Registration Deposit: $250 (includes $25 reg fee)
Balance: $495 (includes TBD materials fee), due 4/10/25
Total cost of Workshop: $775
Dates: Monday, June 9th – Friday, June 13th, 2025 (9am-4pm)

This class allows students to create a boots with new techniques in a short time, with different type of décor. Students will learn how to make a heel box using technologically advanced materials in the production of shoes. The leather decoration on boots will be options for the students. They can choose from two different designs shibori or leather.

Learning outcomes

Within workshop, students will learn:

• • how to take measurements and build the template;
  • how to use this pattern for the production of various models of boots in the future;
  • how to make boots with laces or elastic or zipper and based on this knowledge, they will be able to make other models of shoes. Explanations on this will be given during the class;
  • how to create shibori decoration on the boots;
  • the process of tightening felt boots in the manufacture of shoes, a list of necessary tools;
  • how to make heel box and toe box using technologically advanced materials in the production of shoes;
  • how to create various models of felted boots based on one pattern;
  • master skills of classic shoemaker adapted to felted boots, thus creating felted orthopaedic shoes. This involves creating felted shoes with a good level of foot support, having inner soles and stiff shoe back (heel box)

Day 1. Measurements & template

• • taking measurements;
  • constructing template including wool shrinkage, making felted samples for shrinkage calculation to determine the thickness of the felt for boots in the making;
  • making a sketch

Day 2. Working with leather

• • prepare layout on a resist;
  • using counteracting resist;
  • wet the layout and start to felt on the resist by rolling

Day 3. Heels & inner soles

• • working on the boots shape, use shoe lasts to shape ankle boots. Correct all possible mistakes;
  • Work on the shibori decoration

Day 4. Soles & accessories

• • making a heel box;
  • installation of the inner soles;
  • Work on Siberian elements

Day 5. Soles

• • preparing the boots to put on the soles;
  • attaching soles to the shoe

*Note: the specifics of making felted boots is a complex process and requires a few days. Boots must be completely dry in order to continue working with accessories and to assemble all boots parts, sole, hill and insole

Instructor Bio
Natalya Brashovetska is a Ukrainian born feltmaker and designer who lives in Cyprus. She creates custom-designed cloths and footwear from handmade felt. Natalya also teaches both individually and in groups as a professional educator. Since her first workshop at Atelier Fiberfusing in 2014, she has started her path as a professional feltmaker. She began to experiment with new techniques and eventually chose to pursue a career as a felting designer and educator. Currently, when she is not teaching workshops, she spends the majority of her time improving and exploring felting potential, along with opportunities to merge techniques. It was felting that drove her to pursue a second higher degree as a designer. She graduated in 2022 with a refreshed set of knowledge and skills.