tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15012683520368702182024-03-05T14:41:38.484-08:00Amethistle: Creativity for the Fun of It!I pick up craft hobbies like dogs pick up fleas, and I love my dogs!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-85251275761369616232020-11-10T14:30:00.000-08:002020-11-10T14:30:04.742-08:00A Weighty Problem<p>I needed "real" pattern weights. Staplers and scissors tend to be my go-to pattern weights because I keep them nearby, but they get kind of unwieldy for holding down bra patterns that have lots of individual little fiddly pieces. </p><p><a href="https://fabmo.org">FabMo</a>, my favorite source for fabrics (except for bras!), also regularly gets donations of tiles from high-end bathroom design stores at the San Francisco Design Center. Many of these are plain (but handmade!) 4-inch or 6-inch square tiles and 2" by 4" subway tiles, but they often get other sizes and shapes, as well as mounted pattern examples that make great trivets. I recently found a square-foot sample of hand-cut marble pieces held together by fiberglass mesh and grout on the backs, as well as a few nice small shaped tiles. They would make great pattern weights!</p><p>I pulled apart the marble squares by hand, and pulled off as much of the mesh and grout as I could. It was only after doing that for an hour or so that I realized the mesh was fiberglass! Oops. Handling fiberglass with bare hands isn't a good idea, and I had lots of little fiberglass splinters in my hands to remind me. I did manage to get most of them out with Scotch tape or tweezers. I wore medical gloves for the rest of the time I was working with the fiberglass.</p><p>I found an article on the web that suggested using plain granulated sugar dissolved in water to help scrub the grout off tiles, so I put about a cup of sugar in two cups of water, stirred, and dumped in several of my marble tiles. It also suggested using a piece of wood to scrape off the grout to avoid scratching the tile.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-z28mcfFig7RPJ9dxP63QNHJQ0PXvytQCpLeTuOJ1Ix2AidrMDIt9u6qUzcuHSemyquDVOJxsIe9X8mXJvNWNJTC2YFw241kmsocL7oXUord6p_c54qmfZ9-Ic69_xzq9FU11duAkeA/s3003/PXL_20201103_220635592.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Plastic jar full of marble pieces, tiles, and sugar water" border="0" data-original-height="3003" data-original-width="2919" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-z28mcfFig7RPJ9dxP63QNHJQ0PXvytQCpLeTuOJ1Ix2AidrMDIt9u6qUzcuHSemyquDVOJxsIe9X8mXJvNWNJTC2YFw241kmsocL7oXUord6p_c54qmfZ9-Ic69_xzq9FU11duAkeA/w311-h320/PXL_20201103_220635592.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the tiles after I had tried to pull off the fiberglass and grout by hand and after soaking in the sugar water for half an hour. The stringy stuff is the fiberglass.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoh_FZco9t6o2zXpdaeRvn-tqhSg1h89CAAInGoy-nDvXkBQjptWYD2LbzS8MnOF90mXrLtngd4uD1tv1GQW-3LPGZky5-sIGUEBsjWrkbZsfkgPbfSbWGcug6c5jRFy8zNSGQuq_ZqU/s2779/PXL_20201103_220737398.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Three square pieces of marble showing the grout and fiberglass on the bottom of each one." border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="2664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoh_FZco9t6o2zXpdaeRvn-tqhSg1h89CAAInGoy-nDvXkBQjptWYD2LbzS8MnOF90mXrLtngd4uD1tv1GQW-3LPGZky5-sIGUEBsjWrkbZsfkgPbfSbWGcug6c5jRFy8zNSGQuq_ZqU/w307-h320/PXL_20201103_220737398.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: leftt;"><span style="text-align: left;">I used some disposable chopsticks to try scraping off the grout, but they were useless (and they broke). I finally tried a razor scraper, which worked, though I did go through several blades while scraping grout off about 16 tiles. I'm not sure the sugar water helped with the grout, but it did help keep the fiberglass under control because it was slightly sticky!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY_rXMNdeD_Ujv9TJspfPlpmW2uXlRoG2iLQiXfXjChMwld0VXOaWP-5iqlPPZ-8Y4eQ4POrnyViHPbCOVWyrsrm5qoIw5Xuj-upyVvi0dxygDFO4s8nTw1R1L9nMblKsF5XrNIvvBhg/s3591/PXL_20201103_220843725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Three pieces of marble showing grout and fiberglass, plus gloved hand holding razor scraper tool." border="0" data-original-height="3591" data-original-width="2853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY_rXMNdeD_Ujv9TJspfPlpmW2uXlRoG2iLQiXfXjChMwld0VXOaWP-5iqlPPZ-8Y4eQ4POrnyViHPbCOVWyrsrm5qoIw5Xuj-upyVvi0dxygDFO4s8nTw1R1L9nMblKsF5XrNIvvBhg/w254-h320/PXL_20201103_220843725.jpg" width="254" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_poIRNF8AcZ6d67_wn3huRabB_A1DMSD8fnzqjqhGuz5gDzpmopnMrADRNplrJv4ro99QCmfUbU2lMserg4Xr5hhEJjXHyIb_lESotMJfqmJcgyHOAMXSZC6LN7Xp0cvkVHAOGqgatQ/s4032/PXL_20201103_221012641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two pieces of marble. One has had the grout and fiberglass scraped off in a chunk, also visible. Razor scraper tool.raper" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_poIRNF8AcZ6d67_wn3huRabB_A1DMSD8fnzqjqhGuz5gDzpmopnMrADRNplrJv4ro99QCmfUbU2lMserg4Xr5hhEJjXHyIb_lESotMJfqmJcgyHOAMXSZC6LN7Xp0cvkVHAOGqgatQ/w240-h320/PXL_20201103_221012641.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I soaked one scraped marble piece in vinegar overnight. I had heard that vinegar (and acids in general) was bad for marble. Yep, it is! Here is the vinegar-soaked tile on the right, with another tile (polished to a nice shine, though the shine isn't really visible in the picture) on the left for comparison. The vinegar ate away at the matrix material of the tile, leaving a pale, soft chalky surface with little harder inclusions sticking out slightly. Lesson: don't pour vinegar on your marble floors!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMSxfUqiyGGJgUYyNEBQ6-HcB0KaLXU8wdCICookuxRj786R583HzLhKeFuxejj_L-tm_8D0u-Vh_BbGDrtqJ5XzL7pXvXP44bX7MPtFtOj-OU4r9dBSROLyJoPiYJ9fAfqvWlEzij9U/s3508/PXL_20201107_053449494.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Polished, darker marble tile on left. Vinegar-soaked, paler marble on right." border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="3508" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMSxfUqiyGGJgUYyNEBQ6-HcB0KaLXU8wdCICookuxRj786R583HzLhKeFuxejj_L-tm_8D0u-Vh_BbGDrtqJ5XzL7pXvXP44bX7MPtFtOj-OU4r9dBSROLyJoPiYJ9fAfqvWlEzij9U/w320-h182/PXL_20201107_053449494.MP.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Making the Pattern Weights</h2><div>Here is how to make the simple pattern weights.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Materials needed:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Small tiles or pieces of marble or stone with a flat bottom, from 1 inch by 2 inches up to 2 inches by 4 inches (about 2.5 cm by 5 cm up to 5 cm by 10cm). Approximately 2 inches by 2 inches (about 5 cm by 5 cm) is ideal for most uses.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR86GR-Xe_Yns4ctnMKLEnkht2tkgahnUFz0HG06GXfBlZfexCUzjnT3QGsVwhaLb5xI7VhZbQwMYsbOy8LYtCvVJDstDIaasZONf_5EMDK4HVsz-7vC_cN2LG8FPRkVAavz-iugr4iQ/s2757/PXL_20201107_053415465.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Example marble pieces, just under 2 inches by 2 inches, plus two example tiles that are each2 inches by 4 inches." border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="2757" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeR86GR-Xe_Yns4ctnMKLEnkht2tkgahnUFz0HG06GXfBlZfexCUzjnT3QGsVwhaLb5xI7VhZbQwMYsbOy8LYtCvVJDstDIaasZONf_5EMDK4HVsz-7vC_cN2LG8FPRkVAavz-iugr4iQ/w320-h207/PXL_20201107_053415465.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cork sheet, about 1/8 inch thick (2-5 mm thick). Available at craft stores, office supply stores, and stores such as Daiso. My roll of cork sheet came from Office Depot.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ktoP0KIXkUl5NblBmLCklAjZyGe8ju9rCIfmQA0dcfa6fNxaDMSJ962ZgAW-Ynm8ka92to5DezY2lEKT4CucDjBy4dbGPILC8bDPDBLSIhE9FrMJMqzrFrrqgs4rlWCJJnXvn8Hibhg/s3626/PXL_20201104_020310925.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roll of cork sheet with label on it" border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="3626" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ktoP0KIXkUl5NblBmLCklAjZyGe8ju9rCIfmQA0dcfa6fNxaDMSJ962ZgAW-Ynm8ka92to5DezY2lEKT4CucDjBy4dbGPILC8bDPDBLSIhE9FrMJMqzrFrrqgs4rlWCJJnXvn8Hibhg/w320-h79/PXL_20201104_020310925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Glue or adhesive. I used basic Elmer's white glue. Tacky glue will also work. Adhesive sheet or double-stick tape will also work, but I have found that those are more likely to come unstuck over time. The pattern weights do not need to be waterproof. If water gets on them while you are working with a pattern, your pattern would be more damaged than the pattern weight!<br /><br /></li><li>Scissors, knife or rotary cutter and ruler for cutting the cork.<br /><br /></li><li>Pen/pencil for marking the cork if needed. Do NOT use a marker to trace around the tile, not even a washable marker. The tile or marble sucks in the ink, and it's impossible to wash off! Yes, I found this out the hard way.<br /><br /></li><li>Ruler</li></ul><b>Process</b></div><div><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">1. Trace around the tile or marble onto the cork. </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">2. Cut your pieces of cork slightly smaller than the tile so the cork does not show from the top of the pattern weight. Make to cork piece approximately 1/16th of an inch (1-2 mm) inside each edge of the tile.</div></div></blockquote><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxwnzqX3Vg-iLtnN7lJOk3INkw75QpNs4XUS64zIHehAIQaBjNxaFJ0-KdDTCRYvnS0p4OaD_vdD1MRW_6zRYH7YhTmOanKwQahqC2lzPBcTMWNplLzMcSrpfVScdRHFLVbTDsfRg7LI/s4032/PXL_20201104_020342522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hand holding a piece of marble and the corresponding cut piece of cork" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxwnzqX3Vg-iLtnN7lJOk3INkw75QpNs4XUS64zIHehAIQaBjNxaFJ0-KdDTCRYvnS0p4OaD_vdD1MRW_6zRYH7YhTmOanKwQahqC2lzPBcTMWNplLzMcSrpfVScdRHFLVbTDsfRg7LI/w240-h320/PXL_20201104_020342522.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br /></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div style="text-align: left;">3. Spread a small amount of glue onto one side of the cork and onto the bottom side of the tile. I spread the glue evenly with my finger on both pieces. You do not need much glue. If you have too much it will ooze out from the sides and make a mess.</div></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">4. Put the pieces together carefully and let dry. Clean off any excess glue if needed.</p></blockquote><p><b>All done! </b></p><div>Here are my finished pattern weights: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAQPBaa_ctXwe7tc4QupajLoatURmn5GgMEro0OAtpXGhM3EdsMtJ_Vh_04yTkcWnYlluYcPrAwR9EeqroJ7Wm9X5EvOZ4oWbhOIQTy8qxdXqnC3AeAJlbK-dfa1Yi1-cCbGX9kMJAYg/s2730/PXL_20201104_020504001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hand holding piece of marble with cork on bottom (not visible)" border="0" data-original-height="2521" data-original-width="2730" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAQPBaa_ctXwe7tc4QupajLoatURmn5GgMEro0OAtpXGhM3EdsMtJ_Vh_04yTkcWnYlluYcPrAwR9EeqroJ7Wm9X5EvOZ4oWbhOIQTy8qxdXqnC3AeAJlbK-dfa1Yi1-cCbGX9kMJAYg/w320-h296/PXL_20201104_020504001.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1ATygA5DCG1WL2aCmyDnjeNnndKDdqyLqiP1qpPsk5_NjUlk1ZtEqMZpNRLaxkrIh289ehIoPNhn4F0wSKUP8xDxvK8p74R2-OA99DBJvFJSDWgEEgjxLSvUGfpSRQBQCK71SdVPALc/s3068/PXL_20201104_020451069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hand holding piece of marble with cork on bottom (visible)" border="0" data-original-height="3068" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1ATygA5DCG1WL2aCmyDnjeNnndKDdqyLqiP1qpPsk5_NjUlk1ZtEqMZpNRLaxkrIh289ehIoPNhn4F0wSKUP8xDxvK8p74R2-OA99DBJvFJSDWgEEgjxLSvUGfpSRQBQCK71SdVPALc/w315-h320/PXL_20201104_020451069.jpg" width="315" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZXlVPXp0MB5l-kguHzrHfVsWZjX0_lYFUIFcWvwRzzbzfDwEbJY04wVKlZQxuFrXdtidWRztnI8iFBPLPBIZ_ojjoeTxWTT86Vd5NAUoL3FCdI09BU96-wbg6uWqYiFqBcnY11Fe5_A/s4032/PXL_20201106_215055630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pattern laid out on fabric with weights on pattern" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZXlVPXp0MB5l-kguHzrHfVsWZjX0_lYFUIFcWvwRzzbzfDwEbJY04wVKlZQxuFrXdtidWRztnI8iFBPLPBIZ_ojjoeTxWTT86Vd5NAUoL3FCdI09BU96-wbg6uWqYiFqBcnY11Fe5_A/w320-h240/PXL_20201106_215055630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8J4GQardsvCc8l2_1mY-Ngf2LKDjIOJGy44vDsxwLTHSpshzf_7ZYZ-dQk2o2H9aUd1FEGloFuNEBQJcDh0FG6K_9mW5pf4FebAR70thu6uj3hJKK8KNbb7qLa_5fJ_X-5j-g1nCco8/s2836/PXL_20201106_215136492.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pattern laid out on fabric with weights on pattern" border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="2454" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8J4GQardsvCc8l2_1mY-Ngf2LKDjIOJGy44vDsxwLTHSpshzf_7ZYZ-dQk2o2H9aUd1FEGloFuNEBQJcDh0FG6K_9mW5pf4FebAR70thu6uj3hJKK8KNbb7qLa_5fJ_X-5j-g1nCco8/w277-h320/PXL_20201106_215136492.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br /><br />P.S. If you do not have tiles easily available or making these is just too much bother, a set of heavy plastic (imitation ivory) dominoes work well as pattern weights. Alternatively, you can search for pattern weights from several makers on Etsy. <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-25498812089128568772020-09-28T22:08:00.008-07:002020-10-02T22:58:20.355-07:00Cushy Round Cushion, Round Two<p>I like my new meditation cushion! I still had three of the 25-inch by 11-inch <a href="https://fabmo.org">FabMo</a> samples left of the same heavy cotton fabric, so I made another one <i>almost</i> the same. I used 11-inch circles, and I installed a salvaged backpack zipper across the bottom circle. The difference here was that I used a 49-inch strip (two pieces sewn together) instead of the 59-inch strip I used for the first cushion. I also stuffed it with all the teeny sewing scraps I've been saving for such a purpose. Here is the second cushion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf6cfnkfuE-n3JbDCtAz8e3aCT8V3htTNgB2gQmt7RtipH2CClv_Mbl9U_ataZS9qN4VSWFg0C_POdQPKb7temBKXlMCFCwrFroA218D_3YG9C1i8iBQfoLWQwB15O8A-9-BUBG8rTkM/s4032/IMG_20200824_145422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slanted view of stuffed dark gray and off-white round meditation cushion" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDf6cfnkfuE-n3JbDCtAz8e3aCT8V3htTNgB2gQmt7RtipH2CClv_Mbl9U_ataZS9qN4VSWFg0C_POdQPKb7temBKXlMCFCwrFroA218D_3YG9C1i8iBQfoLWQwB15O8A-9-BUBG8rTkM/w320-h240/IMG_20200824_145422.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPa84wIkrWn7t81pX_iPQygRfDIM_lKUOdqfGOaOuj0uHkF4jC9MGpeMDRm3UNsy_WsDQHOd-ENhgrhP79W0qoJLLXjoOJUcG9FJEXd1kAzxvYXu780XmxvNLGwagRufhf9y71QvrfHA/s4032/IMG_20200824_145432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top view of stuffed dark gray and off-white round meditation cushion" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAPa84wIkrWn7t81pX_iPQygRfDIM_lKUOdqfGOaOuj0uHkF4jC9MGpeMDRm3UNsy_WsDQHOd-ENhgrhP79W0qoJLLXjoOJUcG9FJEXd1kAzxvYXu780XmxvNLGwagRufhf9y71QvrfHA/w320-h240/IMG_20200824_145432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Yeah, it has pleats, it looks nice, blah-blah... so what's interesting here? </p><p>Here are the two cushions together. The first cushion is on the right, and the second cushion is on the left.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0XFhBYjQAdVB2PKAmscPqHmvioKvX2FOaYdCRWmp2gdmvssc_qGiQX7P6X0VeWqT_mknuDXq034fJ3O9fS8acYPfs-mjjIViOYhNPs9OZ11HfmTFFs3OPNg0l9agwHFUWAkbEA8kqP8/s4032/IMG_20200829_115500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0XFhBYjQAdVB2PKAmscPqHmvioKvX2FOaYdCRWmp2gdmvssc_qGiQX7P6X0VeWqT_mknuDXq034fJ3O9fS8acYPfs-mjjIViOYhNPs9OZ11HfmTFFs3OPNg0l9agwHFUWAkbEA8kqP8/s320/IMG_20200829_115500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now here they are stacked. The first cushion is on the bottom, and the second cushion is on the top.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX09li6xGLKpeBev8V2JsS936wesNZ0GcwlgUke0vdCpzL6kPN3JqKKlKx6p6q8VyPioo7UWue_IDq0TT8MBEz8yYq_c2VmNcF3dO8_-hDds2U2GvPpHJ1JRUrySfTBPyUyZJ2SC-93EE/s2802/IMG_20200829_160107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Two round pillows, one stacked on top of the other" border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="2802" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX09li6xGLKpeBev8V2JsS936wesNZ0GcwlgUke0vdCpzL6kPN3JqKKlKx6p6q8VyPioo7UWue_IDq0TT8MBEz8yYq_c2VmNcF3dO8_-hDds2U2GvPpHJ1JRUrySfTBPyUyZJ2SC-93EE/w320-h292/IMG_20200829_160107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first cushion has a bigger diameter than the second cushion. The first cushion is also a bit shorter in height than the second cushion. They both have the same top and bottom circles. So what's going on here?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyiupmXZqhIw73aaTWFIycKh3g5MdZIXtr4cGMpP6omMen67xJhZ81SZnhM4Umg0JrJgMSD1PvP1pSxsZtzRFmOhNIYR_1t51ZXduQvRUSXhgKUbrk7ZaecLA4DZtlEMDBmoB__U7VEg/s4032/IMG_20200829_160106.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdyiupmXZqhIw73aaTWFIycKh3g5MdZIXtr4cGMpP6omMen67xJhZ81SZnhM4Umg0JrJgMSD1PvP1pSxsZtzRFmOhNIYR_1t51ZXduQvRUSXhgKUbrk7ZaecLA4DZtlEMDBmoB__U7VEg/s320/IMG_20200829_160106.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since the top and bottom circles are the same, the differences have to do with the lengths of the strips that go around the sides. Let's take a look:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L-200qcW8J1NP5fQxOQjGYIaWPbV4w2cLACmf3FhNBztCpwjMDEnR3J31mbLMZDIeDvOUTTalI95MEhYfcP0abKDibAvoW2Imp3gTpYpR3MZyJCQNzsK6rFMmpL0plcA5qyeXglIims/s873/CushionFig1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Figure 1 is described in the blog text" border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="873" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_L-200qcW8J1NP5fQxOQjGYIaWPbV4w2cLACmf3FhNBztCpwjMDEnR3J31mbLMZDIeDvOUTTalI95MEhYfcP0abKDibAvoW2Imp3gTpYpR3MZyJCQNzsK6rFMmpL0plcA5qyeXglIims/w640-h298/CushionFig1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Figure 1A above shows the side strip rectangle flat and showing the original length of the strip. Figure 1B above shows the strip once it is pleated. The pleated length <i>must</i> match the circumference of the top and bottom circles! This is the problem I had on my first pillow: my pleated strip was longer than the circumference of my circles. The height of the strips is the same. <div><br /></div><div>Figure 1C above shows the pleated strip wrapped around to form a cylinder with the top and bottom circles. Note that I am ignoring seam allowances and overlap in these diagrams.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBD9GgO3XztH32cIB9uM5JlDvFHei1GMTBo_pOy-2asv7Dkrcbb0_o2-wUjwI0Xacbv5qbFFOVt4ld7NBMQvTOWmx6WlfkRqFy-YR-ItD9RYb8aV-1bEYu5Lpqn-_V4WkN-9EiZYmheU/s925/CushionFig2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Figure 2 is described in the blog text" border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="925" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBD9GgO3XztH32cIB9uM5JlDvFHei1GMTBo_pOy-2asv7Dkrcbb0_o2-wUjwI0Xacbv5qbFFOVt4ld7NBMQvTOWmx6WlfkRqFy-YR-ItD9RYb8aV-1bEYu5Lpqn-_V4WkN-9EiZYmheU/w640-h232/CushionFig2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Figure 2A shows a view looking at the side of the filled cushion (an oval with a rectangle, where the rectangle shows the cylinder shape from the top and bottom circles). This side view also shows the maximum diameter of the finished cushion, which is where the side piece bends outward from the top and bottom circles. Figure 2B looks down on the circular cushion from the top. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I stuffed the cushion, the pleats unfolded as far as they could around the middle side but stayed folded where they were sewn to the top and bottom circles. Because the pleats could only unfold to the original length of the side piece, we see that the maximum diameter of the cushion is related to the original (unpleated) length of the side piece (Max Diameter = Original Length / Pi). Because my second cushion had a shorter original length, it cannot expand as far around the middle as my first cushion. And because the side pieces are the same height, and less of that height is absorbed by the expanding middle, my second cushion also stays taller than my first cushion. </div><div><br /></div><div>Both of my cushions could use a bit more stuffing, but that would not change the difference between them. And yes, there should be a formula for the cushion height based on the various other measurements, but that involves more math than I remember (and differential equations, which I hated when I learned them years ago)!</div><div><br /></div><div>Who knew that making cushions could be so complicated and mathematical?</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And because I still love gratuitous dog pics, here are my cushions with my little dogs Lacey and Pinto modeling on top of them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Fm18hCi5SdzQQ7FdW9yj2xB-tv_Etfw5E6MSrx094cFcuvbwVQJfGumFHh9xTNkHwxuwDlCcXp0jr6uCb1SfP8_TSQxJZ8PSgucVa1nls6FJZ8FGOqA4fyjZLszPpyijDaPs1J_f1M/s3041/IMG_20200829_160444_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little white dog, Lacey, sitting on top of two cushions" border="0" data-original-height="3041" data-original-width="1744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2Fm18hCi5SdzQQ7FdW9yj2xB-tv_Etfw5E6MSrx094cFcuvbwVQJfGumFHh9xTNkHwxuwDlCcXp0jr6uCb1SfP8_TSQxJZ8PSgucVa1nls6FJZ8FGOqA4fyjZLszPpyijDaPs1J_f1M/w184-h320/IMG_20200829_160444_1.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IgsP6C4le49Qrwipbb1JGhB1ul7wTzgdnpYYgIZUgqaqQZgjN7_g83EGelQmgCDIPYPzZkGirLRIZR8XiqT026-Zo65useBRu7JviHaxJWEKzgR0sh_OKA_O12f04Vr1Pfh2Yss2zcM/s2567/IMG_20200829_160451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little white dog, Lacey, sitting on top of two cushions" border="0" data-original-height="2567" data-original-width="1523" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IgsP6C4le49Qrwipbb1JGhB1ul7wTzgdnpYYgIZUgqaqQZgjN7_g83EGelQmgCDIPYPzZkGirLRIZR8XiqT026-Zo65useBRu7JviHaxJWEKzgR0sh_OKA_O12f04Vr1Pfh2Yss2zcM/w190-h320/IMG_20200829_160451.jpg" width="190" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfQ1_ATTffsMqCYMPvaDkd83PJv0bkcGSgp13B42gMrsFJqsTQLRX92DzrldDSqjt0tq3L59-uAObxVEYAVB0k88uNPH61NLGI_DBVORGK5z_WVbbftNZwEZ2DLKaf3s4QW9U0wEeI78/s4032/IMG_20200830_121817.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Little brown dog, Pinto, sitting on top of two cushions" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfQ1_ATTffsMqCYMPvaDkd83PJv0bkcGSgp13B42gMrsFJqsTQLRX92DzrldDSqjt0tq3L59-uAObxVEYAVB0k88uNPH61NLGI_DBVORGK5z_WVbbftNZwEZ2DLKaf3s4QW9U0wEeI78/w240-h320/IMG_20200830_121817.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-38463103578420489692020-09-17T20:42:00.007-07:002020-09-28T22:10:22.201-07:00Cushy Round Cushion<br /><br />As I mentioned in my previous post, I tend to make specific things because I want or need them. This time, I wanted to make a round meditation cushion (also called a zafu). I took up meditation at the beginning of the year, doing at least a little almost every day. But I was having a hard time sitting still on my bed, and I realized it was because I needed to be lifted up a bit to be more comfortable.<br /><br />I started looking for meditation cushion ideas and tutorials on Pinterest. After eventually climbing back out of the Pinterest rabbit hole, I had created a whole <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/sarawoodhull/meditation-cushions-yoga-cushions-poufs/">board about meditation cushions</a>. I found an interesting <a href="http://www.buddhamind.info/leftside/lifestyl/medi/zafu.htm">tutorial</a> on Buddhamind.info along with several different versions from different people, including this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J30J3Qe1wuo">version on YouTube</a> and this <a href="https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-zafumeditation-pillow/?=">version on Instructables</a>. All of these versions are pretty good, so I'm not going to do my own step-by-step version!