DIY Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats

Wouldn't you think that a kitty shoe collection would feature a kitten heel? No? Oh well. I think that would be hilarious. Also, kitten heels are my favorite ever. As any teacher knows, stylish super-high heels are the first to be sacrificed for the sake of actually being able to stand at the end of the day. Ergo, kitten heels, with their low-enough-to-be-comfortable, but heel-y-enough-to-not-be-stodgy, are a staple in my teacher wardrobe.

But, I digress. Charlotte Olympia's Kitty Flats are, well, flat, as are my inspired-bys. As I said before, my personal preference for cats on clothing (or shoes) tends toward cute, not realistic. So here is my take on kitty cat flats!

Walnut makes a reluctant display stand.

I think I was feeling slightly masochistic last night, because after my dinner when my husband settled down to do his econ homework, I decided that my fingers weren't sore enough and sat down to finish the other shoe. And gosh, I can totally feel it this morning! Anyway, if you're interested in making your own, here's what I did.

I began by sketching a cute cat on a post-it. Here is an approximation of my sketch, since that post-it has been thrown into the trash and had curry dumped on it (not because it was bad, but because I cleared the table for lunch, then ate my lunch and scraped the leftover bits into the trash).

I just mentally removed the forehead and cheeks and chin.

Then I used my white fabric pencil to sketch the face onto the front of the shoe. My design is a lot simpler than the original, so I didn't feel the need to do a pencil transfer. And face it, I rarely do pencil transfers regardless of the complexity of the design, mostly because I can't be bothered to draw a design twice. Anyway, it wouldn't really have mattered since the shoe is so plush it barely showed even when directly drawn on.

Dawww look at that smile! Oh, you can't see it? Yeah, me neither.

After that, it was simply a matter of stitching the faces on with my metallic gold Coats and Clark thread, doubled up, in my nondescript hand-sewing needle. I didn't have a thimble, so I ended up using leather scraps (gosh, those leather pants have been worth every penny!) to help push and pull the needle through the tough shoe material. If only I took up guitar in college when I had the time, my fingertips would be nicely callused by now! Actually, it wouldn't have mattered since they would be on the wrong hand. Anyway, here I am all crazy-azn-cat-ladied out!

Nyan!

 

I saved over $700, and I don't have to worry that my flats will creep up on me and stomp me to death in my sleep!

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