When I learned to make shoes by hand I didn't expect it to also teach me such a major lesson in patience. First I had to relearn everything I knew about pattern making and reapply it to much smaller scale products, then I had to acquire a more detailed understanding of leather and how to manipulate it to create something that goes on your foot. Then I had to teach myself through youtube, trial, and error the outdated and slowly dying art of hand lasting shoes. It's experiences like these that remind me why I love to create things and the power of persistence and delayed gratification. Unlike most other fabrics leather is a niche material and every piece has a story as the art of crafting with leather is ancient. To be in the present and to be able to study such a crucial tool in human history is an honor that reminds me of the immense value of using your two hands to create something, taking your ideas and making them reality. Making footwear by hand is what has been my greatest teacher in the importance of persistence and more so persistence in the face of uncertainty or ambiguity.