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Monday 21 April 2014

Saving some soles

"O my lost soles. Help. Heeelp. I'm laaanguishing. If I cannot breathe in soon the rejuuuvenating reek of living feet, feet warm and moist with vitality, I shall crack on this torturous rack, 'splayed as I am unmeeercifully under the glare of these abominable, energy-efficient fluorescent lights. Aaah." Such drama from beige boots in the used shoe department was sure to catch my attention. Rescue these boots I did.

I dared not photograph "Boots" in her Before state of neglect and naked beigeness, and I smile now with warm memories of how we did both quake under the fine points of my poised Sharpies yesterday, I with artistic trepidation, Boots with fear of a big freakin' mess made all the feck all over them: "You better feckin' know what the feck you're doing with those GD Sharpies, you freak." (!)

Wings with peace sign on the left; hairy ankles and feet on the right.
These boots cost $5 at Value Village's 50%-off sale, bwa-ha-ha, considering I'd seen a pair in an uber-cool downtown thrift shop for $50. It's hard to imagine a better canvas for farking around with footwear. Do the extended trompe l'oeil heels make me look taller? And the zips, ties, buttons? Why settle for one method of closure? Or opensure. These boots are giddy now with the rejuvenating reek of my feet and their new paint job. And so am I, at least about the paint job part.

When I wore these boots in their altered state for the first time this morning, I had several chats with people who stopped to remark on their "groovy"-ness, in particular, a group of women teachers who suggested I go to LA and sell these to the schtars (beh, they couldn't afford me) but I am very happy that they'll have their kids painting up their shoes in art classes this semester. Is it a coincidence that today was also the 4/20 cannabis celebration downtown attended by thousands? I avoided the event; clothing is the only thing I consume secondhand.

Below is my Easter bonnet, also purchased at the 50%-off sale for $6, vintage straw hat with fake flowers. I decided to spare it any embellishments with Sharpies. What an incredible piece. 


Wearing: all visible clothing is thrifted, except the tights and DIY fingerless knit gloves from Canadian Tire automotive store. That's my blue silk blouse worn as a skirt and a golden silky top from some la-tee-da brand, I forget which. You can see the skirt's under-sleeve in the first photo - oops. And another mega-giant magic loupe from O. 

For those of you with holidays, I hope you are kicking back with some marvellous solid foods (and semi-solids), delicious liquids, and enjoying comfortable furniture, intriguing reading matter or other visual matter, and zingy banter with other humans. Of course, I already know you look faaabulous.

I'm sticking these DIY boots up on Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style. 

50 comments:

  1. Hello Melanie,

    Well, we had absolutely no idea what a Sharpie was....but now we understand it to be a marker pen. Did ever a marker pen produce such works of art for the feet we ask ourselves?

    These boots are not just made for walking, they are made for being admired and causing astir wherever and whenever they are worn. They look fabulous......surely a fledgling cottage industry here?

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  2. You have taken those boots from something rather standard to utterly fantastic. I LOVE your art work. Xx

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  3. Hurray for Sharpies! What a truly amazing thing you have done with those boots, Melanie! You could dress any one in the world. People would flock to you not just because of your unbounded creativity, but also because you ooze cool. These boots have just made my day! Xoxo

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  4. Be still my beating heart! Those boots are the best thing ever! xxx

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  5. You need to work out an advertising deal with Sharpies...you are such a brand promoter! I'd bet they've never seen anything as cool as this.

    I had to study them for a while. Brillliant. Magical and fun! I could really see these as the basis for a children's book. How cool would that be?

    Truly these need to be part of your next art exhibit. Well I suppose that is you, on a daily basis walking around downtown Vancouver. All those lucky souls didn't even have to pay admission to see you!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. I agree - Your boots are - Amazingly Awesome !!!

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  6. Beige never, ever looked so good! You'll need to wear these everyday for a week, at least. And then put them on a pedestal in between times for all to admire. A brilliant bursting of artistic genius matched with smokin' style.

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  7. I'm swooning over these boots - every picture tell a story! You are such a talent. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday and stay fabulous. xox

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  8. Ah! Chère Mélanie you never disapoint i tell you
    Surprise, surprise, never know what to expect from you!
    How long did it take you to customized those boots?
    Superbes!
    I have the same exact Easter bonnet in green, what a piece indeed, mine has a brooch as well -
    Doing better, slow process, but doing progress - I test myself these days - Like, how long can i use my ipad, how far can i go for my daily walk, how do i feel afterwards, etc...but getting there my friend - Mr D is taking such good care of me, what an angel this guy!
    Did you get the parcel?

    Much love Mélanie

    Arianexo

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  9. I guess you proved your point (haha) to Boots. I hope they're suitably awed and humbled by your talent, because now those boots are AWESOME!!!! Easter hat madness, psychedelic egg colors, 4/20 boots, and tire store gloves - delightfully visible!

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  10. Ha, I love the "new" boots - so much fun, every detail a surprise! You're so creative! I love the mix of all these colours and your LOL (little old lady) hat!

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  11. OK. Move over Roz Chast because Mel-An-NIE!!!!!! I'm going bonkers over your boots! Bonkers I tell you!!!! All other shoes look naked to me now and it is getting quite pornographic in the shoe department. You are a True Artist. You have changed my perspective and I'm such a hard old nut, that is difficult to do! I cannot, I will not wear bare shoes ever again. And can we mention your outfit? Yes we can. Loverly. Fabulous hat. LOVE!!!

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  12. Oh, these boots are fantastic story tellers. I can picture people circling around you to find out what happens on the back side.