<br /><br />I used some really sturdy cotton upholstery fabric samples from <a href="https://fabmo.org">FabMo</a>. They were similar to heavy denim in weight and texture. Each of the samples was about 11 inches wide by 25 inches long. The Buddhamind tutorial said to cut two circles between 11 inches and 13 inches in diameter. Since my samples were only 11 inches wide, I went with 11-inch circles. All of the instructions said to make a strip 59 or 60 inches long for the sides of the cushion, so I sewed three samples together to get a long-enough strip. Then the tutorials provided very exact directions about how to pleat the strip, starting at the 6.5-inch point. I followed the pleating instructions, but when I went to pin the strip to the top circle, I realized that the strip, even pleated, was way too long for my circle! Clearly everyone went with the 13-inch circle and hadn't tried the 11-inch version. For mine, I did some fudging, added extra pleats, and moved a few pleats around until I got something that fit better around the top circle. <br /><br />I had actually read all the way through the instructions before starting (you know, the way they tell you to do with recipes and other instructions, but many people don't!). At the end, the instructions casually mentioned that you could put a zipper in the opening where the strip overlapped. I realized that putting in a zipper would be difficult to do once the cushion was sewn together. Instead, I cut out the bottom circle as two separate pieces with a little extra fabric between them, so both pieces were slightly more than semi-circles. I installed a salvaged backpack zipper in the circle so I would have a zipper running across the bottom of the cushion. I sewed that circle to the bottom edge of the pleated strip.<br /><br />Here is the (not stuffed) cushion bottom showing the zipper.<div> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYgzyGgK4l0liI6nSNBMSU0gDF2tvEVSn9jCKUxCUhf5sULoP2WHBsDayv0zEYlWli-DDOpLpOwR9yZYBvnmjV-BpiWIH6KD2dqdJtVRYKlvs8QSiSJqJTCW0qTBnDjyMFcMeSrsiE9I/s4032/IMG_20200821_182210.jpg"><img alt="Bottom view of not-stuffed dark gray and off-white round meditation cushion showing a zipper going across the center of the bottom circle" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYgzyGgK4l0liI6nSNBMSU0gDF2tvEVSn9jCKUxCUhf5sULoP2WHBsDayv0zEYlWli-DDOpLpOwR9yZYBvnmjV-BpiWIH6KD2dqdJtVRYKlvs8QSiSJqJTCW0qTBnDjyMFcMeSrsiE9I/w240-h320/IMG_20200821_182210.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I stuffed the completed cushion with my kids' (clean) discarded old t-shirts (because of course I still have them!) and t-shirt scraps. Here is the stuffed cushion.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlD83kSzX5K-6XF5-5w4KHMIW1hugfRK9wfEO2SblNBvczr9ZuR_B4JVb7YPxZ55h7HtiWQVPsA1colgKL9nGP_chCMWvsY4fczIFb0Le1Lc5rdAK_9DgC9xTNjkJgZUIaN5HNDtU_9U/s4032/IMG_20200821_224325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slanted view of stuffed dark gray and off-white round meditation cushion" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlD83kSzX5K-6XF5-5w4KHMIW1hugfRK9wfEO2SblNBvczr9ZuR_B4JVb7YPxZ55h7HtiWQVPsA1colgKL9nGP_chCMWvsY4fczIFb0Le1Lc5rdAK_9DgC9xTNjkJgZUIaN5HNDtU_9U/w320-h240/IMG_20200821_224325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0LCc8uwJSjoKdy4efPZ6gyAmSs1l8I5v24xmR_OL8alntMot-t_xBh-_DZjEwdL96tYcTnxf1-nLQxRBsghyecGG30jsZ-OB8lvY-7ozHBs722Zc-fokF7vKFn0eKcB4HBv1mH1p5KI/s4032/IMG_20200821_224328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top view of stuffed dark gray and off-white round meditation cushion" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0LCc8uwJSjoKdy4efPZ6gyAmSs1l8I5v24xmR_OL8alntMot-t_xBh-_DZjEwdL96tYcTnxf1-nLQxRBsghyecGG30jsZ-OB8lvY-7ozHBs722Zc-fokF7vKFn0eKcB4HBv1mH1p5KI/w320-h240/IMG_20200821_224328.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It turns out that when the cushion is fully stuffed, the center of the side panel loses its pleats. At least with this fabric, it's not really noticeable that my pleats aren't uniformly spaced. Of course, now that I have mentioned it, the non-uniformity becomes really obvious!</div><br /><div>Here are the gratuitous dog pictures for today. That's Lacey (white) and Pinto (brown)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiPRF-t0o1_LGvLLOEWaYRpQoZRPezS_-kegTv0ZKOLAWMY0ASVEiq2ZhLt6XNQe8IY_cMmhmDtxX_pBhDt4XUoLYP06m0Lf9Ca4UmHwF5RNzHrKYsI63brz2g566bt2B4oKKBouOJDI/s4032/IMG_20200831_181328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Small white dog next to gray and off-white cushion" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXiPRF-t0o1_LGvLLOEWaYRpQoZRPezS_-kegTv0ZKOLAWMY0ASVEiq2ZhLt6XNQe8IY_cMmhmDtxX_pBhDt4XUoLYP06m0Lf9Ca4UmHwF5RNzHrKYsI63brz2g566bt2B4oKKBouOJDI/w320-h240/IMG_20200831_181328.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBgnl25hnhjIYjORx_D489vfE-hMTQmH6Ve0xT3NpT6uVn1W_MpN8si_gidM2IPbMUx27srA5Ad79BctFVR4FyC4RYGTHtrY_h42m8aNjZ34WA0g4FfEiRBzyDcw8zRzKg5_jxVehyphenhyphenWI/s4032/IMG_20200831_181326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Small brown dog and small white dog next to gray and off-white cushion" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBgnl25hnhjIYjORx_D489vfE-hMTQmH6Ve0xT3NpT6uVn1W_MpN8si_gidM2IPbMUx27srA5Ad79BctFVR4FyC4RYGTHtrY_h42m8aNjZ34WA0g4FfEiRBzyDcw8zRzKg5_jxVehyphenhyphenWI/w320-h240/IMG_20200831_181326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-33315112665991631932020-09-09T23:31:00.000-07:002020-09-09T23:31:03.078-07:00I'm Making What?<p>I like doing projects and crafts that are not quite mainstream. One of my current interests is making bras. Yeah, brassieres. Those things. Most women don't even like shopping for bras. The prospect of making them is even more daunting, even for people who consider themselves good at sewing!</p><p>As with many of my projects, this one started because I needed something. Well, actually, my daughter did. She has a really hard time finding bras that fit comfortably. She'll order half a dozen bras online (because brick-and-mortar stores rarely even carry her size, and there's a pandemic going on anyhow), try them all on, and send them all back. She's tried on a few dozen this way. It's time-consuming and discouraging for both of us.</p><p>I started poking around the Internet. Have I mentioned that I LOVE the Internet? I found a whole subculture of folks who make their own bras, sell bra-making supplies, design patterns, teach lessons, discuss bra-making on Facebook, and even record YouTube videos about making bras. Yay!</p><p>After reading discussions and watching videos, I soon settled on ordering supplies and patterns online from a shop in Canada called <a href="https://www.braandcorsetsupplies.com/">Bra-makers Supply</a>. I ordered a couple of patterns (<a href="https://www.braandcorsetsupplies.com/product/shelley-full-band-bra-pattern1/">Shelley</a> and <a href="https://www.braandcorsetsupplies.com/product/ingrid-non-wired-bra-pattern/">Ingrid</a> by Beverly V. Johnson, the "<a href="https://www.instagram.com/AFAIRYBRAMOTHER/">Fairy Bra Mother</a>"), a fitting book, and a couple of kits. The Shelley pattern had been mentioned in multiple places as a good pattern for beginning bra makers. The Ingrid was wire-free, so I thought I would try both. Here is a picture of the bra kits, Ingrid pattern, and book that I got (the Shelley pattern is under the book):</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF24rKH-6KUmuIvbLXn-anmmlpumjodYkhhrhLnfpCYT_RNdEH05Y4Dn-I1aKTG1HkaFJcoZHTiWdgq_BlErMDqs09yQ4rGgE2p9P1dd_jVEEmdySzR4w3gTthSe514fvFg6ExEhZc0YA/s4032/1599711187550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bra kits, pattern booklet, instruction booklet" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF24rKH-6KUmuIvbLXn-anmmlpumjodYkhhrhLnfpCYT_RNdEH05Y4Dn-I1aKTG1HkaFJcoZHTiWdgq_BlErMDqs09yQ4rGgE2p9P1dd_jVEEmdySzR4w3gTthSe514fvFg6ExEhZc0YA/w320-h240/1599711187550.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I made the Shelley bra first. I had found a YouTube "sew-along" <a href="https://youtu.be/3lVyoW8fxDA">video</a> on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmmab_YGi-qbBLYrlM5zNiA">michoumakes </a>channel from a woman who was making her second Shelley bra. I watched the first of six(!) parts of the sew-along, and that combined with the multi-page pattern instructions gave me enough confidence to dive right in.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Hand holding piece of bra in progress next to pattern instructions" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiOMqRNNWPBr0a596k6SQsMD2-lK1j8u-d2caIqCTGEXPdFyfpnNvxjDBF_M-Yv1lRRdMx0oCDWMHYr6WBo0JsJzea2gncNxdUyeomM4mFqSD7t__CaybLYa6cnPkldZAWrd-eiwpJKI/w240-h320/IMG_20200718_151457.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="240" /></p><p>Beverly Johnson has devised her own sizing system for her patterns. You need just two measurements to determine what pattern size to use (and the pattern includes a huge number of sizes). Unfortunately the measuring instructions say something like "start by wearing a well-fitting bra...", which my daughter didn't have! Chicken-and-egg problem. We measured as best we could, and I figured the first bra would be a prototype anyhow.</p><p>The pattern and kit were both great! Although it took me about 10-11 hours of work (including sewing, ripping out, and resewing), I made a bra that looked both pretty and professional. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiRDxcwz-Rdy8cyTzmfcaLYpnVTVXffjlIjz_nbecNnWvYOzvC_MAkLqv0ed9Xo3lZaSdpdeIKAzEAQ2A8b-63I_p7bWziF6Oef83v_rGyckUs-meVvsHk0A-138UTcDiQeVRsdZoZwA/s2769/IMG_20200909_175907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lavender underwire bra (front) on grid cutting mat" border="0" data-original-height="2474" data-original-width="2769" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiRDxcwz-Rdy8cyTzmfcaLYpnVTVXffjlIjz_nbecNnWvYOzvC_MAkLqv0ed9Xo3lZaSdpdeIKAzEAQ2A8b-63I_p7bWziF6Oef83v_rGyckUs-meVvsHk0A-138UTcDiQeVRsdZoZwA/w320-h286/IMG_20200909_175907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2-YgtBOVARIcqZBYLDhw-CJR6aAWBFbogPE4oka2GpFlR_02Oi80sxB2IlaRl01aleZBXz2TJ0pqJMWZAllsfrt_hm5LH-RQmupG24bPFRurnEwqz_XQoAgU7L2MwVTeeju3TSgtOtw/s2915/IMG_20200909_175922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lavender underwire bra (back view) on grid cutting mat" border="0" data-original-height="2497" data-original-width="2915" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH2-YgtBOVARIcqZBYLDhw-CJR6aAWBFbogPE4oka2GpFlR_02Oi80sxB2IlaRl01aleZBXz2TJ0pqJMWZAllsfrt_hm5LH-RQmupG24bPFRurnEwqz_XQoAgU7L2MwVTeeju3TSgtOtw/w320-h273/IMG_20200909_175922.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The underwires are sticking out because I was trying out different underwires to see what fit best, so I didn't finish the underwire channel. I had already been keeping hardware and underwires from old dead bras because I might find a use for them someday!</div><p>My daughter tried the bra on, and... it didn't fit. Not even close. Oh well. It did give us a basis for figuring out what size would be closer, though. Fortunately I got a second kit for the Shelley bra. Back to the sewing machine!</p>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-77053994699287630752020-09-06T21:46:00.009-07:002020-09-28T22:11:43.397-07:00The Tragedy of an Abandoned Blog...<p> ... Oh my... has it really been almost six years since my last blog post? Time flies! I never meant to abandon my blog!</p><p>A lot has changed since my previous post. Blogger.com now has a new user interface (better, so far). Europe now has the GDPR privacy law that requires that I tell you this site uses browser cookies (I don't, but Google does), and California has a similar law. Somewhere along the line, Google rearranged their servers, and a bunch of my pictures have disappeared from a few of my older posts. I'm going to have to go back and fix those if I can find my corresponding ancient pictures.</p><p>The addition of Pinterest and Instagram to the online social media world have created major changes in the world of blogging and the ways that bloggers are now expected to interact with those. I have been spending lots of time on both (follow me on <a href="https://pinterest.com/sarawoodhull" target="_blank">Pinterest </a>and <a href="https://instagram.com/sarawoodhull" target="_blank">Instagram</a>) instead of blogging! But with Pinterest and Instagram, blogs now include jazzier graphics, multiple title pictures, and more professional photos so they appear better in those media. I may or may not try to do that later.</p><p>Because I am a professional technical writer, when I'm NOT working at a "day job", I tend to be more interested in blogging because I feel a need to be writing something. Since my previous post, I continued working at my longtime employer, then I took a 6-month leave of absence for a volunteering gig in 2016. I returned to that employer in January 2017, and I got laid off three weeks later! I guess the universe was telling me I had been there too long (many years). I did some local volunteering, and I made a lot of doll clothes for a local annual boutique and <a href="https://etsy.com/shop/WorkingDolls" target="_blank">Etsy</a> (with a corresponding <a href="https://instagram.com/workingdolls" target="_blank">Instagram</a>).</p><p>Late in 2017, I got bored and wanted to be around people, so I got a part-time job at a coffee shop. Total mistake: I'm terrible at that type of work (poor short-term memory, being on my feet), and it wasn't at all social. And I actually don't like drinking coffee, which was the primary perk. I quit that job in three months (yes, I should have been blogging instead)! I soon I got my dream job working at a startup. I was learning fun new nerd stuff, writing documentation, and doing training, among other things. That lasted almost two years. Unfortunately the company shut down. I looked (unsuccessfully) for a new writing job, and then the pandemic hit. So here I am, needing to write blog posts again.</p><p>I did a lot of craft stuff along the way, of course, and I have recently tried my hand at sewing machine repair. I have also been spending time volunteering at <a href="https://fabmo.org" target="_blank">FabMo</a>, a nonprofit that rescues unwanted fabric and similar materials and distributes them to the public, diverting many tons of goods from the landfills. FabMo gets a lot of its materials as samples from interior design houses in San Francisco: fine upholstery and drapery fabrics, designer tiles, luxury carpet samples, and more. Darn, I'm drooling again!</p><p>I'm still a dog fanatic. We've adopted two new rescues (Pinto and Kona) to keep Lacey on her toes, and our older dog Tulip went off to college with my son. I also spend a lot of time with my mom's two standard poodles, Sugar and Spice, who have their own <a href="https://instagram.com/sugarandspicepoodles" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a>! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Four dogs sitting, waiting for a treat" border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEceG8918J5ttc9Fqu64mplZtky8YqkXVJ_6I1devJU-vM3hjR9_UIxAmJJ2PAnF9E2KRvDGjkyMscYozwudZkEB4v0nR6JmpVsv5s8E1ZpKeETvkJ0X8yKHnZ_tYwkMs4cs2ty0Cswg/w320-h240/IMG_20200827_121332.jpg" title="Left to right: Spice, Sugar, Pinto, and Lacey" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Left to right: Spice, Sugar, Pinto, and Lacey</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pinto Beans is a heavy chihuahua mix at 17 pounds, and he likes to chase the biggest dogs at the dog park. Amazingly, he can keep up with them, barking his fool head off all the way. He's FAST.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is Kona the Destroyer, looking very pleased with herself! She's the scrawniest little pit bull terrier mix I've ever seen, full grown at just 20 pounds. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmod8lGCN4K2bNV4DfUbAMJ4qrV1JeQlGf4JAjUbnzp80mZRfQIAoSBnTtsjd4kxZ6bCqfeQRhuTZykMWBpLD1OKtPZj_oFwCve6VkgN-ghANgCRdNhUNnPXyuZ6QgBIYIWTMWEbWj0dg/s4032/MVIMG_20200729_214139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Black and white dog with tongue out, leaning on a gate" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmod8lGCN4K2bNV4DfUbAMJ4qrV1JeQlGf4JAjUbnzp80mZRfQIAoSBnTtsjd4kxZ6bCqfeQRhuTZykMWBpLD1OKtPZj_oFwCve6VkgN-ghANgCRdNhUNnPXyuZ6QgBIYIWTMWEbWj0dg/w240-h320/MVIMG_20200729_214139.jpg" title="Kona looking very pleased with herself" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's it for now. I hope to put up my next post MUCH sooner than six years from now!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-8877863315370266292014-11-18T23:28:00.001-08:002014-11-18T23:28:15.073-08:00Paisley Purse, PleaseWell, I almost managed to get a second purse done before I went back to work, but not quite. It took me an extra two days to finish.<br />
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My second purse is very similar to the <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2014/11/nevermind-netflix-im-too-busy-making.html">first one</a>: same shape, same upholstery leather. For this one, though, I was mostly playing with how I could make a filigree-punched Paisley pattern for the main decorative design. I have a set of <a href="https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/3006-00.aspx">filigree punches</a> from Tandy (triangle, diamond, moon, heart, flower) as well as my circular drive punches that I usually use for punching holes for rivets and such. <br />
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I started with a paper sketch of the Paisley shape, and I started punching right through the paper into the leather. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjRui8hyphenhyphen2nZOiUYOztSLipmTVa12suMJdHmGY3xW-RJRsq3BfpErXuxkFe6C_f30G3PG7y8y4fKG3th9Ocutn-iBFKxr5NrCNd8FHImhlEyiGUER5wVTEMiIuXiGxqCkt2jWosl8PiZM/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjRui8hyphenhyphen2nZOiUYOztSLipmTVa12suMJdHmGY3xW-RJRsq3BfpErXuxkFe6C_f30G3PG7y8y4fKG3th9Ocutn-iBFKxr5NrCNd8FHImhlEyiGUER5wVTEMiIuXiGxqCkt2jWosl8PiZM/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHrAQavxgzjBXgm5P1VX_aTWQXDl7GepJ1tDxsDMuvXuhg2SbCBbpiuVvIhr8_EAKOMAr2429-KniHYjR7Q19I730xEhP2r3OyFqzvjWAe33sibUY9XPjsvjLnx-sKWIJXU7eQIVDiU0/s1600/IMG_8159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHrAQavxgzjBXgm5P1VX_aTWQXDl7GepJ1tDxsDMuvXuhg2SbCBbpiuVvIhr8_EAKOMAr2429-KniHYjR7Q19I730xEhP2r3OyFqzvjWAe33sibUY9XPjsvjLnx-sKWIJXU7eQIVDiU0/s1600/IMG_8159.JPG" height="220" width="320" /></a></div>
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It got kind of zen-like as I just started punching one line of shapes after another, just following the sketch lines. By the time I was done I had my punched leather layer and a really cool paper doily.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16zhrHh7AYj7qrGp_J2Ed3P7tiB6LH-YQEQA82SPuvzvg3dbzS2GwWM4kDiZKyRAfXYBxlhS8HsyiHlq36jF_hn3R8wHCPW8mcgYEaFtHcMqXDi6NfS1A4JELB9SD4cXuR3QnaYpSJqk/s1600/IMG_8180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16zhrHh7AYj7qrGp_J2Ed3P7tiB6LH-YQEQA82SPuvzvg3dbzS2GwWM4kDiZKyRAfXYBxlhS8HsyiHlq36jF_hn3R8wHCPW8mcgYEaFtHcMqXDi6NfS1A4JELB9SD4cXuR3QnaYpSJqk/s1600/IMG_8180.JPG" height="508" width="640" /></a></div>
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I used <a href="https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/88045-06.aspx">diamond chisel punches</a> (forks with attitude!) to punch holes for all the stitching. I have three of them: six teeth, two teeth, and one tooth (which helps you get around curves). I embroidered the blue lines to hold the punched layer to the gold leather layer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZkzXSYZ3gcBKoHCtyE3zhkK82-i4l4xAZ5wCm8_KkfD5bdcq9phlImzXU0klUJQjJOcEdaCZoEjivZ8H0H0lKi2ZP51eubBYFWJRl77S0avPltVvmqcHA-rmin6yiHEKRd8UTw068_w/s1600/IMG_8198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZkzXSYZ3gcBKoHCtyE3zhkK82-i4l4xAZ5wCm8_KkfD5bdcq9phlImzXU0klUJQjJOcEdaCZoEjivZ8H0H0lKi2ZP51eubBYFWJRl77S0avPltVvmqcHA-rmin6yiHEKRd8UTw068_w/s1600/IMG_8198.JPG" height="251" width="320" /></a></div>
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I laced the purse together with a different type of lace this time. It's something called <a href="https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/lacing/5029-08.aspx">EcoSoft Lace</a> from Tandy, and it's microfiber! You know, the stuff "high-tech" cleaning cloths are made of. It's nice and soft and comes in more interesting colors than regular leather lace. The one downside I found is that it's difficult to skive (shave off) the ends into a tapered shape for splicing two pieces together. You are only supposed to work with about two yards of lace at a time so you avoid wearing out or fraying the lace by the time you get to the end of the piece (since you pull the whole piece through each lacing hole). Since the double loop stitch uses a lot of lace per inch of leather edges, I ended up having to do several splices.<br />
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The last big different thing I did on this one was to do saddle stitch along the two edges of the shoulder strap. Saddle stitch is like running stitch with two alternating needles, or what my husband calls "racing stitch". There are lots of videos out on YouTube for learning to do saddle stitch. I punched all the holes first with my diamond chisels again. It added several extra hours of work to the project to do the stitching, but it does really improve the look. The strap is made of two layers of the upholstery leather glued back to back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NnYxjWMPYPzmSNG7nihg9a0mvyYTPyqsCHxYtfO55u7i0VzSmaUBMLnydT-2YU0vel45BbFcJwe9oC8gaqHtlwYFg7Pqc9S4SPeLgiKZXeG2CGVnIibYpQ3IJ1wQJG9dwfmkfy5brYI/s1600/IMG_8297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NnYxjWMPYPzmSNG7nihg9a0mvyYTPyqsCHxYtfO55u7i0VzSmaUBMLnydT-2YU0vel45BbFcJwe9oC8gaqHtlwYFg7Pqc9S4SPeLgiKZXeG2CGVnIibYpQ3IJ1wQJG9dwfmkfy5brYI/s1600/IMG_8297.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are the two finished purses, along with the usual gratuitous dog pose. Lacey and Tulip will endorse anything for enough treats!<br />
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Well, leatherwork was a good way to while away a good chunk of four weeks off work, and now it's back to my day job!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-6944554367255311972014-11-04T00:51:00.001-08:002014-11-04T00:51:45.567-08:00Nevermind Netflix--I'm Too Busy Making Leather Stuff!I recently had some surgery that requires some time off work to recuperate (and it's going just fine). I had originally planned to use the time to catch up on all the various TV series that I never get around to watching during my regular life: Game of Thrones, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and so on. I had a list all lined up. Yeah, so much for that idea! The wi-fi isn't good enough, and there are just too many other things that interest me. <br />
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Among other things, my older daughter and a friend got me hooked on Pinterest. Now I'm wondering how I ever lived without it, and how I will live without spending hours on it after I go back to work! So much inspiration! Dyeing, leatherwork, fashion, shoes... I've been caught in a frenzy of wanting to pin more things and wanting to run off and do a project right away based on something I see. I was really drooling over the amazing Russian leatherwork at <a href="http://kooc.livejournal.com/">kooc.livejournal.com</a>. <br />
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I have a leather stash like some of my quilting friends have a fabric stash (yes, I've got one of those too...), and I figured I should use some of it. Since my favorite color is blue, I have a good selection of blue leathers, as well as other colors. A lot of it is upholstery leather, odd-lot whole hides that appealed to me even if I didn't have a specific project in mind for them.<br />
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I thought I'd try out making a purse with a couple of the techniques I saw in the Russian bags (especially <a href="http://kooc.livejournal.com/269467.html">this one</a>). Specifically, I wanted to try out lacing and hand stitching as well as the cut-out techniques, all techniques I haven't used in previous projects.<br />
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I made a pattern for my purse. I wanted the bag itself to be simple since the decoration would get most of the work. I cut one "figure-8" piece (the pattern is two same-size circles overlapping like a Venn diagram), two "half-8" pieces that were half of the figure-8 piece (circles missing top sections), and a rectangular strip to form the gusset section of the purse. One of those half-8 pieces is a gold-dusted leather that will peek through the cutouts of the front flap of the figure-8.<br />
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<h3>
The Design</h3>
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I can't ever make a "creative" project exactly like somebody else's (even if I had the skill of the Russian leatherworker!), so I did my own design of a sky with clouds. I used a half-inch drive punch to make the cloud cut-outs, and I cut slits in the leather in a fan design to create the sun rays. <br />
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The Clasp</h3>
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A while back I had ordered a bunch of strong and small neodymium magnets from <a href="http://www.kjmagnetics.com/">K&J Magnetics</a> for some other project that I had then abandoned, so I used some of those to make a hidden magnetic clasp to hold the bag closed. I initially sewed one magnet between the blue and gold leathers on the front flap (adding the gold "sun" piece on top to hide that stitching). <br />
