find at this point. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing them as is or commissioning them for strassing.

They're done!

2011-10-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

This project was quite difficult because I was using clear glue to apply black crystals over black satin. Needless to say, my eyes strained more than they ever have. But the outcome was worth it. Don't they look incredible!

Update: Jacquelyn's Aurum BANANA, Desiree's MADELINE and MCQUEEN

2011-10-17T22:35:00.000-07:00

Can you believe these used to be black patent?

These will be strassed with Jet crystals.

These will be strassed with Meridian Blue crystals.

Update: Starr, Cari, Desiree, and AJ.

2011-10-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Starr sent me her Ambertina with portions of the heel counter already strassed in Volcano crystals using four different sizes of Swarovski crystals. She tried to recreate Louboutin's retail version by placing the purplish stones over the multicolor miniglitter. At first I agreed to starting where she left off, but the more I examined her work the harder I thought it'd be to match the pattern she had already achieved. I contacted her asking if she'd be open to me pulling off the existing stones and starting fresh, for an extra fee of course. She reluctantly agreed, as she didn't know how well the paint I chose would match the existing satin. Lucky for me I was able to achieve a custom blend that matched close enough to where it both complemented the magenta satin and would enhance the color of the Volcano. I always suggest matching the background to the crystal(with a few exceptions) because it creates a more cohesive, polished look.

Cari sent me her gold grafitti flats to have strassed in Jet Hematite. I first painted one shoe petwer but it was just too light. Today I took the pair out and slapped on two coats of black paint. I'm thinking of doing another tomorrow just so I get a completely even strassing surface.

Desiree is turning out to be a favorite client of mine despite me having yet to complete a single pair of her shoes. She's sent five pairs within a month's time, with three of them due before Christmas. Her black suede Daffodile were delivered to me while I was in Chicago and I was so excited to open up the package when I got back yesterday evening. She considered Jet, Jet Hematite, or Black Diamond, but I of course suggested Black Diamond because I think it's the most interesting of the three. And there's the fact that I try and stay away from repeating the same crystal color on the same style shoe. I'm dreading the day someone wants a Jet Daffodile. I just think it's so boring. Jet Hematite is pretty, but after strassing Amber's Daffodile in that stone I can live without seeing that color for a few months. As you can tell, I also painted Desiree's pair with the same black paint as Cari's. My main goal was to create a smooth strassing surface, and that's exactly what I did.

AJ and I were in negotiations during my Chicago trip in regards to her Daffodile. She wanted something red, so I suggested either Siam or Light Siam. She opted for Siam crystals as I described it as a true red, which it is. They arrived this morning and I successfully turned them into killer red platforms by the time three o'clock rolled around. They're not due until January, but it's nice to get the painting out of the way.

Update: My Chicago Trip!

2011-10-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

Chicago is absolutely a gorgeous city, but I have to tell you, I'm so glad to be back. Being with my family for four days straight made me want to blow my brains out. With Redo My Shoe, I normally spend the weekdays by myself strassing and listening to my iPod. In Chicago, it was waiting for people to shower, waiting for them to get dressed, waiting, waiting, and more waiting. I will admit, though, I was a pain in the ass too. When I wasn't making everyone laugh, I was snapping back giving the family my normal Joey pissed-off attitude. It's because I was thinking, I really wish I were here by myself or with my boyfriend(not that I have one). Traveling to Chicago really made me long for independence, for a life that only revolved around me. I so appreciate these vacations my Dad treats us too, and I'm truly grateful that we're able to experience them, but it makes me realize that I need to grow up. When someone is paying for you and you're waiting for their guidance as to whether turn left or right, it makes you feel(at least it did for me) weak. Redo My shoe has enabled me to build my own identity as both an entrepreneur and a man with great character. It humbles me to acknowledge my strengths and recognize my weaknesses.

