In this full-day, hands-on workshop, students will design and build a custom pair of sandals from start to finish. Participants may choose between the Leather 7-Hole sandal or the Polyester Hiker style, as featured on the Paisley Running Sandals website. Instruction covers proper foot measurement and fit, cutting and shaping leather or polyester materials, constructing a supportive footbed, and assembling a durable, comfortable sandal. Emphasis is placed on craftsmanship, material selection, and creating well-fitting, wearable footwear. All tools and materials are provided, and no prior experience is required. The workshop runs for one full day (8 hours).
What's included
All materials to build one custom pair of sandals (leather or polyester, depending on selected style)
Use of all tools and equipment during the workshop
Foot measuring, fitting, and pattern guidance
Supportive footbed materials and assembly components
Take-home finished pair of custom sandals
One full day (8 hours) of hands-on instruction
What's not included
lunch
Non-alcoholic beverages
snacks
Highlights
Learn from master craftsman and educator Matt Paisley, a fourth-generation woodworker and experienced cobbler with over 15 years of sandal-making practice. Matt brings a hands-on, confidence-building teaching style shaped by his work at ThunderRidge High School.
This workshop blends traditional craftsmanship with modern, trail-tested design. Matt’s sandals have been worn and refined on the trails of Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park, with an emphasis on comfort, durability, and fit.
Offered exclusively in June and July, this limited seasonal workshop is only available during Matt’s summer break, making it a rare opportunity to learn custom sandal-making at the Rocky Mountain Folk School.
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