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I sewed the lines around the clouds and the little bird motifs in lockstitch using a sewing awl after watching an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItNQ1G01jhE">instructional video</a> on YouTube (have I mentioned that I LOVE YouTube for learning how to do things?). Lockstitch is the same type of stitch a regular sewing machine makes. I also used some contact glue between the cut-out blue leather and the gold piece to hold everything in place more firmly.</div>
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I glued and sewed the matching magnet under the moon motif on the inner front piece. <br />
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When I got those done, I found that the magnetic clasp hardly did anything. There was too much leather between the magnets. I skived down some of the leather between the magnets, but it wasn't enough to help much. I then took those pieces back apart and added another magnet to each side (so 2 neodymium 3/4" x 3/8" x 1/32" block magnets on each side). It works, but it doesn't have the reassuring "click" of those magnetic clasps where one piece clicks into the other. On the good side, it doesn't show at all, and the magnet does have the handy advantage of holding my metal lacing needle for me!<br />
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The Lacing</h3>
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I glued the gusset panel to the front and back pieces, and then it was time for the lacing step. Back to YouTube for a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUA2jx1c1sE">lacing video</a>! I followed that video, tried it on a practice piece with my lace and lacing needle, and off I went to the real thing. I used "Superior Calf Lace" from Tandy Leather Factory for this. <br />
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I really like the double loop lacing style. However, if I were to do this again, I wouldn't use the brown color (too jarring a contrast), and I would only do the double-loop lacing on the flap. The double-loop lacing is too stiff for the upholstery leather body of the bag, and it juts straight out from the gusset panel, making an odd raised rim around the front and back of the bag body, though it is less obvious if the bag is full (which it will be!). <br />
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For the strap, I glued two strips of the leather back-to-back, riveted it onto the sides of the gusset, and added a strap buckle and keeper loop. <br />
<h4>
Next?</h4>
So now I've got a fancy new cross-body bag, and I've learned some new techniques! I've still got some more time before I can go back to work, though. Hmm, what should I do for my next project? Back to Pinterest!<br />
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P.S.</h4>
If you want to find me on Pinterest, I'm the Sara Woodhull with a profile picture of two dogs wearing tie-dye (of course)!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-11783750302342084432014-10-21T23:26:00.000-07:002014-10-21T23:26:36.164-07:00Leather, Zippers, Buckles, and Straps--It's Not What You ThinkOh wow, has it really been over four years since my last post to this blog? I haven't stopped making things, but I have been busy. As I mentioned in this blog previously, I had been taking a long leave of absence from work just because I needed a break. At some point I went back to my previous job (surprising many coworkers who thought I'd never come back), and I got back to writing professionally. As a product manager, I write presentations, white papers, documentation, lots of explanatory emails, and blog entries for a corporate blog, so my general urge to write is pretty well satisfied.<br />
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But enough about me...</h3>
My most recent project was a leather fanny pack for my older daughter. Like me, she likes to keep her hands free, so she avoids carrying purses. She likes leather fanny packs instead. She has had a couple that worked pretty well for her, but she breaks the zippers on them because she stuffs them too full. So this time, instead of just buying her a new one (leather fanny packs are not cheap, even if you can find one you like!), I decided to make her one myself.<br />
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One of her favorite fanny packs was from Libaire, a company in Berkeley, CA (search libaire.net for fanny pack). It's a great pack, elegant and well made of unlined sturdy leather, but she overstuffed it and eventually broke the zipper. Here is the original:<br />
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I copied the general design of the Libaire pack with its four zipper pockets, but I modified it, of course. I made a paper pattern for it that was a bit bigger in all dimensions. I also planned to add a lining to the main section of the bag that would include a few organizer pockets. My daughter has a set of stuff she always carries, such as headphones, highlighters, and a small pencil case, so I wanted to tailor the pockets just for her.</div>
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For materials I used four sturdy zippers I had salvaged from old jackets and backpacks, along with the remains of the same crocodile-embossed cowhide I used for a <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2010/04/another-case-for-ipod-touch.html">previous iPod case</a>. I had fabric scraps left over from making a slip, so I used those for the lining. Once I made the pattern and cut out all the pieces for the new pouch and the lining, I had a nice pile of bits.</div>
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My mom recently gave me her old industrial sewing machine. It's a Bernina 217, almost 50 years old, and it can sew through pretty much anything. It has a heavy-duty clutch motor underneath the table, and the motor stays on, humming, the entire time you are working at the machine. As I was working on the project, I realized that the sound makes me feel warm and secure--I have a happy association with the humming sound from all the times my mom would work at the machine while I was playing nearby, or in bed, when I was a kid. </div>
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Putting in zippers is one of the early steps in fanny pack construction. I started by sewing the zippers into their respective panels (front, top, and the two triangular side pockets). <br />
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For the side pockets, I discovered that it was important for the little metal clamp at the closed end of the zipper (the top end in the picture above) to be on the same side of the seam as the rest of the zipper (so that there were no zipper teeth or clamp in the seam allowance, only the fabric tape part of the zipper). When you turn it right side out, you cannot bend the zipper itself, but the tape can bend. I sewed the polypropylene webbing into the pockets as well at this point. Here are the zipper pocket pieces before and after turning right side out through the zipper opening. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT9hojFiSUsnEjFvc7ApscrpnumEp-4zSjCY4kclYr6F0-QxDik59_zP2ek5acQy3rQCOy54dpbfnBTcZpqWGT02lKNgDDYliIuAeVDZP6qD_zXbiQGtY3rV7C5FP8snXUXGLk3CsCuQ/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT9hojFiSUsnEjFvc7ApscrpnumEp-4zSjCY4kclYr6F0-QxDik59_zP2ek5acQy3rQCOy54dpbfnBTcZpqWGT02lKNgDDYliIuAeVDZP6qD_zXbiQGtY3rV7C5FP8snXUXGLk3CsCuQ/s1600/IMG_7542.JPG" height="624" width="640" /></a></div>
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I sewed the triangle pockets onto the back panel of the pack, making sure the zipper slide was not hanging out in the seam allowance. The two triangle pockets are connected by the webbing strap at this point. Once the triangle pockets were sewn on, I could cut off the excess zipper length.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6UFFxVD24lDS8fLDWw56ULz1ORSEJ-gVy-UYFvwIzFo6zN5wpi8gpe6jcTe5NXhIBm-n06sml0QuZH1nWz5hahFzAn3jIOaa2brWtuENBoWqtNsEhJVHcVgvSeAnmLMCjwtgzO_SIJY/s1600/IMG_7543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6UFFxVD24lDS8fLDWw56ULz1ORSEJ-gVy-UYFvwIzFo6zN5wpi8gpe6jcTe5NXhIBm-n06sml0QuZH1nWz5hahFzAn3jIOaa2brWtuENBoWqtNsEhJVHcVgvSeAnmLMCjwtgzO_SIJY/s1600/IMG_7543.JPG" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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I assembled the lining separately. I made the pockets to fit specific items she carries.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxhS5Quvp5YQgqc5lKMeGfoyWgK9gGqZ_fKqkm544lS7y_aiZZ8s4jnWlNbxXRA3WISxu4h2lzTuyKedEWhIllBGljlIuJKtNLCStOEuTJh0px8B6KO5eJx6M-FeipYiU3FRa1k3te18/s1600/IMG_7535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxhS5Quvp5YQgqc5lKMeGfoyWgK9gGqZ_fKqkm544lS7y_aiZZ8s4jnWlNbxXRA3WISxu4h2lzTuyKedEWhIllBGljlIuJKtNLCStOEuTJh0px8B6KO5eJx6M-FeipYiU3FRa1k3te18/s1600/IMG_7535.JPG" height="602" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">And then a miracle happened...</span></h3>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Once all the sub-assemblies were assembled, I sewed the whole thing together to the accompaniment of much swearing and a bit of rework. It seemed like a Moebius bag, and I'm not quite sure how it actually finally went together. I'll probably have to reverse-engineer it to make another one! At the very end, I cut the webbing strap and sewed on the buckle and slider. Here is the finished bag:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaSCgmJIxCScgSwPBo9Xved1_0Zhi_5bMALICYCwjHqG4ANKteSoKFltI1o69kwZUkJ9GNrWVP6J96UtwLC7jDhYVoraUBxIMQk5WCEavoCXVCcgR_zkR5r0rlBKCELIy3r3ZhKorpN0/s1600/IMG_7608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaSCgmJIxCScgSwPBo9Xved1_0Zhi_5bMALICYCwjHqG4ANKteSoKFltI1o69kwZUkJ9GNrWVP6J96UtwLC7jDhYVoraUBxIMQk5WCEavoCXVCcgR_zkR5r0rlBKCELIy3r3ZhKorpN0/s1600/IMG_7608.JPG" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is a view of the lining with organizer pockets in the main section:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf6i8BeuUqHy4h9NTAZaoSrNyVtrE_GMFC4Y1TGxXznoTBmNiLccNVpLPzDWIdOi512sesAiKskxoYAgPiDgFNsSHQP35KH0x6zZcckDOphQk5zPNoeg0TGlXnQcXDneAwuSBFItn8YU/s1600/IMG_7609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf6i8BeuUqHy4h9NTAZaoSrNyVtrE_GMFC4Y1TGxXznoTBmNiLccNVpLPzDWIdOi512sesAiKskxoYAgPiDgFNsSHQP35KH0x6zZcckDOphQk5zPNoeg0TGlXnQcXDneAwuSBFItn8YU/s1600/IMG_7609.JPG" height="422" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsf6i8BeuUqHy4h9NTAZaoSrNyVtrE_GMFC4Y1TGxXznoTBmNiLccNVpLPzDWIdOi512sesAiKskxoYAgPiDgFNsSHQP35KH0x6zZcckDOphQk5zPNoeg0TGlXnQcXDneAwuSBFItn8YU/s1600/IMG_7609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijs2nmFvs9XbAgNioSBxiQGTdyTMd8u9gWQWIAjndbCKZFInARC4Peo3QEwHTHu9Hy0KhNADX-WBxc_47gr_g36QDBz3gqRec_FJnF2141eVmdTeaaUApZTmtCGXRcZ7GhJD6Lxq2JvGc/s1600/IMG_7603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijs2nmFvs9XbAgNioSBxiQGTdyTMd8u9gWQWIAjndbCKZFInARC4Peo3QEwHTHu9Hy0KhNADX-WBxc_47gr_g36QDBz3gqRec_FJnF2141eVmdTeaaUApZTmtCGXRcZ7GhJD6Lxq2JvGc/s1600/IMG_7603.JPG" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Here is the fanny pack in use. Stuffed, of course!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyck6XGdCiY4SCS0QBLcP6jIzthMRpPm2H_bNFwjGTbQViWXonzn7AcUfFoRbpUV77n5GPcq0PVLV_KbjjZiwAO5tgVxekgOvcefkD-77_aAolDIqzigSwQqcxqU-e-tvCWkSBS2AWM9Y/s1600/IMG_7852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyck6XGdCiY4SCS0QBLcP6jIzthMRpPm2H_bNFwjGTbQViWXonzn7AcUfFoRbpUV77n5GPcq0PVLV_KbjjZiwAO5tgVxekgOvcefkD-77_aAolDIqzigSwQqcxqU-e-tvCWkSBS2AWM9Y/s1600/IMG_7852.JPG" height="410" width="640" /></a><br />
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And of course, the obligatory dog shot with Lacey and Tulip:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplTFDVrQfZYGaWgK5D1JRdE_PT6cXwGwtsoeB4eI0MLnFfnUgM0DdP1XN8sgXctLKxIr_qvT2doORHBYNKefWEDIM0nNB42_651KaXkYbJCGEbd8gZ6gZ_8KJQlqC23HMPmQJ-kHQfKs/s1600/IMG_7883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplTFDVrQfZYGaWgK5D1JRdE_PT6cXwGwtsoeB4eI0MLnFfnUgM0DdP1XN8sgXctLKxIr_qvT2doORHBYNKefWEDIM0nNB42_651KaXkYbJCGEbd8gZ6gZ_8KJQlqC23HMPmQJ-kHQfKs/s1600/IMG_7883.JPG" height="640" width="515" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Tulip figured she'd better make sure there weren't any goodies lurking in the bag. Something sure smelled interesting in there!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DlQNie1fSrO-d5DFEIn_3Wt9NC9Lzb37f5G2ds0sVS2xze4sIIefZgfTl9DdI0181T09Wu11eOv8zpRNDRj4RdDmiTrooheTE_PDqsR4BJgiViqcuKaDNQnjC44GO5hGj2WQZ_kPB48/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DlQNie1fSrO-d5DFEIn_3Wt9NC9Lzb37f5G2ds0sVS2xze4sIIefZgfTl9DdI0181T09Wu11eOv8zpRNDRj4RdDmiTrooheTE_PDqsR4BJgiViqcuKaDNQnjC44GO5hGj2WQZ_kPB48/s1600/IMG_7894.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-92066397074768982962010-11-17T20:19:00.000-08:002010-11-17T20:59:27.116-08:00Harnessing the Power of Recycling--Green Project Entry for MAKE Magazine<div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Click on the MAKE icon to vote for my Recycled Jeans Dog Harness project! </span> <a href="http://makezine.com/tagyourgreen/?id=38"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer;" src="http://cdn.makezine.com/make/campaigns/ge/Make_TagGE_VoteBadge_Tilt.gif" alt="Tag Your Green" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introducing Tulip</span><br /><br />Here is Tulip in her cool new harness:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt1FStgDsP1XD1s3uMAG6l5x863nJGIK3YeW1YVGwBsUTeFtqDBGgrDQPjdiFnHHxi18XdprsZTl35xfwB1nVXi3n6ty0074hlqHmJSCIl86RRQPmrbBMpsLRd2PYTO_XMNA8lV1FvRc/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt1FStgDsP1XD1s3uMAG6l5x863nJGIK3YeW1YVGwBsUTeFtqDBGgrDQPjdiFnHHxi18XdprsZTl35xfwB1nVXi3n6ty0074hlqHmJSCIl86RRQPmrbBMpsLRd2PYTO_XMNA8lV1FvRc/s400/IMG_2154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171164612447874" border="0" /></a><br />I adopted a really cute dog from a rescue organization over the summer (does that make her a "reused" or "recycled" pet?). Her name is Tulip. She came with a collar, but she clearly needed a harness for "walkies" or she'd choke herself pulling on the collar.<br /><br />Tulip's hair was cut very short, so Tulip looks pretty good in a T-shirt or harness. Tulip is practically a rag doll--floppy, mellow, and pliant--and she is very tolerant of being dressed and undressed repeatedly. So another project began...<br /><br />I still have the leftover jeans parts from my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/09/look-its-quilt.html">jeans circle quilt</a>, <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/05/seat-of-pants.html">dining room chair covers</a>, and other jeans projects. Since most of these used leg pieces, I have plenty of waistbands and upper sections handy. Time for some serious seam ripping!<br /><br />I started with the one waistband and the attached upper back section of the jeans. I removed the back pockets to save for some other project. I cut the section to get a rough fit under and around Tulip's chest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4lqoAsTmXBiEVJ99wVxk0096PMVjK9GsbyZf-Jgw1zbQTt1WzIIdzD9WbBHejVMoWeC6Yxnsu_o0hn0y4vi3WvC6mcnPqoxOVR_25hWEJcDRJ28AxHDUQw-jIWJ3RdNqjgnVkLY4XSg/s1600/IMG_2137.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4lqoAsTmXBiEVJ99wVxk0096PMVjK9GsbyZf-Jgw1zbQTt1WzIIdzD9WbBHejVMoWeC6Yxnsu_o0hn0y4vi3WvC6mcnPqoxOVR_25hWEJcDRJ28AxHDUQw-jIWJ3RdNqjgnVkLY4XSg/s400/IMG_2137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173513062533218" border="0" /></a>I also used a waistband from another pair of jeans.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMDR5OeCxbNhhBw74TwptknLHW02t9s5NOggBMdo1ZXdYDfP-wRbcC-4FR3Z1lqtxEjpEpxSlSPXu8zMY4HdUgTRTC8miVDClarv86uude5jyyHaZZCoL1p-zzBW4zaujjKybO_NH6sY/s1600/IMG_2140.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMDR5OeCxbNhhBw74TwptknLHW02t9s5NOggBMdo1ZXdYDfP-wRbcC-4FR3Z1lqtxEjpEpxSlSPXu8zMY4HdUgTRTC8miVDClarv86uude5jyyHaZZCoL1p-zzBW4zaujjKybO_NH6sY/s400/IMG_2140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173506261683314" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the chest part after stitching to fit Tulip. The separate collar section on the right is sewn closed, so the jeans button is now just decorative. The collar part just slips over Tulip's head.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6hBrQcaJcnWQsORhvG99JJSQdTyl7eGN2LdoWht_IRKnLCE2Te2XWoJEdWQCeTJD_N6sBQ3qdEkaI5T5oc4Y3ubra1SUvbeLdKhfPzZ1ubrksDj-wS9D4x1jQuvjK3yv0URX1dOZzq4/s1600/IMG_2142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6hBrQcaJcnWQsORhvG99JJSQdTyl7eGN2LdoWht_IRKnLCE2Te2XWoJEdWQCeTJD_N6sBQ3qdEkaI5T5oc4Y3ubra1SUvbeLdKhfPzZ1ubrksDj-wS9D4x1jQuvjK3yv0URX1dOZzq4/s400/IMG_2142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173492011838658" border="0" /></a><br />I salvaged the buckle and webbing strap from one of my kids' old lunchboxes. My kids go through at least a couple a year by doing things like leaving spilled milk in them over Spring vacation (mmm, yum!), dragging them over concrete, and other things, so I regularly scavenge useful buckles, hardware, zippers, and straps from them (the picture shows a newer one).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SR5mczLmV7sFyTTzI89mZzsexludWg9S2NzWNXmqN9Q4P55D1zq-SMfD9t8K0raVGBJMq_QJalyJ0zB3_xy654hjzem6AoptbxU4V2PGsLlVi3l_fUe7cu-Hn1KCCcedL7VW-X4Y-zk/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SR5mczLmV7sFyTTzI89mZzsexludWg9S2NzWNXmqN9Q4P55D1zq-SMfD9t8K0raVGBJMq_QJalyJ0zB3_xy654hjzem6AoptbxU4V2PGsLlVi3l_fUe7cu-Hn1KCCcedL7VW-X4Y-zk/s400/IMG_2237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502175517584374898" border="0" /></a><br />I used part of another waistband to make the strap that goes between the collar and the chest strap, and sewed on a reused belt loop to hold the scavenged D-ring.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Done!</span><br /><br />Here is the finished harness. The second button has been replaced on the chest strap so I would have two matching waistband buttons. It is also sewn closed and is now just decorative, since the lunchbox buckle provides the adjustable fastening. If you look carefully, you can see that I completely removed the waistband that goes around the chest and then sewed it and the belt loop back on so the button and buttonhole would be in the right place! Tulip is fortunately much smaller than the original 36-inch waist. The triangular section goes on the dog's chest.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH04EJu5Q99-UVz0zER-6Yv8NDjeExK2d3zDCYhSLE-mr1Go9KgBxwHRSwSCr2ZtTQeeQOBR6_CxKkYXfEPGRc18-2X1ibL6pVGdv9paLmW-2psl48JcZ8AYNjFjO5p8OgIruIBnJ-IIQ/s1600/IMG_2145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH04EJu5Q99-UVz0zER-6Yv8NDjeExK2d3zDCYhSLE-mr1Go9KgBxwHRSwSCr2ZtTQeeQOBR6_CxKkYXfEPGRc18-2X1ibL6pVGdv9paLmW-2psl48JcZ8AYNjFjO5p8OgIruIBnJ-IIQ/s400/IMG_2145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173488033422626" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the finished harness looking down at the top (the dog's back).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxuxhDjdPVUCwwstw8b1XSPskTB77CiR9zBYwvEBAFCRnyLR7YYTRRY2DkKG0fHw29ulvDMJeNHNjCG6gpBSqLI9tnvbHp9WIuH_E1Y5NkuDpfHqaHW6sqQ0XddYsFsqVA_WxpXy7R8k/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxuxhDjdPVUCwwstw8b1XSPskTB77CiR9zBYwvEBAFCRnyLR7YYTRRY2DkKG0fHw29ulvDMJeNHNjCG6gpBSqLI9tnvbHp9WIuH_E1Y5NkuDpfHqaHW6sqQ0XddYsFsqVA_WxpXy7R8k/s400/IMG_2148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173476555713474" border="0" /></a><br />The buckle strap goes through a loop on the D-ring section.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Finished Product</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt1FStgDsP1XD1s3uMAG6l5x863nJGIK3YeW1YVGwBsUTeFtqDBGgrDQPjdiFnHHxi18XdprsZTl35xfwB1nVXi3n6ty0074hlqHmJSCIl86RRQPmrbBMpsLRd2PYTO_XMNA8lV1FvRc/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt1FStgDsP1XD1s3uMAG6l5x863nJGIK3YeW1YVGwBsUTeFtqDBGgrDQPjdiFnHHxi18XdprsZTl35xfwB1nVXi3n6ty0074hlqHmJSCIl86RRQPmrbBMpsLRd2PYTO_XMNA8lV1FvRc/s400/IMG_2154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171164612447874" border="0" /></a><br />Here she shows off the D-ring on the belt loop:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwDKdFcyCwnAnzhaOn6Ajp8jECIiqq-2uIYZTXcT57d5mvNDgssSHGS_W9yamDxRcRu3qlLxe5xpYknIFZ8v9fUY3egJamdSSyG5bR4CcVEAZrBf77Up8XSXdFSndoY8kw2wqZEMhvOw/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwDKdFcyCwnAnzhaOn6Ajp8jECIiqq-2uIYZTXcT57d5mvNDgssSHGS_W9yamDxRcRu3qlLxe5xpYknIFZ8v9fUY3egJamdSSyG5bR4CcVEAZrBf77Up8XSXdFSndoY8kw2wqZEMhvOw/s400/IMG_2151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171170345322386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lacey and Tulip: Out and About</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP72St0yiIq1aJ0NykBmTdh6xSDoxQblj4_VeTmAASj95uCn4p0gJsyP56NyQLVnUHW74jdv3f-LW9ccpmjXBxlKVsveqDFGjNmGsFNN-L44t6OcUnFw_bCt9NW-QxKmBgw_ibi_Zr8Yk/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP72St0yiIq1aJ0NykBmTdh6xSDoxQblj4_VeTmAASj95uCn4p0gJsyP56NyQLVnUHW74jdv3f-LW9ccpmjXBxlKVsveqDFGjNmGsFNN-L44t6OcUnFw_bCt9NW-QxKmBgw_ibi_Zr8Yk/s400/IMG_2184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171146936341794" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, Lacey needs a matching jeans harness too. Maybe later...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yKXfX9Gh_idKDrH2tNwEnN8aSfqHql7_mnG2wTSiMnVYwQtyZYAkiUyshVB3wDLeRnINxlN31A5qZD1D2zsTHdCwDv3nsn2qyHFeyMu7MZRPrI7Tf_a9iCWMMYxFrqKm8-4vs2DGRuo/s1600/IMG_2185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yKXfX9Gh_idKDrH2tNwEnN8aSfqHql7_mnG2wTSiMnVYwQtyZYAkiUyshVB3wDLeRnINxlN31A5qZD1D2zsTHdCwDv3nsn2qyHFeyMu7MZRPrI7Tf_a9iCWMMYxFrqKm8-4vs2DGRuo/s400/IMG_2185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171156436845282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's go!</span>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-67811968724213631562010-08-05T23:10:00.000-07:002010-11-18T12:09:41.389-08:00Harnessing the Power of Recycling<hr /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">If you came here from the <span style="font-weight: bold;">MAKE Magazine Green Project</span> page, please go here: </span><br /><a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2010/11/harnessing-power-of-recycling-green.html">Harnessing the Power of Recycling--Green Project Entry for MAKE Magazine</a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">(same project, slightly different writeup)--<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thanks!</span></span></blockquote><hr /><br />I adopted a really cute dog from a rescue organization (<a href="http://www.narfrescue.org/">NARF</a>) two weeks ago. Her name is Tulip. She came with a collar, but she clearly needed a harness for "walkies" or she'd choke herself pulling on the collar.<br /><br />Tulip's hair was cut very short, and it's a different type from Lacey's hair, so Tulip looks pretty good in a T-shirt or harness (unlike Lacey: "Does this make my butt look big?" "Huge!"). Unlike Lacey, Tulip is very tolerant of being dressed and undressed repeatedly. Tulip is practically a rag doll--floppy, mellow, and pliant. So another project began...<br /><br />I still have the leftover jeans parts from my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/09/look-its-quilt.html">jeans circle quilt</a>, <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/05/seat-of-pants.html">dining room chair covers</a>, and other jeans projects. Since most of these used leg pieces, I have plenty of waistbands and upper sections handy. Time for some serious seam ripping!<br /><br />I started with the one waistband and the attached upper back section of the jeans. I removed the back pockets to save for some other project. I cut the section to get a rough fit under and around Tulip's chest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4lqoAsTmXBiEVJ99wVxk0096PMVjK9GsbyZf-Jgw1zbQTt1WzIIdzD9WbBHejVMoWeC6Yxnsu_o0hn0y4vi3WvC6mcnPqoxOVR_25hWEJcDRJ28AxHDUQw-jIWJ3RdNqjgnVkLY4XSg/s1600/IMG_2137.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4lqoAsTmXBiEVJ99wVxk0096PMVjK9GsbyZf-Jgw1zbQTt1WzIIdzD9WbBHejVMoWeC6Yxnsu_o0hn0y4vi3WvC6mcnPqoxOVR_25hWEJcDRJ28AxHDUQw-jIWJ3RdNqjgnVkLY4XSg/s400/IMG_2137.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173513062533218" border="0" /></a>I also used a waistband from another pair of jeans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMDR5OeCxbNhhBw74TwptknLHW02t9s5NOggBMdo1ZXdYDfP-wRbcC-4FR3Z1lqtxEjpEpxSlSPXu8zMY4HdUgTRTC8miVDClarv86uude5jyyHaZZCoL1p-zzBW4zaujjKybO_NH6sY/s1600/IMG_2140.