UPCYCLE 2 X WINGBACK CHAIRS

 

 

 Both chairs had cream nylon stretch loose covers on. The cream chair under the cover was not  in the same fabric as the pink chair and upholstered with a slight difference to the pink chair had under the seat cushion.

 

Starting with the pink chair. Cushion removed.

the front section the piece that goes between the front legs, looks pretty straight forward from my perspective. Stanley blade in hand onwards I go.

 

 This front arm  piece which is piped is the bit I want to get looking right.  

 

All the blogs I've read recommend taking photos as you go along. Presently the covers have been fully removed from  both chairs I'm debating what to do with the stuffing. Whether to replace with foam or to stay with what I have and add cotton batting etc. One of the chair backs is a bit flat. I have purchased some new hessian as some of the old stuff was worn and holey  due to the springs rubbing against the hessian.  A couple of the springs on the pink chair have come away as the u pins holding them in have snapped 

 

It took ages to remove all the staples it seemed as though there were thousands.  The thinnest flat head screwdriver I had, could not get under the staples due to them being put in with a pressured stapler they were so deep in the wood. I used a steak knife which had a nice pointed end and I was able to get under the staples and them tap the handle with a hammer and twist to loosen before pulling out with tiny pliers.  will post further updates later today ...



 

TABLE AND CHAIRS.

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately I did not save a before picture of this table and chairs I purchased for £5.00. The table was red gloss all over and the chairs were blue. 

I replaced some of the supports on the chairs with new wood and mixed a diy chalk paint.

 That being the pink and green on the table top and seats. The white paint is satin wood paint. The picture posted is before I added the final side supports. I have yet to complete this project. I ran out of the pink paint and need to mix a bit more for touching up in places.

 



ROCKING CHAIR

 

 

 And so it begins.....

 

 

It started with the rocking chair. This was gifted to me in varnished condition. I sanded undercoat and painted the chair.

 



 

 

then came the table. I saw this and the spindles jumped out at me and I thought it would look nice alongside the chair.

 the only way to strip the varnish off was to take it apart.

 

 

 

 

 

 this is not the end of the story I also acquired a foot stool which is a work in progress. May be a tad too much. We shall see.

 

I am now working on rocking chair No 2.

RECYCLE PROJECT

of bike acquired from recycle container.

 

 

Before

 

 

 

 

After

 

 

Bike was painted to match the colours in the bookcase  made earlier.

 

Bookcase is nearly finished it needs a little touching up on paint work then I want to glue name to front.

 

 

Project can be found on what has become one of my favourite blogs.

 http://ana-white.com/2010/12/library-book-cart.html

STEP STOOL 

 

A step stool projected recently completed.

The steps were stained with coffee granules dissolved in a little water then given two coats of water based satin finish varnish.

Sides were cut from ply wood and painted with homemade chalk paint made using plaster of Paris. Stool project can be found at the link below.

http://ana-white.com/2011/02/plans/vintage-step-stool

CROCHET BLANKETS.

GROOVYGHAN.

 

 

 

RIPPLE BLANKET

 

 

I've not posted on this blog for a while so thought I would update some of my latest finished projects.

 

Patterns from  Ravelry.

 

Both these Blankets are in the conservatory, covering  cushion covers  made for the chairs.  Preventing the sun  fading them.

 

 Curtains will be next project.

 

I love how the ripple blanket turned out. The groovyghan is different and actually an older friend of mine preferred  it over the ripple blanket.

 

Both above 100% acrylic robin dk yarn. https://www.facebook.com/Tbramsden 

The Robin yarn colour selection is perfect for the blankets. It would be nice if they were to sell  variety colour packs.

I will post update on how well the blankets wash using the above yarn.  

 

 

A benefit in using acrylic is that it  dries quickly when washed. Personally would love to do the ripple in 100% cotton.

 

I will post photos of a bobble blanket  I also finished. Its on our bed and was made using wool mix, King Cole yarn so heavier than the above two.

Archie

 

 

 

Archie claimed the rag rug as his own.

Tree of Life small blanket

This is a blanket I started whilst I waited for the wool to arrive for the Great American Aran Afghan.

If I was to do this again I think I would leave out the middle section as I dont like how you get the pulls in the wool when doing the leaves, at the base of the flower stem, in the middle section of the blanket.

I have looked at others who made this blanket and it seems unavoidable.

I would like to make a blanket with  four trees across the width of  the blanket and perhaps add trees from one of the blocks in the American Afghan with apples on, then  repeat four times above  intertwining trees as shown above. Repeat until I have a full size blanket.

Something for me to think about doing at a later date. (maybe)

Symbolically the trees could represent new life birth of child, marriage of two people (the two  trees growing together) Something about that appealed to me and the fact I like trees. (weird, I know, hence I knit the blanket.

THE GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN

 

The Great American Aran Afghan. Chris's Christmas present.

This was worked alongside the coloured version. I worked one
square from each blanket before moving onto different square.

In the second photo,  See he second square, bottom left, an
error I only noticed, when  I was sat watching a movie with the
blanked wrapped aover me.  It stands out like a sore thumb in the photo.

The square with three diamonds has two little holes that should not be
there!

The great American aran afghan

Sat up last night sewing in the last Square. I was defeated in the fact I repeated one of the blocks to complete the blanket.

I did try to do one of the squares knitted on circular needles and on doing 2" of it made a mistake when I took it off the needles I could see the square was far too big so left this one as going down to smaller needles would not of reduced size enough.

I then attempted another block which needed to be made in sections and was going strong on first section then second section defeated me from the pattern there were 4 that I was unable to knit.

The fish block was repeated as I has placed beige fish in bottom left hand corner I placed another fish in brown in the top  right corner.

Over all I am pretty pleased. There are things I would change if doing again such as the rows knitted arond each block to define squares. The border took 3 solid days to knit and 3 1/2 100gm balls of wool

The grafting of the end of border to beginning I may try and improve on.

The Great American Aran Afghan

Ada Fenick Square

Ginette Belanger Square

Meredith Morioka square

Dana Hurt Square

Two squares to go.

The Judy sumner square next, leaving off the spider and web. Then i'm wanting to attempt Georgia Vincent block knitted on circular needles a first for me.

On the cream blanket I have four squares to make.

Further postings link below

THE GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN

Updates on Kims blanket.

Barbara McIntire Square.

Dagmara Berztiss Square.

Julie H. Levy Square.

Marian Tabler Square.

Ann McCauley Square.

Ann McCauley Square

Patt Tanton Hewitt Square

I will try and post photos of the cream coloured Afghan on my next posting.

Mum and Paul on Jetski

Few photos taken in the summer 2011

THE GREAT AMERICAN ARAN AFGHAN

UPDATE ON SQUARES COMPLETED FOR KIMS BLANKET.

 Ann Strong Square

 Vicki Sever Square

  Carol Adams Square

Janet Martin Square

Not too sure how to arrange the colours.

I have almost completed the ninth block on this arrangement, which I am doing in the darker beige.

1 block away from 10, Yeah almost half way there.