Which brings me to my next point. I finished strassing these Supra sneakers two days before leaving for Chicago. I of course was rough with them and it showed when I lost one crystal. I thought, Hey no big deal. Now that I have returned home, the total crystal loss is about ten to fifteen. I would be lying if I said I wasn't bothered by this fact. I had to walk around all day in Chicago looking down to see empty spots, knowing there was nothing I could do about it until I got home. The businessman in me told me to not even disclose this fact as it might resonate as shoddy work, but the blogger in me told me to share my own experience. I came to this conclusion: Yes crystals came off, but so what. We all buy expensive garments and high-priced accessories. If we get them dirty, we dry clean them. If the button comes loose on my polo shirt, I sew it back on. If the heel on your Louboutin breaks, you have your cobbler repair it. Maintenance is expected with any fashion item, whether cheap or expensive. When we see these actresses at the Oscars with long trains on their dresses do we really expect that the interior of the train isn't ridden with filth from the ground? From far away it looks great but up-close it's not as glamorous. But they still look gorgeous anyway, right? Despite me losing a few crystals, no onlooker was able to tell unless they examined them. When I looked at it from that perspective it didn't weigh on me as heavily. Although, I still debated with myself as to whether it was shoddy workmanship or inferior glue, but I realized it was just normal wear and tear that caused crystal loss. I now don't see a problem with regluing a lost stone after each use. Beauty must be maintained, which is why I always send my clients a pack of 100 replacement crystals. Think of it this way: On a normal pair of strassed heels, for every one crystal lost there are roughly 800 that stayed put. I'd say those figures are pretty good.

I finished my SUPRA sneakers!

2011-10-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Chicago, I might add. I am so excited to wear these through the airport, and am bringing business cards in the event someone asks where I got them. They're SO not what I'm used to wearing, but there's a first time for everything right? I've been so inspired by this project that I plan to purchase a few more sneakers(hopefully that aren't leather) to strass and wear. What do you guys think?

They're done!

2011-10-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Update: Ashley's Jet Hematite BIANCA

2011-10-08T01:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a post-1AM strassing session in awhile, so this one needs to be celebrated. I promised Ashley that I'd finish one of her BIANCA tonight, and I did. After strassing Sabrina's FIFI in two days I was completely wiped out. Oddly enough, though, my back wasn't sore. It was mainly my left eye that was fatigued. Regardless, I made a promise to a client and I kept it. All the while I've been on a teenage girl-esque iTunes shopping spree, buying songs from Wynter Gordon, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Ashlee Simpson, and Lindsay Lohan, to basically pass the time while I was hunched over strassing. I'm slowly growing younger and more immature, much like Benjamin Button. Except this Benjamin has a job! Corny joke, I know. It's late and I'm drowsy, so who knows if I will even make sense of what I'm writing now when I wake up tomorrow morning. Anyway, I just thought I'd share my progress with you all as whenever I go on a blogging hiatus my clients suspect the worse. As you can see, Cali doesn't seem to be phased by the gorgeousness that's before her(it is 1:30AM after all).

Some testimonials:

2011-10-08T00:27:00.000-07:00

Hi my love!

I got my shoes today and they are absolutely STUNNING!! I could not be happier with the outcome and I can't wait to wear them for the wedding! I'm seriously addicted and want all my shoes done now! The way they shine is incredible!!!

I just need to know which glue to use to replace the stones bc about 10 came off during shipment...

This will not be the last you hear from me...I plan on ordering another pair soon :)

Xo
Tara

I decided to include the part about crystals falling off because it's the nature of embellishment, especially with crystals that are simply glued on. That being said, the area I'm guessing they fell off of was probably on the left shoe around the border. I did tests with different glues on Tara's shoes, and evidently some didn't hold the crystals. Luckily for all my clients, I include bags of 100 or so extra crystals so they can be replaced with wear. We've become good friends during this whole process, so the fact that she didn't freak over missing crystals is something I greatly appreciate. And don't be fooled, because crystal loss happens with Louboutin's creations too.

Hi Joey!

I got my shoes back a day or so ago, they look amazing! Thank you so much they are beautiful.

I also got the crystals, thanks for them!! I am so in love, I especially love the way they change colour in the light. They are beautiful.

Thank you again.
Yvonne

Yvonne is from Australia, and she requested that I send her extra crystals to use for her wedding invitations. As far as I know, none fell off her Very Prive during shipment. And even if some did, she now has 500+ crystals to use as replacements.

Fun with PhotoShop: Daffodile Strass Edition(Part 3)

2011-10-07T13:07:00.000-07:00

Alexandrite

Black Diamond

Crystal Dorado

Fuchsia

Indian Pink

Indian Sapphire

Light Topaz

Crystal Metallic Blue

Ruby AB

Sage

Sapphire

Silver Shade

Sun

Tanzanite

Vitrail Medium

Light Amethyst

They're done!