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 197px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMDR5OeCxbNhhBw74TwptknLHW02t9s5NOggBMdo1ZXdYDfP-wRbcC-4FR3Z1lqtxEjpEpxSlSPXu8zMY4HdUgTRTC8miVDClarv86uude5jyyHaZZCoL1p-zzBW4zaujjKybO_NH6sY/s400/IMG_2140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173506261683314" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the chest part after stitching to fit Tulip. The separate collar section on the right is sewn closed, so the jeans button is now just decorative. The collar part just slips over Tulip's head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6hBrQcaJcnWQsORhvG99JJSQdTyl7eGN2LdoWht_IRKnLCE2Te2XWoJEdWQCeTJD_N6sBQ3qdEkaI5T5oc4Y3ubra1SUvbeLdKhfPzZ1ubrksDj-wS9D4x1jQuvjK3yv0URX1dOZzq4/s1600/IMG_2142.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6hBrQcaJcnWQsORhvG99JJSQdTyl7eGN2LdoWht_IRKnLCE2Te2XWoJEdWQCeTJD_N6sBQ3qdEkaI5T5oc4Y3ubra1SUvbeLdKhfPzZ1ubrksDj-wS9D4x1jQuvjK3yv0URX1dOZzq4/s400/IMG_2142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173492011838658" border="0" /></a><br />I salvaged the buckle and webbing strap from one of my kids' old lunchboxes. My kids go through at least a couple a year by doing things like leaving spilled milk in them over Spring vacation (mmm, yum!), dragging them over concrete, and other things, so I regularly scavenge useful buckles, hardware, zippers, and straps from them (the picture shows a newer one).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SR5mczLmV7sFyTTzI89mZzsexludWg9S2NzWNXmqN9Q4P55D1zq-SMfD9t8K0raVGBJMq_QJalyJ0zB3_xy654hjzem6AoptbxU4V2PGsLlVi3l_fUe7cu-Hn1KCCcedL7VW-X4Y-zk/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SR5mczLmV7sFyTTzI89mZzsexludWg9S2NzWNXmqN9Q4P55D1zq-SMfD9t8K0raVGBJMq_QJalyJ0zB3_xy654hjzem6AoptbxU4V2PGsLlVi3l_fUe7cu-Hn1KCCcedL7VW-X4Y-zk/s400/IMG_2237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502175517584374898" border="0" /></a><br />I used part of another waistband to make the strap that goes between the collar and the chest strap, and sewed on a reused belt loop to hold the D-ring.<br /><br />One thing I should mention is that I used a really simple-but-useful little gadget called the <a href="http://www.dritz.com/brands/showcase/details.php?ITEM_NUM=915">"JEAN-A-MA-JIG" by Dritz</a> to sew over the really thick parts where the jeans seams and the belt loops were. This helps to prevent the stitches skipping when the presser foot is going up or down at a steep angle when you go over the big hump in the fabric.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGPeWua2xLhA6IvqwkgE539doDXooJbwDAVVGyGJ69nnmKRiKSWlBWq9_rCdWWQ2ER9uWy72-YcKpqwYR02SvWo5-bH0jlX-7e1-3B9jlHlOmt0RTozrheyHC-i8UzgqNbSE7fSdUXOA/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42bgCQdajne8RBzfe425fR3Gk-UQAt0L7ztCPcbhURWk590s1sgpKo9jV1-aY3BiYnk0JFyo9aZ8iwf5NVMWgjwp0c7yKiLLzT_UFQIY1FY0DlJb9Zn7V3HMMO2UoVsxTtGJWrieu478/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42bgCQdajne8RBzfe425fR3Gk-UQAt0L7ztCPcbhURWk590s1sgpKo9jV1-aY3BiYnk0JFyo9aZ8iwf5NVMWgjwp0c7yKiLLzT_UFQIY1FY0DlJb9Zn7V3HMMO2UoVsxTtGJWrieu478/s400/IMG_2089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502186626192501458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HNq2iatsoTRzsdN5Qqoro8tIcxKIcsqoPlEr_rdJAO90AjUwtP4leYce2piZnBEMxbxHrGcwdrK5waqp4ufE3SEhdpxCdcsVXg107XlsXGxrsyF08G-QWD9jXrawe5yjYsIFnoa6WXY/s1600/IMG_2090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HNq2iatsoTRzsdN5Qqoro8tIcxKIcsqoPlEr_rdJAO90AjUwtP4leYce2piZnBEMxbxHrGcwdrK5waqp4ufE3SEhdpxCdcsVXg107XlsXGxrsyF08G-QWD9jXrawe5yjYsIFnoa6WXY/s400/IMG_2090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502186619709438002" border="0" /></a><br />The sewing still wasn't easy, but it was better. It actually turned out that for my machine with the "walking foot" (that contraption that includes the presser foot and sticks out behind the presser foot--it helps keep multiple layers from sliding out of place), I needed a thinner version to put under the foot in the back, while the thicker "JEAN-A-MA-JIG" fit under the front side. I made the thinner version from a plastic soft drink cup that was languishing in my recycling bin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGPeWua2xLhA6IvqwkgE539doDXooJbwDAVVGyGJ69nnmKRiKSWlBWq9_rCdWWQ2ER9uWy72-YcKpqwYR02SvWo5-bH0jlX-7e1-3B9jlHlOmt0RTozrheyHC-i8UzgqNbSE7fSdUXOA/s1600/IMG_2087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGPeWua2xLhA6IvqwkgE539doDXooJbwDAVVGyGJ69nnmKRiKSWlBWq9_rCdWWQ2ER9uWy72-YcKpqwYR02SvWo5-bH0jlX-7e1-3B9jlHlOmt0RTozrheyHC-i8UzgqNbSE7fSdUXOA/s400/IMG_2087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502186635338659954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Done!</span><br /><br />Here is the finished harness. The second button has been replaced on the chest strap so I would have two matching Levi's buttons. It is also sewn closed and is now just decorative, since the lunchbox buckle provides the adjustable fastening. If you look carefully, you can see that I completely removed the waistband that goes around the chest and then sewed it and the belt loop back on so the button and buttonhole would be in the right place! Tulip is fortunately much smaller than the original 36-inch waist. The triangular section goes on the dog's chest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH04EJu5Q99-UVz0zER-6Yv8NDjeExK2d3zDCYhSLE-mr1Go9KgBxwHRSwSCr2ZtTQeeQOBR6_CxKkYXfEPGRc18-2X1ibL6pVGdv9paLmW-2psl48JcZ8AYNjFjO5p8OgIruIBnJ-IIQ/s1600/IMG_2145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH04EJu5Q99-UVz0zER-6Yv8NDjeExK2d3zDCYhSLE-mr1Go9KgBxwHRSwSCr2ZtTQeeQOBR6_CxKkYXfEPGRc18-2X1ibL6pVGdv9paLmW-2psl48JcZ8AYNjFjO5p8OgIruIBnJ-IIQ/s400/IMG_2145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173488033422626" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the finished harness looking down at the top (the dog's back).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxuxhDjdPVUCwwstw8b1XSPskTB77CiR9zBYwvEBAFCRnyLR7YYTRRY2DkKG0fHw29ulvDMJeNHNjCG6gpBSqLI9tnvbHp9WIuH_E1Y5NkuDpfHqaHW6sqQ0XddYsFsqVA_WxpXy7R8k/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxuxhDjdPVUCwwstw8b1XSPskTB77CiR9zBYwvEBAFCRnyLR7YYTRRY2DkKG0fHw29ulvDMJeNHNjCG6gpBSqLI9tnvbHp9WIuH_E1Y5NkuDpfHqaHW6sqQ0XddYsFsqVA_WxpXy7R8k/s400/IMG_2148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502173476555713474" border="0" /></a><br />The buckle strap goes through a loop on the D-ring section.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introducing Tulip</span><br /><br />Here is Tulip in her cool new harness:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt1FStgDsP1XD1s3uMAG6l5x863nJGIK3YeW1YVGwBsUTeFtqDBGgrDQPjdiFnHHxi18XdprsZTl35xfwB1nVXi3n6ty0074hlqHmJSCIl86RRQPmrbBMpsLRd2PYTO_XMNA8lV1FvRc/s1600/IMG_2154.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 381px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDt1FStgDsP1XD1s3uMAG6l5x863nJGIK3YeW1YVGwBsUTeFtqDBGgrDQPjdiFnHHxi18XdprsZTl35xfwB1nVXi3n6ty0074hlqHmJSCIl86RRQPmrbBMpsLRd2PYTO_XMNA8lV1FvRc/s400/IMG_2154.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171164612447874" border="0" /></a><br />Here she shows off the D-ring on the belt loop:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwDKdFcyCwnAnzhaOn6Ajp8jECIiqq-2uIYZTXcT57d5mvNDgssSHGS_W9yamDxRcRu3qlLxe5xpYknIFZ8v9fUY3egJamdSSyG5bR4CcVEAZrBf77Up8XSXdFSndoY8kw2wqZEMhvOw/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwDKdFcyCwnAnzhaOn6Ajp8jECIiqq-2uIYZTXcT57d5mvNDgssSHGS_W9yamDxRcRu3qlLxe5xpYknIFZ8v9fUY3egJamdSSyG5bR4CcVEAZrBf77Up8XSXdFSndoY8kw2wqZEMhvOw/s400/IMG_2151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171170345322386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lacey and Tulip: Out and About</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP72St0yiIq1aJ0NykBmTdh6xSDoxQblj4_VeTmAASj95uCn4p0gJsyP56NyQLVnUHW74jdv3f-LW9ccpmjXBxlKVsveqDFGjNmGsFNN-L44t6OcUnFw_bCt9NW-QxKmBgw_ibi_Zr8Yk/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP72St0yiIq1aJ0NykBmTdh6xSDoxQblj4_VeTmAASj95uCn4p0gJsyP56NyQLVnUHW74jdv3f-LW9ccpmjXBxlKVsveqDFGjNmGsFNN-L44t6OcUnFw_bCt9NW-QxKmBgw_ibi_Zr8Yk/s400/IMG_2184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171146936341794" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, Lacey needs a matching jeans harness too. Maybe later...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yKXfX9Gh_idKDrH2tNwEnN8aSfqHql7_mnG2wTSiMnVYwQtyZYAkiUyshVB3wDLeRnINxlN31A5qZD1D2zsTHdCwDv3nsn2qyHFeyMu7MZRPrI7Tf_a9iCWMMYxFrqKm8-4vs2DGRuo/s1600/IMG_2185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yKXfX9Gh_idKDrH2tNwEnN8aSfqHql7_mnG2wTSiMnVYwQtyZYAkiUyshVB3wDLeRnINxlN31A5qZD1D2zsTHdCwDv3nsn2qyHFeyMu7MZRPrI7Tf_a9iCWMMYxFrqKm8-4vs2DGRuo/s400/IMG_2185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171156436845282" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the whole doggy-infatuated gang! That's me in one of my favorite gaudy tie-dyed T-shirts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9V8j_A0yqsd0_7qH45yzVT_nfFc6ya7EE03RNWJGFEOJnrKQjmB27WIjLKBfWGpESQQJ217nxP-tOYJkbGTl-VTO-WGZWUlEyaDwm_hMdVdGySb5g1G268QByC2Yjt9bs5onxuXcPtA/s1600/IMG_2171-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9V8j_A0yqsd0_7qH45yzVT_nfFc6ya7EE03RNWJGFEOJnrKQjmB27WIjLKBfWGpESQQJ217nxP-tOYJkbGTl-VTO-WGZWUlEyaDwm_hMdVdGySb5g1G268QByC2Yjt9bs5onxuXcPtA/s400/IMG_2171-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502171177929449362" border="0" /></a>That original 36-inch jeans waist might be just the right size for Moxie the giant schnauzer...Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-45242732551373971462010-07-30T23:53:00.000-07:002010-07-31T00:35:47.460-07:00Big Wide Brown SandalsEveryone's feet are different, but some feet are more "different" than others in a world where standardization and mass production are the norm. Very wide flat feet, for example, are hard to fit in standard shoe sizes, so they are good candidates for custom sandals. And since the particular feet in question belong to my husband, they are perfect candidates for my sandal experimentation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Padding</span><br /><br />I had tried, unsuccessfully, to find the padding that Michael of <a href="http://www.islandsandals.com/">Island Sandals</a> uses. Rob at Tandy suggested I try using a blue foam sleeping bag pad, which made sense to me, so I got one at REI and started hacking it up.<br /><br />Once I had cut the strap holes and finished the top piece (Tandy Eco-Flo dye, Bison Brown followed by Carnauba Creme finish), I glued the blue foam to the top piece with Fast-bond 30 and wrapped the straps around the foam through the holes, as seen below:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi23PNud9u8iMH6hJYpgtyUy5o2-NyS3_i5Xk-TP-Ag7nGuDZrA0YJrI2ZkrZkqYW9osgluXsef2kw3tjwuEagBhZP_P2KUFa9rE71jkCgQ80t6Ujp2yC69s8wJpgeiWuahGW1z_3B51v/s1600-h/IMG_8203.JPG"></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi23PNud9u8iMH6hJYpgtyUy5o2-NyS3_i5Xk-TP-Ag7nGuDZrA0YJrI2ZkrZkqYW9osgluXsef2kw3tjwuEagBhZP_P2KUFa9rE71jkCgQ80t6Ujp2yC69s8wJpgeiWuahGW1z_3B51v/s1600-h/IMG_8203.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZi23PNud9u8iMH6hJYpgtyUy5o2-NyS3_i5Xk-TP-Ag7nGuDZrA0YJrI2ZkrZkqYW9osgluXsef2kw3tjwuEagBhZP_P2KUFa9rE71jkCgQ80t6Ujp2yC69s8wJpgeiWuahGW1z_3B51v/s400/IMG_8203.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I cut the sole pieces a bit oversized so I would have room for stitching and trimming later.<br /><br />I'm working with quite thick leather again, like I did for my<a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/02/shoe-mania-part-1-desire-design-and-de.html"> first pair of sandals</a>: 13-15 oz. saddle skirting for the sole bottoms, with an extra layer for the heels. I used 6-7 oz. leather for the upper layer of the shoe, and 10-11 oz. leather for the straps (no way is he going to wear through these straps!). In hindsight, I should have used thinner leather for the straps, maybe 6-7 or 8-9 oz., because these straps are awfully thick, stiff, and bulky. Besides, the nice thing about the free-floating straps (that is, they are not permanently fastened to the sole anywhere so they can be infinitely adjusted) is that they are relatively easy to replace if they wear out or break.<br /><br />I glued the top sole to the bottom sole (carefully not gluing where the straps are), then used a drill press with a small bit (around 1/16") to drill the holes around the edge. It worked pretty well, so long as I kept the straps out of the way! It was definitely easier than holding a power drill by hand like I did for <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/05/shoe-mania-part-4-theyre-multiplying.html">my daughter's thong sandals</a>.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWLfPo6RawBGTuYo2rt8eEybyZJkjM-Ab68SltTgV9p_BVKG7d8hrVdz91fmdRi0-E_lofjxUVfULbunL0Pv6P8p9Jlx6HY6-3hBcxGNMy6PjlL0IO-8EuMQCmTKICFMPGp5xRR3-btzQ/s1600-h/IMG_8255.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWLfPo6RawBGTuYo2rt8eEybyZJkjM-Ab68SltTgV9p_BVKG7d8hrVdz91fmdRi0-E_lofjxUVfULbunL0Pv6P8p9Jlx6HY6-3hBcxGNMy6PjlL0IO-8EuMQCmTKICFMPGp5xRR3-btzQ/s400/IMG_8255.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Stitching by hand around the edges took a while, but I eventually finished them.<br /></div> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocQki_r89Y4zI0zJl2q9UaqbziIAZ7eLeexK-FC3bUmjkns97FMMZkfz41QTUpclX4uCtZUyNAcQpZwyw5PkoG_TBwAb-Qw3LDkY4ZN7xKnxPkQYiubdRYk7k2NLGtQ7cPVeU5R1paNyG/s1600-h/IMG_8302.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocQki_r89Y4zI0zJl2q9UaqbziIAZ7eLeexK-FC3bUmjkns97FMMZkfz41QTUpclX4uCtZUyNAcQpZwyw5PkoG_TBwAb-Qw3LDkY4ZN7xKnxPkQYiubdRYk7k2NLGtQ7cPVeU5R1paNyG/s400/IMG_8302.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I like the wood-grained appearance of the hand-dyed leather. I got that by using a small paintbrush to apply the dye to the upper sole pieces.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKwKD9pm3lJzyb2z8MtYe4OXKJm2X_Fl0LHk7Cb4E40BDLOntUc4_h2NBs4VVw0SQCgVtX7LCsdhA_7qEPgUIprDGBHmeW2XmXNoETotDOaRBFVYaUHXYGd8n-vbWVFeNjXtrKzwGj3QB/s1600-h/IMG_8303.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKwKD9pm3lJzyb2z8MtYe4OXKJm2X_Fl0LHk7Cb4E40BDLOntUc4_h2NBs4VVw0SQCgVtX7LCsdhA_7qEPgUIprDGBHmeW2XmXNoETotDOaRBFVYaUHXYGd8n-vbWVFeNjXtrKzwGj3QB/s400/IMG_8303.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sole Bottoms</span><br /><br />I glued a layer of SoleTech 3.5 onto the front part of the bottom, and glued a section of rubber chevron-patterned soling (also ordered from <a href="http://www.louisbirns.com/">Louis Birns & Sons</a>) onto the heels, as in the picture below:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH298VdDgX-Ur7dpEKugf80n3rW1io0KyRUjc_LF_Lrw_H-OaPmMUOwxrLHdh79s8l2GgoVBy6mE5Pov7vbUocECMs7xTk2uo3H2cw_opU9ZFWryGEgZj10xz9mPGYp3gYSpPEIsfcRFo/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH298VdDgX-Ur7dpEKugf80n3rW1io0KyRUjc_LF_Lrw_H-OaPmMUOwxrLHdh79s8l2GgoVBy6mE5Pov7vbUocECMs7xTk2uo3H2cw_opU9ZFWryGEgZj10xz9mPGYp3gYSpPEIsfcRFo/s400/IMG_2208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499946001427785666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When I took the picture above, my husband had already been wearing the sandals for a while (several months), so some wear is visible on the soles. The SoleTech 3.5 is a little too thin and dainty for this purpose. When he eventually wears all the way through it, I'll replace it with more of the chevron soling. Meanwhile, the sleeping-bag pad foam has held up pretty well so far and is still pretty resilient.<br /></div> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvg5lTQSYTXTyjj3Q238Yb8WAagEbnXPZRE-Gtmpwrib269HCZFTlhmcYLyZQJ7MhiS49RafCmHvRju3SP-JWlgh_Hb4mCbpnvwBq_0snFjVbZz7AcsFx8YGWMmj7JVo_X_YpDaTPesvc/s1600-h/IMG_8309.JPG"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lacey Too?</span><br /><br />Lacey wants to know when I'll be making a pair of shoes for her, but she points out that she has much daintier little feet than my husband!<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxiMJTE-eHdCtU1puiFl9Nrq2LpYiRhiic3fXTLcD7DKLhjsq6Se_vC1nII6jUGThcMkH6ORdWLmscGmhyphenhyphen2rCPJVMyzwihNK-7kBSkxVWhHrBmZjLMxYd-ruPGtRs-6uYwFTn1cMtBS8u/s1600-h/IMG_8310.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxiMJTE-eHdCtU1puiFl9Nrq2LpYiRhiic3fXTLcD7DKLhjsq6Se_vC1nII6jUGThcMkH6ORdWLmscGmhyphenhyphen2rCPJVMyzwihNK-7kBSkxVWhHrBmZjLMxYd-ruPGtRs-6uYwFTn1cMtBS8u/s400/IMG_8310.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohRIHTaELLAChDb1OQSPSC_pjXzectmVfvfV9ZNJjGutuePnDKhV0OKX4d7cvJaZMkqmm0E9d9Sx71T1ZdKeNL31FdgezhC8gCePYPGTKdZmzAXS37OfQhyphenhyphenN5UDMyiMHQLk-hfy03EfNA/s1600-h/IMG_8312.JPG"><br /></a> </div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-13048685213309240292010-04-27T15:21:00.000-07:002010-04-27T15:49:27.987-07:00Another Case for an iPod TouchAs expected, my younger daughter got an iPod Touch too, and of course she needed a case before we went on vacation. I made her a case similar to <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2010/04/touching-case-for-ipod-touch.html">her sister's case</a>, with a few modifications now that the first one has been in service for a bit.<br /><br />I used some alligator-grain embossed leather from Tandy. It was about the same thickness as the black leather I used for the other case, so this time I glued a layer of the black onto the front piece for extra stiffness. This time I also sewed the loop side of the Velcro onto the pocket before putting the case together. <br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC8XaSPtKKyQ8pYdtLWlOCRdwTvFzaHZDwt5sIX7LV2J1ckePqAeZojeB_X6IaKfm2VlvDaVG3gN4ClnXagqK0W1ZaWRah2Jx7pszbPHYR4M8E6qvZxOOCH2WLv-lZi6JCX0Xtd4hgbc/s1600/IMG_1255.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC8XaSPtKKyQ8pYdtLWlOCRdwTvFzaHZDwt5sIX7LV2J1ckePqAeZojeB_X6IaKfm2VlvDaVG3gN4ClnXagqK0W1ZaWRah2Jx7pszbPHYR4M8E6qvZxOOCH2WLv-lZi6JCX0Xtd4hgbc/s400/IMG_1255.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As before, I stitched around the main screen opening.<br /></div> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oj9io4PgAfnD494IpvJ2A-3BgpIcTg9YdByTE9DaIbI-TniK6Q5YtasVKFwur7Fa_tiI4s7KHXgOn8bt6t8n71Ox5TlXDJNnXjl0ZIEepJxxOSPyHI2hvazEEjwf_0bJ1VYcUfrbArw/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oj9io4PgAfnD494IpvJ2A-3BgpIcTg9YdByTE9DaIbI-TniK6Q5YtasVKFwur7Fa_tiI4s7KHXgOn8bt6t8n71Ox5TlXDJNnXjl0ZIEepJxxOSPyHI2hvazEEjwf_0bJ1VYcUfrbArw/s400/IMG_1258.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />For the previous case, the front and back pieces were about the same width. This time I want the seam to be more to the front of the iPod, so I made the front piece narrower and the back piece wider. The seam at the bottom of the picture is where the pocket is sewed to the back piece.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sUZcn9YZhFrXrurr6nCsYRJd9TVLRwsTL2fxHrebmqwVAFWLoWZB9DzhHzkssB8JmuhOJqatV0S3eRDhyphenhyphenAx6ee-mg3PDEVlxSFKnuTazOfVoaHbGNURpswPJ5uLp0vEEvXJbpID63ns/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sUZcn9YZhFrXrurr6nCsYRJd9TVLRwsTL2fxHrebmqwVAFWLoWZB9DzhHzkssB8JmuhOJqatV0S3eRDhyphenhyphenAx6ee-mg3PDEVlxSFKnuTazOfVoaHbGNURpswPJ5uLp0vEEvXJbpID63ns/s400/IMG_1260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here is the pocket sewed to the back. The pocket opening is in the center of the picture.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaEe3gxGAC09UInnBM3xUVYOSE7xPzPmN603ZgvXZVXYnwZRz_Tdriehp6J-LHhyphenhyphenV3nQVK8L-PMAT4G0fFn9Uwooi1DTDSz1NO3EgDXgO-N4W6Kt3R3I-lRFo_G-AZ-Z5kgZb4O74rUg/s1600/IMG_1263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaEe3gxGAC09UInnBM3xUVYOSE7xPzPmN603ZgvXZVXYnwZRz_Tdriehp6J-LHhyphenhyphenV3nQVK8L-PMAT4G0fFn9Uwooi1DTDSz1NO3EgDXgO-N4W6Kt3R3I-lRFo_G-AZ-Z5kgZb4O74rUg/s400/IMG_1263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946634478925554" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Next I sewed the back to the front.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZikxCRZ0F5IutiGFH3zoNJ8fyY5mOUS7FDaXKFP7i3vsswYZuSMnuUbwHRM16tB69o0hBV8H9ShSdBaCtIhcA2eqLhAzrywlfwLJ5sW0gocQQUBTehZF7MkbWO1BjSKOS94TU4hR0zo/s1600/IMG_1262.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZikxCRZ0F5IutiGFH3zoNJ8fyY5mOUS7FDaXKFP7i3vsswYZuSMnuUbwHRM16tB69o0hBV8H9ShSdBaCtIhcA2eqLhAzrywlfwLJ5sW0gocQQUBTehZF7MkbWO1BjSKOS94TU4hR0zo/s400/IMG_1262.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I did the strap the same way I did it on the previous case, with fleece binding, plastic twine, and a buckle. I opened the binding, sewed one side to the front of the case, then closed the binding over the case edge and sewed the back of the binding on (through all the layers including the front part of the binding).<br /><br />Like before, I trimmed the flaps to fit once the case was all sewed together.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KU0zGOX-wmKbOOtDjTlvNQO8YWylr0woclyEDhvFtopodoVykQhIotHZehrcK7lN1ksCwrHGzpJk38Iv4PRH7X36E8BBz0tMDm5pU6oQWMNULEudAPnEF9eSZ_ppHJp0AmWIEBo1co4/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KU0zGOX-wmKbOOtDjTlvNQO8YWylr0woclyEDhvFtopodoVykQhIotHZehrcK7lN1ksCwrHGzpJk38Iv4PRH7X36E8BBz0tMDm5pU6oQWMNULEudAPnEF9eSZ_ppHJp0AmWIEBo1co4/s400/IMG_1265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946528274704530" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I made the pocket a bit bigger this time so it would be easier to put the headset in.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sqxhOkNngFYhEh0aVJNhUU9bQQCeQPRVFBZaCICwD8jf63uZykLTNo3cUpCLp3gL90Jhr8QufL8r4w5l6aSgf7LDwFF0MGJLCrQW9kNmdZsR8uUy658c0tOizwwnVVwnPXwfbkjyPQk/s1600/IMG_1268.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sqxhOkNngFYhEh0aVJNhUU9bQQCeQPRVFBZaCICwD8jf63uZykLTNo3cUpCLp3gL90Jhr8QufL8r4w5l6aSgf7LDwFF0MGJLCrQW9kNmdZsR8uUy658c0tOizwwnVVwnPXwfbkjyPQk/s400/IMG_1268.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946523388443282" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It's a little easier to see the flap construction on the patterned brown leather.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGydKawbFp5rXVc4zGjxRzfV7AomErKwZB4W0m3CHd3pN0wOk-PwMhbiO_5phjinS_eT2TOt9cnomvJDvQm3HyAyS0w7SJCGdKx9BcPQoxAV0-Q_pARtnnmVHnIFnA7WrLj36TRBakwZs/s1600/IMG_1269.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGydKawbFp5rXVc4zGjxRzfV7AomErKwZB4W0m3CHd3pN0wOk-PwMhbiO_5phjinS_eT2TOt9cnomvJDvQm3HyAyS0w7SJCGdKx9BcPQoxAV0-Q_pARtnnmVHnIFnA7WrLj36TRBakwZs/s400/IMG_1269.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946508862413202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H_ZBJ8cWWFXH3NmXAw2MPtT1Zdwkl7pYdNapaoY3G3RKbLenctwUaiB50UVWr9YVcrzbiHHY2H5O80igEotslOSUjiUtb_8kqSHPXBzAGTkD0BSePMvB57SaayLSMN3I2bzTZfis9Wc/s1600/IMG_1273.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H_ZBJ8cWWFXH3NmXAw2MPtT1Zdwkl7pYdNapaoY3G3RKbLenctwUaiB50UVWr9YVcrzbiHHY2H5O80igEotslOSUjiUtb_8kqSHPXBzAGTkD0BSePMvB57SaayLSMN3I2bzTZfis9Wc/s400/IMG_1273.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946505543378002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70LydyKBhuuiYgZcIOG7qLhh99vRrkkmVmzJi6ERMeZEFzbcuDKJVPE-qYmFxFDvW88xtf3Lqj2JWtzQPLF0Ssh3PxnnJTutT-5PNzi2Qgd9idLCQ9bZM0tS6JVVA44JcIJrsPZmE54/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB70LydyKBhuuiYgZcIOG7qLhh99vRrkkmVmzJi6ERMeZEFzbcuDKJVPE-qYmFxFDvW88xtf3Lqj2JWtzQPLF0Ssh3PxnnJTutT-5PNzi2Qgd9idLCQ9bZM0tS6JVVA44JcIJrsPZmE54/s400/IMG_1275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464946496331824978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Another "quick" project (though it still took me several hours). Done!<br /></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-83344790560779970192010-04-03T23:17:00.000-07:002010-04-03T23:47:46.237-07:00A Touching Case for an iPod TouchThe latest project was a pretty quick one: a carrier for an Apple iPod Touch for my daughter. I had a deadline, since she was about to go off on a school trip and wanted to bring it with her. It needed a shoulder strap that would go across the chest so it would be easy to access but hard to lose.<br /><br />I started by making a pattern/prototype of paper towel and Scotch tape (some of my favorite prototyping supplies).<br /><br />I got some Wrights extra-wide (half inch wide) double-fold fleece binding for the strap so the strap would be soft against the skin. I reinforced it with the type of cheap plastic twine people use to tie purchases to car racks at IKEA. This piece actually came from my local Tandy store, where it had been used to tie up one of my large pieces of leather so I could get it home in my car! Yeah, I almost never throw anything away...<br /><br />Here is the twine being stitched into the binding. That's a "walking foot" on the machine, which helps when sewing through multiple layers.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bp51miSvPjJeQkFqfUiw-tqQzWpDqMI5jLNjmP78oJnd4yWOChRKV_0FFfWdmxNcqXAIrvep2Dj5dIIJ7fhm9kzxMQ45OI6r84DkstK4ZK2StdxbeoUVLkfvKPvdjEMJAnmbGsERwRU/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG"></a><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bp51miSvPjJeQkFqfUiw-tqQzWpDqMI5jLNjmP78oJnd4yWOChRKV_0FFfWdmxNcqXAIrvep2Dj5dIIJ7fhm9kzxMQ45OI6r84DkstK4ZK2StdxbeoUVLkfvKPvdjEMJAnmbGsERwRU/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bp51miSvPjJeQkFqfUiw-tqQzWpDqMI5jLNjmP78oJnd4yWOChRKV_0FFfWdmxNcqXAIrvep2Dj5dIIJ7fhm9kzxMQ45OI6r84DkstK4ZK2StdxbeoUVLkfvKPvdjEMJAnmbGsERwRU/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I cut out a few scraps of the soft black leather left over from my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/11/tv-chair-adventures-part-3.html">Sonotube-and-leatherTV chair</a>. I used my sewing machine and heavy polyester thread to stitch a reinforcing outline for the iPod screen and the menu button as well as for the power cord and headset holes.