Interview with a Guest Artist: Stace Fulwiler Wood
When did you start with shoemaking? Who taught you?
I was 30 when I learned shoemaking. I learned through taking a sandal making workshop in San Francisco taught by Rachel Corry. After taking that workshop, I began making sandals obsessively and learned so much by trial and error. My sandal making hobby quickly turned into a sandal-making business, which morphed into a sandal-making workshop business that I ran for about 7 years while I was living in California. Now that I live in Vermont (I moved here 2 years ago) I’m exploring slipper making workshops, and it turns out I enjoy teaching slipper making even more than sandal making!
Where do you get your materials?
I order my shoemaking materials from Saderma, in Los Angeles. They are open to the public, and it’s an adventure to visit them in person. The different types of materials they carry is mind-boggling! I typically order my leather and sheepskin from The Napa Valley Hide House. When I’m selecting materials for sandal-making or slipper-making, I try to go by touch (when I can) because something that feels rough or stiff in your hand will certainly also feel rough or stiff on your feet.
What's your favorite project?
One of my favorite projects was for the Tatter BLUE library in Brooklyn. They had recently opened a retail store featuring artisan-made items made around the theme of indigo blue. I created a line of Cabin Slippers for them. I loved how harmonious the monochrome design turned out. It was interesting to create a design with the specific limitation - something I may not have otherwise dreamed up & created on my own!
Tell us about your favorite tool to use.
I recently bought a tool that is my new favorite. It’s a 2lb mallet made by Barry King, and it’s a work of art. It’s handle is made of laminated, cross-grain cut wood that is wood-turned into a beautiful ergonomic shape. The nylon head is secured on with a giant brass bolt, and it has made hand-punching my stitching holes so much easier! Banging out holes for stitching is one of my least favorite parts of leather working, so I knew it was important to invest in a tool that would minimize the fatigue and reverberation.
Any books that you'd recommend folks to check out?
For people who are interested in shoemaking or leather working, I highly recommend (if you can get your hands on them) the books Brendan’s Leather Book by Brendan Smith, and Jonathan Ervin’s Leather Notebook. Both are from the 70’s and while full of very useful information, they are written in a way that only a hippie living through that time would write!
Finish this sentence: If there were more hours in the day, I'd...
…take more road trips with my family. We’re new to Vermont, so I’m itching to explore all the beautiful and unique places in this state & surrounding areas. I'd also brush up on my skiing skills - now that we're in ski heaven here in Vermont, I want to re-learn so I can take full advantage of the slopes during the long winters.
