16 posts tagged “craft challenge”

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.

I really love this new design.  It fits perfectly under my arm, and it's a very pleasing size.  I'm going to make lots and lots of these. 

I've also been working on a chair for my husband.  It's a 1940's era platform rocker.  This will be the second time I've reupholstered it, and this time it needs some repair work done to the frame.  Photographs to be posted soon.

 

I had to take my iMac into the Apple store today.  I made this bag to make it easier to get it from the car into the store.  It fits the 17" iMac.  Functional projects are the most satisfying for me.  I have a really hard time making something that isn't functional, actually.  I feel like it's a waste of time.

I also spent some time this week re-doing our web site.  I like it better now.  You can see it here.

This was my birthday gift from my  husband (the ipod, not the case).  I made the case for it, and then I made a case for the case.  The inside cozy is made from heavy interfacing, a Japanese cotton print, clear vinyl over the screen, and a red snap on the back.  I made the strap long in case I wanted to attach it to something.  The second sleeve is made from clear vinyl, with a head-phone-ear-bud pocket on the back.  It makes me feel really, really good that this is done.  I had a lot of anxiety that the ipod would be destroyed by liquids, or dropping, or any number of catastrophes,   so now I feel better.   I'm making a matching camera case out of this fabric also.

I had a birthday party on Saturday, even though our birthday was a week ago.  I like to have it later so I can invite all of my April-birthday friends without having all the work of a party on my real birthday.  On my real birthday, my husband took us all out to The Ocean Club. 

Cy's birthday was on Saturday, and he brought his tiny sample of a newborn baby with him.  She was born on April 5th.  I made her this blanket:

I also scored one of the prettiest rosaries I've ever seen.  My friend Shannon gave it to me, and at the top of the cross is a tiny magnifying glass with an image of Mary.

Chris, whose birthday is April 18th, also came to our party, and I'm really only mentioning him to publicly shame him.  I gave him a huge, bible-like cook book because he's always asking me how to cook things like mashed potatoes.  He gave me a handful of plastic electrical caps that screw on over live electrical wires.  Sure, I can use them, but I know he just grabbed them out of his garage on the way over.  Thanks, Chris.

I found this machine at my mom's house yesterday.  The wires connecting the foot pedal to the machine were disconnected, and it was missing a foot as well as a bobbin case.  I rewired it last night, and then went to the Singer store today (the lady there noticed my necklace, and I got to tell her about Etsy, kind of like I belong to a cult) and got the other parts I needed.  I just came home and fixed it all up, oiled it, and it's sewing up cuts like a real champ.  I think I'll keep this one in my living room so I can watch TV while I sew.

I checked it out on the Singer website, and I was really impressed with how they have it all organized.  I was able to find out this machine was made around July 15, 1957, as well as the numbers and types of all the parts it needed.  I could even get the manual if I was so inclined.  I won't though, because this little gem is pretty straight-forward.

This is just  the inside.  I already put my crap in there.  The front pocket is for my JoAnn's flyer.   I also made my husband a new pair of pajama pants.  He wears them all the time, and I always try to find funny prints.  These are made from  space-man flannel.  I make stuff like this all the time, but I don't put it up.  I'm indulging today cause it's the last day of the craft challenge.

I made this today and listed it here.  I've been telling everyone all day that this bag pisses excellence (I think it's funny to say that because of Will Farrell).  I also got an order of thread and skirt lining today.  I ordered it yesterday at 2pm from Michigan.  It got to me in Ohio at 11am today.  It made my day, because I was totally out of black nylon thread.  I also got some curved needles.  I love me some curved needles.  I realize this is boring to anyone who isn't me.

      

 



I started this six years ago.  I machine pieced the top and then decided to hand quilt it.  I hand quilted about 1/3 of it and then stashed it away.  Hand quilting does not satisfy my need for instant gratification, but I had already done a lot of it, so I felt like I should continue what I started.  That's why it sat in a closet for six years.  I came to the conclusion that if I had to hand quilt it, it would never be finished.  I machine quilted it, and the day after I decided to do that, it was done.  I feel all Zen about it.  Make a decision and follow through.  It's a good lesson.


                                                                

I made the little wristlet, Randi made the tote.  I put them both on Etsy.  My dog is doing better, but I'm pretty horrified every time I look at him.  It takes a second for my head to process what's going on, and in the meantime all I get is a visceral, "this is really wrong".  I might make him a little Civil War uniform.