Monday Making> Up-cycle with a little re-upholstery

Do not be put-off by the idea of combining your soft-furnishing skills with a little woodwork (today's tips could be very loosely said to involve woodwork, it's a staple-gun actually).
I bought a tartan-topped foot-stool at the boot fair (£1.50- see later in the week for that early-morning escapade). The legs and wood colour match other furniture we have, specifically 1930s arm chair I blog in. The tartan, although a style to work, is not my bag, and was a little saggy. 


YOU WILL NEED: 

• a staple gun ideally (please take care, NEVER look into firing end when refilling/un-jamming gun, very unsafe)- you could use small tacking nails and a hammer but you will need a 'crafting buddy' to help hold and hammer.
• Fabric that looks 6cm larger in diameter/width than footstool top. Relatively hard-wearing.
• Scissors
• Fabric/PVA glue
• 'Trim' e.g. ribbon or braiding or plaited fabric for edge detail.

1.  Cut cover off carefully, try not to snip pad or sponge beneath. If the way this fabric has been attached is easily levered-out you could do this instead. KEEP FABRIC for later template.
2. Cut your fabric with extra 3cm minimum around all sides.
3. Start upholstery with folding edge of fabric under and stapling at 'north'.
4. Stretch fabric well to 'south' of stool and staple again.
5. Apply same technique to 'east and west' respectively, making sure there are even amounts of fabric loose.
6. Work each area separately now, stapling in from compass points following centre, right and left pattern to stapling. Keep tucking and pulling tight. Mind your fingers.
7. Rotate stool and complete each 'corner/loose edge.
8. Trim any excess to neat edge.

Neatening: 

• Use fabric glue to stick your braiding/ribbon, a small section at a time, over the visible staples. PVA glue will work, and be strong enough but it dries with a crisper finish and may show through a thin fabric. Apply the glue to the stool NOT ribbon.
• Trim neat.
• Layer-up braiding decoration for a fuller look.

As you can see from the pics, I have decorated using a silver-grey ribbon, suits boys-use as well. More girly and playful ideas for up-cycling can be found in the brilliant Fabric Remix by Sandy Stone (link below).

The marble applique fabric I used was a cushion I had previously made. They are marbles of felt with hand-embroidery sewn to a hard-wearing cotton-linen fabric. You could buy patterned fabric or sew a design to your piece pre-stapling. Fabric-paint could add a free-er look decoration, maybe flowers or text. Iron to fix before upholstering because some fabric pads are synthetic and would melt under the iron-heat.

Have fun, it'll become your pride and joy. You can apply the same technique to table-tops and chairs. Trick is to buy the product cheap or use something old so it won't matter if it doesn't work first time, and it will usually be an improvement anyway.

Featured book:

FRIDAY FASHION: Fast-track fashion- 18yrs on.

Today's charity warehouse visit did not disappoint! I came away 1 embroidered tablecloth (vintage kitchenalia); 1 modern crafts vase; 1 well found CD and 1 TESCO vintage 90's jumper the better. All for the princely sum of £2.   

 This jumper is leisure-wear chic, classic dark grey marl with enough of a nod to colour-blocking and the snowboard-season's pink patterning to fit trend-wise and still have an edge. Pockets within the seam have the same knitted pattern and make the shape contemporary again. 50p? Yes please.

I will wear with rolled-up jeans and flip-flops/Vans for the skate vibe, I will wear with tights and slouch boots pour le maison public; and I will look for a leisure-wear trouser partner for a b-girl look perhaps. 

Challenge: will you wear 90's fashion as a teen of the 90's? For me, having had a happy car outing listening to Now Dance 93(Double Cassette), I am very happy that this jumper join the wide green skateboard, 2unlimited, newt-fishing nostalgia with a twist.

Thought about...HOW HOME-MADE CAKES GIVE CHEER

Victoria (or your favourite Monarch) Sponge

This is an enjoyable way to spend your après Diagnosis Murders or Kitchen chatting time. I chose a soundtrack of Gogol Bordello- unusual choice I know, for this pick-me-up treat and the sugar content should have that covered.