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJstcxtTa-vVXvxYa9NF9OkNFDFmoIh3QJbSLGBrypHKa9dHPiK8aipTnfmCy6grtxLuRO-b0vvZpViiSymByO1b11ply7ylpcztYgREpqaV-YhrFHZXwqE3KNpUCukoQKZqjvFjLsB0c/s1600/IMG_1191.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJstcxtTa-vVXvxYa9NF9OkNFDFmoIh3QJbSLGBrypHKa9dHPiK8aipTnfmCy6grtxLuRO-b0vvZpViiSymByO1b11ply7ylpcztYgREpqaV-YhrFHZXwqE3KNpUCukoQKZqjvFjLsB0c/s400/IMG_1191.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The crescent of stitching on the left was just for testing. It will be cut off later. Here is the right side of the leather:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zEcXufKam442j9YEvA08ZFd3BuAwIYqbWKnYCDEKVVWPUSQ0Li7ekLFNupcvBGLf1nb4o44Ih9hyUenZny_8SWfAWpwsLENUQkug084h58lBbwxNOhBqnEOXuYdLEZ00u2rfYALPDW0/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zEcXufKam442j9YEvA08ZFd3BuAwIYqbWKnYCDEKVVWPUSQ0Li7ekLFNupcvBGLf1nb4o44Ih9hyUenZny_8SWfAWpwsLENUQkug084h58lBbwxNOhBqnEOXuYdLEZ00u2rfYALPDW0/s400/IMG_1192.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I wanted a pocket for the case to hold the iPod headset when it wasn't being used, so I sewed a pocket piece onto the back and stitched the back to the front:<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG45__h36h4blG7u1njY8EpbqSKc-aOXGU_THBAIaoVbcfDvpbUYKHMYutISSgG0j_FKsKLBYLY6DMAgu5qCMJH67-ge2MckR4wcDgW5X7A9Ni_k5KL-aZevC7vQCIp1UttYivlN-8oug/s1600/IMG_1194.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG45__h36h4blG7u1njY8EpbqSKc-aOXGU_THBAIaoVbcfDvpbUYKHMYutISSgG0j_FKsKLBYLY6DMAgu5qCMJH67-ge2MckR4wcDgW5X7A9Ni_k5KL-aZevC7vQCIp1UttYivlN-8oug/s400/IMG_1194.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I cut out the rectangle for the screen and the slot at the bottom for the cord.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD6C_dsADdRvXOPWjPJkVJD58XUJQoLAYxDbvyMMkvlxrjgMMtf3HTAh67ntqS_jfOaRPnHxE3fdCAGWyYs5oWCTavJ6X62NlSqKKGrAARBfKWsOTdqD6M5FNFPpZQ3HUWJsbjsObjdM/s1600/IMG_1198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKD6C_dsADdRvXOPWjPJkVJD58XUJQoLAYxDbvyMMkvlxrjgMMtf3HTAh67ntqS_jfOaRPnHxE3fdCAGWyYs5oWCTavJ6X62NlSqKKGrAARBfKWsOTdqD6M5FNFPpZQ3HUWJsbjsObjdM/s400/IMG_1198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456164062542404978" border="0" /></a>I sewed the sides of the case together using the machine, and then I sewed the fleece binding strap onto the sides of the case. Once the pieces were all together, I adjusted the fit and cut off the excess leather from the cover flap and the center tab (top of the front piece).<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD-RnuC1hCE99fe8slOcZNxo7crjAmK3RndqXmAIXookQczpWIqCwycFPqpntDxL00NbAJGHQ_M5q8TPFAYFEgu3skVJBcrtrjTCHpm_xwYNCuPdTRMwhVbqceYmIg2m1OJVJydsofdM/s1600/IMG_1209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuD-RnuC1hCE99fe8slOcZNxo7crjAmK3RndqXmAIXookQczpWIqCwycFPqpntDxL00NbAJGHQ_M5q8TPFAYFEgu3skVJBcrtrjTCHpm_xwYNCuPdTRMwhVbqceYmIg2m1OJVJydsofdM/s400/IMG_1209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456158442058637794" border="0" /></a>I had been planning to attach snaps to the tab and cover to hold the case closed, but after I had put the case together, I thought of using hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) instead. My daughter liked that idea. Since I had already sewed the pocket on, I stitched a strip of the loop part onto the pocket by hand. I used my sewing machine to sew the hook parts onto the center tab and the end of the cover.<br /><br />The center tab (right at the top of the iPod) in the picture above fits through a slot in the back of the case and then holds the headset pocket closed. Note that I did not cut out a hole for the menu button at the bottom of the iPod. The stitching there is just to provide a tactile indication of the button location, since the leather is soft and thin enough to allow the button to be pressed right through the leather.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrvVh8WkY75f37-Ifn9IYF_XbbeYXdIvUpwCiQUbOcOM9-NaBJH3lPYD076t4URRRkU7nmjjeS54ji2DGdTAsYGNSyolErdF4QQmqulkuxV8sjxWFF-NnAFjToob4ZReLXo2wvOUIN18/s1600/IMG_1208.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrvVh8WkY75f37-Ifn9IYF_XbbeYXdIvUpwCiQUbOcOM9-NaBJH3lPYD076t4URRRkU7nmjjeS54ji2DGdTAsYGNSyolErdF4QQmqulkuxV8sjxWFF-NnAFjToob4ZReLXo2wvOUIN18/s400/IMG_1208.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456158449057552914" border="0" /></a><br />The cover flap folds completely down over the front of the iPod and up around the bottom of the back, covering the hole for the cords and fastening to the Velcro on the pocket back.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fgYCdk1NV9T0Fzkyt5Q0FSjKdJDbjN23JMTnhOx1RP7wg7osnQxMqJ9av2UFcp9wAdXx8KjjTH37IdpcL2Vmpn9-n-A6pSOx8eY46LRzmuFzoMwaUmq7e2YpL307hpW3_KFH2722828/s1600/IMG_1207.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fgYCdk1NV9T0Fzkyt5Q0FSjKdJDbjN23JMTnhOx1RP7wg7osnQxMqJ9av2UFcp9wAdXx8KjjTH37IdpcL2Vmpn9-n-A6pSOx8eY46LRzmuFzoMwaUmq7e2YpL307hpW3_KFH2722828/s400/IMG_1207.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456165314971636258" border="0" /></a><br />I cut up a recycled white plastic pill bottle to get a fairly stiff plastic rectangle, then I put some notches on it to make a "bobbin" for winding the headset around. The bobbin and headset fit nicely into the pocket on the back. Here you can also see the Velcro loop piece sewn onto the pocket:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtxtqJr9qVerkFho_npCA96FHuRq3UXjpDPZjqwfXXLtvjwlu8qVoDiQKSA8t4AmnTghwJhVjwFJJst6k1CZx_PbpF8nZQySKhkVfJAkwYdksgUV7GhqQRNr_3GnmOs8OtuTjfIpW8Zs/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 141px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvtxtqJr9qVerkFho_npCA96FHuRq3UXjpDPZjqwfXXLtvjwlu8qVoDiQKSA8t4AmnTghwJhVjwFJJst6k1CZx_PbpF8nZQySKhkVfJAkwYdksgUV7GhqQRNr_3GnmOs8OtuTjfIpW8Zs/s400/IMG_1211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456158409251148418" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here is the finished case. My daughter wears it with the screen facing her body so it's easier to read the iPod without removing the case. I added a plastic buckle (left over from previous experiments with making tie-dyed dog collars!) to the strap so it would be adjustable and easy to take off.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJvX5mbubTB1YyQl-5ieM4qE-WodHsIYLTaczmT5fatwWveKbdM9_fAl3UQrQRtOzTZg47REBZ_aHr5ClqWc1h4R7sKkyxZB5NC-mboLROUb3GTyVH7niLZ0uHYJgn1XLbOUHiY6LJtg/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJvX5mbubTB1YyQl-5ieM4qE-WodHsIYLTaczmT5fatwWveKbdM9_fAl3UQrQRtOzTZg47REBZ_aHr5ClqWc1h4R7sKkyxZB5NC-mboLROUb3GTyVH7niLZ0uHYJgn1XLbOUHiY6LJtg/s400/IMG_1214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456158406285248066" border="0" /></a><br />The case seems to be a hit: my daughter has been wearing it around the house ever since I gave it to her, and her younger sister has already put in her request for one of her own!<br /><br />And just to be complete, here's a completely gratuitous picture of Lacey. She wasn't interested in wearing the iPod case since my daughter wouldn't share the headset...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIsJ-gOc6vCeTHho4XyTOKMQ75hDKP3ZBg50KG3Z9KH3-3y-gRJj18P0rbwtvqP4GMGHomrwifNE6bRCyTm-YG9llx3ngYOIwyJxqEGBx_mOqCfNzPrQphLIsmPequlJEFUndcnlpo8Y/s1600/IMG_1217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIsJ-gOc6vCeTHho4XyTOKMQ75hDKP3ZBg50KG3Z9KH3-3y-gRJj18P0rbwtvqP4GMGHomrwifNE6bRCyTm-YG9llx3ngYOIwyJxqEGBx_mOqCfNzPrQphLIsmPequlJEFUndcnlpo8Y/s400/IMG_1217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456160552462893138" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-51584046381632436222010-01-31T15:15:00.000-08:002010-01-31T16:49:05.714-08:00The (First) Leather iPhone CaseThe pricey-but-cheap plastic case I bought for my iPhone broke recently, and I've been doing some shaping of leather lately, so I made a prototype leather case for my phone. Out of pure laziness, I wanted to avoid doing any stitching, so I experimented with a one-piece design for my new case.<br /><br />I started with a rectangle of 3-5 ounce thickness vegetable-tanned leather I had left over from other projects, wet it in water until it was thoroughly soaked, and wrapped it around the broken plastic iPhone case to start shaping it. I pulled it tight around the corners. I cut slits in the leather to make it fit better, figuring that I would cut away a lot of excess leather later after it had dried in shape.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLnR1izlTvGZNSPzwEUmmDfZhzeiiARjv9uU__cdQC-A5X-2NcAW4t6QP540VSwwqFAduPtW_72Zfv_-5yCMuAOgCBCKaulng9KqntpRcJns4vfNJgku0RE8TW3f8JKQAMXL67G6hHOw/s1600-h/IMG_0627b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLnR1izlTvGZNSPzwEUmmDfZhzeiiARjv9uU__cdQC-A5X-2NcAW4t6QP540VSwwqFAduPtW_72Zfv_-5yCMuAOgCBCKaulng9KqntpRcJns4vfNJgku0RE8TW3f8JKQAMXL67G6hHOw/s400/IMG_0627b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433052076549771074" border="0" /></a><br />I used thin rubber bands to hold it together while it dried, which took about two days (especially where there were multiple layers).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfVQnSDPl-90xHtotg-pk6TUuazyKGQL6hCMUp602zHVGXWSwtuKj3KzrsW8HrLfQxBs9xm0k3TpdGPsMnnoKp1J4s-ChB2W7nhTIDzLsZgaxCHHKunK02ftftLj_JmUx__iH9fqqXJY/s1600-h/IMG_0629b.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfVQnSDPl-90xHtotg-pk6TUuazyKGQL6hCMUp602zHVGXWSwtuKj3KzrsW8HrLfQxBs9xm0k3TpdGPsMnnoKp1J4s-ChB2W7nhTIDzLsZgaxCHHKunK02ftftLj_JmUx__iH9fqqXJY/s400/IMG_0629b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433052065427858178" border="0" /></a><br />Once it was dried, I cut back the excess material until it was approximately the right form to allow access to all the buttons and other iPhone controls, and I added <a href="http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/1250-043.aspx?feature=Product_1&kw=segma">segma snaps from Tandy</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDe4azeskEbLGjYraBAN95OS_6M-Dt47bWQlHwTzHP6bzh8HL1prK8ehS5-t4XEjAcYCIu_vjMnK5pQA3TUu-w7h_Hkp9gPMgdf0AGa6OJkH1lKgipkmkaLQEfPB1RCgrQzSJk4Zkuc8/s1600-h/IMG_0631.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDe4azeskEbLGjYraBAN95OS_6M-Dt47bWQlHwTzHP6bzh8HL1prK8ehS5-t4XEjAcYCIu_vjMnK5pQA3TUu-w7h_Hkp9gPMgdf0AGa6OJkH1lKgipkmkaLQEfPB1RCgrQzSJk4Zkuc8/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433054437646111042" border="0" /></a><br />The outside of the leather was smooth, and I wanted a bit more gripping ability, so I used my <a href="http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/8069-00.aspx?feature=Product_4&kw=groover">saddlemaker's groover</a> to roughly scrape some grooves in the back of the case:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdl-FT6hWNucuBK3D2BwlZONTxUaiPOvBALJm-NQA0EmMcTs_WhvCQ7c-DAEJ8mseTIcDslVKdyXSH5j3i8xn-RzYtIrN40beVSApeMxmKfmmOzTdf2VvECDI8DQ23b-wGZPN9w3MtAc/s1600-h/IMG_0636.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdl-FT6hWNucuBK3D2BwlZONTxUaiPOvBALJm-NQA0EmMcTs_WhvCQ7c-DAEJ8mseTIcDslVKdyXSH5j3i8xn-RzYtIrN40beVSApeMxmKfmmOzTdf2VvECDI8DQ23b-wGZPN9w3MtAc/s400/IMG_0636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433055791363930370" border="0" /></a><br />Since I had initially formed the leather case around the plastic case, the leather case wasn't as close fitting as I wanted. I wet it a bit (not completely soaked this time) and wrapped it around the actual iPhone, and let it dry out again overnight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNSEE1VJYc-qsUWN47Pq-NVdCNn8Fg9W_2hsOFFKuind-dxOTCbmjm0X-olwvrVmJtJ7pBPqlm1-sMtB68_TiR9S-8LSNOIrtK1nwIPS51C7bsTHSdjqRabZ_LwTHe5eAvLOlOT4QDss/s1600-h/IMG_0651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNSEE1VJYc-qsUWN47Pq-NVdCNn8Fg9W_2hsOFFKuind-dxOTCbmjm0X-olwvrVmJtJ7pBPqlm1-sMtB68_TiR9S-8LSNOIrtK1nwIPS51C7bsTHSdjqRabZ_LwTHe5eAvLOlOT4QDss/s400/IMG_0651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433052083289507026" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the case after I had been using it for a few days and snipping off bits of it to get better access to the screen and reduce the excess leather.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfAHlazimW6bzwLklOBmcyfStO9Y4VfTVekty2ItW2eBMnitHOicPLg5cSTLEoaHITCgfSRuq4K50RIrgBz1EVHLCXfiGHUkPOIcoKTlIQty23M9lLr9bs336rwtXlfaAGRkLNgUA_gM/s1600-h/IMG_0740a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfAHlazimW6bzwLklOBmcyfStO9Y4VfTVekty2ItW2eBMnitHOicPLg5cSTLEoaHITCgfSRuq4K50RIrgBz1EVHLCXfiGHUkPOIcoKTlIQty23M9lLr9bs336rwtXlfaAGRkLNgUA_gM/s400/IMG_0740a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433056902861712994" border="0" /></a><br />Here it is unfolded. Note that the leather around the corners of the phone has been stretched and formed to fit the curves of the phone, so this isn't a flat piece of leather.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM7znr6b4zl0lGPqR5MJE1N4zcjM8MnF8NHYsmIiYCvX_bFhAojDHSWFIfjptzwDoRITpqPDvPF3UdwNnqe1sjpR5E279cNGeY0Q01TsqlbOepO0vijMJrSRmqZ7fhe_7sMwto20xICU/s1600-h/IMG_0742a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM7znr6b4zl0lGPqR5MJE1N4zcjM8MnF8NHYsmIiYCvX_bFhAojDHSWFIfjptzwDoRITpqPDvPF3UdwNnqe1sjpR5E279cNGeY0Q01TsqlbOepO0vijMJrSRmqZ7fhe_7sMwto20xICU/s400/IMG_0742a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433056912363658882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review of the Prototype</span><br /><br />Since this was simply a quick-and-dirty prototype to see if I could make a usable one-piece case, I didn't bother putting any color or finish on it. Once I cut slots and holes for the charger plug, microphones, camera, headphone jack, power button, sound and volume controls, the case was significantly weakened (especially by the slot for the charger). The design held the phone sufficiently well for being carried in my pocket, but I'm not sure I'd feel secure enough to have it hanging from my belt.<br /><br />For the next try, I won't cut holes for the power button or the volume control rocker switch. If the leather is thin enough, I can push those buttons right through the leather without having to weaken the case as much.<br /><br />It turned out that the upper snap and strap interfered with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone">proximity detectors on the iPhone</a>, so the screen would go blank and unresponsive even when I pulled the phone away from my ear. This was a showstopper for the snapped front-opening design.<br /><br />On to the next prototype!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-18116752996734225502009-11-07T23:07:00.000-08:002009-11-07T23:07:00.566-08:00TV Chair Adventures -- Part 3When I last <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/11/tv-chair-adventures-part-2.html">wrote</a>, I had given up the idea of trying to sew the leather pieces together to cover my chair. Gluing the leather on became the next obvious choice, but dealing with the contours was still giving me trouble. It wasn't until I was chatting with another artist (during a papier mache seminar I was attending), that I realized how to do it.<br /><br />First, I removed the foam insulation tube from the chair form. I took the leather strip for the foam insulation tube and glued it onto the tube directly, with one long edge tucked into the slit of the tube and the other edge loose. Then I glued the big piece of leather directly onto the outside of the Deck-o-foam-covered Sonotube. Finally, I put the leather-covered insulation tube back around the edge of the leather-covered Sonotube and glued everything down (the loose edge of the leather on the insulation tube is glued to the inside of the Sonotube).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwCO1oEOgD8sCEupTxKG3imiDio11nvc-Slahqnrc3pltkltT1RA25a80amaiUvTmpoAcWndSKFNtiNQ7f819v0v-UCJdM5VO9iHBZJtMKS0MYzdnaJ-OSPrWysxvoo2vuehJJitAgcc/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwCO1oEOgD8sCEupTxKG3imiDio11nvc-Slahqnrc3pltkltT1RA25a80amaiUvTmpoAcWndSKFNtiNQ7f819v0v-UCJdM5VO9iHBZJtMKS0MYzdnaJ-OSPrWysxvoo2vuehJJitAgcc/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401249410660358338" border="0" /></a>Here is how the back looks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizk-YjXuLDqdV0GWvJbSqOYdae6SiWJKCK17y5blNI-Z-Cdmhvoww3WZg5AYlkKGo14eZ1JPJginq55lOnK-HsDaEtF6m3wLpEeWn8l3XE7m4cQBNtpN78Y1l8aHgos-XIYte7zBD_Yw/s1600-h/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizk-YjXuLDqdV0GWvJbSqOYdae6SiWJKCK17y5blNI-Z-Cdmhvoww3WZg5AYlkKGo14eZ1JPJginq55lOnK-HsDaEtF6m3wLpEeWn8l3XE7m4cQBNtpN78Y1l8aHgos-XIYte7zBD_Yw/s400/IMG_0017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401249419826590050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cushions</span><br /><br />Now that the outside of the chair is done, it's time to get back to work on the cushions.<br /><br />For the round seat cushion, I cut three layers of 2-inch-thick, high-density polyurethane foam and stacked them inside the cover. I then stapled the cover very tightly onto one of the plywood circles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnhCez7c3O_x0lx7vid4lsi-2Bs6Fr91ZcBbtavwCEeeBbcuIVws1QWgn-yAje4pi3rI4Eo5XgWGHdbcs2gLgrJKta8Pm8tK4ldRIZ1t-YO2B3c1tWqxgBjJytb79Kr_gTAOx-A8TlsE/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnhCez7c3O_x0lx7vid4lsi-2Bs6Fr91ZcBbtavwCEeeBbcuIVws1QWgn-yAje4pi3rI4Eo5XgWGHdbcs2gLgrJKta8Pm8tK4ldRIZ1t-YO2B3c1tWqxgBjJytb79Kr_gTAOx-A8TlsE/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401251650924321602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dh36xqMqgMgnl7vJ9FWXI4P_36YK0_9yz_Ft-Q1LeS6wGox1Z509H1O0OeK4Uk31dXhX8GTV7jnBE4n-f2bq9XVYyRPQEgkuDGKLWJ9x2eYYrCAyRXT9U4VJ_gezDE6w5dopV_hvenw/s1600-h/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dh36xqMqgMgnl7vJ9FWXI4P_36YK0_9yz_Ft-Q1LeS6wGox1Z509H1O0OeK4Uk31dXhX8GTV7jnBE4n-f2bq9XVYyRPQEgkuDGKLWJ9x2eYYrCAyRXT9U4VJ_gezDE6w5dopV_hvenw/s400/IMG_0021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401251646732878562" border="0" /></a><br />For the back cushion, I cut out a piece of the scrap Sonotube so it would fit into the opening inside the insulation tube in the back of the chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BjQBIUYqrsrgxSp2c9vLeCWg1lu64yDAr9eclQi7wiIgYJ04ti13HiiSmSiSy7cuBYY1HpIZdM-7AkB3VQH77eqI6CZY9YD_4UKV6ExIA_7ZaLtzI8XB3mpVkuTiYs3yNuW7XTyK-e8/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BjQBIUYqrsrgxSp2c9vLeCWg1lu64yDAr9eclQi7wiIgYJ04ti13HiiSmSiSy7cuBYY1HpIZdM-7AkB3VQH77eqI6CZY9YD_4UKV6ExIA_7ZaLtzI8XB3mpVkuTiYs3yNuW7XTyK-e8/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401254020217597874" border="0" /></a><br />I used the scraps of high-density foam left over from my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/05/seat-of-pants.html">denim-quilted dining room chairs</a> to pad the back cushion. Since I wanted to contour the cushion to provide some lumbar support (opposite the direction of the Sonotube at the lower back area), it took some careful arranging!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUgj6IdaqMyoQSLdvgWxzLyw_UWVBCWXxMJnAUxxz1aeShqdEJtz9sxeuGN5JlLschGwlnlbnuYhbMQLNOPaLRbeTlzhI2TTzlieVn-Df0078tIl5d4oiQyxJBmN6itzsTXeSdGmru9o/s1600-h/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUgj6IdaqMyoQSLdvgWxzLyw_UWVBCWXxMJnAUxxz1aeShqdEJtz9sxeuGN5JlLschGwlnlbnuYhbMQLNOPaLRbeTlzhI2TTzlieVn-Df0078tIl5d4oiQyxJBmN6itzsTXeSdGmru9o/s400/IMG_0024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401254033684725650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRigg4S-upExu3jHHyKaIBn52u2DqyU59fAc9nuox4Lzja95qBJgAEHYnstQFGS6BNnBVWkbUriVaZexIIqIHNMg02xoIOGpyBXOBtCrbJ4HSEmaoELBK7RPHbVo9OgK_85qGNj5ZeSKk/s1600-h/IMG_0026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRigg4S-upExu3jHHyKaIBn52u2DqyU59fAc9nuox4Lzja95qBJgAEHYnstQFGS6BNnBVWkbUriVaZexIIqIHNMg02xoIOGpyBXOBtCrbJ4HSEmaoELBK7RPHbVo9OgK_85qGNj5ZeSKk/s400/IMG_0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401254030521880882" border="0" /></a><br />Lacey shows off the careful use of duct tape to secure the foam scraps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFPRojrn_Z0UNJuu4-uphT62CVGhAKYWvc6Oc0EYtQpRmTQoG2zCM-cf8K13bz5CJYp99njzROJP19JSLzx6qIf7yGD2WB35qYd1RlYF-Mwfqa24oKKrm1LR3O9B5L-HUhTgfKbjkGu0/s1600-h/IMG_0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFPRojrn_Z0UNJuu4-uphT62CVGhAKYWvc6Oc0EYtQpRmTQoG2zCM-cf8K13bz5CJYp99njzROJP19JSLzx6qIf7yGD2WB35qYd1RlYF-Mwfqa24oKKrm1LR3O9B5L-HUhTgfKbjkGu0/s400/IMG_0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401254658184261426" border="0" /></a><br />I wrapped a piece of the blue-green leather around the back assembly and fitted it in tightly, gluing down the leather flaps at the bottom to the inside of the main Sonotube piece. The piece of Sonotube inside the back cushion also helps to strengthen the back of the chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSSwqxK829f6vWQ0UJ9vnoxLbEXT3hzV7eq3wZJIUKJCwed9sMWfaiGznNgrqObx3jzMqp_SdTb_iCmFWcsLuUF5hco1TDmWIfqLP7ADEW6_zRXiWEZv3tJzDx1q078E3Pz2dDCK4SDY/s1600-h/IMG_0031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSSwqxK829f6vWQ0UJ9vnoxLbEXT3hzV7eq3wZJIUKJCwed9sMWfaiGznNgrqObx3jzMqp_SdTb_iCmFWcsLuUF5hco1TDmWIfqLP7ADEW6_zRXiWEZv3tJzDx1q078E3Pz2dDCK4SDY/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258227632938690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrXuqYaaYF2b4f_NZtmXALwsTlyYgpmBggE9KRW_blPyP_puiV7pCY3EWJDJD8lVnyI54Dh64HkeL6uu4qeFQvzZPpjNkW_tabbmqg3Zog7yULJcpS47za_S6Vcrpc6YEdc_Kkrw995Q/s1600-h/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrXuqYaaYF2b4f_NZtmXALwsTlyYgpmBggE9KRW_blPyP_puiV7pCY3EWJDJD8lVnyI54Dh64HkeL6uu4qeFQvzZPpjNkW_tabbmqg3Zog7yULJcpS47za_S6Vcrpc6YEdc_Kkrw995Q/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258236568421202" border="0" /></a>The seat cushion then got shoved up against the bottom of the back cushion. To fit the seat cushion properly against the back cushion, I needed to take it out, take off the seat cover, cut off some foam, and restaple the leather more loosely (besides, I didn't like the shiny stretched look of the tightly-stapled leather). I got it right eventually.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLekzJuqXZo3CLV-qgzqZppNEqCDMtQZimyvacreis74IuCQrXnUo86RzMwICiIEE5-mymMuij5shZLbpfq6N9QXKAPZUXYouVwbjc3BafPR6d8zks6YNqAKsJDq7v6ZWngwgNE27TaA/s1600-h/IMG_0032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLekzJuqXZo3CLV-qgzqZppNEqCDMtQZimyvacreis74IuCQrXnUo86RzMwICiIEE5-mymMuij5shZLbpfq6N9QXKAPZUXYouVwbjc3BafPR6d8zks6YNqAKsJDq7v6ZWngwgNE27TaA/s400/IMG_0032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258238306140290" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />But Will It Hold My Weight?</span><br /><br />The Sonotube is sturdy, but it's meant to meant to take outward-pushing stresses that cause tension around its circumference, not just downward along the axis of the tube. To deal with this, I want to make the plywood circles carry the weight, not the tube. I glued some wood pieces into the tube up against the top circle. Their job is to hold the plywood circles apart. I screwed the bottom circle into the wood pieces. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO75XLZI6FPfIanfNmoHHKGbo2C5iqgoNz-BolT8A0qKdpYbyWD07qe6GEpdww9F7WvC6-eTepSkznyu1594clynrdu9Q0STzChgNbpvrRc7G9jAfvdWdDeMfntV5hMzVFJ_djIJx4FAY/s1600-h/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO75XLZI6FPfIanfNmoHHKGbo2C5iqgoNz-BolT8A0qKdpYbyWD07qe6GEpdww9F7WvC6-eTepSkznyu1594clynrdu9Q0STzChgNbpvrRc7G9jAfvdWdDeMfntV5hMzVFJ_djIJx4FAY/s400/IMG_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258249044081202" border="0" /></a>I added feet to the bottom circle so the Sonotube is suspended slightly above the floor and does not directly carry the weight of the chair's occupant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7Q5zMfDHBQbcLa1f9TEn3oKvniYnqeC-CsKgRMMpdJHOMT5R3RsWCTFOFiBoEzXleWOV2lmX_bZCydDY1HnTaOes0BaWfvV0r8mB-8Xp8J6TZF0LfJcvusTKwlw6sEkHk9loIidZ6eQ/s1600-h/IMG_0035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7Q5zMfDHBQbcLa1f9TEn3oKvniYnqeC-CsKgRMMpdJHOMT5R3RsWCTFOFiBoEzXleWOV2lmX_bZCydDY1HnTaOes0BaWfvV0r8mB-8Xp8J6TZF0LfJcvusTKwlw6sEkHk9loIidZ6eQ/s400/IMG_0035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401259011383906850" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Finished!</span><br /><br />I had to be the first to try out the chair, and Lacey decided she had to join me!