Ped fans, have you ever wondered what the makers of our lovely lines have to say about the shoes they create? Well, you’re in luck because both Chie Mihara and Cydwoq’s Rafi Balouzian have taken the time to make videos discussing their footwear philosophies and aesthetic approaches. Once you watch these charming artists talk about their passion for designing shoes, you’ll understand why Chies and Cydwoqs are worth their weight in gold!

First up, our gal in Spain, Chie Mihara:

Got that? “You don’t have to suffer to be beautiful.” That’s Ped’s motto, too!

Now, for a few words from Cydwoq’s handsome and wise Rafi Balouzian:

No wonder Cydwoqs are so comfortable—they’re designed by a man who loves to walk and who also loves women’s feet!

It’s so fun to get the inside scoop! And isn’t it nice to know that both Chie and Rafi wear what they make? Truly, handmade shoes with heart!

My, oh my, here at Ped, we are up to our ankles in ankle boots—and we are loving every minute of it! Although booties have been “in” for a couple years, this year’s crop is especially beautiful. We love the impact of short boots worn with skirts, but what’s really great is they’re equally easy to wear with pants (not always the case with a tall boot, much as we love the knee-high look). Ped has scads of great ankle boots from which to choose, but here are a few fresh ones that have us oohing and aahing.

Wow, wow, wow—when you’re ready to hit the streets and take no prisoners, Cydwoq’s new Future is the boot to wear. Tough and sexy all at once, this boot has us over the moon with the exposed violet edges of the black Italian leather. Leave it to Cydwoq’s Rafi to make a buckle boot this special!

Lordy, just looking at the Cydwoq Vintage Seek makes me break into a sweat! As I said to Laura the other day, “SEXOLA!” The cut-outs and combination of textured leathers are trumped only by the sizzling back zipper running up this bootie’s heel!

Speaking of back zippers, we love how the zipper running up the rear of Fiorentini + Baker’s Ella allows you to unzip this mid-calf boot halfway and fold down the top to make a cuffed ankle boot. Now that’s versatility since both looks are smoking with F+B’s inimitable Italian style!

For sheer cuteness and comfort, no bootie surpasses Trippen’s new Tie. You have to wear this ankle-height beauty to fully appreciate how soft and supple the elk leather is—truly a treat for the feet! And Trippen’s “cups” rubber sole keeps your steps light as you dash all over town.

If you’re a gal who’s determined not to get back in black no matter what the fashion pundits say, or if you simply want to add a bit of color to your wardrobe, check out Giraudon’s knockout Nelle! We adore the chic and curvaceous cut of the leather and the way the Nelle subtly echoes a cowgirl boot. Plus, the cognac color is to die for!

So, pick your passion—any of these ankle boots will have every eye on you this fall!

We can’t help it—whenever August rolls around we get nostalgic for back-to-school shopping. We used to love picking out notebooks, pens and pencils, and three-ring binders. But the most important item, of course, was the lunchbox and matching thermos! At Ped HQ, we’ve been talking about how we might recapture a little of that magic, and we thought, “Well, every grown-up gal could always use a new bag to get her fall off on the right foot!” So, voila, we bring you the Ped Bag Sale!

From now until August 19, all of the beautiful slings, totes, and satchels from Cydwoq, 49 Square Miles, and Jutta Neumann are all 25% off!!! Here are just a few of the lovelies we’re offering at “back-to-school” prices:

When we laid eyes on the Kerouac Satchel from 49 Square Miles, it was love at first sight! It is one beautiful bag—large enough to hold everything you need but not oversized and awkward. The way the handles lace through the accordion-pleated sides is just so cool. And the leather, aahhhhh, the leather is so deliciously supple, you’ll have a hard time not touching it (but why resist?). Well worth the original price of $548, it’s a steal at $411! (But we love you, so it’s okay.)

For those of you who like a lighter bag (and who manage to leave the kitchen sink where it belongs in the kitchen), Jutta Neumann’s Oslo Bag is simplicity incarnate. It has room for the necessities you need in a day but won’t weigh you down. Plus, we love the surprise of the contrasting suede lining—see that glimpse of brilliant turquoise up there? And Jutta’s craftsmanship is unparalleled. Pretty at $318, it’s positively radiant at $199!

