Can you Believe this Miraculous Transformation? I couldnt! The River Thames Delivers Treasures again

One of the fabulous finds in today's video brings me so much joy. When I first found it, it was practically unrecognisable and THEN... well, a miracle happened. Join me to find out which find goes through a magical transformation.
Thank you to Monika Buttling-Smith for restoring the tiny shoe! I am so grateful. You can follow Monika on instagram @mudika.thames
Thank you for watching. If you would like to try mudlarking you need a permit from the Port of London Authority. Currently they are not issuing permits, but keep an eye on their website to see when that might change.
pla.co.uk
www.pla.co.uk/Environment/Tham...
See you soon.
Nicola White
www.tidelineart.com

[@steveshepherd2712]

Wow isn't Monica the most delightful, enthusiastic and smart larker ? Every video she features in her bright smile and warm eyes just draws you in and you cant help but wish to be in the same room to hear her tales. 😃🇨🇦

[@minnierose4398]

Soo true! Xx

[@LeaC-lw8xl]

Yes!!

[@captainsensiblejr.]

Her name is Nicola.

[@valsmall1446]

@@captainsensiblejr.... thanks! I though I was going bonkers 😂

[@steveshepherd2712]

@@captainsensiblejr. I know who Nicola is .Watch the video and you will understand 😉

[@girlnorthof60]

Tha fact that Monika has a 'drawer of lost soles' makes me smile. Monika, you are a bright shining star 🌟 A++ for organization. 😲wow!

[@future_me_6067]

A good day is when my two favorite mudlarkers upload a video. Thank you.

[@oceanluvngal]

Monika's knowledge and skills never cease to amaze. Fascinating segment!

[@captainsensiblejr.]

Her name is Nicola.

[@brandihayes1274]

ya starting to look dumb, mate.@@captainsensiblejr.

[@roxysimmons]

@@captainsensiblejr.she was talking about the lady who restored the shoe - her name is Monika.

[@OP-1000]

The shoe lady was amazing. I love when people talk passionately about their hobby.

[@suzannesheridan9535]

The little toddler leather shoe is absolutely stunning and bittersweet. Makes my heart ache for the little darling who wore it. She did such a wonderful job in restoring it. Thanks so much for another excellent video. Looking forward to the next.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you Suzanne! xo

[@halfcockedhobbyist]

I love Monika's enthusiasm for her old worn leather shoes. You can see she's just so excited to show off her collection. Love it! Thanks for sharing.

[@barbaraverdoorn9076]

The shoe is adorable! Monica is a true artist with old leather!

[@korporalharmski6419]

Went to London two weeks ago, I couldnt help to longily look at the foreshore, sadly knowing as a tourist I'm not allowed to mudlark. Luckily there are the heroes such as you to excavate these little treasures!

[@cclyon]

One of the highlights of my trip to London two years ago was mudlarking on the Thames. I'm so glad they were still issuing permits then. Maybe you'll still get the chance.

[@aaronknightstep5372]

Permits are only for residents?

[@zoemapp]

They have stopped issuing them as people are crowding there and they are worried the shady people are taking away historic items and selling them instead of getting them checked etc

[@cclyon]

@@aaronknightstep5372 Anyone who paid for a permit could get one. Right now they're not issuing them at all but they may again in the future.

[@aaronknightstep5372]

@@zoemapp That makes sense

[@catherinerobilliard7662]

I loved seeing Monika’s preservation of the shoes, especially the little baby shoe you found in the Thames mud. Such dedication and what an amazing talent.

[@dr_steve]

From someone who, like that bone tube you displayed, "used to be something," Nicola, thank you for this extra long multi-part video! Monika is an absolute treasure, and she rightly featured in both your video and Simon's this week. What a great Valentine's gift from both you and Simon, uploading videos on Sunday once again. A real joy to watch.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you Steve! Hugs, Nicola xx

[@LeaC-lw8xl]

Monika is brilliant! The baby shoe restoration she did is sensational. I also like her smiling voice! What an informative video! Thank you Nicola!

[@joanng8601]

Monika's most amazing abilities and devotion to excellence in restoration is museum worthy. And her love of shoes is so fab. So beautiful. Thank you again for sharing your adventures Nicola.

[@stephanieyee9784]

This was a fantastic video, Nicola. As always you found a few interesting pieces in the Thames mud but the wee shoe has to be the best find. Monika did an excellent job of restoring the shoe to near its original condition and it is lovely. I remember tiny shoes like that with those buttons! Thank you for sharing your adventures with me. ❤🇦🇺

[@KideoTime]

Monika is an absolute wonder with her work on the leather shoes.

