Not only are they super functional, they're BEAUTIFUL.
My mom made these for me a few Christmases ago, and I LOVE them. They're made with Caribou on the bottom, calfskin, beaver and leather. I love the traditional criss cross of the Siniqs (straps).
We use Mukluks for a lot of things. These were meant for Max, but I've been wearing them since I can't wear "normal" boots, because of my foot. Mukluks its been since I figured out that they fit!
Aana Lena made these out at her camp at the mouth of the Noatak River. She is one of probably just a handful of people who still live at camp year round. She sews mukluks and mittens and parkies for her family. I'm lucky to have her as part of my extended family.
She made them with canvas, some synthetic lining, and leather. I wear yarn socks with them, both inside the house as slippers, and outside the house as boots. Not quite as warm as the fur ones, but when we wear them outside, we wear fur "socks" inside...and Sorel insoles! :)
When I was growing up, we wore mukluks all winter long. I remember, all I wanted for Christmas was a pair of those cool Sorel Boots with the Felt insoles. They were SO cool compared to my ugly mukluks. Only COOL kids had sorels. And I didn't.
Now...I would give anything for a pair of Tuutulik Isiqtuuqs. (Caribou skin mukluks that go all the way up to your knees. You don't know warm until you've had a pair of these!)
I guess I'll have to make my own. Sigh. Sorry Mom for complaining all those years. Sorels? UGLY.
Only cool people have Mukluks!
So, what kind of boots do YOU wear!? And, who made them!? (probably some kid in China working for 12 cents an hour!) ;)
7 comments:
Well I must be cool then! While in Kugluktuk I had an elder teach me to make my own caribou kamiiks. They go right to my knee and have smoked moose hide on the bottom. I love love love them! I threw a pair of sorel liners into them. However, I need to repair the heel since I have wore right through them!!
Hehe, at the moment my boots of choice are jandals! (summer here).
I love the look of Mukluks and can understand that they must be so very warm. They look to be very soft and comfortable.
It was 34 degrees celcius here in Sydney today so I wore my Havaiana Thongs (slim line) made in Brazil (by someone for 2 cents an hour no doubt). I would LOVE to have a pair of your boots but not at the moment :)
How are you feet and hands?
Insulated xtratufs in the winter, regular ones in the summer. Too wet in southeast for mukluks. I wish I knew who made them...the website doesn't say where they're made.
Growing up in Minnesota, I was certainly no stranger to 40 below zero and is months of winter, however sadly, no one there makes mukluks ;), so Sorels it was for me.
Now, as an adult, my line of work requires that I live in Washigton D.C., which doesn't really HAVE winter (although the locals would beg to differ...don't believe them, they panic the moment it drops below freezing!), so I don't even own winter stuff any more....I miss snow!!! I do enjoy freaking out all the born-and-bred DC natives though, because I walk around most of the local "winter" without a coat. :)
We Wear Sorel boots here in Chicago. Who makes them? Probably some kid in China...It gets cold here, and they are warm and provide superior traction for snowblowing our almost 90 degree drive. Mostly, we try to stay INdoors in the winter because there's nothing to do that won't get you pelted with hard, stinky, gray snow.
First, I am seriously coveting your boots (in man motif, of course).
Second as a half Finn, half Eskimo, what does your family do to celebrate Thanksgiving? For that matter, how do you typically celebrate bird day above the artic circle?
Third, before I forget, I have also been drooling over your hubby's knife skills. I will own one someday.
Please post on how your hands and feet are doing, because we are all curious and if you would, post about Finnskimo Thanksgiving... Or have one of your children tell a Thanksgiving story, Eskimo style.
Kevin
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