An Edel P.S. - Because Somehow I Forgot About the Crazy Shoes

Yesterday, while dodging Nerf bullets and rubbing the bulging gums of our teething bebe, I managed to one hand type a quick Edel recap, but soon realized, after posting, that I forgot to throw in some pictures from the crazy shoes cocktail party!

Whoever came up with the idea to have a crazy shoes contest on the first night of the Edel Gathering was a genius.  It really is the perfect ice-breaker/get-to-know-ya scenario for a bunch of women who have been counting down since January for the weekend to begin.

I didn't make a pair of shoes last year, because I was a little exhausted from crafting a baby for nine months. And this year we have had such a busy summer that when the week of Edel crept up on me, I honestly felt like I couldn't squeeze a shoe project in between baseball games and farm life.

But, the men of the house would not accept my can't do attitude. They enthusiastically suggested that I make a farm-themed pair of shoes. I mean, why do something girly, right? Because, that would be boring and totally illogical.

Why not, I said. I'll show you boys some farm, and I'll show you girly, too! 

I had a basic idea of what I thought might make the shoes cute and fun and the same time, but it really was a run of luck that everything came together so well, because I only had a very little amount of time to assemble the shoes, and they turned out great!

The wheat berries came straight from the farm (shout out to my sister-in-law for bagging some up for me!).  I brushed a really thick and tacky glue that I found at Hobby Lobby on to the $10 Payless Shoes and pressed on the wheat, keeping my fingers crossed that it would stick.  After that layer dried, I used a strong spray adhesive to set the wheat in place, and sprinkled the shoes with a super-fine gold glitter.

After that, it was just a matter of adding the finishing touches, stickers, ribbons, wheat stalks and sunflowers (also from Hobby LalalaLobby).  

I did have a little bit of help from a guy I know who just happened to have a pair of pliers and some fishing line to tie the tractors in place. At first I was like, "Aw, honey, your shirt accidentally matches my shoes, how sweet!" But then there was the Busch Light can, and well, that's just us, keepin' it real.

Despite the layers of glue and double-knotted bows, the shoes started to fall apart toward the end of the evening.  Needless to say, I left a little trail of wheat everywhere I walked, but it was super fun wearing them, and I'm glad my boys talked me into getting crafty for the occasion!

There were SO MANY amazingly fun and very impressive shoes at the party.  I knew you guys would want to see them, too! Here's a peek at some photos that the ladies were gracious enough to share with me:

The WINNER!! This picture does not do these chips-salsa-margarita party boots justice! I mean they were that awesome! And if you think those boots are fun, the mama wearing them is a thousand times more fun! Rachel is from Texas (surprise!), she doesn't blog, but you can find her on Instagram at @rach_ees.

Rachel and Shannon (from Organic Mama's Shop) posing with their winning kicks.  I wish I had a better shot of Shannon's boots, because they were amazing, too! 100% kid-themed with toys and gadgets that had recordings of her kids voices! So incredibly fun!

These beauties are from Tracy Smith who blogs at A Slice of Smith Life.  I see a potential Etsy business here.

Super chic Star Wars heels plus a fascinator? Yes, please! My boys would have voted for these, for sure! You can see more of Emily's creativity on her blog Someone Who Doesn't Feel Like Cake.

The golden girls! Mary (Passionate Perseverance) and Kelly (This Ain't the Lyceum) know how to rock some sparkle!

Why didn't I think of slippers??? Wendy, aka Cajun Texas Mom, had all of our feet aching for something more comfortable by the end of the night. Love me some Tigger!

 Stephanie, who blogs at A Little Bit of Paradise, won the contest last year, so I think we were all excited to see what she would come up with this year.  Coffee and wine kicks, also known as Mom Survival Shoes. Brilliant!  Really, now I know now why we're friends (wink, wink)!

Even if you're not a cat lover, you gotta admit these are super cute! I was so glad Elizabeth, who blogs at The Buerglers, shared her photo with me, because I missed seeing her creativity at the party.

I think a lot of you already know Heather, the creator and crafter of these funky flip-flops, but if you don't, I highly recommend you go and visit her at Real Catholic Mom, because she. is. awesome.

Ronnie Peck, who came all the way from California, created one of my favorite pairs of shoes of the evening (maybe it's our earthy connection).  So original! She blogs at The Screen Writer's Wife.

 Angela Eckel from Ohio did Charleston proud with these beauties! The red platforms say "Charleston" and every illustration on the shoes has a story. They were sassy, classy and fun!

Minion fans unite! Unless Candace is sentimentally attached to these shoes, I see the bids on Ebay rising!

 Lovely, lovely lovely.  Just like Rakhi, who blogs at Pitter Patter Diaries.  I think there were quite a few of us who had our eyes on those shoes!

Okay, when I say these shoes were the bomb, I mean they were the bomb! What you can't see in the photo are the color-changing lights that Cate, who blogs at Dainty Cate, wedged under the sole, right by the heel that shined down on the floor and looked crazy awesome. My boys would have followed her around all night long!

 Last but certainly not least, Jaclyn Ruli's Theology of the Body shoes were absolutely amazing.  St. John Paul II would be so proud, Jaclyn! And all of the TOB fans out thee are giving you some major props right now!

 Crazy shoe unity.

Okay, ladies, you've got two years to 
dream up your crazy shoes for Edel 17.   

I hope you feel inspired!