Cake cooling, and now listening to a charity-find of Vanessa Carlton (A thousand miles girlie ‘…sophisticated songwriter’ Billboard) I will relay what must be a relatively safe option for your in-law/celebration/playing afternoon tea attempting.

You will need 

2x 20cm diameter sandwich tins (4cm deep although the sponge won’t fill that) 

Cooling rack.

CAKE

6 eggs

175g Caster sugar

150g SF Flour

90g butter (and extra for greasing-or you can use oil for that)

BUTTER ICING

100g softened butter/baking marg. Or equal parts cream cheese and butter to 100g.

225g icing sugar

1 whole lemon rind

Juice of ½ lemon

Work at a relatively quick pace to keep air bubbles in sponge and have a lighter finish

1.       Preheat your oven to 180 (170 fan oven). Ovens should be preheated to ensure start temp and time are accurate and safe especially in high-protein/frozen products.

2.       Cut two grease-proof paper disks for the bases of the tins. A little blob of oil/butter will stop this from moving. Place in tins and grease surface and edges.

3.       Add sugar and to cracked eggs in your food processor or mixing bowl.

4.       Whisk for 10mins using electric appliance as this is some muscle-building stuff otherwise. You are looking for this runny yellow mix to nr triple in size and go a pale creamy colour).

5.       Melt the butter and cool.

6.       Take turns adding sieved flour and butter alternately and folding-in with a wooden spoon. Don’t whisk or you will break the established bubbles and as the flour will sink, scoop from the bottom of the bowl to mix in.

7.       Pour mix evenly between the tins, make sure it’s level. Place in the oven for 20-25 mins. Be cautious with timing, check nearer to 20mins- I have ‘browned’ many cakes with over cautiousness/going to the loo mid-bake/chatting.

8a. Sieve icing sugar into bowl, add the butter, rind of 1 lemon and juice of half.

b.   On a slow speed to start electric whisk or hand beat these together.    

c.   Chill mix for now.

  9. Remove cake from oven when ready and turn-out onto a cooling rack and leave for near to 20mins. At this point let me say that if your friends are due over DO NOT hurry this stage and throw on your buttercream, it will melt and spill over the edge in a clear runny mess.

  10.When cool, spread buttercream on one cake base. Melt 2tbsp of jam in the microwave for 30seconds to aid spreading and then smooth onto other cake half.

  11. Place the jammy half onto the butter cream and transfer to a plate for stability.

  12.   Cool again if necessary placing butter cream in fridge.

  13.   After 10mins, smooth butter cream on the top, spread working from the inside outward for evenness. To finish work from the outer edge turning the plate and keeping your spatula/fork still for an even appearance.

TA DA, enjoy your hard-work. 

Talkie Topic: The weather...(really)

Hmmn, discuss if you will the following:
Does watching the weather forecast help or hinder your living? 


Some Look-sey thoughts. When I give an ear to the weather forecast I do not feel equipped, in-fact hasn't the day's course been, in-part, defined before it has been lived. "Tomorrow will be wet so I can't..." There are 2 broadcasts at the end of our local news- back-to-back, tell me, are we that fanatical about the regional variations? There will be lots of you that will not agree with this personal stance, you will prefer to know, to plan accordingly and not be caught out by the eventualities. 


I agree there are advantages on specific occasions BUT may I encourage you in the week that follows to go back to our Edwardian roots, pick-up your umbrella and apply sun-cream to your face in the morning (as we all should anyway) and 'be prepared' but not pre-prepared. Let the day happen, get caught in a rain shower once in a while- you will giggle and warm-up with hot choc, how can that be bad weather?


Your thoughts?

Long Socks and underCUTS

     

Heading over to Boardmasters on its final day was a treat, sunny day and an amateur vibe to the skate and bmx   vert comps. The men's longboard final was in the arvo and the guys had time within their heat to wait for some of our better North shore waves- those who have attended this comp in the past will know that the unpredictability of the surf is a given, although we remain annually hopeful.

underCUTS?  loved this look- a nod to Vans and the Z-boys California look. She sports checks and leggings, Nike tennis shoes and yes that long blonde undercut. A versatile look that can be adapted for purpose but with as much personal style as a tat. Nicely done. Also appreciated that she wasn't too cool with it. 