2011-10-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

In two days, I might add. I worked my cute little ass off on Sabrina's FIFI, and it shows. They're definitely in my top five favorite commissions. My only issue: I don't get to wear them!

Update: Sabrina's FIFI.

2011-10-05T00:37:00.000-07:00

Update: Sabrina's Crystal AB Fifi.

2011-10-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

My friend will be wearing these to the Jean Paul Gaultier fashion show in Europe in a few weeks. Her flight for Paris was supposed to leave on the 15th, but somehow her agent scheduled it for the 10th. What this means for me is major strassing sessions, ones that will produce a finished product ready to ship this Friday the 7th. I'm so happy this is a relatively easy commission. If Sabrina wanted a Daffodile by the 10th I'd have to decline. It's just not possible. Well, it is but I'm not willing to jeopardize my entire schedule for someone else's glory. I'm not that dedicated. ;-)

Updates!

2011-10-04T00:14:00.000-07:00

My schedule is really getting out of hand right now. It seems like every week I'm receiving a new order, and I'm stressing out because I know I don't have enough time to get them done in the timeframe I want. it's getting to the point where 11:30PM is too early a bedtime for me, or I'm afraid to even take a two hour break to watch a movie on the couch. In my mind, despite what people say, I know everyone wants their shoes back in three weeks. I mean, I'm sure Louboutin would have it back to you within a month. Then again, they have God knows how many people working in the factory. I just need everyone to understand that there's only one of me, and twenty of you. I am doing my absolutely best to provide you with good customer service and an amazing strassing on top of that. Please bare with me.


I stupidly(workload-wise) agreed to Ashley's rush-order before I leave for Chicago on the 13th.

I've began strassing Ashley's Bianca Sling and I have to say, it's completely killing my eyes. I had this same problem when I was strassing the toecap of my Supra high-tops. Because the stone and the background are so close in color, I can barely tell where the placement ends and where the empty surface begins. It's really taking longer than I thought.

I finished Nkaepe's Helmut right on schedule, thankfully. She will be wearing them to her wedding this Fall.

I have to admit, I'm getting a bit burnt out on Silk. After Ashley's Pigalle 120, hopefully I won't be seeing it for awhile.

Here's what my storage closet looks like right now. The shoes on top are my own projects, which I haven't touched in weeks. I'm looking into getting storage units to install within this cabinet so I can maximize space and consolidate my supplies.

I'm really happy with how Jacquelyn's Banana turned out in gold. Remember, they used to be black patent. Ten or so coats later, they're gold and ready for Aurum crystals. She requested that I paint the outsole's edge as to disguise any trace of them ever being black. I think that was a wonderful suggestion!

The Louboutin boxes are slowly starting to take over!

I feel like I'm living in utter chaos at the moment. Before I leave for Chicago, I plan to do a total overhaul and organize everything. It's always nice to come home to a clean room.

Here's me, at 10:45PM, thinking I should still be working on those Bianca Sling. But I just don't have enough light right now. My eyes already drift as it is, so working in low-light conditions won't help one bit.

I'm so lucky to have my beautiful girl Cali here to keep me company when I'm sick of looking at crystals.

What I'm doing this holiday season...

2011-10-03T14:00:00.001-07:00

As those of you that follow my blog know, I am absolutely inundated with commissions right now. For that reason, I would like to take the time and give you all an updated schedule in case you are either considering ordering or currently have an order placed with Redo My Shoe.

For October completion:
Ashley's Bianca Sling
Sabrina's Fifi
Jennifer's Tsar
Cheri's Very Prive
Moe's Daffodile
Jacquelyn's Banana
Ashley's Pigalle

For November completion:
Starr's Daffodile & Ambertina
Amber's Simple
Zahra's Simple & Petit Rat
Cari's flats
Zsofi's Declic
Desiree's YSL, McQueen, and Louboutin

For December:
I will only be accepting 1.5 - 2 week rush orders for the month of December, which entail additional rush-order fees. The maximum deadline to have these orders placed is December 10th as I too am a human being and have holiday-related matters to attend to. Orders placed and paid for in November will be back to you around December 20th. To reiterate, no regular orders may be placed in December for pre-January deadlines. You may place an order in December, but it won't be ready until early to mid January. If you would like to have your pair of shoes strassed for your holiday or New Years parties, please email me at your earliest convenience. Thank you and please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions.

Pretty interesting video.