[@iamshotty]

The restoration on that beautiful precious toddler's shoe was so well done and the whole segment with Monica was fascinating and so interesting. And I especially loved the Goose conversations. Beautiful creatures. I loved it all Nicola, thank you so much xx Teresa ❤🇦🇺

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you so much!

[@SuperLoachie]

So nice to see all those poor lost soles finding a loving home. The little shoe is so adorable, I hope you can find its solemate some day.

[@janedickson-gw4pb]

What a wonderful video!!! You & Monika truly brought history back to life!!❤

[@theresac.3216]

Oh-my goodness, that baby shoe turned out fantastic! Well done Monica! Very lovely, indeed! ❤

[@ranielson2854]

🌟 ✨Nicola✨ You are so very kind to take us out for a wonderful day on The River Thames ❤❤ The outing was spectacular! A ton of fun…. I enjoyed every minute of it, and certainly the history that you shared with us! ❤ your videos and the priceless, devoted personal time that you put into each video! ✨Nicola✨ You certainly are one very special gifted woman in this world today! Thanks for sharing your joys of life with us!! You are a shining STAR 🌟 on KZbin!

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thankyou xx

[@paulkinzer7661]

I like to think that the wearer of that lovely little shoe lost it by being naughty and running away from mom into the mud, where the shoe was pulled off. And then that child grew up to have their own naughty children, who bred their own, who also brought little ones into the world, who grew up to be parents of parents who now wander the shores finding old shoes while their children have set out on adventures of their own!

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

i love this! it does get the imagination going doesn't it!

[@DonnaVintageSnippets]

It was absolutely fascinating seeing the process Monika went through to restore your little shoe. She is so passionate about preserving history and I loved listening to her. What a delight she is.

[@terricollins8450]

Monica really is so talented and full of Knowledge.

[@justdustino1371]

I found a British "Penny Ink" pot all the way over here in Mississippi, USA! It came out of a bayou they call "Dutch" because it was settled by Danes and a few Norwegians and Swedes and in the Nineteenth century all Germanic peoplrs in America were called "Dutch". The Danes paddled down that bayou in small boats to work in the sawmills on the islands in the river or the shipyard owned by the D'Angelo family. A Union regiment from Wisconsin burned it all down in 1864 but it was rebuilt and one sawmill renamed the "Phoenix" afterwards. ❤😊

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Fab find Dustin!

[@lovelyskull3483]

Monika is incredible. Such a beautiful tiny little shoe. Thank you Nicola for this wonderful video.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

So glad you enjoyed it x

[@tanithmessenger3581]

Lots of great finds. The shoe is adorable! Wonderful work Monika!! Loved seeing her collection of other shoes too. You can tell she really enjoys restoring them. A cobbler in a past life for sure 🙂

[@kathryndeloria1834]

I loved Monica’s presentation. I used to work sewing at a boot shop. I loved the job.the owner was very interested in the old ways and we had big sewing machines that you used a hand crank on.

[@tonifitz6831]

I love the baby shoe, absolutely beautiful. Excellent work Monica x

[@brendawilliams7836]

The baby shoe was adorable! Great job Monica!

[@helenalderson6608]

I love the strolls through history. Thank you 🥰

[@perseapolaris9015]

Hello,, Nicola.. bonjour..!!🤗 Thank you for this little trip..'it's great to also film the waves and the gills of my dear London..👍 it was a poetry of the day. Bye.!🇫🇷🇪🇦

[@cherylkittrick945]

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the quiet scenery that you show and the beautiful birds. Along with the treasures you find that just brings a beautiful calm to my day. Keep up the good work. From the USA

[@kraigcochran9995]

When I see people like you I always have more hope for humanity than I did before.

[@Mudjie50]

Wow, Monica is a woman of many talents. Thank you for letting us go along to pick up your beautiful baby shoe..

[@louisevalentine9209]

About the split bullets - if an aircraft crashes and catches fire, any ammunition on board 'cooks off' in the heat and the shell case of the bullet splits. If you're finding these all in one place, it could be the site of a WW2 plane crash.

