Let me start by saying: I didn’t expect to actually walk away in shoes I made with my own two hands. But I did. And not only did they survive the workshop, they’re still holding up under real-life walking, with actual feet in them. Mine. It’s wild.

A few weeks ago, I went on a bit of an adventure—one that involved fabric, stitching, embroidery, and more than a few moments of wondering what I’d got myself into. Proper, honest-to-goodness, artisan shoemaking.

But the result? Shoes. Real, wearable shoes that fit my feet and everything. Handmade by me.

What I loved most (besides the end result, of course) was the tactile joy of it all—the feel of the materials, the satisfaction of each step coming together, and the pride that snuck in around hour four when it started to look like I might actually pull this off.

Have a look at the photos and let me know what you think.