2011-10-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

38th, 39th, and 40th Commission of 2011 and other individual projects.

2011-09-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

Nkaepe's Helmut in Silk crystals.

Ashley's Pigalle 120 in Silk Crystals

Starr's Daffodile in Aquamarine AB crystals.

Available for strassing; Pigalle 120 in size 37.5.

I was going to hold out until my commissions died down to strass these in Crystal AB, but that's not happening any time soon. The four stones I recommend for this pair are Comet Argent Light($1,550 to be completed), Crystal($1,250 to be completed), Crystal AB($1,500 to be completed), or Moonlight($1,550 to be completed). The prices above reflect the strassing and the shoe together.

Available for strassing; Fastissima is size 35.

These Fastissima were recently bought but I don't have the time to strass them. The colors I recommend are Black Diamond($1, 840 to be completed), Jet(1,840 to be completed), Jet Hematite($2,040 to be completed), Sage, Tanzanite, or Vintage Rose(all $1,840 to be completed). Again, the prices above reflect painting, strassing, and the price I paid for the shoe.

Seven things you don't know about me, or seven things you don't care to know about me. Whatever, just read the damn thing!

2011-09-25T01:12:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite clients, Zahra, has inspired me to reveal seven things about myself that my followers might not know. I've decided to separate this into two parts; one for myself, and one for Redo My Shoe. I am pretty excited to start this, so much so that I've taken a break from strassing to fill it out.

1. October 8th, 2011 will mark the one year anniversary of me coming out. It's a decision I wish I had made before entering high school. If any of you are considering taking this huge step, do it now. It's an absolutely life-changing decision, in every sense of the word.

2. I live with my parents and my two brothers, which can get annoying. The prospect of moving out would only come to fruition if I didn't have pets. My animals enrich my life and I would only leave if they came with me.

3. Almost everything I eat is prepared by me, or by someone else under my supervision. Being that I'm a total foodie, I like to be in charge of all the cooking that takes place in my family's kitchen. Rarely am I satisfied when going out to restaurants, frequently proclaiming, "I can make this better."

4. My friends and family frequently expect me to be the court jester, which can be frustrating. When I'm not animated they ask me, "What's wrong?" I'm slowly learning that there's a time and a place for everything.

5. Three of my main high school friends now want nothing to do with me. If I could turn back time and change the way I acted, I would do so in a heart beat.

6. Despite it being such an immature mindset to live with, I do hold grudges. Whether trivial or substantial, for some reason I can't get over the fact that someone disrespected me.

7. I judge people before I get to know them. I'd say it's my biggest character flaw.

Redo My Shoe

1. The only thing better than getting a client's check in the mail is walking through the front door and having my dogs greet me as if I've been gone for three years. It's the highlight of my day, more so than getting three orders in one day.

2. It's a mistake we all do, but when I make a typo on my blog I feel incredibly stupid.

3. As much bad-mouthing as I do and have done on behalf of Redo My Shoe, when someone nonchalantly criticizes me or my business it hurts my feelings. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and the most innocent jab resonates with me.

4. I frequently use Redo My Shoe as an excuse to get out of doing things I don't want to do. It's probably the reason I'm at home on a Saturday night.

5. I have sent back work that I was not proud of in the slightest.

6. I question whether life is passing me by as Redo My Shoe remains a constant. Am I really accomplishing what I want to?

7. If I could choose any other profession(s), I would either be a Professional Dancer or a Guidance Counselor. Dancing is one of my greatest pleasures, and I have a soft spot for bullied children.

Net-a-porter's most strass-worthy shoes!

2011-09-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

I haven't done one of these in awhile, but seeing as I'm more of a night-owl strassed I decided to waste an hour putting this post together. These are all the shoes I think would look great strassed, and then some.

As extreme as these Charlotte Olympia wedges are, for some reason they're still boring to me. I suggest Aurum crystals on the gold strips or Jet crystals in between.

As I'll mentioned throughout this post, that platform is just begging t be strassed. Without jeopardizing the initial look of the shoe, I suggest Heliotrope.

Oddly I'm envisioning Black Diamond on these YSLs.

I believe Jimmy Choo already did this style in Purple Velvet crystals, so I'd say either Jet, Jet Hematite, or Dark Indigo.

Hmmmm....I think maybe Fuchsia crystals would go well ENOUGH with the current color. But I'm partial to painting any shoe that doesn't already correspond with a Swarovski stone. This shoe is no exception.