[@bronwyndobbins282]

Love Monicas mudlarking room, its awesome. Another woman of many interesting talents. Beautifully done. You can "bore" us with anything, we will lap up your knowledge and interesting finds. Not ever boring at all.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

That's so kind thank you

[@lizstevenson7801]

Thank you Nicola that was so interesting visiting your friend and seeing her beautiful collection of Thames shoes. 💕🇦🇺

[@kartapuce3814]

Many thanks Nicola. That's how far passion can carry you, I love it.. Thank you and your friend Monika for sharing these treasures from the past. For my part, I still wear wooden and leather clogs in my garden, they are very confortable! Cheerio for now 🩰👠👡🥾

[@Lily-Bravo]

This popped up and I thought for a moment it was filmed this afternoon, but no one could be that quick, could they? What a fantastic day. The river is so beautiful.

[@Gritsnbutter]

I can't tell you how much my sister and I have enjoyed your channel. Given the way you make sure that we have time to see the pieces as you claim them but you include great audio, sounds of the water, the birds, and your occasional "Whoop." I found this today whilst looking for an ancestor, Thomas Dunn, who imigrated to Virginia in 1624 as an indentured servant to Gov. Yeardley at Flowerfew Plantation now near Richmond. This was an archeological study of a North Carolina colonial town and would you believe the first thing they talk about are PIPES!!! Enjoy!! “Little Tube of mighty pow’r, Charmer of an idle hour, Object of my warm desire, Lip of wax and eye of fire: And thy snowy taper waist, With my finger gently brac’d; And thy pretty swelling crest, With my little stopper prest, And the sweetest bliss of blisses, Breathing from thy balmy kisses…” (reprinted in Mackenzie 1957:196) Originally published in 1736, the beginning lines of this verse extol the pleasures that a pipe of “fragrant Indian weed” could bring to those who partook in the social rituals of smoking. HET REGENT PIJPESTELEN AT BRUNSWICK TOWN: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF WHITE CLAY TOBACCO PIPES AND SMOKING BEHAVIORS IN COLONIAL NORTH CAROLINA by Thomas E. Beaman, Jr. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/www.rla.unc.edu/Publications/NCArch/NCA_54.pdf

[@elizabethabraybant7282]

I am amazed how that little shoe has come back to life!

[@forgottenfurbabies3315]

Monica is awsome. She worked that little shoe perfectly.

[@bluetoo8010]

Absolutely wonderful transformation of the shoe you found. Monika has some amazing cobbler skills and as always, informational and educational video. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@salishseaquest7952]

This was such a pleasure -- from Foreshore to Studio to Monika's. Every step a delight. Thank you, Nicola, for sharing the adventure. Thank you, Monika, for sharing your knowledge and reconstruction expertise. Loved spending time with you both as we got a chance to see some of Monika's treasures...and all those soles! What a wonderful, soulful experience.

[@michelleflippin1808]

What a beautiful little shoe!! Great find Nic!! And Monica did a fantastic job on the restoration. Really stunning. And love the little worn spot on the back. ❤❤

[@janetschmitt6760]

Monika had me thinking I was watching "The Repair Shop", until she took us on a tour of her private museum. Quite interesting to see all the old shoes.

[@leslekcleary7621]

Hello from Prescott, AZ! I so look forward to your videos. Your channel is part of my average Sunday morning tradition, along with Si-Finds. Please thank Monika for sharing her amazing leather restorations.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you! I will tell her x

[@sarah3136]

I could spend a week or more listening to Monica going through all her treasures, absolutely fascinating ❤

[@DetectoristLorraine]

Wow, Monika's transformation was just the best!

[@bethsmith3421]

What a darling little baby shoe! Monika did a beautiful job restoring it. I love the little pheasant piece. You should absolutely get Wendy to fix it up with some rhinestones or semi precious stones and pin and you should definitely wear it. It would be gorgeous! Lovely treasures for today's video. I love Sundays, where I get a video from you and one from Si! They are the best Sundays. Oh, I came back to add something. You always include film of the ducks, geese and swans on the foreshore. I thought I would share. My mother and I have been watching a live stream of a nesting pair of bald eagles on KZbin, FOBBV (Friends of Big Bear Valley), in San Bernardino, CA. They have three eggs. Mama Jackie and daddy Shadow. Then the other day we found/saw a bald eagle's nest with a nesting pair fairly close to our home. We are so excited to hopefully get to see chicks hatch with Jackie and Shadow and hopefully see some young in a couple months in the nest here. Hope your weekend was great.

[@Art-in-Making]

Great video. Always like to see your mudlark adventures. The part of the video with the leather conservation is very interesting. Thank you for showing us Nicola and Monika. I would love to see more of Monika's leather collection. I would watch a whole hour or more.

[@LoftechUK]

Hi Nicola. That baby shoe is amazing and so complete. Stunning find

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thanks Andrew!

