Deborah Shoemaker

07/16/2026

Finishing up these dance boots for a client in Raleigh. Loving this sanding block. Another gift from Ray.

06/18/2026

Introducing my Summer Intern, Peyton Bray, a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design. Check out my blog post: https://deborahshoemakershoes.com/blog/

05/24/2026

Deborah's School of Shoemaking received another generous donation of tools and machines. Look at these beauties!! Thank you Ray! You rock!!!

05/12/2026

You learn something new everyday...
Calling someone a "shoemaker" can be a highly derogatory term, particularly within the culinary and professional kitchen industry. While it literally refers to a person who makes shoes, in slang, it is used to describe someone who is unskilled, lazy, or consistently produces poor-quality work.
What "Shoemaker" Means in the Kitchen
Poor Quality/Sloppy Work: It implies a cook who does not know what they are doing, cuts corners, or ruins food, making it tough like "leather".
Lazy/Cutting Corners: It refers to someone who takes shortcuts, does not clean up, or doesn't follow proper techniques, often seen as a "hack".
The "Worst" Insult: In many high-pressure kitchens, being called a shoemaker is considered worse than being called a "mother f'r," as it insults a cook's pride in their craft.
Origins and Context
Kitchen Slang: The term likely means your food is so bad it is only fit to be used as the leather in a shoe. It is frequently used by chefs to describe someone who should not be cooking professionally.
Historical Context: Historically, a "shoemaker" (who makes shoes) was considered a higher skill level than a "cobbler" (who repairs them). However, in modern slang, both are sometimes used to refer to someone working clumsily.
Alternative Uses: While common in the restaurant world, it is rarely used in other industries, though it generally implies a lack of skill or professionalism.
In summary, calling someone a shoemaker implies they are "faking it" or doing a poor job, making it a very insulting term to someone who takes pride in their work.

12/24/2025

Happy Christmas Eve and here's some interesting shoe news from across The Pond. Thank you for the link, Byron.

More than 400 leather hobnailed boots, thought to date back to the 19th Century, have been found.