Dare I say it, this Jimmy Choo would look cool with spikes and studs!

Someone, please send these Volpi to me! I'm already picturing a Greige crystal heel, heel counter, and platform.

Aurum crystals, of course!

The only girl I know that wears loafers is my best friend Monica. I happen to love these Giambattista Valli shoes, and think they'd look great with the toecap strassed in Jet or the heel strassed in Comet Argent Light.

If you can't afford the Christian Louboutin Yolanda, these are the next best thing. A stone like Light Siam would look great.

For those of you less-daring fashionistas, these Jimmy Choo would look great with good ol' clear Crystal.

Don't have the budget for the Louboutin Bianca, pick up these Jimmy Choo instead and commission to strass them in any color you'd like.

After strassing Jennifer's Tsar, I'm gotten kind of a big head when it comes to embellishing fishnet/lace. I am now on the lookout for lace Louboutins. Anyway, these Valentino platforms would look stunning with clear Crystal, or maybe in combination with Silk.

While I admit I'm not a fan of these Charlotte Olympia Paloma, I think strassing them in any color but clear would bring them to the next level. If they were mine, either Light Siam, Emerald, Sage, or Light Rose.

These Miu Miu could be any color you like.

I really am obsessed with the shaping of the shoes. The material choices I could do without, but the overall concept is great. In fact, I want to try them on. Yes, I admit it; I WANT TO TRY THESE CAMILLA SKOVGAARD SHOES ON! Having them strassed is a whole other store. I don't think the platform could be embellished because it's rubber, therefore it might crease under pressure. But the vamp and heel counter could be done in Comet Argent Light.

I am OBSESSED with these Miu Miu shoes and would be happy to strass them in any color, with the exception of metallics.

Definitely Silver Shade on the heel and platform.

IN OTHER NEWS...

These Valentino pumps inspire me. I find the use of rectangular stones very interesting and I'm waiting until I find the right pair to use them on.

I'm loving this new color!

2011-09-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

I check Barneys' Christian Louboutin section at least three times a week. Why? I don't know, as I can't afford anything on there anyway. Today I stumbled upon these gorgeous Lady Peep in a burgundy/brown color and I'm in love. They will go great for Fall and look even better with a similar colored stone on them. Buy two, one as is and one to have strassed!

MOST SIZES AVAILABLE

While on Barneys.com I also stumbled across these Jet Nut Strassed Very Prive. Because there are only two sizes left, I'm thinking they're either a new, sold out style or a customer return. I haven't seen them anywhere until now. Thoughts?

My upcoming schedule.

2011-09-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

Due to the excessive amount of commissions I have at the moment, no rush-orders will be accepted for the month of October. Orders placed from this point on won't be ready until November. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

October
Tsar in Jet
Very Prive in Crystal
Very Prive in Cobalt
Helmut in Silk
Fifi in Crystal AB
Petit Rat in Vitrail Medium
Simple in Light Siam AB
Pigalle 120 in Silk
Daffodile in Aurum

November
Simple in Crystal
Lady Peep in Aurum
Daffodile in Aquamarine AB
Declic in Fuchsia AB

My Own Projects
Fastissima in Black Diamond(35)
Pigalle 120 in Heliotrope(37)
Pigalle 120 in Crystal AB(37.5)
Pigalle 120 in Comet Argent Light w/ Spikes(37.5)
Daffodile in Jet AB(37.5)
Pigalle 120 in Heliotrope(39)
Hyper Prive in Heliotrope(39.5)
Very Prive in Fuchsia AB(40)

*From this moment on, orders not completed within six weeks will be refunded 10% as a courtesy.

They're done...finally!

2011-09-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

I informed all of my followers about this commission on July 14th, which is over two months ago. I didn't anticipate rush-ordering Angela's Daffodile, Amber's Daffodile and Lady Peep, Ruby's Very Prive, or Katie's Lady Peep and thus Yvonne's Very Prive got lost in the shuffle. I felt so horrible about having them so long that I offered to refund her 10%. Seeing as her wedding is next year, Yvonne said it wasn't necessarily but inquired about me sending her extra crystals instead. I happily agreed as she'll be using them for her wedding invitations. I haven't really been a fan of Meridian Blue but after using them on these shoes I'm sold.

Update: Jennifer's Tsar.