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIChyLiiyfTsmANTK530kA14xiUtEicEhdgg89Tx-fnQC-OvRKhB9tcYaDGotBJr9s_UEmq6IztkfnyaRF9wY6zlfLiaTzxXPbhvqpBwh6xCEcK8e32ubEA3ZOnHp7_EvbaN7bSkDyUw/s1600-h/IMG_0040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYIChyLiiyfTsmANTK530kA14xiUtEicEhdgg89Tx-fnQC-OvRKhB9tcYaDGotBJr9s_UEmq6IztkfnyaRF9wY6zlfLiaTzxXPbhvqpBwh6xCEcK8e32ubEA3ZOnHp7_EvbaN7bSkDyUw/s400/IMG_0040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258985296384898" border="0" /></a>Yes, it holds my weight just fine. I later tested it out with a much-heavier friend, and it held him with no trouble (he thought it was pretty comfy, so I had a hard time getting him out of it).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But Wait, There's More!</span><br /><br />It would hardly be a proper TV chair without a matching ottoman, so I got a piece of 12-inch-diameter Quiktube and made one. I cut three lengths (9 inches plus two 7.5-inch pieces), and cut out thin sections out of the two short pieces so I could fit them inside the longer one to strengthen it (the 12-inch diameter tube is much thinner than the 18-inch-diameter Sonotube). I used the scraps of the leathers and cushion foam. I covered the outer tube with the black leather (no Deck-o-foam), and made the seat cushion the same way as the larger one, by stapling the leather over the foam onto a pre-cut plywood circle.<br /><br />I glued wood pieces inside the tube between the plywood circles, and I screwed on the bottom plywood circle. Done!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIxG__RjwMmY1JVBNm8W4q92_1XtaUFenHHg6WWbXs-9qleS2wHhhpQN_6tuS55jRP4MrUhrW1SyRXiC0HuwBZwxjb0le9BtwX9Z2FxuNCuOz-_dmY-usG5lLSo8pX-R2Dp7lvN6JAKI/s1600-h/IMG_0060.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIxG__RjwMmY1JVBNm8W4q92_1XtaUFenHHg6WWbXs-9qleS2wHhhpQN_6tuS55jRP4MrUhrW1SyRXiC0HuwBZwxjb0le9BtwX9Z2FxuNCuOz-_dmY-usG5lLSo8pX-R2Dp7lvN6JAKI/s400/IMG_0060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401259003287594898" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the set.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BdYSreBJrivFa0oarJbCYThnzbf_V19xJ3i22IeJzgvOMcksvKHa2b2OQ2TMFtMi_jEh6OeRhRgG7ZIoyYmCWC7UPr4l09HkDYrVj-JEu8WpsLDWpIizpHdvyDN7gxLF6mXsWTKRM6I/s1600-h/IMG_0069.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BdYSreBJrivFa0oarJbCYThnzbf_V19xJ3i22IeJzgvOMcksvKHa2b2OQ2TMFtMi_jEh6OeRhRgG7ZIoyYmCWC7UPr4l09HkDYrVj-JEu8WpsLDWpIizpHdvyDN7gxLF6mXsWTKRM6I/s400/IMG_0069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401259000339870690" border="0" /></a><br />It's not the cheapest chair (it totaled about USD $250 for the set), but it's unique, small, comfortable, and my kids love it. <br /><br />Getting to sit in my own chair without a fight: priceless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXe45t5lRUhRHb-Lq9JUphQsXbsgMExL5PfxLk4hjhDtF-H9R5fJqFUjqAkCXXJwhBVxtrIyKDKlHTd50kkX-B8fH64dQWV_UyGN4y4tCRNPTNyBnf_rbCo5-mmcwAtCLDBLOx3zSXug/s1600-h/IMG_0065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 322px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXe45t5lRUhRHb-Lq9JUphQsXbsgMExL5PfxLk4hjhDtF-H9R5fJqFUjqAkCXXJwhBVxtrIyKDKlHTd50kkX-B8fH64dQWV_UyGN4y4tCRNPTNyBnf_rbCo5-mmcwAtCLDBLOx3zSXug/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401258990738446866" border="0" /></a>A satisfied customer. It's just her size.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-30914674109983599482009-11-06T18:27:00.000-08:002009-11-06T18:46:13.619-08:00TV Chair Adventures -- Part 2Part of what inspired me to make this chair was that I found an odd little piece of leather on one of my too-regular forays over to the local <a href="http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com">Tandy</a> stores. They get odd lots of various upholstery leathers from tanning companies, and I'm always keeping my eyes open for nice bits in blues and greens that my kids might like. There was this one small piece (maybe 15 square feet) in a mottled blue-green with a shiny finish that caught my eye, and I nabbed it (it was one of a kind--none of the employees saw any others like it). Somehow I didn't manage to get a picture of the piece before I cut it up, but I started making a round cushion from it for the seat of the chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucsFTodSf6po0UzUFHfGzFCu2gICRJuzsvXTDOG7shlZdEFkE0EeOB-LraXt1yMds-2fNP1-tNSoZYqqLos3Js7Jz_PiMkNgP07_5qhvRjO3FUk3fRX_yp9EXYrP6AATRZqxroallxbQ/s1600-h/IMG_9443.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 383px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucsFTodSf6po0UzUFHfGzFCu2gICRJuzsvXTDOG7shlZdEFkE0EeOB-LraXt1yMds-2fNP1-tNSoZYqqLos3Js7Jz_PiMkNgP07_5qhvRjO3FUk3fRX_yp9EXYrP6AATRZqxroallxbQ/s400/IMG_9443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401171222226397714" border="0" /></a><br />I found that stapling the pieces together worked better than pinning (in the seam allowance so holes won't show in the finished cushion). I got fewer stab wounds that way, too! I sewed the cushion sides on using heavy Gutermann polyester thread. This is pretty heavy and stiff leather (think of vinyl seats in a diner, and you'll be close), and I had a lot of trouble sewing through it on my machine (skipped stitches, etc., even with a "walking foot"). I got through the main seam around the cushion, but gave up sewing a second line around to stitch down the seam allowance. I ended up gluing that down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnOwne9olzcnt3W-HdSbSUly0AAq4Ql_YWB_VNQIcp4Uk91srMur4rYfNqitWvwDaxIYFP0bO4KeKJCThwzJGPwyfvHuqrwrpdVpPDGZ7HrUprJOGovYW_kxMhoXBsj5-Tl5zOKhfoC8/s1600-h/IMG_9448.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMnOwne9olzcnt3W-HdSbSUly0AAq4Ql_YWB_VNQIcp4Uk91srMur4rYfNqitWvwDaxIYFP0bO4KeKJCThwzJGPwyfvHuqrwrpdVpPDGZ7HrUprJOGovYW_kxMhoXBsj5-Tl5zOKhfoC8/s400/IMG_9448.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401171237480458194" border="0" /></a><br />Since I only had enough of the blue-green leather to cover the chair cushions, I got a huge black "<a href="http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/9389-99.aspx?feature=Product_1&kw=zora">Zora</a>" hide from Tandy to cover the outside of the chair. This is beautiful soft matte garment leather. It's thin, a little stretchy, and it feels wonderful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIETeRilCdIdd-Y3-0704vsI80txfCJLG3mhA8NJiIFux3TnVoN31yRA3n3K_sFW5uA_8mR9yW_5ZALZmLIbhBirbclKL_q4p-aazVb_MmeuqU2qihJrm3AJUj-dHVsjGVF9SOa1lUxU/s1600-h/IMG_0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIETeRilCdIdd-Y3-0704vsI80txfCJLG3mhA8NJiIFux3TnVoN31yRA3n3K_sFW5uA_8mR9yW_5ZALZmLIbhBirbclKL_q4p-aazVb_MmeuqU2qihJrm3AJUj-dHVsjGVF9SOa1lUxU/s400/IMG_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401176212051499522" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">More Tubes: Foam Insulation</span><br />I find inspiration everywhere. I love to wander around hardware stores looking for tools and materials that might be good for projects. This time I found slit foam tubes that are used for insulating hot water pipes. They fit over the cut edge of the Sonotube and make a nice contour. Some of them even come with double-sided tape on the slit edges, so I was able to bend the foam around the edge of the chair and then pull out the plastic strip covering the adhesive. Here's how it looks on my sample piece.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFVK_7iJu51MtoEkM_vSh9Bnz2GhrIEH1dASCs1cy9YYBi3NGb2Qax8gwrhcM0UH599smP6z2y6SBDnSmMU4XYaMX_xYTt9KxlSqHmHsoO_NX4-3pkf8ViWvCXWwq2szri-J2rnYCDfo/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFVK_7iJu51MtoEkM_vSh9Bnz2GhrIEH1dASCs1cy9YYBi3NGb2Qax8gwrhcM0UH599smP6z2y6SBDnSmMU4XYaMX_xYTt9KxlSqHmHsoO_NX4-3pkf8ViWvCXWwq2szri-J2rnYCDfo/s400/IMG_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401181262643465602" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Covering the Chair</span><br /><br />My initial thought was that I would fit the leather over the chair with a big piece going around the Sonotube cylinder and a separate strip sewn onto the big piece so it would fit tightly over the contoured pipe insulation. So I cut it all out and pinned it together (the chair is upside down in this picture).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTW6laZfcIy6LrfBQlyRDbG8B9VrMOedBGTVpPGNB3XXByzRzrpPmOywvOKHDp9kt7Ygj0BQ6ntQ-4HFbBSoUPwnTv8Rg3WTK3-R5EOGE7Gk0PlXwrmeCc7tRxb17ldWp0E8T9d4hLg4Y/s1600-h/IMG_0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTW6laZfcIy6LrfBQlyRDbG8B9VrMOedBGTVpPGNB3XXByzRzrpPmOywvOKHDp9kt7Ygj0BQ6ntQ-4HFbBSoUPwnTv8Rg3WTK3-R5EOGE7Gk0PlXwrmeCc7tRxb17ldWp0E8T9d4hLg4Y/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401183103252273458" border="0" /></a><br />I sewed it all together (incurring many stab wounds in the process), put it on the chair, and it was a disaster. The contouring didn't work at all. This was one of those times where making a muslin version first would have been a good idea, but of course I just jumped in on sewing the leather, and in hindsight I think it would never have worked the way I had envisioned. I ripped out all of my seams, threw everything in a pile, and let the project sit stalled for a couple of weeks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To be continued...</span>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-70325976671194892952009-10-30T22:07:00.000-07:002009-10-30T23:09:01.423-07:00TV Chair Adventures -- Part 1I need a special chair for my living room. My kids have both outgrown the teeny little wooden rocker they used to use to watch TV, as well as their cute little plastic chairs, and now they keep fighting over who gets to sit in MY favorite chair. My lovely tie-dyed couch is too far away from the TV for their viewing pleasure. Rather than all-out war, it's time to find a new solution.<br /><br />I have some pretty specific requirements, since floor space is at a premium in my living room. After all, we have lots of bins of stuff, plus a consistent Wii-Fit user who wants enough space for the yoga mat and push-ups. So the new chair has to have a fairly small footprint. Also, I want a back for comfy TV watching, but the back and seat have to be fairly low so that anyone sitting on the tie-dyed couch behind it will still be able to see the TV. A "gamer's chair" would be a little too low--old people like me need to be able to get up from the chair. I searched for "low chair" on the Web, and I found some I'd love, but most of the ones I really liked were in the $2000 range (and while <span style="font-style: italic;">she</span> may think she's worth it, do I really want Lacey taking over a $2000 chair?)!<br /><br />My older daughter and I came up with a design that would fit the requirements without breaking the bank, and it would be uniquely ours.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Really Big Toilet Paper Tubes</span><br /><br />It is possible to get really large heavy cardboard tubes that are used in construction work for pouring concrete posts and columns. Use "cardboard concrete form" as your search criteria. There are various makers such as Sonotube, Quikcrete, and Sakrete, but many contractors simply refer to them as Sonotube (similar to using the word "Kleenex" to refer to any type of facial tissue--bad for protecting brand trademarks, but everyone knows what you want). The big chain hardware stores (Home Depot, OSH) carry them in stock in up to 12 inches in diameter, but for the bigger ones (18, 24, 30, 36 inches in diameter), you need to go to a construction contractors' supply store. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, I got some at <a href="http://www.pbm1923.com/redwood-city-yard.html">Peninsula Building Materials Co.</a> I got a 30-inch-long piece of 18-inch-diameter Sonotube there for USD $25.95 including tax ($9.50 per foot). I later got a 4-foot-long Quickcrete 12-inch-diameter tube at the local OSH for the matching ottoman.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Regular Old Toilet Paper Tubes</span><br /><br />The kids and I spent a fun hour or two cutting up our large collection of used-up cardboard toilet paper tubes to make chair models.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV2F61Pa97OFA_7vGkSk9hL-H4BbDRsBiYuuV_tl7hK-mkHes18afWCx9mP6cW3WR0TgilhJW4BJxIRngo7E3iCGCsnorHtAM6q23sXJPp_3HF-epS9z4d7AkThjKSq1HxVOquvi2D0g/s1600-h/107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNV2F61Pa97OFA_7vGkSk9hL-H4BbDRsBiYuuV_tl7hK-mkHes18afWCx9mP6cW3WR0TgilhJW4BJxIRngo7E3iCGCsnorHtAM6q23sXJPp_3HF-epS9z4d7AkThjKSq1HxVOquvi2D0g/s400/107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398621145960812162" border="0" /></a><br />After lots of time and discussion, we decided on the basic pattern to use for the chair (something in between the three middle models in the back row above).<br /><br />We also did a fair amount of "design by comparison", where we sat in our existing chairs and measured how we fit in those chairs and where the contours were that made the chair comfortable or not.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8a-l6jt4DSwqaL2kOHdezXDZeyu8KpI_MGT5raVV96outkcUDX4boo_skDJCiMxzA11eg6HdeWQ1wZXn4AEdJnL8i5aTiIsJQvhQhW_VlKy6R-lAdOjb-8bHysz7TXmL0LPO0BJrVCk/s1600-h/098.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8a-l6jt4DSwqaL2kOHdezXDZeyu8KpI_MGT5raVV96outkcUDX4boo_skDJCiMxzA11eg6HdeWQ1wZXn4AEdJnL8i5aTiIsJQvhQhW_VlKy6R-lAdOjb-8bHysz7TXmL0LPO0BJrVCk/s400/098.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398623035118681618" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhXuRUefhup7jb2jn4HXfHhIiZcI74IiO27Jwlfl7EnZ1tyvhTqwQv_72oiHf6o8HyKsdlYw99ZrQcovlbv4sXNmvEDWNvfAPGC1zIqjWUNnoTmuQbK5QD1TQ3k6Pq5uHoto4ZPHq2TA/s1600-h/095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhXuRUefhup7jb2jn4HXfHhIiZcI74IiO27Jwlfl7EnZ1tyvhTqwQv_72oiHf6o8HyKsdlYw99ZrQcovlbv4sXNmvEDWNvfAPGC1zIqjWUNnoTmuQbK5QD1TQ3k6Pq5uHoto4ZPHq2TA/s400/095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398623042257297010" border="0" /></a><br />We decided to make the seat platform about 12 inches from the floor. I made a full-size paper pattern to model the chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3od8y-CZLQSO7mtGwCRx9m7cEAg8BHlda-06YWPPVos9IVQJCtBzRWWaomahgGFySpSZN1v8R552S-SGTuqYFIM7KpuPjQwFOznZG6oal_NWZcowC7f60ubBlGzibeqRPOF_64bAA53w/s1600-h/IMG_9395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 395px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3od8y-CZLQSO7mtGwCRx9m7cEAg8BHlda-06YWPPVos9IVQJCtBzRWWaomahgGFySpSZN1v8R552S-SGTuqYFIM7KpuPjQwFOznZG6oal_NWZcowC7f60ubBlGzibeqRPOF_64bAA53w/s400/IMG_9395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398631807755434658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgdYNAGDVZv7oZgKvAplfzbT8y_tDTN9Sbo4BfrRK29eJSEo4mfdY2olFRDeOFQIwb8fIu5DS4BaQAO4L9UxQYIMsrxXwBrJ1Su0xWNSInUfxYuVCa7JC2ih3fIgpLWbXiiMW3DojoRw/s1600-h/IMG_9397.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgdYNAGDVZv7oZgKvAplfzbT8y_tDTN9Sbo4BfrRK29eJSEo4mfdY2olFRDeOFQIwb8fIu5DS4BaQAO4L9UxQYIMsrxXwBrJ1Su0xWNSInUfxYuVCa7JC2ih3fIgpLWbXiiMW3DojoRw/s400/IMG_9397.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398631816420764706" border="0" /></a>The pattern would later fit around the Sonotube so I could trace it for cutting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi486sCDlzIYYvBxQmgl84bayZQ2jQRtcy5beS0D1LOBTxnU-cpabFdcIGHZP0gjiuJzeFzqHHq6w1OEIA-aSn-n7RfraQknjColVCCdwu44xpOuJv6KN7difV0EXIOzuM_XW1asJghImE/s1600-h/IMG_9411.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi486sCDlzIYYvBxQmgl84bayZQ2jQRtcy5beS0D1LOBTxnU-cpabFdcIGHZP0gjiuJzeFzqHHq6w1OEIA-aSn-n7RfraQknjColVCCdwu44xpOuJv6KN7difV0EXIOzuM_XW1asJghImE/s400/IMG_9411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398631827391336322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cutting the Sonotube</span><br /><br />The large-diameter tubes such as my 18-inch-diameter tube are very thick (around 1/4-inch thick) cardboard (not corrugated), and they are quite hard to cut. I tried a number of (non-powered) things, but what worked the best for me was to use a utility knife (box cutter) to just stab through the cardboard. Later, for trimming edges and fine tuning, I would cut along my line as deeply as possible, peel off a layer of cardboard from the discarded side of the line, cut along the line again, peel off another layer, and so on, until I could finally cut directly through what was left.<br /><br />I bought two pre-cut plywood circles (Closetmaid brand) that were 17.75 inches in diameter. I planned to use one inside the bottom edge to protect the Sonotube and the other as the seat platform.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8ESuccSeq6iHLHsut9dgrxEKXQ06e7u86Ls5EoWWNthyjJs0Eo84s2iXzJCfwUovQfymoNbF3qv-FT5qjS-Z7cN9k6sQlMYGdRsI_w7MomInhE0kCAyN32JYimB5Os4boPjfVgblvyQ/s1600-h/IMG_9417b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8ESuccSeq6iHLHsut9dgrxEKXQ06e7u86Ls5EoWWNthyjJs0Eo84s2iXzJCfwUovQfymoNbF3qv-FT5qjS-Z7cN9k6sQlMYGdRsI_w7MomInhE0kCAyN32JYimB5Os4boPjfVgblvyQ/s400/IMG_9417b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398641981012325858" border="0" /></a><br />While I was at the <a href="http://www.pbm1923.com/redwood-city-yard.html">Peninsula Building Materials Co.</a>, I also bought a roll of Deck-o-foam, used for expansion joints in concrete, to cover the outside of the Sonotube. It's actually the same type of foam I used in my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/08/origami-paper-tie-dye-and-birthday.html">origami patterns</a>, though a different shape (4 inches wide, half-an-inch thick, and 50-feet long for USD $20) and not rescued from a packing box.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-YDGCAWTu1DVjj17U0Mh80p0Q1mGLhngPtIyqDr04yizN7stVBcF-CW93JHURlXScbKmeWrbCzZr9eGQX34ZpXak0qB6T_dRPzsxVrtVU0uqQ5MWseZM3OgJSyiwXg8liTXXS0sD8g4/s1600-h/IMG_9431.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-YDGCAWTu1DVjj17U0Mh80p0Q1mGLhngPtIyqDr04yizN7stVBcF-CW93JHURlXScbKmeWrbCzZr9eGQX34ZpXak0qB6T_dRPzsxVrtVU0uqQ5MWseZM3OgJSyiwXg8liTXXS0sD8g4/s400/IMG_9431.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398635311780587362" border="0" /></a><br />I used the same <a href="http://thegluedepot.com/3mfastbond30nfcontactcement-spraybrushorrollavailableingreenorneutralcolors.aspx">FastBond 30</a> glue I currently use for making my sandals (I still have a lot left of the gallon I bought!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr9TFBfZE0-vqTnANhKN1bdLUtOzm9WMnTQ0wMzQrscJY7vSUCrCcDVdE8mUtVtFwHACzUTSeFTXc2Krauaym-XXU7d-f4hzdcS9lWUKeym_tdwuF0FhXxHioStCDOp2FGzDgmBamm_0/s1600-h/IMG_9433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRr9TFBfZE0-vqTnANhKN1bdLUtOzm9WMnTQ0wMzQrscJY7vSUCrCcDVdE8mUtVtFwHACzUTSeFTXc2Krauaym-XXU7d-f4hzdcS9lWUKeym_tdwuF0FhXxHioStCDOp2FGzDgmBamm_0/s400/IMG_9433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398635319999523954" border="0" /></a><br />I covered the entire outside surface of the tube with the Deck-o-foam.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5jcDorabizfFJHLK0cxmXC2vlW4pc4liU2SOEexCPQ3NgUDMQHeoXzZ5IXeWy0B3fIGwyE8u5CgjY64WMUTpMUwVxShw2Ng4FBQebuX6VmhpCzs6e9blEMua73sKSeH-Y64irxo7-ig/s1600-h/IMG_9438.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje5jcDorabizfFJHLK0cxmXC2vlW4pc4liU2SOEexCPQ3NgUDMQHeoXzZ5IXeWy0B3fIGwyE8u5CgjY64WMUTpMUwVxShw2Ng4FBQebuX6VmhpCzs6e9blEMua73sKSeH-Y64irxo7-ig/s400/IMG_9438.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398635333849294530" border="0" /></a><br />Now I've got the basic structure of my chair.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-37677933448085435332009-09-28T22:58:00.000-07:002009-09-28T23:25:25.662-07:00Origami RevisitedRecently I wrote about how I was experimenting with <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/08/origami-paper-tie-dye-and-birthday.html">origami paper and pushpins</a> to come up with new tie-dye patterns. I had tied one design according to the paper pattern, but I hadn't gotten around to dyeing it yet:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlqYjkcy99tdCbGcl7a3gV4L_pMN5qCrcKwajoVCAdNzUBJoa9iTYItKHls0RsY7GyTd3xnAV50jZva_SG3jyzaTjr1BbNUESlReQtd4CpgaE_x4AwbROq_lyLUCQyCC3z5a7YxOGCAcm/s1600-h/IMG_9261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlqYjkcy99tdCbGcl7a3gV4L_pMN5qCrcKwajoVCAdNzUBJoa9iTYItKHls0RsY7GyTd3xnAV50jZva_SG3jyzaTjr1BbNUESlReQtd4CpgaE_x4AwbROq_lyLUCQyCC3z5a7YxOGCAcm/s400/IMG_9261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427149336698386" border="0" /></a><br />This was the pattern I was (sort of) aiming for:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBP1YbnBwaGXBHV8Df5Ksv99oeeALUITqrT9vgLeMtXi9E0NH7-0NVBfU8WT4s9uu3dboFu8YpsLpsQ_9LKl1jtiKo9UoohgQfqYNUJNuGrMWn0pggtn448-pRb8StCZF2bGg3XpSBDB6/s1600-h/IMG_9266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBP1YbnBwaGXBHV8Df5Ksv99oeeALUITqrT9vgLeMtXi9E0NH7-0NVBfU8WT4s9uu3dboFu8YpsLpsQ_9LKl1jtiKo9UoohgQfqYNUJNuGrMWn0pggtn448-pRb8StCZF2bGg3XpSBDB6/s400/IMG_9266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427168067837026" border="0" /></a><br />I finally got around to dyeing the bedsheet I had folded, and here is the result:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlqYjkcy99tdCbGcl7a3gV4L_pMN5qCrcKwajoVCAdNzUBJoa9iTYItKHls0RsY7GyTd3xnAV50jZva_SG3jyzaTjr1BbNUESlReQtd4CpgaE_x4AwbROq_lyLUCQyCC3z5a7YxOGCAcm/s1600-h/IMG_9261.JPG"><br /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPbDmlyFjEet2KJX_GEgSsOvCGAWfT1qbD1hoCN5_8SgZAnqC4lluG7DWJnZWTjlNSaZqDDk9VAW3ndGN-SzCC-BYw8cc_RBNokFKkBo8c66XMyYFvr1NuBBGwOOcFi7tMAv4ijXxhsM/s1600-h/IMG_9890.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPbDmlyFjEet2KJX_GEgSsOvCGAWfT1qbD1hoCN5_8SgZAnqC4lluG7DWJnZWTjlNSaZqDDk9VAW3ndGN-SzCC-BYw8cc_RBNokFKkBo8c66XMyYFvr1NuBBGwOOcFi7tMAv4ijXxhsM/s400/IMG_9890.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't get quite enough dye into all the folds, so there is a bit more white than I would like, but you can see that the pattern actually came out quite a bit like the paper one!<br /><br />Of course, if I have a tie-dyed top sheet, I need to dye the rest of the sheet set to match. So I folded and tied up the fitted sheet semi-randomly (that is, no particular plan but similar folding techniques), and it came out like this:<br /></div> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGCF2g-S5qTNc1d3rdbYrY8onteR1c0QQe1tAQO6E2hwWzrRWsVK2PydhrgzGFYPe0brv3PBi4_6k2WW-Wuy6w2NgClCUHH_xhQ25UAQimZ5jfrxmGntfZvyLipKtaYLbl3yJVZ57h-4/s1600-h/IMG_9892.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGCF2g-S5qTNc1d3rdbYrY8onteR1c0QQe1tAQO6E2hwWzrRWsVK2PydhrgzGFYPe0brv3PBi4_6k2WW-Wuy6w2NgClCUHH_xhQ25UAQimZ5jfrxmGntfZvyLipKtaYLbl3yJVZ57h-4/s400/IMG_9892.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here is the matching pillowcase:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwc8me7vyaMlBkxqP3m9h4XyNd2SzAD_OuCoG5ZBjDWq9CA9eJYEBqWWDau1RjN6JcILPkb_v-7GUqbzDVt1CNqO0_oHvw_Ma4-Kh-7b1A7ZTPo72HDaV26KLjybb1ng_PB5dFe81XJg/s1600-h/IMG_9895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwc8me7vyaMlBkxqP3m9h4XyNd2SzAD_OuCoG5ZBjDWq9CA9eJYEBqWWDau1RjN6JcILPkb_v-7GUqbzDVt1CNqO0_oHvw_Ma4-Kh-7b1A7ZTPo72HDaV26KLjybb1ng_PB5dFe81XJg/s400/IMG_9895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386765122069952962" border="0" /></a><br />I had a couple hand towels and washcloths handy, so I dyed them too:<br /></div></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZMc6AIKO0H8qf4IAZTj3_G3WrllFrch81glw_RLXe9TcwwPP6FoLTI1QE2Wk-wbi8vJbvLAXdlE7cSeDeer72rqHzcx561l9KJULtBqQf8PWqmpCBm48qAmGotNdNlUqQ0T2mRKCJEU/s1600-h/IMG_9902.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZMc6AIKO0H8qf4IAZTj3_G3WrllFrch81glw_RLXe9TcwwPP6FoLTI1QE2Wk-wbi8vJbvLAXdlE7cSeDeer72rqHzcx561l9KJULtBqQf8PWqmpCBm48qAmGotNdNlUqQ0T2mRKCJEU/s400/IMG_9902.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One disadvantage of all-cotton sheet sets is that they wrinkle like crazy. Since I'm still practicing my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/09/playing-with-youtube.html">"done is better than perfect" policy</a>, I haven't bothered to iron them. But these pictures get the idea across, and my kids don't care--they've already started arguing over who should get these sheets!</div></div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-75722505319872657042009-09-23T23:28:00.000-07:002009-09-24T00:48:42.989-07:00Playing with YouTubeI recently did a corporate team-building activity at a local company's "Oktoberfest" event for their employees. Since there were lots of participants (they had ordered 150 shirts, and had a few left over), I got lots of help from a lot of great volunteers who are also really into tie-dye (thanks, everyone!). The activity seemed to be quite a hit!<br /><br />I took home the leftover shirts and dyed them for myself and a few employees who didn't make it to the event. You can see pictures of those shirts here on my Picasa album site.<br /><br /><table style="width: 194px;"><tbody><tr><td style="background: transparent url(http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat scroll left center; height: 194px; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;" align="center"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sara.woodhull/20090922TieDyeForOktoberfest?