Handmade Shoes for (big) Kids

The other day my oldest son and I stopped in to see Uncle Dave at the shop.  He took a short break to chat with us and then one thing led to another, and we walked out the door with the smallest pair of Aurora Shoes I've ever seen (Women's 5 C) walking under the happiest face I'd seen that day. 

And what did my little (big) boy do when I asked him to model these pristine shoes?  He did what little (big) boys do;  he climbed his favorite tree.  I almost said something about the scuffing, but I bit my tongue, partly because Dave and I wore our first pairs to do everything under the sun when we got them 20 or so years ago, and partly because that's what full grain leather is all about.  It can take a few scrapes and bruises and somehow come out looking better for the wear. 

Where are your Auroras taking YOU?

Boots

We've had a lot of questions about our boots and when they'll be available.  We had originally planned (hoped) for a fall 2013 release, but to be honest, we're not quite ready yet.  It's taken a lot of time and figuring to prototype, test, and manufacture a shoe that has the look, and more importantly, the comfort that we're going for.  We feel that we owe you, our loyal customers, a pair of boots that will be worth the hard earned money you spend on it.  We're still experimenting with stitch placement and other little details that might not seem like a big deal, but that can have a huge impact on how our boots feel and wear.

While we're not quite ready for your orders, we are currently working to fulfill a first offering order for our longest standing distributor in Japan.  Here are a few boot process shots from the shop yesterday afternoon.  Thanks for being such a good sport, Bill!

 

Next up:  

Happy Birthday, Dave!

For those who don't have the pleasure of knowing my brother, here are a few things you might like to learn about the Birthday Boy, leader of this company...

1.  He bought his first pair of Aurora Shoes when he was 13 and wore them everywhere.  In the lake, bailing hay, to church, for weddings, EVERYWHERE.   I think his toes actually busted out of the tips before he'd admit that his feet had grown enough to require a new pair. 


2.  He played rugby in college and made us all worry every weekend.  He made it out okay because he was fast!


3.  He's a really fun and hands-on dad and uncle.  The kids love to jump, snuggle and roll all over him.

 

4.  He's a pretty laid back and quiet guy.  In fact, this whole post might embarrass him a little, so I'll leave it there.

Happy birthday, David!

Farewell, Summer!

We miss you already.

Outstanding in our Field

Literally.

I stopped at the shop and talked Dave into a quick photo session in the south field.  The sun is shining, the wildflowers are blooming, and it's really starting to look like summer around here.   

When I think about home, and the summers that Dave and I (and our two sisters) spent together growing up, I think of wildflowers, hay barns and lots of time spent lazing around in the sunshine.  We're certainly not lazing around much anymore, and I haven't played in a hay barn in years, but the rest is exactly the same... standing in a field, less than a mile from our parents' home, soaking up the sun.  It's summer!

What about you - what sights or sounds remind you of summer?

Wedding Shoes

I have been holding on to this little gem of a postcard for at least a couple of years now, waiting for a good time to share it.  Today being the first day of June (wedding season?) I pulled it out and popped it into the scanner.  

I found the postcard at a local shop that carries local art and antiques.  The photographer, Jacci, was happy to give me a copy.  She took the photo in the mid 1990s.  That's Bill and MJ, who founded the Aurora Shoe Co. and are busy making shoes as I type. We are so lucky to have their expertise and knowledge around here. 

Happy June!  And have a great weekend!

p.s.  They do make good wedding shoes. 

Scenes from a Binns Family Christmas

Two of the five Binns family grandchildren celebrated their very first Christmas.  At 10 months, we're pretty sure that Amelia got more out of the day than Liam did.  Either way, adding two more kids to the mix has really added a huge amount of fun and love to our annual gathering.  

We work each year to simplify the family Christmas, and I think we finally hit a beautiful balance.  There were gifts, but the focus was really on reuniting family, loving our time together, and collaborating to create a really fabulous meal.  It was a wonderful day and a great end to a very full and exciting 2011.  

 

p.s.  I spent the entire holiday week with this in mind, and it helped me to focus on what was really important.  How do you find balance during this crazy/wonderful time of year?

Our New York

It's funny how when you're travelling and you tell someone that you're from New York they automatically assume that you mean New York City. Sure, there are A LOT of people in NYC, but there is also a lot of real estate north of the Tappan Zee Bridge.  We're a full 5 hours north of the City and it would take another 5 hours to reach the Canadian border, so we're truly smack dab in the middle of New York State. 

Our New York is small, rural and just the way we like it.  It's a place full of open fields, wooded lots, ample lake views and plenty of vineyards.  Our neighbors are the kinds of folks who share their surplus garden harvests and who bring our dogs home when they've been hanging around on their porches for too long.  It's a wonderful place to raise a family, to grow a business and to settle in. 

Thanks for visiting. 



p.s.  Read more about Dave and his sweet girls.

The Pitter Patter of Little Feet

No, we still don't produce shoes for kids (believe me, I'm pushing for them too).  But my little guy is managing to get around just fine without Aurora Shoes and I am loving watching his progress.  Here are a few from our "learning to walk" series for you baby lovers out there. 

All of that walking left us both needing a rest, so he played happily with sunglasses and I took a picture of my feet (totally normal). 

Thanks for indulging this proud mama - I just love hearing the pitter patter of those cute little baby feet!  My Auroras are spending a lot of time outside and at the local playground.  Where are your Aurora Shoes taking YOU?

p.s.  I just finished this entry to find a really lovely feature on our company here.  We love the support we get from our small and tightly knit community.  It's good to be in Aurora!