2011-09-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

They're done!

2011-09-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

Katie paid $1,025 to have Redo My Shoe strass her Lady Peep Sling with clear Crystal.

Update: Elle's video testimonial!

2011-09-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

Update: Madison Avenue.

2011-09-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

A client of mine is nice enough to forward me the updates Madison Avenue sends her every time they get in new inventory. Here are the latest strass additions available in store, which are also on the website.

LADY PEEP STRASS 150 SUEDE BURMA LIGHT PEACH $3,995

LADY PEEP STRASS 150 SUEDE BURMA SAPHIR $3,995

DAFFODILE STRASS 160 SUEDE BURMA LIGHT PEACH $5,995

DAFFODILE STRASS 160 SUEDE BURMA HEMATITE STRASS $5,995

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF THEM, SHOWN IN REAL LIFE?

In WHAT THE HELL news...

2011-09-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

I'm under the impression that these Daffodile were exclusively made for NYC's Fashion's Night Out. Sure, they look uniquely one-of-a-kind-, but God damn they're fugly. Can you say kids' craft time?

Update: Zsofi, Yvonne, and Katie.

2011-09-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

To reiterate, I WILL NOT STRASS SUEDE. I will only strass your suede shoe if I can dye it first. And seeing as I can mix together any of my 20 colors to create one unique shade, I might as well save myself the aggravation.

Stupidly, this is the first time I've ever taped a shoe before painting. I've recently started to get sloppy with my paint jobs, so I will be using this blue painter's tape from now on. Zsofi requested to have the red soles taped because she was debating whether to give them to her sister or keep them for herself. I don't think she's going to want to give them up once she sees the finished product.

Look how amazing the heels look; just imagine the whole shoe.

This project has sparked my interest in Meridian Blue again.

I actually think having just the heel strassed looks good, or maybe the heel and the platform. What I like about the Lady Peep is that you can strass different sections of it and still have the end result look amazing.

That narrow strip above the heel is my least favorite portion to strass, of any shoe. Frequently the crystals don't look right when squeezed into such a small area. But if you take the time to map out your pattern it'll end up looking pretty good.

10% certain Swarovski colors; ends in ONE week!

2011-09-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

I currently have an over-stock of Aquamarine AB, Crystal AB, Jet Hematite, and Silk crystals. Therefore, I am offering all my followers and clients a 10% discount on your total invoice. This promotion applies to any style shoe, even the Daffodile. But act fast as only one order will be applicable for each stone. I also have Crystal Metallic Light Gold crystals available, but I was too lazy to execute a Photoshop rendering.

*The Very Prive are only being used as examples.

37th Commission of 2011: Amber's Simple; Update: Zsofi's Declic.

2011-09-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Amber commissioned Redo My Shoe to strass her white satin Simple pumps in clear Crystal, for her November wedding.

I first have to paint Zsofi's Declic because there is no way in hell I'm strassing straight suede anymore. My very first pair of navy suede Declic took 40 hours to strass, and I have since learned my lesson.

Aren't these gorgeous?! We opted to go for Preciosa's Fuchsia AB because it incorporates more pink than the Swarovski version. I will also be using this stone on those pink Very Prive I recently painted. I can't wait!

What I did yesterday; 34th, 35th, and 36th Commission; Update: Zahra and Cheri; Misc.; and TPF-related...Yes, all of those in this one post!

2011-09-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Now I can see why my Dad hates me working in the kitchen. Luckily, he's out of town right now.

This table used to be used in the prep kitchen of my parents' former restaurant, San Diego Pasta.

If it wasn't for my iPhone I would've gone crazy. On shuffle last night: Michael Buble, Selena, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind, and Fire, just to name a few.

34th Commission of 2011: Katie's Lady Peep Sling.

Katie chose clear Crystal for her Lady Peep Sling, which she'll be wearing on her birthday!

35th Commission of 2011: Jacquelyn's Banana

Projects like this reignite my passion for Redo My Shoe. As you can see, Jacquelyn has literally worn her Banana to the bone and sought Redo My Shoe to liven up her shoes once again. We went back and forth on crystal color because she initially wanted to do a Crystal AB version. I was hesitant, though, because I feared my paint wouldn't hold against the patent leather of the shoe. However, after noticing how strong the bond was between the paint I use and the plastic bowls I deposit them in while painting, I realized that her shoes shouldn't be any different. After seeing pictures of my Daffodile, she was absolutely sold on using Aurum crystal. Last night, I painted roughly five coats of Metallic Gold paint and created a smooth strassing service for the crystals. I am so excited to see the outcome of this commission, and even more excited to gain Jacquelyn's confidence in ordering another pair..

