Most times, when I’m out of the shop for a while, I get back to Toronto and it’s like no time has passed. Even though the time away is always jam packed and feels like much longer than it is, normally I get back to work and it’s like I’ve just been away for a […]
It’s a cool and rainy London morning. I’m glad I have a nice cup of coffee next to me and no particular place to go – for the next couple hours, at least. I’m not shy to admit that there are certain things in life that I do very well and conversely, other things that […]
I love being on trains. It’s an amazingly civilized way to travel. I love sitting, looking out the window, watching the world pass. One of the perks of this gig is that every once in a while, a bit of travel is involved. I’ve been in Belgium this week, spending time with some amazing colleagues. […]
The creative process is like a drug. There is a high that naturally comes with bringing something into fruition that has never been done before. I find that there’s a total rush that comes when a project turns out better than you imagined. And a great feeling of anticipation when something you’ve invested so much […]
I’m occasionally asked why I called my company Jitterbug Boy. Anyone who’s a fan of early Tom Waits music will know that it’s the name of a song off Small Change. The reason I decided to use this moniker as my shoemaking alias is a bit more involved. It goes back 10 years ago, which […]
A couple weeks ago, a friend connected me with an online shoemaker’s forum. After spending so many years very much feeling on my own as a shoemaker (other than my fantastic crew and a few colleagues I’ve had the pleasure to work with over the years, of course…but that’s different), it’s been really fascinating and […]
I often get asked what I call myself, professionally speaking. I will usually call myself a shoemaker, which I don’t think is completely accurate (technically yes, I do make shoes for a living, but….). The job entails so much more. Shoe designer never sits right either, as often I am not the one to actually […]
Last week, the film and theatre worlds lost an incredibly talented and unique designer – Eiko Ishioka. I first became aware of Eiko when I was a teenager. I remember going to see Bram Stoker’s Dracula in the cinema. I thought the costumes were amazing – unlike anything I’d ever seen. Looking back, I think […]
It’s New Year’s Eve and – like the majority of folks out there – I’m spending a little time reflecting on the year that has passed. Thinking back, 2011 was a really good year. At the start of the year, my goal was to find a better work / life balance than I have achieved […]
I love fittings. It gets me out of the shop. I get to wear nice shoes. I get to put a face to Jitterbug Boy. Of all the shoes we make, I only get to fit maybe 2% of them in person, which is always a frustration, but is parr for the course when you’re […]