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_XlMa8DjCqJA/SrsMgqQZwvE/AAAAAAAAEXA/T9N0XNJCIfE/s160-c/20090922TieDyeForOktoberfest.jpg" style="margin: 1px 0pt 0pt 4px;" height="160" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/sara.woodhull/20090922TieDyeForOktoberfest?feat=embedwebsite" style="color: rgb(77, 77, 77); font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">2009-09-22 Tie-dye for Oktoberfest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is That Thing On?</span><br /><br />I've been thinking about doing tie-dye demonstration videos to put onto YouTube, and I got one of the volunteers to video me while I was demonstrating how to do a couple of the fold patterns. The videos are completely rough and unedited, and there is polka music in the background! Who would have thought that polka makes a great soundtrack for tie-dye? Anyhow, I'm not sure when or if I'll get around to doing them the "right" way, so I figured I'll put them on YouTube for now just as they are. After all, I describe myself as a "recovering perfectionist"--where "done" is better than "perfect". I'd say these are worth lots of perfectionism recovery points!<br /><br />In this video, I show how to fold an X pattern.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N1YDSHS_C_w&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N1YDSHS_C_w&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Here I demonstrate folding a diagonal stripe pattern.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/05Xduo4jM94&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/05Xduo4jM94&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Enough About Me...</span><br /><br />Some of my faithful audience members have pointed out that they haven't seen my faithful hound Lacey lately. Here she is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOtBa0AbZD3AqFWQRpswHZdYxQUYshpPas4L7VuQ_Bfpl_t-vdigH7E3bQ0cowdG8r5Zwx2cokErwljKTEl8tkI1AtpgCpsM2dSefiXjj9e-jtrwbp_JFLzO_PGoHc3hUXhBntqrpykM/s1600-h/IMG_9827lacey.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMOtBa0AbZD3AqFWQRpswHZdYxQUYshpPas4L7VuQ_Bfpl_t-vdigH7E3bQ0cowdG8r5Zwx2cokErwljKTEl8tkI1AtpgCpsM2dSefiXjj9e-jtrwbp_JFLzO_PGoHc3hUXhBntqrpykM/s400/IMG_9827lacey.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384933095909811650" border="0" /></a><br />Amazingly, Lacey knows which shirts are the ones for me, and she just stands on those. Either that, or she just knows that she looks best with a backdrop of blues and greens!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwH6UL1ixZ5271NjzjRbAkTbVGT6fo_Xm0QstWfyDS1PyPHF4g67hhzT9vNccosiRT-h5hdZwj8gYsmWpcdAvus_efS4Bm8NjWqLf1vlOWJF0YLMUjTjvIoXl-95eXW7ejINh8bsc70U/s1600-h/IMG_9856lacey2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwH6UL1ixZ5271NjzjRbAkTbVGT6fo_Xm0QstWfyDS1PyPHF4g67hhzT9vNccosiRT-h5hdZwj8gYsmWpcdAvus_efS4Bm8NjWqLf1vlOWJF0YLMUjTjvIoXl-95eXW7ejINh8bsc70U/s400/IMG_9856lacey2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384936241216829106" border="0" /></a><br />Playtime with a cardboard tube.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovkTFTGjqXuCdIhVsj57tpYCeEU4GUQLAE1R8mzfLFBbQ5KZAYdyj-IsgHDXD3Zcs7SEKw2JABrtxbjmN1o2jSTy8GbL7iss1D5463FqpVrHgCyi7A-Jgd6OAOuacur49pTQegHjj9FTT/s1600-h/IMG_9873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovkTFTGjqXuCdIhVsj57tpYCeEU4GUQLAE1R8mzfLFBbQ5KZAYdyj-IsgHDXD3Zcs7SEKw2JABrtxbjmN1o2jSTy8GbL7iss1D5463FqpVrHgCyi7A-Jgd6OAOuacur49pTQegHjj9FTT/s400/IMG_9873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384933067052504290" border="0" /></a>Mandalas are great backdrops!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-88615173871815891602009-09-14T23:16:00.000-07:002009-09-15T00:28:37.614-07:00Black, Baby, Black!I've been experimenting with black and gray dyes recently. I used Better Black, New Black, Charcoal Gray, and Black Cherry (okay, that's more of a dark red), all <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/procion.html">Procion dyes from Dharma</a>. I made them up in various concentrations, starting with "1" strength as the <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/tie-dye/instructions.html">formula</a> recommended on the Dharma site: 2 to 8 teaspoons (10-40 ml) and 1 tablespoon (15ml) urea per 1 cup of water for the <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/procion.html">Procion dyes</a>. The blacks needed 8 teaspoons each, while the charcoal gray only needed 2 teaspoons. The black cherry took 4 teaspoons of dye per cup.<br /><br />I then mixed up "1/4", "1/8", and "1/16" dilutions of those dyes by adding more urea-water to the appropriate amounts of the "1" solutions.<br /><br />I also mixed up one teaspoon of sodium alginate thickener in one cup of water (stirring and letting it stand overnight). When completely dissolved, it was about the consistency of molasses or honey. I put about 4 teaspoons of thickener mixture into each cup of dye at the various strengths. That proportion is a little rougher, since I wasn't extremely exact on those measurements of the thickener!<br /><br />I marked up an old white shirt with permanent marker, soaked it in soda ash, then dripped on small amounts of each solution. Here is the shirt still wet, just after dyeing. You can see the blue edges on some of the spots where the dyes separate. It's even worse without the thickener. I tried again in the lower right corner after doubling the amount of thickener in the solutions (for "1/4" strength dyes).<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj-C6PQdFQY3NrrNFRhkDFRpQ6DERTR25TilL5QB6Rs6iUEL6cw4xj5fyRq2IvMLd50uvQ6BYt6GyuWW-XT55T9okxip5odmibwB64fiGm7A4sgV9ZxgZApAlvI9QhnAJaWWmxsN1mh_d/s1600-h/IMG_9577.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyj-C6PQdFQY3NrrNFRhkDFRpQ6DERTR25TilL5QB6Rs6iUEL6cw4xj5fyRq2IvMLd50uvQ6BYt6GyuWW-XT55T9okxip5odmibwB64fiGm7A4sgV9ZxgZApAlvI9QhnAJaWWmxsN1mh_d/s400/IMG_9577.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here is the same shirt after sitting overnight, then washing and drying. It looks like a chromatography experiment with all the bleeding and color separation!<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIZcRHtywEOWMRElkqdtURSCfRFBZWAgwWQ9YSUQzUaN2ijHUVuCyCjnBW4O-3txIvq5EeezWzZXzBFaKNVJV220qbx9tEqk2S1S-8pga4zQ_FWzmOVbSgp8f5Atk1llBmgpw-gUOl4n7/s1600-h/IMG_9643.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIZcRHtywEOWMRElkqdtURSCfRFBZWAgwWQ9YSUQzUaN2ijHUVuCyCjnBW4O-3txIvq5EeezWzZXzBFaKNVJV220qbx9tEqk2S1S-8pga4zQ_FWzmOVbSgp8f5Atk1llBmgpw-gUOl4n7/s400/IMG_9643.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />If I need to do anything sharply black, I'll have to add a lot more thickener in the future. However, I really love the bleed effects and I like to use them intentionally to get all sorts of subtle shadings.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time to Dye</span><br /><br />This isn't my usual palette of blues, greens, and purples, but once I had all those different solutions mixed up, I had to use them, right?<br /><br />Here is a "Moonlight Sonata" crop top done with a repurposed United Colors of Benetton shirt. I love the word "repurposed". It's like a "pre-owned" car. It sounds so much better than "used" or "thrift shop"! It even sounds better than "recycled", even if it's a little slower rolling off the tongue. I stitched the moon with dental floss and covered it with the repurposed thumbtip of a used rubber glove secured by the floss ends. No, the dental floss wasn't "used", though I guess using it for something other than teeth counts as "repurposed"!<br /></div></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4ZXb3whnVkXpU1Eag5H9OcQqDxADmjLIj_tTkL1ydlYCc5KWHOftH3S0W24IvuXbrEQzJnF1kkvKy5vDNVQtTbH5ECvT-fcHH8lYZLMLPbh3dXEDeUh1QWJRBGMlkAJhZDqCKvcrBozR/s1600-h/IMG_9589-1.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4ZXb3whnVkXpU1Eag5H9OcQqDxADmjLIj_tTkL1ydlYCc5KWHOftH3S0W24IvuXbrEQzJnF1kkvKy5vDNVQtTbH5ECvT-fcHH8lYZLMLPbh3dXEDeUh1QWJRBGMlkAJhZDqCKvcrBozR/s400/IMG_9589-1.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>I only did the moon on the front layer of the shirt.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEfvJSqOrX4NhBotSyJ5WsdYHT1fos7sO4tQW2A-XQU5t-gTREIkWilxfZVrdAKiQIc2AdYA30ziE00Y1fWYIB1vq4z-XYFjCaBrCMPtJphEsmEx5Ib8XkaEYAjO-m1KBTkA3oJpTSs_5/s1600-h/IMG_9593.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEfvJSqOrX4NhBotSyJ5WsdYHT1fos7sO4tQW2A-XQU5t-gTREIkWilxfZVrdAKiQIc2AdYA30ziE00Y1fWYIB1vq4z-XYFjCaBrCMPtJphEsmEx5Ib8XkaEYAjO-m1KBTkA3oJpTSs_5/s400/IMG_9593.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkROjJItEXDBRjnfu888gttH1V0O4KF_QpUzup0Jdh5dPfWZdEUMtFmEwv8ePLkDXmJqRcPDkZwsb2kjxwGzMH4RQk_7HXJKhTWq2j5pEA6RQbFQptT7-K0ECqRvdVe8d9DiRK8BcfjfD-/s1600-h/IMG_9693.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkROjJItEXDBRjnfu888gttH1V0O4KF_QpUzup0Jdh5dPfWZdEUMtFmEwv8ePLkDXmJqRcPDkZwsb2kjxwGzMH4RQk_7HXJKhTWq2j5pEA6RQbFQptT7-K0ECqRvdVe8d9DiRK8BcfjfD-/s400/IMG_9693.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div> </div><br />Long "Moonlight Sonata" shirts: I made two of these, different sizes, opposite designs. You see the back of the left one and the front of the right (the front has ties at the neck). These shirt blanks are new from Dharma: <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/6822892-AA.shtml?lnav=clothing_women.html">Light Jersey Extended Sleeve</a> shirts.<br /><br />They are REALLY thin shirts, but I rather like the results. I'll have to get some more of these. They'll be good for high-resolution geometric designs.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOc8AP1_B9X4Lgjts6orOV93KG1Q1hxGbIxysV4iJtdrFymEzGbU9RS7nocf4_WX3yaGQWsZ1MEE5Fq6u24NkuNV9t9hw1Re56XYjFtfBy7fEaYtbndx_EoP9-NX2m5MBC3c7mJc8mImm/s1600-h/IMG_9610.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOc8AP1_B9X4Lgjts6orOV93KG1Q1hxGbIxysV4iJtdrFymEzGbU9RS7nocf4_WX3yaGQWsZ1MEE5Fq6u24NkuNV9t9hw1Re56XYjFtfBy7fEaYtbndx_EoP9-NX2m5MBC3c7mJc8mImm/s400/IMG_9610.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy6hzxwW_a9_UxUfeZfhioD2BLnnV-etlRptECJSMLNPRK0y-9cfTblUek8T4Ojh9lZLEoR8Cr69O9VM_-O5QnO0W9A9H10Row4UlW4xiCUJkFwAaaMwk06tHkb7e7kTkdR7IutodIgcv/s1600-h/IMG_9616-1.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy6hzxwW_a9_UxUfeZfhioD2BLnnV-etlRptECJSMLNPRK0y-9cfTblUek8T4Ojh9lZLEoR8Cr69O9VM_-O5QnO0W9A9H10Row4UlW4xiCUJkFwAaaMwk06tHkb7e7kTkdR7IutodIgcv/s400/IMG_9616-1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2UZbiclQfSLRpsc9aqZaFMA8jBeB1gT6L4YQSeHuTIee09lIy-uthZ9VS67X4QU4E9ENn7Py8hc99MvtBfeyReWReGo4sKCdxHfmQHCeqsWFx7Ofq4Aq058lv40Vfnq-YwVxPqUqUzcq/s1600-h/IMG_9618-1.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2UZbiclQfSLRpsc9aqZaFMA8jBeB1gT6L4YQSeHuTIee09lIy-uthZ9VS67X4QU4E9ENn7Py8hc99MvtBfeyReWReGo4sKCdxHfmQHCeqsWFx7Ofq4Aq058lv40Vfnq-YwVxPqUqUzcq/s400/IMG_9618-1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I call these my "Three Sisters" shirts. I love the subtle shades. I used all the various blacks, grays, and the "black cherry" color. The shirts are cotton-spandex shirts from <a href="http://www.shopjustice.com/">Justice</a>, a chain store catering to pre-teens. I happened to pass by it one day and plain (white) shirts were on sale. I nearly cleaned out their supply! The "Two Sisters" (my kids), immediately ran off with them.<br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1f4nfQXARiijjhTqLAljBRpPdbZ6YU-JM4X0yzk0CYMa9-f2z2eS7YhekY9n3gnijqoUyYsmr-uujB1hmK1GaZGp1NxIzAUMti4ESOz5Myw1e_so3Mjw9wy_kfdnH67_2_D73wGcFVY2l/s1600-h/IMG_9623.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1f4nfQXARiijjhTqLAljBRpPdbZ6YU-JM4X0yzk0CYMa9-f2z2eS7YhekY9n3gnijqoUyYsmr-uujB1hmK1GaZGp1NxIzAUMti4ESOz5Myw1e_so3Mjw9wy_kfdnH67_2_D73wGcFVY2l/s400/IMG_9623.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br />Here's a cotton bandana. It was folded, tied, soaked in soda ash and then let dry completely before dyeing.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fu-efPRae7_2_msGds6Qh-4r7laouP9Z0JqHICAhep9aIfgKLk4li08aEgDbbSlaF08YkQErCECIqPbXOMGWDAKZIby9sqBquozKElv7AxsohgHObUHDBoPzXxcoReRCfG3NE8v_GHmh/s1600-h/IMG_9642.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fu-efPRae7_2_msGds6Qh-4r7laouP9Z0JqHICAhep9aIfgKLk4li08aEgDbbSlaF08YkQErCECIqPbXOMGWDAKZIby9sqBquozKElv7AxsohgHObUHDBoPzXxcoReRCfG3NE8v_GHmh/s400/IMG_9642.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm pretty happy with the results of my experiment. I might just have to use blacks more often!<br /></div> </div>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-83086696476853813842009-08-10T13:14:00.000-07:002009-08-10T13:26:52.228-07:00Origami Paper, Tie-dye, and Birthday PartiesI first started doing tie-dye six years ago, when my older daughter wanted a tie-dye theme for her sixth-birthday party. I did some reading, a friend pointed out the Dharma website, I got some supplies, I tried it out a couple of weeks in advance, it came out well, and I was hooked.<br /><br />Since then I've helped about a thousand people do tie-dye: more than 500 first graders, a couple of Girl Scout troops, several birthday and other parties, my class for middle schoolers, several kids' <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/07/did-galileo-do-tie-dye.html">day camp</a> and family camp sessions, three corporate team-building events, and lots of random sessions with friends. I love doing tie-dye as a hobby, but I'm actually more interested in teaching it to other people. I have no interest in doing it as a <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/06/now-its-floor-of-many-colors.html">production</a>-and-craft-fairs profession--<a href="http://www.harmonytie-dyes.com/">Harmony</a> can do a much better job, and I recognize their distinctive work on people all over town.<br /><br />I've mentioned <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/07/did-galileo-do-tie-dye.html">before</a> how I like to sneak in a little education when I teach people how to do tie-dye. Math, spatial skills, and so on. They get practice in colors and manual dexterity. And of course I think doing tie-dye is good for the soul, too. No, buying the mass-market tie-dye t-shirts at the local big-box store doesn't count.<br /><br />Origami (paper folding) and kirigami (paper cutting) are similar crafts that exercise those same mental and physical "muscles". I did lots of origami as a kid, and I loved it. I've also done some kirigami; those paper snowflakes I did in school were just the beginning. True, you don't end up with the same wearable results as with tie-dye (including shibori), but visualizing how the project is going to turn out is half the fun for all three crafts, as is the pleasure (for me) of folding materials precisely.<br /><br />Lately I've been playing with origami paper as a quick and concrete way to visualize how various folds might come out in tie-dye. The basic paper is cheap, thin, colorful, and easy to fold (I get 60 sheets for $1.50 USD at the local <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daiso">Daiso</a> store). I've been folding it up in various wedges, squares, or rectangles, then piercing it in patterns using a push-pin into a small block of firm packaging foam. I particularly like the foam that feels a little soft and waxy (not Styrofoam/polystyrene), but anything you can easily push a pin into will work fine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3nRtEWz0Chm7Pwr3V7mn1SbX0lBhHNwQtxDyGDVslTRNcJ8brzZEFz6rSxPEio7gkVFB4K8Q53PKTyTiBIiFU03xf6Wcp14ujVOzVrr_V6HG2B0_gy-6Yo9lNGwkWHd5Jaa3-Gz3oBSC/s1600-h/IMG_9286.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3nRtEWz0Chm7Pwr3V7mn1SbX0lBhHNwQtxDyGDVslTRNcJ8brzZEFz6rSxPEio7gkVFB4K8Q53PKTyTiBIiFU03xf6Wcp14ujVOzVrr_V6HG2B0_gy-6Yo9lNGwkWHd5Jaa3-Gz3oBSC/s400/IMG_9286.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368431676144124658" border="0" /></a><br />I put the resulting pierced "snowflakes" up on a window so I can see the light pattern through them (dark paper colors work best), and they are very pretty.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Makj64xGjBbh5iIB7zKiepVqgq8lVISN7nZnzngUIQ_S_XKykGoB2qVE3lHoSz0SBsivOKe__MBCT5tWVSVWsYHyNLarznYVQbgwM-SrpDEwhEN44ylNNq03gPJ01te60F9b0YxB92g/s1600-h/IMG_9134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Makj64xGjBbh5iIB7zKiepVqgq8lVISN7nZnzngUIQ_S_XKykGoB2qVE3lHoSz0SBsivOKe__MBCT5tWVSVWsYHyNLarznYVQbgwM-SrpDEwhEN44ylNNq03gPJ01te60F9b0YxB92g/s400/IMG_9134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427134446709666" border="0" /></a><br />My kids joined in, of course, producing some beautiful ones of their own. My younger daughter folded her paper in random directions before piercing it, and she came out with some very intriguing designs.<br /><br />These paper creations were so easy, so fun, so cheap, and so clean (no cut-out pieces to sweep up!) that I added them to the activities roster for my younger daughter's ninth birthday party (a crafts theme, naturally) a couple weeks ago. It was a definite hit with most of the kids. For the goody bags (party favors), I sent home the foam blocks and push-pins the kids used, along with a fresh packet of origami paper for each child, in hope that they might do some more later and keep flexing those brains.<br /><br />Now I'm starting to work on translating a few of those paper designs into tie-dye.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBP1YbnBwaGXBHV8Df5Ksv99oeeALUITqrT9vgLeMtXi9E0NH7-0NVBfU8WT4s9uu3dboFu8YpsLpsQ_9LKl1jtiKo9UoohgQfqYNUJNuGrMWn0pggtn448-pRb8StCZF2bGg3XpSBDB6/s1600-h/IMG_9266.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBP1YbnBwaGXBHV8Df5Ksv99oeeALUITqrT9vgLeMtXi9E0NH7-0NVBfU8WT4s9uu3dboFu8YpsLpsQ_9LKl1jtiKo9UoohgQfqYNUJNuGrMWn0pggtn448-pRb8StCZF2bGg3XpSBDB6/s400/IMG_9266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427168067837026" border="0" /></a><br />I'm using the fold-along-a-drawn-line technique shown in both of my favorite DVDs about tie-dye:<br /><ul><li>"Learn How to Tie Dye: Complete 3 Volume Set" available from <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3328-AA.shtml?lnav=books.html">Dharma</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Learn-How-Tie-Dye-complete/dp/B0009PY4WQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1203313159&sr=8-1">Amazon</a></li><li>"The Art of Tie-Dye" available from <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1480-AA.shtml?lnav=books.html">Dharma</a> or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Art-Tie-Dye-Michael-Fowler/dp/B0007QQW2W/ref=pd_bxgy_d_img_b">Amazon</a></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GL5ymd6Y7dw51cTYrSk7H1_hI95CgOLHrbWfkBHLT5BoINxLK5RJDjwwwlamB9uHKSt8gvsFlvQmkPurVNQ9SI6pfKUG-WRNelja0-i3V1y4Q5iM5z-3eLo9qC55enmEOwWSxmNyxuLy/s1600-h/IMG_9260.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_GL5ymd6Y7dw51cTYrSk7H1_hI95CgOLHrbWfkBHLT5BoINxLK5RJDjwwwlamB9uHKSt8gvsFlvQmkPurVNQ9SI6pfKUG-WRNelja0-i3V1y4Q5iM5z-3eLo9qC55enmEOwWSxmNyxuLy/s400/IMG_9260.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427142823104306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlqYjkcy99tdCbGcl7a3gV4L_pMN5qCrcKwajoVCAdNzUBJoa9iTYItKHls0RsY7GyTd3xnAV50jZva_SG3jyzaTjr1BbNUESlReQtd4CpgaE_x4AwbROq_lyLUCQyCC3z5a7YxOGCAcm/s1600-h/IMG_9261.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlqYjkcy99tdCbGcl7a3gV4L_pMN5qCrcKwajoVCAdNzUBJoa9iTYItKHls0RsY7GyTd3xnAV50jZva_SG3jyzaTjr1BbNUESlReQtd4CpgaE_x4AwbROq_lyLUCQyCC3z5a7YxOGCAcm/s400/IMG_9261.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427149336698386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8bg-Jm4Nc_wagI1wNvRzXuparwJrtwji0pl-7xS_M75MqvjHKpz_m90YAPTjGOQ5WyTLd0zbytb2U205FeafkV01b3Z3ZMROOBkoigc8Kw1Q9Fb61qYRU4GRPQD2ikxKaefxOgDX3OHF/s1600-h/IMG_9264.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8bg-Jm4Nc_wagI1wNvRzXuparwJrtwji0pl-7xS_M75MqvjHKpz_m90YAPTjGOQ5WyTLd0zbytb2U205FeafkV01b3Z3ZMROOBkoigc8Kw1Q9Fb61qYRU4GRPQD2ikxKaefxOgDX3OHF/s400/IMG_9264.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368427157034529426" border="0" /></a><br />Sometimes I'm stitching the designs with dental floss, sometimes I'm just tying the designs without stitching. The more complex designs need to be stitched so they don't slip apart.<br /><br />I haven't dyed any of these yet, and they won't come out exactly like the paper patterns, but I'll post them when I do. In the meantime, try out some paper pattern piercing!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-64065211422793467752009-08-01T02:12:00.000-07:002009-08-01T02:14:16.676-07:00Tie-dyeing Blue JeansI had a couple of pairs of jeans that I wasn't wearing because they had blemishes in strategic locations, as well as some swapped jeans I picked up at the <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/04/making-plans-to-make-tracks.html">Maker Faire</a> recently. And while I have dozens of tie-dyed shirts that I wear all the time, none of my jeans are (intentionally) tie-dyed. Time to change that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Color on Color</span><br /><br />I often get questions about dyeing garments that aren't white. I've done it a fair amount, but it's a little tricky. You have to remember that the colors are ADDITIVE. So if you start with a yellow shirt and put blue dye on it, you get green. Purple on yellow gives you brown, and so on. Also, the colors you put on may seem a little dull compared to how they would look on white. So it's worth trying, because you can get some interesting effects (blue and purple on a pale blue shirt looks good), but you may not get the results you expect or hope for.<br /><br />Here, I did a crinkle pattern on a pair of light-blue 100% cotton Levi's (left) and the exact same crinkle pattern on a pair of medium-blue Gloria Vanderbilt partly-spandex stretch Amanda jeans (on the right). I smushed them both up into wrinkly pancakes, along with the shorts below, and I dyed all three pieces side-by-side with the same colors. I actually squirted the dyes on all three pieces with the same strokes of each color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1eB-y-BfyMnMWBECjJdSC5yhZi6D13WO88Ur3K9MXk8S2ybf2g_Xc0F4Dt0k78m7ss07EA8H2rpbU7zpxRvxAbH6QyoszdhJYIU1oBbplLdIhyphenhyphen2d0BXJYMF2wZKHKI3STrk69POiNEWa/s1600-h/IMG_9007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1eB-y-BfyMnMWBECjJdSC5yhZi6D13WO88Ur3K9MXk8S2ybf2g_Xc0F4Dt0k78m7ss07EA8H2rpbU7zpxRvxAbH6QyoszdhJYIU1oBbplLdIhyphenhyphen2d0BXJYMF2wZKHKI3STrk69POiNEWa/s400/IMG_9007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364910905526308354" border="0" /></a><br />The Levi's give a much more vibrant and almost crystalline crinkle effect than the Vanderbilt jeans. The lighter original color of the Levi's gives a much better contrast with the dye colors than the darker blue, though I like both. The interesting part, though, is that the colors on the Levi's jeans look much crisper and sharper than on the Vanderbilt jeans. The denim of the Levi's is thicker and much stiffer than the Vanderbilt denim, giving the crinkles more definition. I think the thicker denim also prevents the soda ash from soaking in quite as well into the Levi's, leaving more undyed fibers in the denim (both pairs soaked for the same amount of time), helping the Levi's look a little brighter in the center parts of the crinkles.<br /><br />The cargo shorts are from <a href="http://www.landsend.com/pp/CargoShorts%7E180958_1189.html?bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::FKH&CM_MERCH=IDX_00003__0000000332">Lands' End</a> in the light greyish color they call "light stone". My daughter managed to spill chocolate on them in strategic places almost immediately, so they were definitely in need of revamping with dye. These were the third piece in my crinkled assembly line. The light grey is almost white, but not enough to really brighten the dye colors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrmaEs_AzpLsPLPyXDuoSKQsLXZqdURCmtUUXyscLB7CPY76bZhurpiic_H3cdj6nhy1LZMvt-JRIfk4-n9mcZoz60erKlkvoAuDiseBNjGCE3q-I3oYWnTx6HUCXqrWIwaWvqgRsvIsT/s1600-h/IMG_9018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrmaEs_AzpLsPLPyXDuoSKQsLXZqdURCmtUUXyscLB7CPY76bZhurpiic_H3cdj6nhy1LZMvt-JRIfk4-n9mcZoz60erKlkvoAuDiseBNjGCE3q-I3oYWnTx6HUCXqrWIwaWvqgRsvIsT/s400/IMG_9018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364911828318805154" border="0" /></a><br />My daughter likes them more now than in the original grey color, of course, and likes the hoodie I did for her while I was at it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKodw-7pTwtb5wzfZycTPW42aVsNWvH9O1ho6kEDTV0o6Mcfz8lhe6zl0rLblMim2g2bcYQzo71lHw18qSmHgSdUCiVF-7Jwe2xiPovVChov2yp13ClOIRSnyZaCrQXLXbnaGCtg2kNSKY/s1600-h/IMG_9017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKodw-7pTwtb5wzfZycTPW42aVsNWvH9O1ho6kEDTV0o6Mcfz8lhe6zl0rLblMim2g2bcYQzo71lHw18qSmHgSdUCiVF-7Jwe2xiPovVChov2yp13ClOIRSnyZaCrQXLXbnaGCtg2kNSKY/s400/IMG_9017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364910920573326178" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stripes Front and Back</span><br /><br />This is another medium-blue pair of the Vanderbilt jeans (my usual). This one really demonstrates the effect of working with multiple layers of thick, stiff fabric such as this denim.