Tuesday, July 31, 2012

IF THE SHOE FITS~~~

I just love vintage shoe molds! Many of you who follow my blog, know, my great grandfather designed shoes in Italy. When he came to this country with his large family, his wife, 4 girls and 2 boys, he carried many shoe molds to continue his work to support his crew. I am blessed to own several that my grandmother gave to me and I cherish them always for they represent the hard work and care my great grandfather sacrificed to support the ones he loved.

 Some of the molds he worked with are displayed in my home in their original form. I love seeing the knicks and dents, scratches and wear from years of use. I would never paint these from great grandpa, but I have painted and designed many. Small molds for Christmas tree ornaments and larger styles for desk accents holding pens and business cards. Even bookends work well with these old treasures.
My Dear friend Ann, from Ann's Finds and I, were talking about the molds while shopping in one of our favorite antique markets, when we saw a "high heel" shoe mold sitting on the checkout desk for customers to use, write with the pen and take a card. They are most unusual and hard to find today, but the one we saw was designed into a desk holder for pen and business cards. Of course we just loved it. I mentioned to Ann how much I would love to find the high heel shoe mold sometime to create something special for a desk accessory.

Anyway, long story short, Ann was at an estate sale and found not one, but two molds shaped in the high heel style. She got them both and brought them to me to style. Now the one we saw in the antique market, had a high heel glued on from a vintage high heel. So I began to shop the local thrift stores in search of a skinny high heel pair of shoes to design the two molds Ann found. I did come across a size 7 triple A slinky shoe with lots of bling and straps in black. I checked out the heel and could see this one could be taken apart to use and also I thought the bling from the shoe would be an extra bonus.
Did you notice the shape of the mold? Very rare and hard to find these today. Molds like this can never stand on their own without a heel or pedestal. This pic is the shoe I found. Perfectly chic!!
Now this is the best part. I brought the slinky shoes home and they fit the molds perfectly. I'm not kidding, I couldn't believe it. It was like the molds could have been used to design these shoes.So I did not have to remove the heel, but could use the whole shoe as is and embellish it for the desk accessory we both wanted.
This first one, I created for my desk using some extra gemstones, feathers and added my pen and business cards.
The next pictures are the mold for Ann with more bling, black feathers, leopard print ribbon, gemstone pen and blingy buttons.
This was so much fun and really looks great on the desk. My great grandpa would love it. I think, he may be the reason I love shoes so much. It's in the genes. LOL~~~
The following pics are a few more I've created and sold in my shoppe.
Thank you for stopping by to visit this past post as I join "Show and Tell" this week with Etsy Cottage Style.


Have a special summer day!
Celestina Marie

20 comments:

Jan Hermann said...

Celeste,

I just LOVE the shoe molds and what you did with them - they're gorgeous.

Jan ♥

1CardCreator said...

Those shoe molds are killer! You put them together so beautifully. Thanks for sharing.

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Celestina,
What a tender post about your great Grandfather and your heritage. I too would never touch the shoe molds that were his.
BUT.....the ones that you did embellish are to die for!! So very pretty, each and everyone of them that you have shared here in this post!!

You are so talented and I am sure your great grandfather is so very proud of you!!

Hugs,
Debbie

Mari said...

Hi celeste,
Well being a shoe loving gal myself, I totally love all the shoe molds you have created ;) toooooo pretty ;)

Smiles~
Mari

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh for goodness sake...that is cute. I have a few shoe molds, but my absolute favorite is my baby shoe ones....I think I paid $5.00 which is high for me when I garage sale, but I had never seen any before!

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home said...

I love what you have done with your molds, so creative!! Penny

Dorthe said...

