aileen Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 drdance, I hope that the "L" doesn't mean left because both shoes have this hand-written letter! All4dancers, I thought that it would be difficult! How did your older DD manage to do it? By poking a long needle in and trying to spear the end of the lace? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I'm not exactly sure aileen, she did use a needle, but somehow used it from the outside of the casing to ease the draw string up. Like I say, it did take her a couple of hours, but there was no taking them back as we live a couple of hours from London and dd was due to go to summer school the next day. Needless to say, I tied a large knot in the draw string straight away to prevent it happening again! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 I don't know what the "L" is - none of dd's Freeds have had this, but Freeds have the model (e.g. Classic Pro), size (e.g. 3), width (e.g. XXX), the type of insole ("OF" - I asked Freed what that was), and the maker (which is a letter or a symbol). You do have to be careful with those elastic drawstrings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Used the Daniel's pointe shoe glue on the boxes of dd's pointe shoes today and it worked brilliantly. Hardened really quickly - I did stick my fingers together though, so must be careful!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Does Daniel's Pointe glue come with instructions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 yes the pointe shoe glue does come with instructions, just add a few drops to required area, making sure there is no debris or ridges before hand. You really do only need a few drops. I did find it quite hard to get it in exactly the right place though, but dd was very satisfied with the results. One of her shoes is still creaking noisily though, so I think the shank is about to go. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Beelam Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Glad the pointe shoe glue worked All4dancers and just a quick apology that I had to change discount code to ballet10, so should be giving forum members 10% off now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shimmer Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 Update on the pointe shoe situation: I haven't started using my new Z makers as I'm trying to squeeze as much use out of my faulty V makers as possible. However, I have just had a phone call from Freed saying the two pairs of key makers I ordered are in already despite the estimated delivery being January! I've got pointe shoes coming out of my ears now! Spannerandpony - I hope your DD is getting on ok with her V makers, did you end up ordering any key makers? They may end up appearing earlier than expected! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 25, 2012 Author Share Posted October 25, 2012 Thanks Shimmer, she's only just started breaking them in, so they are fine at the moment! The fitter on Saturday told us that while dd's feet are still growing it's not worth putting in a special order for keymaker as his delivery target is February (!) We just bought one pair of V makers as they were the only stock classic pro that were comfortable, but I'm going to order some pointe shoe glue just in case! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Well having watched this film yesterday: http://www.scottishdocinstitute.com/films/the-perfect-fit/ I can confirm that Key Maker is definitely not "getting on" in years! Mind you, the speed and strength of his shoe making seems to be taking their toll on his hands. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 Amazing! I wonder how the makers decide on their career? I showed a similar film clip to the children in my class not long ago after a discussion about ballet. It would be nice to think one of the little boys might be thinking 'when I grow up I'd like to be a pointe shoe maker' 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Just been told that the rising sun maker has gone back to Japan, so will have to have a different maker next time dd needs new pointes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutoo2much Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 Don't worry Aileen, I feel a bit ignorant too! My dd has been en pointe for about 4 years and it doesn't luckily seem this complicated for us. I go into the shop, she tries a pair on and and I pay a lot of money and walk out. Am I missing something? Her pointe work has never been spectacular, but then she has never complained of pain or got blisters. Should she try on lots of pairs of different makes and fitters to compare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted November 3, 2012 Share Posted November 3, 2012 my dd was literally only in the shop for about 15 minutes this morning because she was perfectly happy with her old pointe shoes, it was just that they had had it, so she just got the same size by the same maker and that was all there was to it. I wasn't with her, she was with her older sister and the only thing was that the fitter ripped the sole out of her old ones to make into soft blocks. However, she has an audition on Tuesday, so I hope to goodness she doesnt't have to do pointe work in it because I'm not with her to sew on ribbons etc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 3, 2012 Author Share Posted November 3, 2012 Just been told that the rising sun maker has gone back to Japan, so will have to have a different maker next time dd needs new pointes :-( Fortunately Freed seem to have at least 2 makers who make similar types of shoes. Just as well really, because I was amazed at the differences between the different makers - same size, width and model, but completely different fit! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Oh well, today I bit the bullet and squirted pointe shoe glue into the boxes of dd's Freeds as they were feeling "mushy" and were starting to hurt her toes. Even if it makes them last until the end of her show on Sunday, it will be worth it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All4dancers Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Oh well, today I bit the bullet and squirted pointe shoe glue into the boxes of dd's Freeds as they were feeling "mushy" and were starting to hurt her toes. Even if it makes them last until the end of her show on Sunday, it will be worth it! It definitely works, but you're right it's only a temporary measure. Dd still had to have a new pair. The lady at Freed was quite happy that we had used it on dd's shoes, although she did say the main thing was good maintainance, eg, drying the shoes out properly after each wear which she didn't feel dd was doing. She recommended putting them in the airing cupboard (we haven't got one) or some other warm place. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 Yes, they only have to last until after Sunday and she's got her new pair breaking in currently. :-) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurora Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 To rescue a drawstring a bodkin is the best tool. It's like a large blunt needle, you thread an end of the drawstring through it and push it through the casing. It's very fiddly and sometimes the casing is a bit too tight! I can understand the shop not wanting to exchange them, technically it was lost through incorrect usage but I guess they should maybe make the drawstrings a bit longer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aileen Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Aurora, I don't think that I've ever handled a bodkin! It sounds like something out of Cinderella! Whilst I may have been "at fault" most shops and businesses take the view that "the customer is always right" and exchange goods even where, legally, they are not obliged to do so. It seems that ballet stockists are an exception. Another shop, which I'm not going to name, has shocking service. The owner is the Basil Fawlty of the dance stockists world. When he brings you an item for you to look at he virtually slaps it down on the counter in front of you. You have to psych yourself up before you go into the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 I suppose it depends on whether the pointes had been worn? If they had, then the shop wouldn't have been able to re-sell them. Then there's the issue of who's at fault - and whether the problem was solvable. If either you or the shop were able to retrieve the drawstring then I suppose there's nothing faulty about the shoe. In the case of the platform going mushy after a couple of wears, I suppose you could dispute whether the shoes are fit for purpose, but given how differently people wear out their pointe shoes, that could be pretty difficult to prove! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Aileen, from my youth (a couple of millenia ago!) a bodkin is a needle used for darning woollen socks or needlepoint type things on canvases with a wide weave. I hope that makes sense! Fit for purpose: nothing to do with shoes but many years ago a colleague bought a new car where the engine blew up after a month. He was told cars were deemed fit for purpose after 3 weeks!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 If all else fails, quote the Sale of Goods Act at them - this says that goods have to be fit for purpose, not faulty and last a reasonable amount of time. It is over and above the normal returns policy of any shop and is EU law. (One of the few things the EU is good for!). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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