In July, artist Anna Divinsky made our day by recounting how she wore her Trippen Schneckes to the opening of her Pittsburgh art exhibition, “Nests,” which featured work that grew out of her experiences as a Ukrainian immigrant. Here’s her lovely, sole-ful tale:

Last month I wore my brand new Trippen Silver Schneckes to the opening of “Nests,” my art exhibition at the American Jewish Museum, which is part of Pittsburgh’s Jewish Community Center. The show examines the impact of immigration and migration on people’s lives and imagination. Being an immigrant who came to the States 16 years ago with my family from Ukraine, this was a great opportunity to share my experiences with the public and also to learn from their own stories and memories. The exhibit showcases my work and also the work of different age groups, such as local senior citizens, elementary school kids, and college students, each with their own perception of what immigration means to them. Images of nests, birds, eggs, and dollhouses were used as symbols for home, community, and family. This exhibit was intended to bring the Pittsburgh community together, reminding everyone of their own family roots and the nests they have built or will one day re-build with their families.

“Nests," exhibition by Anna Divinsky at the American Jewish Museum, Jewish Community Center, Pittsburgh, 2009. Right: Paintings on silk of nests and nest installation. Left: Installation close-up, Re-Collection 1993-2009, hand painted and heat-set silk.

As a young girl growing up in Ukraine, I had a very modest shoe selection. Wearing the Trippen Silver Schneckes was not only a fashion statement, but also a symbol of what I have accomplished living in the US. They were a huge hit at the opening, and their sculptural swirls were likened to some of the nest images. I could say that I was wearing my own little symbols of home. Thank you, Ped Shoes!

Anna looking lovely in her Trippen Schneckes. Below Right: Close-up of Trippen Schneckes. Bottom Left: Detail of a painting on silk depicting a nest. (See swirls in both?)

Wow, Anna, we are absolutely thrilled to have attended your opening via the Trippen Schneckes! What a wonderful show—congratulations! For making us smile the most in July, a Ped gift certificate for $100 is winging its way to you.

Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing a Ped item, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. Each month we pick the most sole-ful tale to share on the blog. So, let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!

As many of you know, in 2006 Ped relocated its headquarters from Seattle, Wa. to sunny Santa Barbara, Ca. We only stayed in SB two years, but while there we met some amazing people with whom we’ll be friends for life. Howard Schiffer and his family are among our favorites! Howard is the founder and president of Vitamin Angels, a nonprofit organization that strives to ensure young children around the world receive proper nutrition in order to grow and thrive.

So, it broke our hearts to learn the Schiffers’ home of 15 years burned to the ground on May 5 in the fires that devastated Santa Barbara.

A fireman surveys what remains of the Schiffers' incinerated house.

What a horrible thing to happen to anyone, but especially to Howard, whose heart is so big and kind! Perhaps Ped could do at least a little something to make the situation better. Here is Howard’s tale:

On Saturday, May 9th, four days after the fire, I was in Macy’s to get a couple of shirts for work. I remember passing the belt display and looking down at my pants. It dawned on me that I had only one belt. I started laughing because I suddenly realized that I had four polo shirts, one handkerchief, two pairs of jeans, four pairs of socks, four pairs of underwear, one pair of sneakers, and one pair of flip flops to my name.

I was just coming to terms with all that we had lost. Even so, the contrast with the refugees I had been with in Kenya only eight days before as part of my work with Vitamin Angels was still daunting. As I explained to the LA Times the day after the fire, there was no comparison between our situations. The refugees had been driven from their homes in January 2008 during tribal conflicts and were still living in 8′ x 12′ tarp-tents in a refugee camp, with little food or security, and foul, overflowing pits as communal bathrooms. They watch as their neighbors and friends succumb to malaria, AIDS and TB every week.

Our family may be homeless, too, but we have an incredible community of friends and family here to support us. It is a great reminder of all we have to be thankful for and gives us a renewed commitment to the important work Vitamin Angels does.

When Ped contacted us with an offer of free shoes, it was a dream come true. Not only would I instantly double the size of my shoe collection (literally) but I would get to wear the coolest shoes in the world as we begin to rebuild our lives. They are so beautiful. I have never had green shoes before. Thank you so much, Ped!

Howard Schiffer looking handsome in his new Cydwoqs! (We love the green, too, Howard!)

Although we couldn’t undo the fire, at least we were able to give our benevolent friend some stylish and reliable shoes to wear as he goes about the world doing good! Walk on, Howard!

To learn more about Vitamin Angels’ important work, visit http://www.vitaminangels.org/.

