Valenki Felted Slippers

This beautiful pair of valenki slippers are a modified version of the traditional Valenki slipper. A very challenging process with very satisfying results. Raw wool is felted (by hand) directly onto a foot-shaped mold but I used a wooden shoe tree wrapped in plastic to protect the wood. With my hands and lots of agitation with the raw wool I felted a slipper around the wooden shoe tree using soap, water & a washboard for the agitation process. Once the raw wool is felted around the mold I pulled and stretched the sole to bring it into more of a moccasin type slipper. Valenki slippers have been found and dated back to the 4th century B.C. in Russia. I call them "Home Slippers". As you wear them they form to your feet and the double sole I worked into the bottoms is supposed to massage the foot as you wear the slippers. I used suede around the entire top edges of each slipper and then added a fashion button in complimentary colors. This process is very rewarding.