Dear Celestina Marie,
What a beautiful post and story.
I loved to read about your great grandfather, and how you now own some beautiful molds from him. That must be fantastic,to hold in your hands and know how many times they were in his hands!
I love the ones you made yourself too, they are wonderful and the rose one, so sweet, --- the desk shoes made with the new bought slinky shoe looks gorgeous as card and pen holder.So very elegant!
I doo own 2 molds myself, and have hanged them in an old lovely ribbon, for decoration...no white paint eighter :-)
HUGS, Dorthe

Unknown said...

Hey sweet friend!
I guess we are kindred "shoe" girls too! I do not think I have run across any shoe forms...yours are so adorable..but i think i love your blingy high heel ones you repurposed!

Thanks for sharing your sweet family memories.
Be blessed,
Lorena

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Love those fancy shoes you used on your great grandfather's mold.
Love the painted ones too.

The Polka Dot Closet said...

What a cute project, I'm guessing grandpa was guiding you in the thrift store to the right shoes. I have never found a high heeled one...ever, lucky girl! And you blinged them up just perfect!!

Carol

Ingeborg van Zuiden said...

Hi Celestina Marie!!
I hope you are having fun creating and are feeling well. Here all is up and down. I love your gorgeous shoe mold, the one that you've painted?! Gorgeous! And I love your little story about finding and believing what you where wishing for. It's what happens to me all the time. It's 'the Secret' in practice....... what you focus on increases! Where the attention goes, there goes the energy! And see what you've wished for, and God brought it to you! Isn't that magical?! I have never ever see shoe molds here in a thriftstore, neither such pretty shoes LOL. Anyway, very very pretty all!
Have a great time creating Celeste!
Hugs and love from the Netherlands,
Ingeborg

Draffin Bears said...

Dear Celestina Marie,

I enjoyed reading about your Grandfather and the hard work and care that he put into his work, to support the loved ones. Such a lovely thing that you now have the shoe lasts.
I love the sweet handpainted roses on the darling shoes.
Hope you are having a lovely week

Hugs
Carolyn

lilybets said...

Hi Celestina, thanks very much for sharng with us the memory of your family,we are so far,but in the essence very close!

Unknown said...

Well, I never EVER thought about getting you that style of shoe mold & have passed up a few ... next time I'll pick them up for you. Love what you have created for Ann & yourself ... but still favor those gorgeous painted roses on the shoe molds.

That tray you did for me is over the moon gorgeous on the bed, Celeste. I'll post it soon. Everyone loves it ... my favorite piece thus far.

Have a beautiful eve ~
TTFN~
Hugs & love,
Marydon

Unknown said...

I cant get over how beautiful these are and how wonderfully you altered them! :)

Hugs,

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

What a lovely story and how wonderful that you have your G-Grandfather's shoe molds!
You paint the most gorgeous roses and I love how you have embellished them too. Have a beautiful day, sweet friend, and Happy August!

Blessings,
Sandi

ornamentsbypink said...

You are just so creative! I like the molds you made for your desk with the beautiful shoes, for calling cards and pens. You do beautiful work!
Mary

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Celestina Marie,

That was quite a find! Both ways, by your friend and for you to find the right fitting shoes! LOVE the way you did those. Very special. Great story and your Grandpa would be very proud indeed.
Love to you,
Mariette

BG said...

I've always loved your decorated shoe moulds and the history behind them. Your creativity with a brush and inovative approach to decorating is beautiful and very much admired.

It's always a pleasure to visit you.
Hugs,
Sandi

roseroomnz.com said...

I love hearing about your Grandfathers shoe moulds, I remember last time you posted about them and thinking what a lovely story and how precious! Your artistic shoe moulds are equally precious, from the sleek to the pretty! Rachael xo

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Celestina Marie
Celestina Marie

Welcome To Rose Garden Market from Celestina Marie Design. It is so nice to meet you. My name is Celestina Marie named after my grandmother and my friends call me Celeste.My creative journey extends over 30 years enjoying the love of painting and redesigning vintage and new treasures. I love to go treasure hunting and the fun of finding great vintage pieces to redesign..