MAsT:Grand Rapids Presents- Great Lakes Bootblack 2012 Bella

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Bootblacking has been a longstanding tradition in the Leather Lifestyle. Whether you approach it as a fetish, or a path to be followed, bootblacks have been the workhorses who care for its second skins as long as anyone can remember.

MAsT: Grand Rapids is honored to welcome Great Lakes Bootblack 2012 Bella, who will be sharing the skills and tradition that is bootblacking in a one day intensive.

We hope that you will join us for this fantastic opportunity

Bootblack bella

Bootblack bella has been a member of the Pansexual, Kink, and Leather communities for many years. She first discovered her love of bootblacking in the Louisville/Southern Indiana community in 2008 and is honored to hold the titles of Kentucky Bootblack 2009 and Great Lakes Bootblack 2012. bella leads demos and workshops on the art of bootblacking and serves as a mentor for new bootblacks in her region. Her heart is found in education and she believes that the future depends upon sharing one’s knowledge and history with those whom are interested.

bella is active with the Louisville Munch and Team Friendly (CNKY). She has helped raise money for charities in her local area as well as nationally through bootblacking and fundraisers.

Doors open at 1230

Bootblacking 101 (1pm-245pm)

Everyone can shine! All you need is a few supplies, some confidence, a method that works for you, and some leather. A smile couldn’t hurt either. For those of you who are intimidated or afraid, this is a class for you.

Bootblacking 101 is a general education class for people of all ability levels to gain working knowledge on the art of leather care. You will learn: how to build a basic kit that will be able to love on all sorts of leathers, how to tell between types of leather, how to clean all leather (including suede and nubuck), how to shine with wax, how to shine with grease, and tips on providing a bootblacking experience to someone in your care.

Bootblacking 201- Repairs and Color Matching (3pm-445pm)

Leather restoration has many elements; from scuffs and scratches to razor blade slices to those pesky talking soles. What skills can you add to your boot kit and when do you need to call a cobbler? This demo shows you how to work with colors; mixing, matching,and working with and buying different pigments. We will also cover basic repairs that can be done at home and discuss when to seek a shoe repair or cobbler and when to give up (and the possibilities from there). Risk reduction techniques (to prevent cracking/decay/mildew) will also be covered.

Dinner Break 445-630

Bootblacking in a Relationship 630-Fin

You’ve learned the basics of leather care in classes. You’ve sat down with a mentor and learned the basics of a spit shine. And now, you’re ready to perform a hot scene with your partner. This workshop will cover the nature of erotic bootblacking in three parts: 1. The Basics, 2: Heating Things Up, and 3: Erotic Boot Worship. Start off by learning how to be attentive and to read your partner’s reactions; move on to engage in sensual physical contact; and leave them wanting more with boot worship.

Sir_Travis
MAsT: Grand Rapids
Used with permission