Making a silk purse out of a sow's shoe

Former jewelry designer Shoshanna Smith has turned a passion for shoes into a passion for designer purses, according to a story in last Sunday's Vindicator. For the trendy set, Smith will add faux furs, zippers, clasps and the like to transform a shoe into a handbag. But why stop there? As the economic downturn demands that many Americans make instead of buy, we've got some suggestions for no-longer-needed footwear.
There are alternatives to tossing shoes or boots into the trash.
First of all, remember that Goodwill and other charities welcome lightly worn pairs of shoes to be bought by or given to those less fortunate.
Good for the sole: But for those with a sentimental attachment to their shoes, it shouldn't take too much to turn a shoe into a hammer. A stiletto heel might work as a tackhammer -- with that kicky ankle strap acting as a carrier. The bigger and clunkier the shoe, the sturdier the nail it should be able to pound.
Boots present plenty of options. Cowboy boots as holders for dried flowers for western decor; sturdy rain boots as indoor-outdoor planters.
And the Mahoning Valley's history notwithstanding, what better use for cement boots than as door stops?
Snuggy slippers should offer comfortable homes for pet garter snakes or beds for little kittens. Any shoe is readily transformed into a puppy's chew toy -- even before the shoes has outlived its original purpose
It's all creativity in the service of solid waste management. Reducing, re-using and recycling.