Transformation

Got fed up trying to organise my diabetes meter case, as it was too small, didn't have room for my new lancet device or my insulin pen. 

 

 

 

 

 

So I made myself a new case

Never refuse work ...

however bizarre it might be.  My window cleaner spotted my sewing machine, over a year ago now, and asked if it would be possible to sew patches onto a boat canopy.  I said yes and then forgot about it.  Until this morning when he texted me to ask if he could bring it over.


Here it is, draped fetchingly over my settee (I don't think it will catch on as a throw somehow) and you can see where it has torn on the piece next to the cardboard leg of my cutting table.  It is made of cotton canvas laminated onto a waterproof inner layer.  It did have waterproof coating but Window Cleaner jetwashed it and stripped it all off !!!  He was a bit annoyed with himself, but it was a happy accident as I think the sewing machine might have struggled to get through the proofing. 




I made a couple of triangular patches from spare canvas he supplied and then came the fun part ....  attaching them to this 6' by 5' ish canopy.

 Cue involvement of my daughter, Amber, as canopy model and human sewing machine extension table.  Even with her help it was hilarious, long winded and detrimental to anything within reach that could be knocked over or spilt.  It took a fair amount of logistical magic and the odd swear word or two to get it stitched, but we got there.  I am totally amazed with my machine, even with the jeans needle and the walking foot, I thought it would struggle but it sewed through 4 layers of fairly gungy boat canopy without any problem whatsoever.  Even when Amber accidentally pulled the material, the needle didn't even bend !!!  Than goodness.  It's bad enough when a fine needle snaps, goodness knows what would happen if a sturdy jeans needle snapped.

Here is Amber modelling the repaired canopy.  I think she might have a future in boatwear modelling.  The patches are still proofed and you can see how much jetwashing damaged the original.  Still he says he can recoat it. 

I got my windows cleaned for free (he normally charges £10 for the whole house) So something for everyone.  I just hope no-one wants a liner version doing cos I think that might just be beyond me.



I'm developing a range of beaded and machine embroidered butterflies, currently on hairclips, although they could be clipped onto anything.  I thought I'd run them past you and see what you think of them:

Here is one resting briefly on my nicely varnished handmade sewing extension table.  (2 days and 8 layers of varnish)  I've taken a fair few photos of them adorning various plants in my Mum's garden.  No point doing it in mine as it still looks like an accurate re-enactment of the Somme.  Now I just need to get round to putting them on Pinterest.

I'm also looking into buying a folding cutting table.  However, the Horn HiLo, which is the only one I can find that does what I want, is the best part of  a grand !!!  That will take a huge amount of teddies and pump pouches.  So does anyone out there know where I can get one cheaper, or second hand?  I want a cutting table that is higher than normal (avoids bending and backache) with the ability for the table top to fold flat so that you get your floor space back.  They seem to be like gold dust.  I can find any number of fixed top cutting tables but they take up too much space.