[@eavesdroppin1]

I am so glad that you were able to have the little shoe restored. I would have never thought it would have been so interesting and she did an amazing job!

[@larkdavis6041]

Monica is so very talented!!!!! I could watch/listen to her for hours!!!! Nicola thanks so much for taking us along!❤

[@SammyJaneD]

Omgosh, the tiny shoe is so precious, what a lovely find and the little part at the end, i was welling up imagining a small child wearing it all those years ago. Well done Nicola and Monika

[@donnamcardle8928]

It’s always fun, watching you Mudlark, your commentary, pictures showing what the objects looked like cleaned up,and your after chat!

[@JulesChappers]

Another great video, I can’t believe how much the Thames just keeps giving..People lost / discarded quite a lot back in the day..The baby shoe is fantastic, makes me wonder if the baby grew up and had a good life..Fantastic find..

[@marcialuskmaxwell6167]

Amazing that you can still stitch the leather back together, after all these years and all its peregrinations!

[@skullbottleguy]

I loved how happy your friend was showing off her collection. I know exactly how she was feeling. Once in a while someone will shows real interest in my collection and its makes it a joy to share your knowledge.

[@victoriabaker4400]

Truly miraculous! I was a cobbler in the 1850s in the West of the U.S. This was utterly fascinating.

[@grahamcroft564]

Thank you Nicola, and really well done Monika. Always a delight to see the "Ladies that Lark".

[@user-jm7ri9vu8g]

What a great work has been done! Thank you ever so much!

[@amandapittar9398]

I’m watching you with Monica and chuckling. Your mudlarking room looks like my sewing room looks like Monica’s “shoeing” room. Open shelves, drawers, table and all. Thank you for sharing. You bring mudlarking and social history vividly to life, literally breathing life into finds. 😊😊😊

[@empireofpeaches]

The baby shoe now looks new! I am so impressed. What a great find and careful preservation work

[@terriatwell4041]

I just loved seeing Monika share her passion and the shoes she has saved and those waiting to be reconstructed. Her enthusiasm and glee was really contagious. What a beautiful job she did on that sweet little shoe. It makes you think of the child and the hope that they had a happy life.

[@lisacassells3828]

Monica is Wonderful. What a great friend. Great lark. Thank you, Nicola.

[@juliepllu3556]

That little shoe is exactly like the shoes I wore as a baby. I was born in 63 and still have my little pink shoes.

[@mariemoss2475]

I never thought old shoes would be so interesting, the restoration work was beautifully done ❤

[@jillmoorhouse8888]

Oh that little shoe is the sweetest thing and in such good condition ,Monika did an amazing job. I think you should get the pheasant made into something you can wear, its really pretty. xx

[@brendasoler4759]

I've often wondered why mudlarks get so excited when you find old shoes. Well, now I know! Thanks to Monika for her work on restoring this precious little shoe, and for sharing her passion with us all. Cheers from NE Florida!

[@maritarver4588]

This was absolutely lovely to watch! Please tell Monica "Well done!"🎉

[@Katseye102]

I had no idea so many shoes had been saved out of the Thames!! And how many different kinds! But that stands to reason how many different items of various kinds are found, and how far the history layers go. Just interesting beyond imagination. Monika is just wonderful and I would love to just sit and listen to her stories! As we listen to yours Nicola, which are always interesting. So much more history than they tell you in school. I think it would have made going to history class much more interesting! Take care Nicola! Happy Valentines Day!! ❤️❤️❤️🦋🦋💐💐

[@tillybinkieking7258]

Nicola! You are such an Expert!

[@clivehorridge]

Love the enthusiasm of these collectors and protectors of our history. Makes me emotional sometimes, especially the baby shoe. Greetings from a Brit in Romania 🇷🇴❤️

[@katherinedean7232]

What an amazing video! I thoroughly enjoyed this visit to your friend's house. Thanks for taking us along.

[@christinewilkinson3772]

What a wonderful restoration Monica!

[@Mudhooks]

What a wonderful little shoe!!! I think shoes are one of the most evocative finds from the past. Shoes are not only very personal but they tell you so much about the wearer… their occupation, their station in life, the conditions in which they lived and worked, and, if we’re really lucky, actually show the wearer’s foot-marks on the inside of the sole and the creases in the upper from wear… the latter being especially poignant because they are actual tangible connections to the wearer.

