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The woman who lives with her shoes: Meet the footwear fan whose home is consumed by her $500,000 obsession

Published: 09:07 EST, 29 August 2012 | Updated: 12:41 EST, 29 August 2012

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A shoe obsessive has broken her own record for the world's largest footwear-themed collection, with an amazing 16,400 pieces.

Darlene Flynn, 57, from Romoland, California, otherwise known as 'The Shoe Lady', or 'Queen of Sole', started her collection following a divorce in 2001. By 2006 she had 7,765 items and had been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Now, with a collection over double that size, estimated to be worth $500,000, her entry has been updated for the 2013 edition.

Shoe-obsessed: Darlene Flynn, 58, from Romoland, California, who was known as 'The Shoe Lady', has been found dead in her pool, and her former boyfriend has been arrested on suspicion of murder

Retail therapy: Flynn started her collection following a divorce in 2001. By 2006 she had 7,765 items and had been inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records

As well as actual shoes, Ms Flynn collects shoe-shaped furniture, shoe-themed art, pins, clothing, teapots, soap, phones, porcelains, and thousands of miniature shoe figurines.

Among the more famous items are a replica of the Disney Cinderella glass slipper, Dorothy's red shoes from the Wizard of Oz, an array of Betty Boop shoes and Barbie heels by the bundle.

Glass display cabinets adorn nearly every room in her home, and it takes Ms Flynn a staggering two full weeks to remove each item from its display cabinet and set it out.

World record: The Guinness Book of World Records says Flynn had nearly 15,000 shoe-related items, including shoe-shaped furniture, lamps and jewelry, estimated to be worth $500,000

A display of salt and pepper porcelon miniature shoes

Small wonders: A display of porcelain miniature shoes at Flynn's home

'Dar's Shoe Heaven': Ms Flynn's vast collection started with just 28 figurines

'Dar's Shoe Heaven': Flynn's vast collection started with just 28 figurines

She admitted in an interview with the North County Times: 'I don't know why it had to be shoes. I just love them and it kind of got out of control.'

Best foot forward: Flynn hoped to one day own a shoe museum

She says she was inspired to buy her first 28 shoe figurines after visiting a family friend who collected them, around the time that she and her husband divorced.

'I didn't have to focus on a husband anymore and I had time to concentrate on the shoes,' she said.

'I love having them around. I look at them everyday and I remember when I bought them and my travels around the world.'

Though she has spent up to $1,800 on a single miniature shoe, Ms Flynn's most treasured item is a boot worn by her late grandmother on her wedding day.

The mother-of-one says she can wear 'only' about 100 pairs from her shoe collection, and aspires to one day create a shoe museum.

She almost even became the real-life lady who lives in a shoe, having once placed a $6,000 bid on eBay to purchase a 16ft by 20ft building shaped like a shoe. Unfortunately for Ms Flynn, someone else beat her to it.

'I would live in a shoe, if it was big enough to hold my other shoes,' she admitted.

Scroll on to see highlights from Darlene Flynn's collection...

Cinderella story: A replica of the famous glass slipper from the popular fairytale

Collector's items: Genuine Limoges shoe rack box

A display of two of Darlene's oldest shoes: the small one is carved out of wood, from the Philips family in Oregon, and is 100 years old whereas the big one is her Grandmothers's wedding boot which is 80 years old

A display of 'Miss Vicky' aka 'Blue Prominade' shoe

A small 100-year-old wooden shoe from Oregon and Ms Flynn's grandmother's wedding boot (left); The 'Miss Vicky' aka 'Blue Promenade' shoe (right)

A display of the 'Upside Down House Shoe' by John Herbert'

A display of the most unusual Boot toilet brush holder

Novelties: The 'Upside Down House Shoe' by John Herbert (left) and a boot toilet brush holder (right)

Miniature treasure: Tiny 14-carat gold shoes, the smallest in Flynn's collection

Darleen Flynn holds a cute tea pot full of tiny shoes

Time for tea: A teapot fashioned to resemble stacks of designer shoe boxes

Intricate details: Some of the many porcelain antique shoe miniatures

Uncle Sam Boot by John Herbert that includes a military boot, rifles, grenades, dog tags, bullets, and medals, with the American flag

Darlene's darlings: Uncle Sam Boot by John Herbert that includes a military boot, rifles, grenades, dog tags, bullets, and medals (left); Ms Flynn holds a miniature ceramic boot (right)

Fairytale theme: Cinderella's Slipper salt and pepper set, a blue pillow from the Disney Enchantment collection, ostrich egg with glass slipper worth $250. The tiny shoe on the gold pillow is worth $250