Crafty Thread - what are you working on at the moment?

[ginger_syn]

This slip cover lark is hard work.

 

[Boudicca]

This slip cover lark is hard work.

 

[ginger_syn]

progress so far, thankfully you can't see the bloodstains.
The easy bits are next

 

[ginger_syn]

I cant decide which way i want the pattern to go on the arms, any advice(witin reason) appreciated

 

[Calamity1971]

I cant decide which way i want the pattern to go on the arms, any advice(witin reason) appreciated View attachment 165619

Both look good. I'm torn, the one on the left is more symmetrical the one on the right has more of a contrast?

 

[Calamity1971]

Found a nice log, hollowing out the middle in the hope of making a boutique bug house.
It's going to look amazing in my minds eye

 

[ginger_syn]

Thats the problem I have, i like them both.
I have until i finish a cup of coffee to decide, also the seat cover will follow the line of the back cover, and i thought this was the easy bit

 

[Boudicca]

Bit late to the party, I'm voting right. It's never going to line up completely, so better to go with the contrast.

Could you get a bit of foam to bolster that seat up a bit?

 

[Calamity1971]

Hollowed out. Got some bamboo canes, picked up some pine cones on my dog walk along with moss. Need to forage something to blank one side off.

 

[ginger_syn]

Went with contrast in the end no need to make it any harder than it needs to be.

 

[ginger_syn]

My fingers are really sore which is why this whine will be brief but what was i thinking, I haven't sewn anything more complicated than a split trouser seem for years the only thing keeping me going is how hideous that chair looks, I'm buying a thimble tomorrow and hopefully my ridiculously swollen, bright red and bloody painfull fingertips will be back to normal.

Sorry rant over and its a very comfy chair so it will be worth it, possibly.

 

[ginger_syn]

This is not helping, pins went all over the floor

 

[Calamity1971]

View attachment 165774
This is not helping, pins went all over the floor

Ive just had similar with seedlings on the windowsill. Not sure why I thought that would work .

 

[ginger_syn]

Finally finished both arm covers, tomorrow its on to cutting and covering the new seat pad, covering the footrest and possibly making removable cushion for my feet when the chair is reclining.

 

[moose]

I'm buying a thimble tomorrow and hopefully my ridiculously swollen, bright red and bloody painfull fingertips will be back to normal.

Are you sewing it by hand?

 

[ginger_syn]

Are you sewing it by hand?

Yes, I don't like sewing machines they freak me out and hand sewing is relaxing in smaller doses

 

[Saul Goodman]

I've been working on this tanto while I was in the naughty corner.

The blade, with the habaki fitted and the mekugi hole drilled.

The saya (sheath) and fitting the kurigata.
I followed the Japanese sword maker's tradition of making the glue for the wood from a rice paste. It works very well.

And a lick of paint

The next few hours were spent on the tsuka (handle). Fitting the kashira and fuchi, wrapping the ito over the samekawa and menuki , and making sure the mekugi still lined up once it was all together.

I don't think it turned out tea bag.

I'll have to take him off ignore next time I want to achieve something

 

[Boudicca]

Back in January when I was sitting around with nothing to so, I decided to sew some stuff to sell. The business woman in me knows that sewing for profit is nigh on impossible, so I've settled for funding my fabric habit. I did my first market on Saturday, didn't take a lot of cash, but not a complete disaster.

 

[8115]

I made this. It looks a lot better on, it's actually a really nice slouchy hat.

 

[wayward bob]

I've been working on this tanto while I was in the naughty corner.

<swoons>

 

[wayward bob]

i have a new project reviving a victorian writing slope. it's classy, intricate and original on the inside, but the outside is a wreck i'm thinking of doing something pretty drastic in relation to any notional value it has, but will hopefully make it fully functional for as long as i'm likely to need it

 

[Calamity1971]

i have a new project reviving a victorian writing slope. it's classy, intricate and original on the inside, but the outside is a wreck i'm thinking of doing something pretty drastic in relation to any notional value it has, but will hopefully make it fully functional for as long as i'm likely to need it

I love them. Can we have a before pic please.

 

[Baronage-Phase]

i have a new project reviving a victorian writing slope. it's classy, intricate and original on the inside, but the outside is a wreck i'm thinking of doing something pretty drastic in relation to any notional value it has, but will hopefully make it fully functional for as long as i'm likely to need it

What wood is it? Has it any inlay? If its plain then why not just clean it, stain and French polish it? Even a basic one is quite valuable now. £300 would be a conservative estimate.

 

[wayward bob]

I love them. Can we have a before pic please.

best side

worst side

 

[Calamity1971]

best side

worst side

Leather?

 

[wayward bob]

yup "morocco". sheep's leather (i learned from my brief foray into conservation rabbit-warren,) you can tell by the way the top layer peels off in sheets

(eta: it came to me peeled i have been doing no further peeling!)

 

[Baronage-Phase]

best side

worst side

I wouldn't do too much to it. Its lovely. Just needs some of the loose leather sticking down and a clean. I'd leave it then. It's a nice writing slope.

 

[wayward bob]

i'm going to tape it across the front!

(there's method in my madness )

 

[wayward bob]

let me expand

in original condition, by a fancier (later?) maker, a similar box looks like this:

you see the two hinges at the front? mine doesn't have those, so it's only held on by the leather, which weakens and eventually gives at the seam and the whole box comes apart. mine hasn't done that yet, which is why the interior is still in original nick (most restorations have replacement interior leather).

the bookbinder in me wants to use archival linen tape (in black) to reinforce that outside seam and hopefully prevent that happening. that way i can clean up and keep the remaining exterior leather while hopefully supporting/preserving the inside.

it needs new baize on the base and the 3 white "notepads" section in the above pic is gone altogether. i'm searching for the ideal black/gold/orangey-red japanese paper to line that bit in

 

[wayward bob]

oh it also has a secret compartment that i'm hoping to reassemble and it's missing a section of a front clasp and i think i know someone who should be able to make me one or talk me through making one myself