Shoe Designer

Fashion: WilmaWorld, Jerome, AZ

Book This Career Mentorship

Do you LOVE shoes? Do your friends call you “Shoe Maven”? Do you doodle and design shoes during work meetings? If so, then a VocationVacation dream-job experience with former girl-band rocker turned high-end designer and footwear producer, Tamera Lyndsay of WilmaWorld, may be just what you need! During your VocationVacation, Tamera will mentor you in the business of handmade shoes and give you the initial resources to get off to an exciting start to a possible new career!

You will find WilmaWorld perched high above Sedona, Arizona on Cleopatra Hill, in what is known as America’s largest “ghost town”, Jerome, Arizona. It is an enchanting, historical, copper mining town.

Tamera has become the shoe designer and producer she is through life experience, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. “I learned speed and accuracy really early on”, Tamera explains. “My first job was in a sweat-shop. I was paid based on what I produced If you snooze, you lose! I always generated my own jobs and had a deep belief in following my dreams. If I wanted to do something I found a way to make it happen. How do you know if you don’t try it?”

And try it, she did! Tamera experienced many of life’s adventures before discovering her dream of becoming a shoe and accessory designer. She spent a good part of her early career as an influential bass player in numerous girl rock bands experiencing the music and travel worlds!

But in 1985, Tamera took a different path and teamed up with jeweler Barbra Klar. The two started their own retail shop, Clear Metals, in New York’s East Village and became known and admired for their revolving millenary lines and accessories. By 1993, Tamera was growing a bit restless, however. She relocated to Arizona to participate as a boot maker’s apprentice with Sedona’s Bob McLean. Bob had trained under the famous boot maker, Paul Bond, and is actually now a partner in the Paul Bond Boot Company.

Tamera developed a great understanding of the importance of producing a high-quality, custom-made, footwear product, unparalleled in originality and style. During your VocationVacation, you, too, will be exposed to these values and will discover the boundless avenues that footwear design and production offer. “In this business, amidst the intense amount of labor and skill involved, I am still learning every day. With footwear, your options are completely limitless,” says Tamera.

And where did Tamera come up with the name, WilmaWorld? Her business is named after a dog she had many years ago! So Wilma the dog lives on today…and has really made a name for herself. Sheryl Crow, Joan Jett, Jim Jarmusch, Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, Maynard Keenan have all worn WilmaWorld products. They have also been featured in Vanity Fair and Parade Magazine and most recently were part of the 2006 Grammy Gift bags!

Tamera says that it doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money to start your own shoe-making business. In addition to some money, Tamera says what you really need is drive, determination, passion and resourcefulness. “I started my business with a $5 pair of scissors that I found at a local street market. And I still have those scissors today! ” Tamera laughs.

As a Vocationer, you will leave with workshop experience and a wealth of information and advice. Tamera will put together a packet of information on suppliers and material resources for you. “I can help people set up something for themselves with a list of basic tools and equipment they can get in any hardware store or antique market for under $200 – just to get themselves started so they can test-drive being a shoe designer before they actually go off and invest money into creating a business.”

“Vocationers may leave after two days of Vocationing with me and realize their only limitations are limitations they’ve put on themselves. I want them to leave filled with inspiration and confidence … I want them to believe in themselves and their dream,” explains Tamera.

During your VocationVacation with Tamera Lyndsay, your Vocationer activities will include some or all of the following:

Set up a simple shoe-making workshop
Overview – basic suppliers and suppliers – tools and materials
Overview of parts of a shoe/boot and basic shoe/boot-making process
Overview of simple pattern making (how to cheat a pattern from any shoe/boot)
Foot measuring, foot issues and shoe lasts
Overview of pricing, the market, wholesale vs. retail, etc.

The Shoe Designer VocationVacations® dream job holiday includes:

Two days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as a Shoe Designer and Producer
The DVD, "Overview of Lasted Shoe Making", by Tamera Lyndsay along w/an informational packet to help Vocationers get started - short list of suppliers, various charts and info\
The ability to take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), an online personality assessment designed to identify interests and skill sets
The opportunity to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post-VocationVacation career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job becoming a reality
Light lunches with your mentor

Available: All year, Monday-Friday, based on mentor's availability

Price: $1249 Per Person