6 posts tagged “chair”
I just finished this about 20 minutes ago. My house is a mess because this is all I did today. I still need to glue gimp (trim) around the arms, but I didn't have any that matched right now.
This is the progress I've made on my chair. I finished all the frame work, I stained and polyurethaned the feet, and I put the springs in. Today I made the attached cushion for the seat. It's filled with loose foam. There is no padding on the frame yet, so that's why it looks weird. Plus none of it is stapled down yet. I think I'm going to tuft the seat to keep the foam from migrating. The back cushion is for tomorrow, and it will definitely be tufted.
I made this little gal yesterday. It's linen, ticking and 1940's era reproduction prints left over from a couple quilts I made for my kids. I'm keeping the reason I made it under my hat for awhile.
I've been getting some more work done on my chair. Now, if this chair was a job, I'd have to have it done in about a week. Since it's my chair, and I'm doing it for fun, I can take my time. I can also play fast and loose with the rules, which includes using scrap wood and pocket screws where there should be dowels. I love me some pocket screws. If you're ever in a tight spot and need a quick, efficient joining method, the pocket screw plus glue never lets you down.
Here's what I've done:
1. I replaced both front legs with new ones. I had to knock the remaining leg out, add corner blocks, and use a Forstner bit to drill a hole big enough to attach the legs into the blocks. They still need stained and polyurethaned.
2. I reattached the rocker pieces that had come off. I used a combination of screws, glue and dowels. It's not going anywhere now. I'm going to reinforce the other side, too.
3. I knocked out all the side/front rails and replaced them with poplar. I pocket-screwed the back pieces and doweled the rest. I added oak supports on the inside and little chunks of poplar in the front to create a good sitting angle.
4. I started adding the clips for the springs. I'm using zig-zag springs which are generally considered a cheap and easy alternative to hand-tied springs. I'm using them because the rounded bottom of the chair makes webbing and spring-tying impossible. My other option was to build a drop-in spring unit. Frankly, I didn't want to put that kind of time into this.
I added a photo of what this chair looks like when it reclines. It's a pretty awesome and timeless design. Once I get the springs in, I can start upholstering it. I saved the spring job for tomorrow because it's a huge pain in the ass and I wanted to bake something.
Here's what I've done:
1. I replaced both front legs with new ones. I had to knock the remaining leg out, add corner blocks, and use a Forstner bit to drill a hole big enough to attach the legs into the blocks. They still need stained and polyurethaned.
2. I reattached the rocker pieces that had come off. I used a combination of screws, glue and dowels. It's not going anywhere now. I'm going to reinforce the other side, too.
3. I knocked out all the side/front rails and replaced them with poplar. I pocket-screwed the back pieces and doweled the rest. I added oak supports on the inside and little chunks of poplar in the front to create a good sitting angle.
4. I started adding the clips for the springs. I'm using zig-zag springs which are generally considered a cheap and easy alternative to hand-tied springs. I'm using them because the rounded bottom of the chair makes webbing and spring-tying impossible. My other option was to build a drop-in spring unit. Frankly, I didn't want to put that kind of time into this.
I added a photo of what this chair looks like when it reclines. It's a pretty awesome and timeless design. Once I get the springs in, I can start upholstering it. I saved the spring job for tomorrow because it's a huge pain in the ass and I wanted to bake something.
This is my current project, which has been put on hold for most of the week. I did get it apart, and now the frame needs fixed. It's missing a leg (I ordered new ones yesterday), and the right platform-rocking piece needs reattached. I've been slacking on it because we've all had to get up at 7am all this week for school tests for my children. I know most of the world gets up around that time, but I've never been able to do it and function well. Most nights, I go to sleep closer to 7am than waking up at that time.
I've had a bizarre twenty-four hours.
At the start of our drive this morning, we saw an old lady and her husband in some trouble. It appeared as though she had fallen, and hit her head on the curb. She had blood running down her face, and her husband couldn't help her because he didn't seem to be in much better shape. She was slumped in a heap on the curb, all this traffic passing her. Before we could get there, another man saw her and went over. Then another car stopped. I pulled over and asked if I could help, or call for help, but someone had just called. I did see the police as I drove away and flagged them down. It made me sad, because she was too old to be out, catching buses or whatever. She should have someone to take her places. I cried about it, because she could have been my grandmother, or me. It did make me feel better about humanity in general, to see so many stopping for her. Psychology class and the news would have you believe that most people don't stop.
