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I was in a cosignment store today and saw a pair.I fell in love with them,but didnt buy them yet.DUmb I know,LOL.They were original wood toned,not painted and had tiny etched design carved in them.I have always loved clogs as a little girl and wear them now.But these are REAL hand carved wooden shoes.You could see the lines of tiny tools used.And they fit,LOL.No I will not wear them but I am wanting to use them in my decor.I thought they would be an interesting talk topic.

I should've took a of a picture of them to post.Or go back tomorrow & bring them home.

I did a Google search and found no images.Does anyone here have any pictures?What do you think of my idea?Am I weird? Would you buy and use these in your home?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jackierenette,

If you like them and you don't have to rob a bank to buy them, go for it!!!! Even if you only use them as decor for Dutch holidays (Think Christmas -- St. Nicholas Day) and they're cheap enough and you like them . . . . I've seen them too and considered it -- but I didn't LOVE them -- just thought they were different and would be a neat item to have.

Martha

I don't have a photo, but I have been in a home that belongs to a woman who has a dutch husband. She has a warm homey kitchen with a huge professional range, and a big rustic table and chairs, and a shelf spilling over with beautiful wooden shoes. It is one of my favorite kitchens.

Martha,they was 20.00 and the lady said she'd go 15.00 on them.I kept walking around thinking but getting side tracked looking at the other stuff.LOL.I cant go in that store often.I get overwhemed easy.So much stuff and so many ideas running through my head.I had money to spend but I am looking for more special and unique decor items.My whole decor and life likes are growing.DH GrandMother was from Norway.She would talk about her parents and speak in her native language.It was beauitful to hear her talk.His family isnt into family history like I am.
Oh I can decorate them in so many ways.Make a small flower arrangement place inside,seasonal.Hang them as a wreath too.OK, I'm going back after them tomorrow.

Cocok,oh I would love to see their home.Too bad you dont have pics In this store she had cermic Dutch shoes,in another vender area.Blue and white colors.Beautiful,I like them but they didnt speak to my heart.I've gotten lately that I will wait on something.Not jump in 1st,missed a few great deals too.If I go back & it's there I will get the item.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jackierenette,

quote:

Originally posted by jackierenette:
Would you buy and use these in your home?

Definitely, in fact I did buy a pair when we were in Holland. They actually fit me altho aren't very comfortable, perhaps with heavy socks they might be. The ones I chose were plain wood, unfinished, and I later gave them a clear coat. I also bought some tiles I had framed and hung on the wall together with the shoes. I later sold the shoes in my yard sale as I began to downsize. Still think about them and wonder if I should have kept them but I can't keep everything.

Hope the shoes are still there when you go back for them.

My In-Laws are Dutch. They have always worn Wooden Shoes when in their backyard. The shoes sit at the Patio Door to the backyard. As soon as they go outside they slip them on. They wear them barefoot. Walk around in them and do their yard work in them. : )

I have a pair that my second DH bought when he went on a month long tour around Europe. I don't think I have a pic of them anywhere, but I put picture hangers on the heels and stuffed the shoe part with flowers and hung them on the wall.

Haven't seen them in a while and now I'm going to have to go on a hunt for them. I think I might have just the place to hang them again. Thanks for reminding me of them

Something else that would be cute with wooden shoes - and I saw this somewhere so it isn't my original idea - but at Christmas it is cute to place the pair on a shelf or table, and have one of the shoes fixed up like a little bed with a little stuffed mouse sleeping in it.

At that price, go for it!
I have a small pair that are in my sunroom. My DH is part Dutch and I have one angled on top of the other sitting with some birdhouses and silk florals.
You could make them into bookends, tuck ivy or some other silk floral in them, add them to a vignette of other knickknacks, put them in a bookshelf, hang them on a wall, use as doorstops....etc.

A vignette with silk tulips, the wooden shoes, maybe a small print of a windmill or Dutch children, and some Delft items could be arranged on a small table, in a corner, on a bookshelf, in a niche, etc.

Just a few thoughts,
Candy

Just go back and get them...You are always going to be thinking about them if you don't. They would even be cute tucked in a corner, or under a chair.

Here they are.I need to clean and lightly sand them up.I should of asked her if she'd take 10.00 for them.But I am happy anyway

If you can zoom up in the pic,you can see the tiny carved design lines.It looks like pencil lines but it's not.You can feel the lines.

Oh and I picked this gourd up.Kinda look slike a duck or chicken.I have an inspiration pic of 3 gourds painted like chickens.I would love to have this painted like that.I cant draw or paint.My artist skills look like I'm still in elementary school.LOL

Wrong pic up there.That is the inspiration pic.Here is my gourd and cantisters.Even if I leave the gourd plain and place it on top of my kitcken cabinets for a while I'll be happy.

Here is where I placed them for the time being.

Those are cute. I'm glad you went back and bought them. Now I want some!!

A1SB,I googled wooden shoes and painted gourds last night.Oh my I was drooling.SO many ideas.LOL.I want a few smaller gourds now.

You got the shoes! I especially love the shape of the toes. Love them!

I was hoping you would get the shoes!

I think they are neat looking and are great for decor. What I can't imagine is people actually wearing them...are they really comfortable?

Ok I will admit I put them on & walked around the house.LOL.I wear a size 6 1/2 & 7,these must be an 8.They felt comfortable...until you actally took a step.No flexability or movement in the arch or toes.So stiff and felt weird.LOL.I'll take my Crocks or plain old rubber yard clogs any day.

We live in the spring/summer in Mi not far from Holland Mi where they have an authentic week long festival spotlighting their Dutch heritage. There are many men and women who march in the parades and do dancing in their own wooden shoes. Their feet seem totally accustomed to these wooden shoes In some respects the wooden Dr Scholl clogs that were so prevalent in the late 60's and 70's must have had their roots in dutch wooden shoes.

mammaspoon you read my mind, lol...

So happy you got them! You know they are meant to be yours if you pass them by and can't stop thinking about them.
My grandfather came over on the boat from Holland. We treasure our wooden shoes and my son has them now. He loves putting them out for St Nick.

Mamaspoon,Thank you for the information.I love going to festivals.I would love to vacation at that time of the year.I cant wait for DH to retire so we can travel around the US going to different festivals.I could get use to these shoes.It sure was making alot of noise on the laminate floors.DH was saying what is that noise,LOL.
sjf,got any storys to add?I'm listening

JulieE,WOW I bet you have heard some beautiful stories from your DGF.I use to inpulse buy.But now I really think of how to use it and want some meaning behind it.I am sentimental,so chosing decor now means a lil' more to me now.

Thank you to all for encouraging me on.Now to learn to paint.So I can have a pretty chicken gourd.LOL

Those are cute! And I love the gourd chickens.

What a lovely set of shoes to decorate with. And part of your heritage. My dh has Dutch in his side of the family. Me...I am full-blooded German.

And if you paint some of the chicken gourds you can send one my way. How cute!.

jackie the entire westside of mi on lake mi is awesome...you can visit the meijers gardens in grand rapids area and head north...stop in holland for the tulip festival, take a ferry to wisconsin in ludington, sleeping bear dunes national shore line, traverse city, charming petosky...plenty of golfing, too...

oh forgot presidental museum for gerald ford in grand rapids...beautiful site on the river with fountains and water right downtown...

Hollands Tulip Festival is usually in the first week of May when they hope their many thousands of tulips are in bloom. Last year the tulips bloomed so darned early that there were mostly brown stems, even on the late blooming varieties. Jackierenette, sure hope you and DH can get there some time to see it.