Maybe you really are heading back to school as a teacher, grad student, or professor, in which case Cydwoq’s Bright Bag makes a great campus companion. A Ped classic, loved by so many, the all-rivet construction—not a stitch to be seen—makes this bag an endurance queen, and its capacious interior is large enough for files, a few books, and even a small laptop. Smart at $358, it’s brilliant at $268!

Jump on over to Ped’s main site to see all the other beautiful bags waiting to tote your goods around town! But remember, to bag your favorite before the sale ends on August 19. What a way to say “see ya” to summer and “hey there” to fall!

There’s nothing better than getting dolled up and having someone notice! So, we are always thrilled when independent bloggers find Ped items worth showcasing. After all, these gals (mostly) know a thing or two about design and put us in such good company! So, we want to thank them for their kind attention.

• Blue Moss Design’s Michelle Taylor publishes the loveliest blog, bluemossgirls.blogspot.com, about things she finds inspiring. A wonderful jeweler who repurposes baubles from the past, she makes our day when she shines her light on Ped.
• The anonymous blogger at I Spuddle, who authors books when not blogging, puts up five thematic things  every Friday. We were delighted to discover Ped’s Chie Miharas made her shoe list in June!
• We are absolutely crazy about Nanashi’s taste at if-i-owned-a-boutique.blogspot.com, so we loved it when she got the last pair of Ped’s Giraudon’s Bristol oxfords and then posted pics of how cute they looked on her feet. Sweet!
• Havilah Savage is a Portland designer who blogs about things she finds inspiring at darlingsavage.blogspot.com. What a treat that she found a spark in Ped’s Argila sandals!
• Down under in Melbourne, Australia, MissyP blogs about design in general and textiles in particular at So Sew Poppy, where she recently gave a shout-out to our favorite goddess of crochet, Sophie Digard!
• Finally, Mrs. French, the wonderful photographer who blogs at Bliss, always makes us sigh with her dreamy posts about things we covet and places we’d like to visit. When she notices us, well, it’s bliss.

The Dog Days of summer are here, and as much as we love dogs at Ped, it’s so hot that all we can think about is spending a day at the beach, cooling off in the waves and relaxing in the sea breeze. Happily, Ped has quite a few things to make the sand-and-surf experience that much more pleasurable. (And stylish!)

Seaside tip of the day: Don’t leave home without 49 Square Miles’ Carryall Tote:

Four words: Best. Beach. Bag. EVER!!!!! Everyone at Ped HQ is crazy about this sturdy canvas bag because it’s spacious enough to hold a beach towel, paperback, snack, sunscreen, binoculars, frisbee, water bottle, and whatever else you need to make your day in the sun fun. And despite being a workhorse of a bag, it’s so dang cute! The leather appliques are whimsical, and the colors sing of warm weather. We love. We love.

Another great way to haul your beachwear and wares from your house to that umbrella in the sand is Mia Zia’s Parisian Market Tote.

Beautifully woven out of natural raffia, this bag is casual yet undeniably chic. Traditional Moroccan construction means it’s sturdy enough to take on whatever rough-and-tumble adventures you care to carry it on, looking sassy all the while with its colorful tassels.

Another must-have beach accessory is a pair of kick-on, kick-off sandals. Cydwoq’s Lizard is just the ticket!

There’s not much to them, but what there is packs a serious style punch! The ultimate in Zen-like simplicity, these beauties will keep you from burning your tootsies’ tender soles as you skip across the blazing sand.

Finally, every day is sunnier with the beach-inspired dazzle of Jamie Joseph’s Starfish Necklace.

The perfect way to add sparkle to your beachwear—whether you’re baring it in a bikini or keeping covered in a kaftan—this necklace is so sweet with its gold-set diamond twinkling like a star within the silver starfish. And what a way to maintain your beach frame of mind the rest of the year!

So, stretch out on the sand and, with Ped’s help, beach all you can beach!