Add caption

I cannot wait to see whatthe Leather Spa does with these.

I love the comparison here. I was able to clean the interior with a little bit of rubbing alcohol.

36th Commission of 2011: Mohamed's Daffodile.

Mohamed, too, was completely sold on recreating the Aurum Daffodile I did for Amber after seeing the pictures I posted on my blog. He is a stylist from the UK and commissioned this pair for his sister, who is also part of the UK fashion scene. And I questioned if it was really for him at first too, like all of you probably are doing right now. But the shoe is a 36.5; what guy has that small of feet?

Update: Zahra's Petit Rat & Simple.

Zahra is one of my favorite clients first and foremost because she is from Australia, which means she has complete faith in both buying from me and sending her shoes to me. Aside from that, her style is absolutely amazing and I follow her blog on a weekly basis. She is always mixing and matching great prints and vibrant colors, taking admirable fashion risks whenever she can. I'm so thrilled she decided to do something fun with both of her shoes, other than the typical Crystal or Crystal AB. For her Petit Rat, she chose Vitrail Medium crystals. All of them have arrived already, so it's just a matter of finding the time to start strassing.

There is a huge dent in Zahra's right shoe, which I'll somehow have to disguise.

Because Zahra's Simple was laminato leather, there were literally 100 different shades we could have gone with. She ordered both the Swarovski and Preciosa color chart(which I recommend) and decided on Preciosa's Light Siam AB. I don't feel the need to change the shoe's current color, so the teal of the Simple and the blue and red of the stones will really go nicely.

Aren't these gorgeous?!

Update: Cheri's Very Prive

I had to do a few coats of the blue paint on Cheri's Very Prive, and I stupidly didn't tape the interior in the process. I feel so horrible about getting paint on the inside lining that I took it upon myself to offer her a 10% refund. When paying me $1,000+, she should've received better quality work than this. I am better than this. Hoepfully when the crystals are on there it won't be as bothersome. That being said, they haven't been to the Leather Spa yet so it might come off. Who knows.

I have now dyed a whole rainbow of shoes.

Painting shoes seems to be the new thing to do with Redo My Shoe. If only I had offered this service six months ago!

This is what goes into almost each picture posted on my blog.

And this was me last night, surprisingly not tired.

The bad thing about working from home is that there's no incentive for me to maintain a clean-shaven appearance. Most times I let my beard grow until the point where it starts to itch. I need to stay on top of things!

To TPF members:

Jacquelyn(owner of the Lady Peep above) contacted me despite reading negative things about me on The Purse Forum. While I was slightly annoyed that there was still Redo My Shoe defamation present on that site, I do understand why. I am the first to admit, I have not behaved kindly since starting Redo My Shoe. In fact, I would say my biggest weakness is my lack of professionalism. I have willingly slandered people on my blog, publicly criticized the Christian Louboutin brand, and have been impatient with several people in my emails. I am the type of person to live in the moment, meaning I always put my foot in my mouth. I have never been the person that stops, breathes, and reacts rationally. I just hate being disrespected and not having the chance to defend myself. Having offended so many people along the way hasn't done a thing for Redo My Shoe but alienate potential clients and thwart enthusiastic followers. It's something I'm truly working on. I may have a quick tongue, but in all honesty I am not a mean person. I know this won't make up for the things I've said or the way I've acted, but I just want those of you that may have negative feelings about me to know that I am only human. I, too, make mistakes every single say. My regret jar is about to blow its lid off. But this doesn't mean I'm not going to change. I grow and mature every month. To say I'm the same person I was one year ago, even six months ago, would be false. The fact that I'm being paid to share my artistic abilities with other people is still mind-blowing to me. And I so appreciate clients like Jacquelyn that are open to giving me a chance at making them happy. Because really, your happiness is my number one goal.

They're done!

2011-09-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

I don't really like this picture because it doesn't show the true heel height or sparkle of the shoe, but it's the most professional-looking picture I managed to snap with my dogs around me.

Here's Cali giving me a smile.

Cali is the type of dog that if you say her name once, she'll come over to you and nuzzle her nose under your arm.