Update 06/01/10: Here’s a great photo of Howard rocking his Cydwoqs in Hemispheres magazine.

A Ped customer, who prefers simply to be known as “Trippen Girl,” wrote us about how her Trippen Fence added some flash to the recent Look3, Festival of the Photograph in Charlottesville, Va.

The lights go down in the theater. I’ve been waiting for this moment for months. I am at the LOOK3 Photography Festival in Charlottesville, Virginia to see one of my favorite artists speak about his work and career. Martin Parr–Magnum photographer, curator, collector extraordinaire, Englishman–takes the stage. Cameras bristle a few feet from the stage’s edge to capture his entry. I have positioned myself close to the front of the theater and sit rapt, trying to ignore the paparazzi endlessly snapping away, photographing greatness. We all settle in for two magnificent hours of an overview of Mr. Parr’s career. A stunning parade of images is writ large on the screen. Time flies as we listen to his incisive thoughts on the art and practice of photography. The audience is in love.

Martin Parr, "The Melbourne Cup, Australia." 2008, pigment print, 40 x 60 inches, courtesy Janet Borden, Inc.

But what’s this? My mind, I confess, wanders ever so slightly midway through the proceedings. In the reflected glow of the huge screen in the darkened auditorium, a sight arrests my eye. It’s my left foot. And on that foot is a Trippen Fence boot. I have dressed myself carefully on this important day, and there was never any question about what would adorn my feet. A boot that brooks no challenge. A boot that, had I designed it, would allow me to die feeling content with my life’s oeuvre…

I attempt to return my focus to the screen, but not before a curious moment. One of the crouched photographers has turned from her supposed focal point. She has rotated 180 degrees. Her lens preys upon me…no, hang on…not upon me exactly. But, rather…upon my left foot! She’s doing her job. Photographing greatness.

"Trippen Girl" wears her Fence well at Look3, Festival of the Photograph!

We love it! Thanks, TG! A Ped gift certificate for $100 is winging its way to you for making us smile the most in June!

Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing a Ped item, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. Each month we pick the most sole-ful tale to share on the blog. So, let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!

From the days when Ped was a brick-and-mortar store in Seattle, we have always had the good fortune to have the most wonderful people on staff. None more so than the stylish Nicole Benuska, who now works as a fashion merchandiser in New York City (those are her Fiorentini + Baker boots in this Tale of the Sole from November). So, we were thrilled to the gills to discover her featured as a style icon in Footwear Plus Magazine! They celebrated how fabulous she looks rocking the distressed denim trend in her husband’s jeans. We couldn’t agree more!

We also love that Nicole’s chosen Fiorentini + Baker sandals as footwear for her look. Although we don’t have these gladiator sandals in stock currently (sorry, gals), we are expecting new F+B boots before the end of the month. So, stay tuned Ped fans!

Meanwhile, we can’t wait to see what Nicole wears next!

Laura in Santa Barbara, CA, wrote us this month with her “Tale of the Sole,” but, as she notes, “It’s a sad one, I’m sorry to say.” Here’s her tragic story:

Remember those Argila Alana’s that I got, oh, only a few weeks ago?

Well, silly me, I brought them to New York City on my last trip. But I also brought bronchitis. On the day we decamped from the On the Ave Hotel where we were billeted, I was feeling particularly low. And it was early, so I was jet-lagged. In any event, I remember wrapping the precious things up and THOUGHT they made it into our larger suitcase. But, alas, they did not.

When I discovered this, I immediately called the hotel, but several days had passed, and naturally, they were never turned in. 

So some chambermaid is sashaying around NYC in my stunning sandals.

Honestly, this is the only thing that made me cry in the last month, when Santa Barbara nearly burned to the ground, we got a flat tire while evacuating, and Tai got a foxtail up his nose. It was the SHOES that pushed me over the edge!

But it ends happily because I just ordered those darling Chie Mihara Frederica’s! Not that I can afford them, but I just don’t care—my wound needs to be salved.

We’re sure those Frederica’s have Laura back on the upswing. And we hope winning a $100 Ped Gift Certificate for sending the best Tale of the Sole in May will also make her feel a smidge better about losing her lovely Argila sandals.

Do you have a Tale of the Sole? Tell us—and show us (we LOVE pictures!!!)—what happened to you while wearing a Ped item, and you, too, might be the recipient of $100 in Ped credit. Each month we pick the most sole-ful tale to share on the blog. Here’s hoping June’s story is less of a tear-jerker. So, let us know what in the world you’ve been doing in your Ped!