Also, my husband has been tattooing the Sistine Chapel on this guy at the shop. He would come home and tell me these crazy stories like this kid said he had been pistol-whipped, or otherwise in sketchy situations. Then one day he came in and said that he had put a gun in his mouth the night before, but thought better of it. My husband said he was a likable guy, just perhaps had not been given the tools to follow the better path. A friend of this kid called the shop yesterday to set up an appointment for a memorial tattoo for him because she said he had been shot in the face early Monday morning. At first we thought he had done it himself, but now it seems someone shot him on the street, about a block from my house. The only reason he was found was because the ghetto bird was looking for someone else on an "unrelated incident". It creeped me out because it was so close to home, both literally and figuratively. I like to believe that I live in a safer place than that, but it's a residential neighborhood in a pretty big city. I guess stuff like that happens everywhere. I still have his tattoo images saved on my computer.
All of this is disturbing, compounded by my lack of sleep. I think it's causing my ankles to swell. I'm going to eat something good for dinner and sleep in tomorrow.
I've had a bizarre twenty-four hours.
At the start of our drive this morning, we saw an old lady and her husband in some trouble. It appeared as though she had fallen, and hit her head on the curb. She had blood running down her face, and her husband couldn't help her because he didn't seem to be in much better shape. She was slumped in a heap on the curb, all this traffic passing her. Before we could get there, another man saw her and went over. Then another car stopped. I pulled over and asked if I could help, or call for help, but someone had just called. I did see the police as I drove away and flagged them down. It made me sad, because she was too old to be out, catching buses or whatever. She should have someone to take her places. I cried about it, because she could have been my grandmother, or me. It did make me feel better about humanity in general, to see so many stopping for her. Psychology class and the news would have you believe that most people don't stop.
Also, my husband has been tattooing the Sistine Chapel on this guy at the shop. He would come home and tell me these crazy stories like this kid said he had been pistol-whipped, or otherwise in sketchy situations. Then one day he came in and said that he had put a gun in his mouth the night before, but thought better of it. My husband said he was a likable guy, just perhaps had not been given the tools to follow the better path. A friend of this kid called the shop yesterday to set up an appointment for a memorial tattoo for him because she said he had been shot in the face early Monday morning. At first we thought he had done it himself, but now it seems someone shot him on the street, about a block from my house. The only reason he was found was because the ghetto bird was looking for someone else on an "unrelated incident". It creeped me out because it was so close to home, both literally and figuratively. I like to believe that I live in a safer place than that, but it's a residential neighborhood in a pretty big city. I guess stuff like that happens everywhere. I still have his tattoo images saved on my computer.
All of this is disturbing, compounded by my lack of sleep. I think it's causing my ankles to swell. I'm going to eat something good for dinner and sleep in tomorrow.
It's a bookmark.
It's leather, with the straps and appliques done in a feedsack reproduction. It's called "Guinea Pig Haircut", because my sister said that's the kind of hair you'd have if you carried this. I told her in order to carry her bag, you have to be a pussy-faced whore. Then I laughed really hard.
I'm outing some of my unfinished projects, hoping the exposure will shame me into finishing them. I have quite a few little chairs that need reupholstered. I collect them. This is one I bought for $15, and gutted it. I sanded and painted it, then couldn't decide what I should paint next. I also removed the old side rails and pocket-screwed new oak ones in their places. The springs need retied, and I need to upholster it.
This is a hood I started to crochet last month. I work on it when I"m watching T.V., but I just got a couple new books, so I put this aside.
I'm outing some of my unfinished projects, hoping the exposure will shame me into finishing them. I have quite a few little chairs that need reupholstered. I collect them. This is one I bought for $15, and gutted it. I sanded and painted it, then couldn't decide what I should paint next. I also removed the old side rails and pocket-screwed new oak ones in their places. The springs need retied, and I need to upholster it.
This is a hood I started to crochet last month. I work on it when I"m watching T.V., but I just got a couple new books, so I put this aside.
I've been playing Zelda. "Playing" is an understated way of saying "totally consumed by". I'm also feeling relieved that Christmas is over. My husband gave me an iMac that does everything my old one wouldn't. He totally out-gifted me. My plans to sew have been hijacked by iTunes. Tonight we're having a party with potato skins.
Oh, that chair is slipcovered, and has a matching footstool. I'm glad I haven't had to make any cushions this week.
Oh, that chair is slipcovered, and has a matching footstool. I'm glad I haven't had to make any cushions this week.