Here she is doing just that.

Gabby was standing by in case things got out of hand.

And Jessie was monitoring things from inside the house.

As you can see, I don't have a high-tech set-up. Redo My Shoe is an at-home business, which means my house and my dogs will make an appearance every now and then. In my opinion, the best shots of shoes are usually the un-staged ones. What I want my followers to take away from these type of pictures is that while I may not have the most professional method of snapping before/after pictures, the end result always looks amazing, You don't have to have a $4,000 camera to capture the true beauty of a shoe. You just have to have a good photo-editing program. ;-)

Update: Nala.

2011-09-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

As most of you that follow my blog know, Nala was taken away from us after three months of living at our house(and after one year of being in our lives). She went to go live with her first "owner" Kaelan two weeks ago, and I haven't seen her since. It's absolutely KILLING me.

Not a day goes by when I don't think about her. Every time I would get home, she would greet us(along with my three other dogs) with a smile and a wagging tail, sometimes with a toy in her mouth that she was always proud to show us. Coming home and seeing my dogs was and still is the highlight of my day. I am still hoping and praying that she is miraculously surrendered back to our household.

If anything positive came out of this, it was that it put my life into perspective and made me realize what's really important to me. I have never ever felt this torn about anything in my life(not even coming out of the closet), so now it's clear that animals are my true calling. Of course I still love shoes and helping all of you achieve your strassing dream, but helping animals is really where my heart lies. I'm so blessed that I'm fortunate enough to use my Redo My Shoe earnings for a greater good.

A Facebook comment inspired to give back, so I am going to come up with some sort of promotion where a percentage of my December earnings go into an animal-welfare charity. I remember being a freshman in high school and seeing an animal abuse video posted on Myspace that showed dogs and cats(destined for fur) stuffed into cages and being thrown off a ten foot truck. After watching ten seconds of that video, I was done. Can you imagine? Those ten seconds that changed my life. Later that night I took a shower and balled my eyes out for those animals. Other than this situation, I have never felt so helpless. I now want to make it my life's mission to help animals. So basically, if you wear fur I don't want you as a client.

Nala made my bed her go-to sleeping spot, so I couldn't resist taking this picture with her and Gabby's Very Prive.

While searching for this semester's parking pass, I looked underneath my bed and found the Frisbee that Nala chewed up. I threw the Frisbee for her every day until she eventually massacred it. We went through three of these

Last week I was vacuuming and came across the baseball I use to throw for Nala every single day after she went through thr Frisbee. It was very difficult. A part of me wants to hide all of these thing out of sight, but the other part doesn't want to forget about her.

Fun with PhotoShop: Pigalle 120 Strass edition(PART 2):

2011-09-01T13:36:00.000-07:00

Volcano

Fern Green

Black Diamond

Olivine

Tanzanite

Jet Hematite

Vitrail Medium

Meridian Blue

Emerald

What I've done today:

2011-08-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

I finished one of Cari's Pigalle today. I received them over six weeks ago, so I went ahead and refunded her 10% of her purchase because I felt horrible for making her wait so long. Hopefully she thinks the wait is well worth the outcome.

I figured I might as well snap a picture of myself as I was having one of those 'I look good today' sort of days.

Fun with PhotoShop: Very Prive strass edition...

2011-08-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

Silver Shade

Light Sapphire

Amethyst

Aquamarine AB

Ruby AB

Blue Zircon

Crystal Dorado

Fern Green

Indian Pink

Jet Hematite

Fuchsia

Sapphire

Fire Opal

What I've done today:

2011-08-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

These Very Prive have been staring at me forsix months now. Everytime I open my drawer they hiss at me for ignoring them for so long. I first started strassing them Crystal Metallic Light Gold crystals because I was stupidly under the impression that the shoe had to match the crystal. If only I had known that the shoe could be dyed back then; wouldn't have saved me a lot of time and money. Now all these months later I finally hunkered down and ripped the CMLG crystals off and painted them in a custom-blend of paint or red and pink paint to create a pearlescent Fuchsia color. You'll also notice that last week I painted one of these shoes a light pink, and it was just downright fugly in person. In fact, it wouldn't have matched any stone Swarovski or Preciosa made. I'm so much happier with this color and have decided on either a Fuchsia stone or an AB version of a pink stone. They are size 40, by the way.

They're done!

2011-08-27T09:45:00.000-07:00