[@LoolabelleM]

Fantastic job done on that shoe 👏👏 The shoe is so sweet 🥰

[@invisiblegypsy1328]

My G. Grandad John Casey, died of pneumonia after rescuing a child who had fallen in the Thames in 1897. He left three young boys, one of whom was my Grandad who was ten at the time. I think of that every time I see the Thames.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

So very sad x

[@JeanStAubin-nl9uo]

Thank you Nicola and Monica!

[@angieh90]

This is the most memorable episode I have seen. I have admired your work and knowledge as a want-to-be mudlarker for some time. I am from Washington State and in the 1970s I spent a lot of time as a child digging through 100 yr old garbage dumps on the shores of Hood Canal, a 40 mile long natural canal on the Olympic Peninsula, where we had many Victorian settlers near Port Townsend, WA. In addition to my collection of antique (1800s) bottles from the hillside dump, my incredible childhood allowed me to explore the woodlands and the 100 year old structural ruins from the church yard to the orchard housing. In one orchard hut, I found an old carved wooden shoe mold, either for a woman or child- most exciting! As a young girl, immediately gave it to my mother (a historian). So I just emailed her to ask where it was! I have since been to the UK 48+ times, and dream of doing what you do and sharing the love for artisans and civilizations past.

[@mariehillard1742]

Who on God's earth could possibly be interested in old shoes! We'll I was! Thank you Monika this was a special treat for me. I'm almost green thinking about finding these old treasures from many years gone by. We don't have anything like that where I live. Anyway I'm rambling on. Thank you girls I've thoroughly enjoyed this episode. I look forward to each week actually. Keep well keep happy & keep on doing what you do so well Nicola. All the best from the land down under.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Haha thank you! ❤

[@patriciawhite619]

Thank you Nicola, I pop in to see your finds on and off.. todays video is an absolute delight.. x

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Thank you Patricia! I am so glad you enjoyed it ❤️

[@robyntaylor7476]

The wooden tube might be a needle case. I have a similar one where both ends unscrew to store different sized sewing needles.

[@pheart2381]

A bit big for normal needles,but maybe for sail mending needles?

[@terrycrain7271]

Always a pleasure Nic! Very interesting shoe stories. Take care!

[@susanroller6905]

🥰🥰🥰🥰 Love all the " Ladies Who Lark " Thank you Nicola for sharing ! Stay safe and well, Hugs 🥰 xx

[@cathybrewer8958]

Monica did an awesome job on that precious shoe. Perfect looking. Enjoying to see items never heard of before and learning what and why they were made and their use.

[@rocketaroo]

I would gift it to Monica on her birthday!

[@chrisberry9017]

Thank you once again, Nicola, for another fascinating video! I’ve been in hospital for nearly four months, and when internet connection allows, my ‘go to’ has been your channel. Your opening good wishes have always resonated, but they mean all the more these days. Again, my thanks.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

I hope you're doing well Chris sending you love and hugs. ❤

[@vanessahawdon4419]

Oh my goodness the little shoe is absolutely darling thank you both for saving and restoring it

[@kar702]

Monica has an amazing skill she about knocked me out of my shoes😂 Her patience and talent are astounding actually this is truly a lost form of art.

[@MoggiesTen]

The pooping goose was priceless.

[@thomaspoeta6308]

Oh Nicola! We are new subscribers Tom and Peggy Poeta! We have watched probably 20 of your videos you make me so happy. I knew this Little shoe Was going to be the find of the day! Remarkable! Thank you for being you. I hope to hear back from you.

[@nicolawhitemudlark]

Hi Peggy and Tom! Thank you and welcome! I'm so glad you enjoy the videos. And yes. Isn't the shoe adorable!? Have a lovely Sunday. Nicola xx

[@KittyHannah]

Omg I love this Monica human! My kind of person!

[@dianat119]

The thought never entered my head that shoes and restoration of shoes could be so fascinating. It was amazing to see the transformation of that little shoe that you found. The little brooch was also lovely and it would, I think have been a treasured possession of some lady in the past. I really do love to see the things you find, so much history behind many of them. Thank you for taking us with you on your mudlarking adventures.

[@meredithgreenslade1965]

Wow, that shoe is gorgeous. Well done, Monica.

[@Helmdep]

What a beautiful, tasteful home Monica has

[@larkdavis6041]

Oh that postcard is absolutely wonderful!!!!!❤

[@teresahill6356]

WOW the restoration of that little shoe is fantastic well done Monica and well done Nickola for finding it.❤

[@jeremychrzan]

That's a beautiful pheasant and a great find with that shoe! Please keep enjoying the mudlarking (and the deep-dive into history) for all of us.