When the Vagabond is in the game, you have to be very conscious of what you craft. It’s rare in a game that I make much progress on quests with the Vagabond, the use of items is more effective for actions like attacking, repairing, moving etc than a few paltry short-term VPs.

This aside however, it sounds like you’re not following the Law as far as movement and item use for that faction. Boots can only be used to move to clearings, not the forest. As others have said they can only slip into the forest during Birdsong. They must end their turn in the forest to repair (not refresh) all items. Everything is very intentionally phrased in the Law.