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NqCURJaD1tQqAl6nc3Fh_5gWk15-6PwpMw_egMfPDjhCZPh_Pe5Lvr9hwAyz9XOmaKI58aMWpL6RTmTJnbjvzvZmTEb0ynWTxTEaehZxkXPcqeSpFI6sOxvehAt_lxHtny9UI9W8f99Z/s1600-h/IMG_9020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NqCURJaD1tQqAl6nc3Fh_5gWk15-6PwpMw_egMfPDjhCZPh_Pe5Lvr9hwAyz9XOmaKI58aMWpL6RTmTJnbjvzvZmTEb0ynWTxTEaehZxkXPcqeSpFI6sOxvehAt_lxHtny9UI9W8f99Z/s400/IMG_9020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364910932531425858" border="0" /></a>Since the fabric is so thick, very little dye bleeds through from dyeing the folded piece on one side, so it's easy to get thick-and-thin effects on the stripes by dyeing a little less or more on the two sides of the folded piece, and it's hard to get dye all the way to the center of the pleats. In this pair, I folded first down the center of the jeans so the back is on the inside, then I pleated the whole thing starting up from the ankles. I like the multi-thickness effect, though.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LnEX-MRUlT8hmsxyY-vs6_AcySqXKHE8x9ZOG6SQBS8CHHqDTAmUkFy19FEWXEkSkw2wumd0XNc7vlpPUXgh_l3cChKFpeBdaftBYGE3GV5qVfKCoKVjJJM-o542WPSxmH0MjK5xx-d2/s1600-h/IMG_9011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LnEX-MRUlT8hmsxyY-vs6_AcySqXKHE8x9ZOG6SQBS8CHHqDTAmUkFy19FEWXEkSkw2wumd0XNc7vlpPUXgh_l3cChKFpeBdaftBYGE3GV5qVfKCoKVjJJM-o542WPSxmH0MjK5xx-d2/s400/IMG_9011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364910912349657122" border="0" /></a><br />Here is how they look on (and one of my current favorite shirts--bright enough to hurt the eyeballs!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr47bc4I_zZ5FWsnARQs2AkPWAtNLjj_FbQrfb4kzS8XeGtmHNuiX2K6Cl3qszGha9TxMBqTRpr7q_PBtzij4CQNpcxQqVDsAWWAVZprKc0SiXQ8QJJOAzsoAj8O4KUfyO-AQGKV_KQVL/s1600-h/IMG_9049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMr47bc4I_zZ5FWsnARQs2AkPWAtNLjj_FbQrfb4kzS8XeGtmHNuiX2K6Cl3qszGha9TxMBqTRpr7q_PBtzij4CQNpcxQqVDsAWWAVZprKc0SiXQ8QJJOAzsoAj8O4KUfyO-AQGKV_KQVL/s400/IMG_9049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364917386244317362" border="0" /></a><br />And the back...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMaHcyIRwKcR-7K-cSsSbC1dS8_2iB6VvlOMqu5TagmeZHf95OzwNh0cjYEvXZvx0-im_podSgt9Anfw4IisGugjE871KaqF60Nzmh2IZGs3xP_WJtmjkegDxmEJb2bJ9h6jPtY-ujRax/s1600-h/IMG_9053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMaHcyIRwKcR-7K-cSsSbC1dS8_2iB6VvlOMqu5TagmeZHf95OzwNh0cjYEvXZvx0-im_podSgt9Anfw4IisGugjE871KaqF60Nzmh2IZGs3xP_WJtmjkegDxmEJb2bJ9h6jPtY-ujRax/s400/IMG_9053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364917393861414498" border="0" /></a>I like the two-toned effect on the legs here (mine, not Lacey's).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsAVInJqzOEqG77QCCM7m_jmVZ5_NIf0-mTIzuQ1MOJjVGMWABSxbICHmu_f0qebJ3g4EYlXKAipw-wTXXNsnIEJtWtNhp4XvZMe1DiCkaMfrDyo0Ahx9OpK2P1tI7h4pstD-cWK31Tw-/s1600-h/IMG_9055-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsAVInJqzOEqG77QCCM7m_jmVZ5_NIf0-mTIzuQ1MOJjVGMWABSxbICHmu_f0qebJ3g4EYlXKAipw-wTXXNsnIEJtWtNhp4XvZMe1DiCkaMfrDyo0Ahx9OpK2P1tI7h4pstD-cWK31Tw-/s400/IMG_9055-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364917394459704738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Few Bonus Shirts</span><br /><br />I dyed a few shirts for my daughters while I was at it. The third shirt from the left was twisted up like a hank of yarn and then dyed in stripes across it. The shirt on the right was a spiral started near the right shoulder.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69H4ff0szxAHnn_IV14eiP5P2zZM_Uv_mBPL3Vu968pgn7W-br23NUxTeMsMVFy_52LEICbLIjGv83LjVwtTaGTSkI9692fBFthssdKHI0JzQTqbiEAdSM_OGMgxiZkXeiMqjP5m2z1un/s1600-h/IMG_9028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69H4ff0szxAHnn_IV14eiP5P2zZM_Uv_mBPL3Vu968pgn7W-br23NUxTeMsMVFy_52LEICbLIjGv83LjVwtTaGTSkI9692fBFthssdKHI0JzQTqbiEAdSM_OGMgxiZkXeiMqjP5m2z1un/s400/IMG_9028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364914698268687026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lacey Is at It Again</span><br /><br />Such a big help!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzNIp3QWavjnyQkasg8iEjqij0RFV4eG8hKMnW60n04iPSqna_-6kZu360NilpukL_7Bakk6ryl88W2jf52k2JXc97BBueytVT7vpGWarGLDHs0hJZccTZjkdp6lyV5Pg2V_bIRntR60J/s1600-h/IMG_9023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzNIp3QWavjnyQkasg8iEjqij0RFV4eG8hKMnW60n04iPSqna_-6kZu360NilpukL_7Bakk6ryl88W2jf52k2JXc97BBueytVT7vpGWarGLDHs0hJZccTZjkdp6lyV5Pg2V_bIRntR60J/s400/IMG_9023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364914685291378210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">My</span> squeaky toy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj75cxAJUi7w7ju1qCu4a2yD6J-SV8vRhf5dzxBvN35oMT4FkU96GAAUFYA2jdiwWueUdC6moxJcwi5D-d3shVzspfVMacOW0fa9cIHVtWhcwoNCQLf0QMqh7t0OqCtIbcRm4wpNg2Owm/s1600-h/IMG_9033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDj75cxAJUi7w7ju1qCu4a2yD6J-SV8vRhf5dzxBvN35oMT4FkU96GAAUFYA2jdiwWueUdC6moxJcwi5D-d3shVzspfVMacOW0fa9cIHVtWhcwoNCQLf0QMqh7t0OqCtIbcRm4wpNg2Owm/s400/IMG_9033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364914701714011842" border="0" /></a>Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-68280796964736373462009-07-19T22:50:00.000-07:002009-07-19T22:55:28.138-07:00I'm Not Dead Yet!A friend of mine gently chided me today for no longer posting to my blog. And well, things have changed recently that leave me a bit less time for blogging. That is, I've gone back to having a day job as a product manager after being on leave of absence for a year and a half. It's kind of a night and early morning job too, since I live in California and the development team is in India and Orlando. I've already been on two conference call meetings that started at 5am, and one that ended just before midnight!<br /><br />It's also summer, and that means I have another job too: chauffeur. My kids go to a plethora of day camps, where they are doing all sorts of fun things like building go-karts, studying and mimicking Egyptian art, creating claymation animated movies (short ones), face painting, and all sorts of other things that are making me hideously jealous as I drop them off and head for the office!<br /><br />I'm not done creating, though, and I'm not done blogging. I've been doing lots of tie-dye lately with lots of people (including this year's first grade class!), and I never did blog about all of the shoes I've made so far (and now I'm going back and modifying one pair where I just didn't like the way it came out).<br /><br />As for blogging, I actually have about ten blog posts partially written and waiting for me to upload just the right photos (with and without dog) and add just the right links and tags. I've gotten to the point where I start a draft post in the middle of the night if something comes to me that I just have to write about. I'm having a hard time keeping up with my inspirations, though, both in crafts and in blogs. I still have a tie-dye wedding present to make, several months after the wedding (I'm allowed a year after the wedding! Really! But it's slipping away...). But I'll get to it, someday. And a leather-wrapped coffee mug... but hey, I did finish that <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/09/look-its-quilt.html">quilt</a>, finally!<br /><br />But for now, since I don't have any late-night meetings scheduled, I'd better finish this off and head for bed. And since I know I'll hear about it if I don't, here are a few pictures. With and without dog.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Official Gratuitous Dog Picture</span><br /><br />Here she is, just being her cute self.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvCdXHRuKlWbdvAeD_ChtZHCAIqwCtrRA3BmydUvLYOwf5wpDzsEyUGhdPgwSLNCpW1V5zjVmZ-XTEaMw1GkmoGtHAXMvl3rV34xL2eOz5xtqV_3_N0AsL1u3-DvUXWdWP0q3QnKdYma9/s1600-h/IMG_8735.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvCdXHRuKlWbdvAeD_ChtZHCAIqwCtrRA3BmydUvLYOwf5wpDzsEyUGhdPgwSLNCpW1V5zjVmZ-XTEaMw1GkmoGtHAXMvl3rV34xL2eOz5xtqV_3_N0AsL1u3-DvUXWdWP0q3QnKdYma9/s400/IMG_8735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360409277293465954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Recent Stuff</span><br /><br />Somebody liked my daughter's discharged jeans so well, she wanted a pair just like them. Several months later, I finally got around to it. My daughter did that tie-dyed shirt herself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4IKLaUh53-B6F08-_VmMx6No34oBtMo5VefpRiem1FWKTdV_d3bNn6BER14n1ApvVe7j4oFNPKula-Zitq0y6fnUXNdt3G5-m8n_Ctlkg1yD2SHVMeuJ8KScj9bNDNoq1cLNFsOl0y6e/s1600-h/IMG_8732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4IKLaUh53-B6F08-_VmMx6No34oBtMo5VefpRiem1FWKTdV_d3bNn6BER14n1ApvVe7j4oFNPKula-Zitq0y6fnUXNdt3G5-m8n_Ctlkg1yD2SHVMeuJ8KScj9bNDNoq1cLNFsOl0y6e/s400/IMG_8732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360409655109814098" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/04/making-plans-to-make-tracks.html">Here I am</a> at this year's <a href="http://makerfaire.com">Maker Faire</a>, in one of my favorite tie-dyed shirts (funny how the ones I like the best are some of the earliest ones I made). I was trying to complete a circuit and light the lightbulb using nuts and nails to go across the tube in the middle of the board. I succeeded, and they said they hadn't seen anyone do it that way before. I must be nuts...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo49sUPmVgG-WaXDxNzmWdqrvkvG765WHE2-RyYBlfm00YIKukRYJBbvvyIcrqOD3qFTkoiunnr06bmQIWEYMpEoaBPGnEx3OMI_jJ7Cf_AyNEXqLkDVd7QUEa5DlCupCAY-Hr5tWDT11i/s1600-h/IMG_8792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo49sUPmVgG-WaXDxNzmWdqrvkvG765WHE2-RyYBlfm00YIKukRYJBbvvyIcrqOD3qFTkoiunnr06bmQIWEYMpEoaBPGnEx3OMI_jJ7Cf_AyNEXqLkDVd7QUEa5DlCupCAY-Hr5tWDT11i/s400/IMG_8792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360408513509850770" border="0" /></a><br />And here is the result of the 6th Annual First Grade Tie-dye Project! I'm so proud! Even better, the Mountain View Voice published my <a href="http://www.mv-voice.com/morguepdf/2009/2009_06_26.mvv.section1.pdf">picture</a> of them (that's about a hundred kids) on page 6.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqO06WVqX0CB7T_hH_fboR8ZZ0uts5zEPl81MlalpO0-Y12NFBVSsW3iwtnpx6jDsJmvlXR_Wcytd8ElR7wyNd48Rpyo6zcEcpqHeIN0_8Hw3sftdcDr6LlfdJl6tb_M9gTpXMTdPYKKB/s1600-h/IMG_8882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqO06WVqX0CB7T_hH_fboR8ZZ0uts5zEPl81MlalpO0-Y12NFBVSsW3iwtnpx6jDsJmvlXR_Wcytd8ElR7wyNd48Rpyo6zcEcpqHeIN0_8Hw3sftdcDr6LlfdJl6tb_M9gTpXMTdPYKKB/s400/IMG_8882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360407919687980914" border="0" /></a><br />And now, off to bed!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-58425971901697208472009-06-20T22:37:00.000-07:002009-06-20T22:46:03.717-07:00Tie-Dyeing the BookcasesNow that my older daughter is on summer vacation (though she still has homework to do), she has a bit more available time. It's time to do some rearranging in her room to make it easier for her to store and find all her stuff going forward.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bookcases with Glass Doors and a Little Inspiration</span><br /><br />We bought her two <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/83688210">Billy</a> 79.5-inch tall, 31.5-inch wide bookcases, along with two pairs of coordinating half-height (37.75-inch high) <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40104091">Billy Morebo</a> glass/aluminum doors. IKEA mentions on its website, and displays in the showroom, that these can be easily personalized by adding wrapping paper, fabric, stickers, etc. between the glass and the backing insert of the door. Just that little hint, and off we go!<br /><br />My daughter loves blues and greens, and her room is already decorated in those. She's excited about getting her glass doors done in blue-and-green tie-dye to match the rest of her room. Guess who had some influence on the color scheme when I <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/02/tie-dyeing-furniture.html">tie-dyed the couch</a>?<br /><br />A while back I got a bunch of IKEA's Sova twin-sized flat sheets (cheap, 100% cotton, and they dye beautifully). Note that the Sova line has since been replaced by the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60149994">Dvala</a> line, which is still all cotton but a little more expensive. The <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00145927">Slumra</a> line (now the cheapest line) is unsuitable because it is 52% polyester and won't dye well.<br /><br />I folded a sheet in eighths (which turns out to be the perfect size, just a bit bigger than the door inserts), then tied it in a pattern and dyed it. After dyeing, I cut off half the sheet since we didn't need it. We hemmed it, and now my daughter can use it as a drape for her loft bed or whatever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzELRLrGvSeNuekkgVl0UzbBEhZnMY-znPiTktBASHm-46jN8_MPZ9SAix8uv50BUx_SCB0Z11wMdXn2VpNJ-4iKFBDGSzmEi5XabaReZwPcdGeOZpbUnEwW54MoK2uISrR1PV47woXhy5/s1600-h/IMG_8910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzELRLrGvSeNuekkgVl0UzbBEhZnMY-znPiTktBASHm-46jN8_MPZ9SAix8uv50BUx_SCB0Z11wMdXn2VpNJ-4iKFBDGSzmEi5XabaReZwPcdGeOZpbUnEwW54MoK2uISrR1PV47woXhy5/s400/IMG_8910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349644944069773090" border="0" /></a><br />I cut out four matching pieces the size of the inserts plus 1.25 inches extra all around.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz4mmMha-kLJ6rbg8rbYV9ImOjkdvwTwu8X3xcLDvpVjC07VyozETQd03s6Xd80WJRwnKEfcQnCGl9lV_YcNCeK92vC8tuMFBdlsWo8Iv_ESSrB5Vp3pS37YA96jxKQ9dqW16lABVT0Qm/s1600-h/IMG_8912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtz4mmMha-kLJ6rbg8rbYV9ImOjkdvwTwu8X3xcLDvpVjC07VyozETQd03s6Xd80WJRwnKEfcQnCGl9lV_YcNCeK92vC8tuMFBdlsWo8Iv_ESSrB5Vp3pS37YA96jxKQ9dqW16lABVT0Qm/s400/IMG_8912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349644938647954354" border="0" /></a>Here I laid one of the inserts on top of the corresponding fabric piece.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpydiuTTOY0JGKMaXw1YAGZ-h-JT6ztmTVZOpEuW8mjUmLIEkFNG0biUGYdiqKns27Jh3I3ax1QbcW1vhRJjWIfd9KmsYOIhANHC8_L-CAv9Z4S5wp4uH6Y-Yx8UMx-nJx5459cbB2zo7L/s1600-h/IMG_8916.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpydiuTTOY0JGKMaXw1YAGZ-h-JT6ztmTVZOpEuW8mjUmLIEkFNG0biUGYdiqKns27Jh3I3ax1QbcW1vhRJjWIfd9KmsYOIhANHC8_L-CAv9Z4S5wp4uH6Y-Yx8UMx-nJx5459cbB2zo7L/s400/IMG_8916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349644935823876434" border="0" /></a><br />We're using the leftover strips (about 4-6 inches wide) to make scrunchies for hair.<br /><br />We attached the fabric to the inserts with Scotch tape. We don't care if the back of the door looks a little messy, and the tape just has to hold well enough for us to install the inserts into the glass doors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6zdEudyvtopIIz66hyXHFOVEXcqWclMJtg8AVzIVx65cPzr0g5t7rZiqOZOsa85rH8WBVZMRe5Z67y68xrtIUnzljI-d44hXZ_7mv6_mIeNHUTgRsB5aPPi8XQGL1wQ2MES8ddGWSPhO/s1600-h/IMG_8920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6zdEudyvtopIIz66hyXHFOVEXcqWclMJtg8AVzIVx65cPzr0g5t7rZiqOZOsa85rH8WBVZMRe5Z67y68xrtIUnzljI-d44hXZ_7mv6_mIeNHUTgRsB5aPPi8XQGL1wQ2MES8ddGWSPhO/s400/IMG_8920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349644002282101282" border="0" /></a><br />We installed the inserts into the glass doors and installed them according to the instructions. Once we got everything put together, it looked like framed posters of some wild graphic art.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZpYrjt9DgCrAFSsUDaO_wRCMZ8jNwwCYMpwxSbwbV0BSszvHh2t9IGB1P_47JTwbo94681gtpVnQ9PUuDGjjMJ_vRS1MxBYdpjUbN7wAR9NVAna1LuiVF2zHjWJuPPFndI-j9y3w-3D/s1600-h/IMG_8941.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZpYrjt9DgCrAFSsUDaO_wRCMZ8jNwwCYMpwxSbwbV0BSszvHh2t9IGB1P_47JTwbo94681gtpVnQ9PUuDGjjMJ_vRS1MxBYdpjUbN7wAR9NVAna1LuiVF2zHjWJuPPFndI-j9y3w-3D/s400/IMG_8941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349643991926969266" border="0" /></a><br />That's the extra half sheet draped over a curtain rod on the right side of the picture. Here's how it looks with the doors open:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEkmNOIjDTE9M4yz-OLKRtYNXNqkI6G-S5qzXEpEjbEZY9kW2QpnQ75GRGw_2pi_Cc7iMOYFgV8peCnhfZCe-d9mfxmSHRmyW0ouuONFjrw2CZVLoiQjZpODXe-hLig0eqP3nTu_A_OVE/s1600-h/IMG_8944.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEkmNOIjDTE9M4yz-OLKRtYNXNqkI6G-S5qzXEpEjbEZY9kW2QpnQ75GRGw_2pi_Cc7iMOYFgV8peCnhfZCe-d9mfxmSHRmyW0ouuONFjrw2CZVLoiQjZpODXe-hLig0eqP3nTu_A_OVE/s400/IMG_8944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349643981887669586" border="0" /></a><br />My daughter kept running around it singing "It's so pretty!" Well worth the cost and effort just for its looks. Now if only it helps her keep her room clean!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">More Gratuitous Dog Pictures</span><br /><br />Lacey knows when it's time to join the photo shoot. Here she's sitting on the wrapped inserts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpRatp6dtTsdsDfW2q83iGm4yBGENBIuCAeMqBU6nMpD9cDCSvVv_N5BSm7wiaMwyrodyYDsGbU7HCMptvaMrxihQbysTgkin8djwyXEuEoWNWy6iSknoS7cydadpmLVGoSPCmEpES9G7/s1600-h/IMG_8932.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 357px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpRatp6dtTsdsDfW2q83iGm4yBGENBIuCAeMqBU6nMpD9cDCSvVv_N5BSm7wiaMwyrodyYDsGbU7HCMptvaMrxihQbysTgkin8djwyXEuEoWNWy6iSknoS7cydadpmLVGoSPCmEpES9G7/s400/IMG_8932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349643996163064850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_txsKnOans9sj6k-XfvtzZDqzkfeIVtLYhU-CQT94dXHCQYCbyMgJfv8SvIek2gbLOpwBhqFM-tQPwDOCZCwEEej5POoBIATBBgl9c-NAPhaYmiyGYP5k9uR0jOIHzw_1TFnhHayTbOB4/s1600-h/IMG_8926.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_txsKnOans9sj6k-XfvtzZDqzkfeIVtLYhU-CQT94dXHCQYCbyMgJfv8SvIek2gbLOpwBhqFM-tQPwDOCZCwEEej5POoBIATBBgl9c-NAPhaYmiyGYP5k9uR0jOIHzw_1TFnhHayTbOB4/s400/IMG_8926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349644001864174626" border="0" /></a>She's even brought her own props!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR4RBADhn8EuW9MEhHPtjUwlBizFL_hR0899xCB7kYMFkyy5YusEFsabkpeKQTodMRPfRFz0vPwlwq9Y69dhgRixEcUowhPsAXjRUIUPu3kbLNGiD9CksGGtXrMpdPyPjWQlhk4KWMZoK/s1600-h/IMG_8919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcR4RBADhn8EuW9MEhHPtjUwlBizFL_hR0899xCB7kYMFkyy5YusEFsabkpeKQTodMRPfRFz0vPwlwq9Y69dhgRixEcUowhPsAXjRUIUPu3kbLNGiD9CksGGtXrMpdPyPjWQlhk4KWMZoK/s400/IMG_8919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349644928049083970" border="0" /></a><br />Who can resist that pose?Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501268352036870218.post-37878041551900298022009-06-12T22:23:00.000-07:002009-06-12T23:13:50.299-07:00Look! It's a Quilt!If Abercrombie and Fitch were to sell quilts, this would be it. It's ratty and frayed. It has the dusky patina of ground-in dirt. It's irregular and uneven. Maybe it's not ripped up enough to meet those <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/05/things-people-wear.html">trendy A&F standards</a>, but one has to draw the line somewhere.<br /><br />The <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2008/09/sewing-circles.html">jeans circle quilt</a> is done. Well, at least for now. Until I decide to do more stuff to it. But for now, done. Oddly, having it finished seems pretty anticlimactic. It's probably because I don't really have a place or a use for it, since I really just did it for the challenge of it. It took me so long to make (just over a year of on-again, off-again work), and so much physical effort, that I feel I have to hang onto it until I find the right place for it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZF2Uh8IsODSd4PPoYKVANnGzckyvHbmEjbgr4dlqlHw-kWFCrLqFszbt_N2ZbGUd90ehZLhjnkhMauN7u5uyx2IAn8Vwu8ofIE5mhdLvIhZlQp0rYMSyf90tt8R2bt-Fd1qEnoHjbVKq/s1600-h/IMG_8857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZF2Uh8IsODSd4PPoYKVANnGzckyvHbmEjbgr4dlqlHw-kWFCrLqFszbt_N2ZbGUd90ehZLhjnkhMauN7u5uyx2IAn8Vwu8ofIE5mhdLvIhZlQp0rYMSyf90tt8R2bt-Fd1qEnoHjbVKq/s400/IMG_8857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346684792093905138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Stats</span><br /><br />The "Quilt from Hell", as I'd taken to calling it, has 221 jeans circles (from roughly 30 pairs of recycled adult jeans) and 221 ~5-inch squares cut from a tie-dyed recycled sheet (as well as 442 squares of polyester batting). It weighs 8 pounds according to my scale, but it feels like more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwpxUwfED77na2ZwIt7BbA8zqICfHizt_Z-hhXvFibvmV40zde_wKrhrfABFUTIh40oGd-sMCL4wZdJL7FvDt-y9J2-nIHYTHzbJgRwlW4Z6-ySXPoTp8dv29P1L5IQxWU0WFTlRfCa-4/s1600-h/IMG_8850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwpxUwfED77na2ZwIt7BbA8zqICfHizt_Z-hhXvFibvmV40zde_wKrhrfABFUTIh40oGd-sMCL4wZdJL7FvDt-y9J2-nIHYTHzbJgRwlW4Z6-ySXPoTp8dv29P1L5IQxWU0WFTlRfCa-4/s400/IMG_8850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346684787788831986" border="0" /></a><br />I had made it up into three long sections, and then put the three sections together. That was one of the reasons making the quilt was so difficult; I had to physically muscle those huge and heavy sections around and through my regular home sewing machine (a Husqvarna Viking Emerald 118). In hindsight, I would have made nine smaller sections and put those together at the end.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm8KeGF-JK7cpxalWBd-4zPkOgUiVsJv41imBu-3AxzQev1k3nh6P_KbXRBEQiWMj2ywMq-7G_dKR4XRsgVBnVgRuE3mjUE6JNxwRttWd1tWg8rxYPXQYy1Cfug1DH05pXv6N-c0tLJhk/s1600-h/IMG_8756.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm8KeGF-JK7cpxalWBd-4zPkOgUiVsJv41imBu-3AxzQev1k3nh6P_KbXRBEQiWMj2ywMq-7G_dKR4XRsgVBnVgRuE3mjUE6JNxwRttWd1tWg8rxYPXQYy1Cfug1DH05pXv6N-c0tLJhk/s400/IMG_8756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346686635254218370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's Unique</span><br /><br />The quilt is definitely unique. Besides the randomness of the recycled jeans circles in various shades, which are then laid out in a specific design, I also had the tie-dyed sheet. I had dyed it in a chevron pattern, then cut it all up and rearranged all the pieces. Someone I know wonders why people would take perfectly good fabric, cut it up, and sew it back together again. I just tell her to think of it as making paint from minerals and then smearing it on canvas--it's art. And in this case, it's taking something that isn't perfectly good (the worn out jeans) and putting them to good use.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Extra Special Style</span><br /><br />My quilt has something that no Abercrombie and Fitch quilt would have: dog hair incorporated into its deepest recesses. Lacey thinks that's just perfect.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2qiINOn1NlROxwChx-ynvJO8-Q-HRDm_7z9zfpwrTwUkVr3ehALW4f2w4LCJHT4cvPDT3mWWkQhzNLDmTHjG62_RD7y3VLg1tcHNw8_Db4jR5238UBOqtnu5Vtrs0847zeyowL0pLW8E/s1600-h/IMG_8758b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2qiINOn1NlROxwChx-ynvJO8-Q-HRDm_7z9zfpwrTwUkVr3ehALW4f2w4LCJHT4cvPDT3mWWkQhzNLDmTHjG62_RD7y3VLg1tcHNw8_Db4jR5238UBOqtnu5Vtrs0847zeyowL0pLW8E/s400/IMG_8758b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346686640293730082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTdqCuo0FXz9kjXGDFVvTkzUANrUkJXJ6hUCr1rr6XWOf3Oe0WNmgySyX74hR3QSGOcImzYHtg2Ggs7AIsU7ytrJaWtq1jhKfHm60ErC94xGvEbA0Jx76UwLT7RhRTFnDE3yB5S_Aa0JM/s1600-h/IMG_8859b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTdqCuo0FXz9kjXGDFVvTkzUANrUkJXJ6hUCr1rr6XWOf3Oe0WNmgySyX74hR3QSGOcImzYHtg2Ggs7AIsU7ytrJaWtq1jhKfHm60ErC94xGvEbA0Jx76UwLT7RhRTFnDE3yB5S_Aa0JM/s400/IMG_8859b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346684801358404562" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E2Z-st-Uq0CtiEFQ-Ef9rBOxu0Gwbj3BMV1fDfXBc4Duai-5LPaoxPAzT9qf0QqDkk8UmYTkVJTdMOpv2UKEYzHFoHZIou68oEd8SQ7pOT4yP4z14yDkOOvsRobUzAoR-DMsNzFX4TR4/s1600-h/IMG_8867b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E2Z-st-Uq0CtiEFQ-Ef9rBOxu0Gwbj3BMV1fDfXBc4Duai-5LPaoxPAzT9qf0QqDkk8UmYTkVJTdMOpv2UKEYzHFoHZIou68oEd8SQ7pOT4yP4z14yDkOOvsRobUzAoR-DMsNzFX4TR4/s400/IMG_8867b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346684804557822514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdDcjU5wuqT2uSt_7kiz07k7C6tea7jGJWJ2to3mp0oJahwto3JRMTxusmjLk5Z-C0V39J7G2KX0RN-2oY3avzlWA4rYuzeIUDXoFz_CwEHi0DdxLCSgq5ULoZbPhcSFj9pspfdiYpCqi/s1600-h/IMG_8868b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdDcjU5wuqT2uSt_7kiz07k7C6tea7jGJWJ2to3mp0oJahwto3JRMTxusmjLk5Z-C0V39J7G2KX0RN-2oY3avzlWA4rYuzeIUDXoFz_CwEHi0DdxLCSgq5ULoZbPhcSFj9pspfdiYpCqi/s400/IMG_8868b.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346684796552840178" border="0" /></a><br />P.S.: I've managed to achieve my <a href="http://blog.amethistle.com/2009/01/another-year-of-creativity.html">New Year's resolution</a>! This may be a first!Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11952445927417701076noreply@blogger.com0