shoes for the moscow circus

last night i was privileged enough to attend a workshop @ sibella court's headquarters, the society inc. in paddington.

the evening revolved around leta keen's new book, 'shoes for the moscow circus'.  leta is the editor for sibella's next book, 'nomad' and a like mind when it comes to loving quirky and sometimes 'ugly' things.

leta spent the evening discussing the old-fashioned trades that continue to survive in australian factories.  

just.

she has a fascination with the crafts that people seem to be leaving behind.

the handmade shoe factory complete with row after row of battered shoe lasts, the old chap who hand carves hat blocks - each one perfectly fitting each customers head,...the only umbrella factory in australia, a factory manned by one single lady.  a 70'ish year old woman who makes bespoke umbrellas, by herself, every day,...she can't sell these beautiful items though,..as no store will take a 70year old spanish woman seriously.  the  ceramic doll factory complete with tea-chest after tea-chest filled with hundreds of parts,.. aptly named 'italian

 arm or french head'. the taxidermist...  

 a beautiful book.  stunning, quirky photography, and a real insight into the factories of yesteryear.  the factories that are slowly dying due to mass manufacturing.  dying with their secrets.