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  13. Here I am...at a loss for words...again. Your artistry always leaves me gaping, drooling over the computer. You also get the chipmunks in brain all revved up. At the moment they are on a mad tear up there...I can feel it, I can hear it! Thanks for always, no...ALWAYS...kicking up my creative musings! And to think that you've got a group of teachers hungering to pass on the fun to their students! A+!

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  14. They are the kick - and boots of awesomeness!!! LOVE!!!

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  15. What a wonderful idea, Mel - and of course you have the artistic skill to make the boots look really fabulous. I foresee a new career - boot design! You need to go and talk to Mr Fluevog about a joint venture... xxx

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  16. I'm stealing those shoes! I'm a size 9. Are they close to that? I'm stealing them. They are the best ever. Ever.

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  17. OMG...you have outdone yourself. Best boots ever!

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  18. Your boots are utterly insane! In the best possible way that is. Wow wow wow! You are such a multi-talent!

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  19. The boots are brilliant! Which proves that you can create a piece of art on any blank canvas. I am lusting after them, along with many others, I'm sure!

    I'm also admiring your Easter bonnet, which pairs perfectly with the boots. Along with the mischief in your eyes.

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  20. I am mesmerised by your amazing boots, and of course your talent! brilliant! x x x

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  21. Excellent boots! They are far too cool for the Los Angeles crowd.
    Hm...where are my sharpies? I'm inspired...

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  22. That's it, just when I think you have done it all, I know how foolish of me, you bust out with these BOOTS! I'd follow you home just because looking at you makes me forget everything else.
    XXOO

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  23. O, Happy Boots. Charmed and graphically blessed. The Transformation of the Last!
    I just love you, Mel. Bet thing I've seen all day, and I've been doing a lot of looking.
    Pretty cute skirt and top, etc. too!

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  24. Okay, just had to pop right back in, I love these so much. They deserve some kind of design award, or humanitarian award, perhaps. So happy to see these!

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  25. Oh I love your boots with so much love I could burst! I have been looking for some items to adorn in a similar way but have not yet found the right thing. I am seeking the right pair of white jeans in the thrift shop but I love love love the idea of doing boots. What a blast! You are so brilliant.

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  26. God I love the boots. Sharpies are the best and you have proven the fact here with this fun creation of fabulousness. When I first saw them I thought they were ceramic. They are best use of a recycled shoe I've seen. I've been doing drawings lately with the ultra fine tip markers and they do have such a satisfying quality. Seeing these shoes inspires my day!

    blue hue wonderland

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  27. No WONDER you forgot about the time the other night when you were working on these!! Talk about FANFuckingTASTIC footwear.
    Hot Damn woman, there is nothing that is not made better by being drawn upon by your fine self. I think Curtise has a good idea - you should design a Fluevog!

    Question - were the sharpies just the regular waterproof kind? I'm curious about the "staying power" of the marker on the smooth surface of the boots.

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  28. Suddenly I want to break out my sharpies and fine-line permanent pens... footwear will all seem so lack-lustre now that I've seen THE BOOTS. "Oh, have you seen the new Melanie Kobayashi boots? Vivienne Westwood actually fainted with delight when she saw them..."
    Brilliantly brilliant in every detail: the hairy ankles/the kitty/the eye/the laces/the zip. Zippetty doo daa. They are more than covetable. They are behind-glass, gallery exhibition boots.

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  29. Wow lady! You sure can draw. Very nice work.

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  30. Those shoes are what dreams are made of o_O O_o <3 Beautiful use of color in this outfit!

    - Anna

    www.melodicthriftychic.com

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  31. pretty nice blog, following :)

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  32. oh, my, gosh, LOVE the boots. amazing. hat is uberawesome too.

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  33. WOUUU, These Are The Best Boots Ever, love them and I also think they're groovy and cool and fabulously 70's psychedelic!, oh yes, you rock!
    besos & fabulousness

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  34. I think these boots are brilliant. You so saved them from their beige nakedness.
    I find them truly the artiest, funniest and best boots I have seen in ages. Well done.
    Greetje

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  35. Holy shit, Melanie!!!!! These are so crazy amazing, I CANNOT handle it! I will completely be stealing this idea!!!

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  36. I've thought of drawing on my shoes. With sharpies. Now I know I never will. Why? Because I'm going to commission you to do whatever you like to my shoes, carte blanche. I'll pay you a fortune.

    Your boots are brilliant and I want them too, like everyone else. But when you do mine, you have to promise NOONE will get a similar pair.

    Promise?

    XXXOOO

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  37. Hairy ankles rock as do you in your boots!
    bestest daisy j x

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  38. Oh my god those shoes! I LOVE them! You are talented!

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  39. Amazing. Most. Ever! I love the way they are one of a kind and saved a pair of boring old kicks and turned them into stellar creatures. You really deserve a Nobel Prize for Awesome. Serious.

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  40. Oh! Your boots are breathtakingly awesome. If I saw you walking by on the street I'd have to come up to you and gush about your entire outfit, too.

    I love seeing your artwork in your clothes. It reminds me a little of my friend in Brasil --she couldn't have a blank surface around her that she wasn't painting, sharpie-ing, or otherwise putting your distinct soul-print on.

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  41. friggin blumin hell! i just exploded with your awesomeness! Those boots are too much for this world! AMAZING GODDESS WITH FEET TO MATCH! X

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  42. I love them! They look absolutely and deliciously insane, just the way I like it!
    Love your creative projects, Melanie!

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  43. Gorgeous Mel, just letting you know SHINY T TUESDAY is up and running! I know you had a post ready to link so wanted to let you know! Love and hugs xxxxx

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  44. Love and want your boots
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  45. these boots are a work of art!!!

    http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.com/

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  46. Your Boots are Crazy Cool !

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