ALSO THIS...The final destination of a National Express depots that is Newquay didn't disappoint on the trends that it exemplifies. Yes there will usually be a hen of stag do- that's a given BUT the students are the other tourism entity and today the ladies wore Long Socks. Oatmeal and holey (long primary school more than dress-up like a teenager). Part of a continued preppy folk look, the androgynous shoes, vests and cardies would give true Canadian country-girls a run for their money- although for this look to work, the glamour ID applied in the glossy long sun-bleached hair and slightly rouged lips. 

                

       

A girl's best friend?

You'll agree that lipstick, oh bombshell staple of the 1940's and 50's is living its bi-decade high-life. We are, thanks to the quiet good works of Gwen Stefani-solid and faithful to the red pout, and plenty of Brit presenters, singers, celebs, embracing the idea that yes, we have lips. I don't mean the glossy sparkly 'come kiss me now' lips where in fact viscosity-wise you are very likely to get stuck to your conquest for the evening with only a strawberry scented film between you. No, I mean the 80's supermodel red, the strong eyebrows and beauty spot look that if I may grace my pages with her name Cindy Crawford brought us.


The reason for my happy post is an over-used word which I believe marks my luxurious purchase today- treat. I wonder if there is a tradition of gift-vouchers nationwide but upwards of a gift-token don't we love the freedom and security this gift allows us and I used my financial tradition to by a Revlon lipstick in coral tone. The case- sleek and black with gold trim was the ideal vessel for my 'treat' and the moist bright colour my key item for years to come. Oh yes, when this trend started I bought a 3rd cousin twice-removed equivalent but this lipstick is a beauty. 


As a recent secondary school graduate, our family summer holiday was to the Red Sea. Monarch airlines duty-free selection afforded me an Elizabeth Arden lipstick which I still use. Gold and silver art deco casing for a water-based lovely that has lasted well and started what may be a sporadic tradition- when big things happen, mark the occasion with a lipstick...


Tip from the make-up counter: use lip-liner to work the pout and apply lipsticks with a brush in horizontal sweeps. I will try this tomorrow although I did contemplate applying for bed.

Day 2: Modern vintage make and do

T-shirts get old. Fact. Your favorites fare no better- worse if anything depending on your wearing habits. So those memories, stains and sentimentality-preventing, cannot go to the charity shop, or the ragbag…enter craft hour(s). 

I love a snuggle on the sofa (stingy with heating bill); and want to make the most of the branded investments and 15 years just isn't enough! The patchwork blanket tradition is a beautiful one. Old scraps used and re-used for winter warmth, with the work and time-taken absent of modern technology these were naturally passed from generation to generation. >In some cases, notes and photos were sewn into the layers for discovery years later.

TO MAKE YOUR OWN STYLISH HEIRLOOM:

1. Cut 12cm squares of iron-on interfacing (e.g. Vilene available from most sewing shops)

2. Iron onto back of pieces of t-shirt, trim to 1.5cm extra t-shirt around the edge, be accurate here. 

3. Line-up to create a pattern of 10x12 squares. 

4. Sew side-by-side in horizontal strips, then sew strips together side-by side to create your rectangle. 

5. Cut a backing blanket from an old/cheap soft blanket. (2 blankets for warmth although it can make it harder to sew). 

6. Place decorative side facing nice side of blanket, pin around the edges and sew- leaving a small gap at bottom edge for turning right-side-out. 

7. Turn your beautiful blanket the right-way-out and hand sew the gap closed. >You could put a cross-stitch at each corner of each patch once sewn together to holder layers together and neaten any wonky sewing. Traditionally these blankets would've been sewn differently, this is a quick-make for busy people and those new to sewing but keen to be stylish and eco.

Adventure begins

WELCOME and well done for finding this, the 1st post on the newest lifestyle blog with a stylish pulse and people-focus. I spot a lot and will blog for you the novelty, style and skill I see in my day-to-day walk.


Coming up
                   ... tomorrow: modern-vintage make ideas
                   ... the final countdown to Relentless Boardmasters 2011. Surf and skate comps, bargain buys (hopefully> old skool skate-deck hunt), music stages inc. Ben Howard and Fatboy Slim, and of course you folk on film at the event. Be stylish, i'll see you!