in the shed this week… (a bit of an update)

the lovely but shabby chaise finally made it home after a little 'rest' in the shed while the braid arrived from Paris. the brief was to re-paint the tatty paintwork and recover the upholstery in fresh grey linen.  it was a hugely satisfying job, not least because the transformation was massive...

BEFORE: 

sanding back layers of slapped-on yellow paint
was the first job

DURING: 

several thin coats of water-based paint to match the interior

all painted surfaces sealed with beeswax

AND AFTER:

lovely choice of classic scroll gimp shows off both the paint and the fabric to their best

repairs to the woodwork disappeared beneath the painted and waxed surface

lots going on in this corner

waiting in the long grass for the trip home

ALSO THIS WEEK:

this sweet chair also came through the shed to be re-sprung, repolished and given a smart new cover...

the seat was stripped and wobbly frame re-glued before work began

happy pattern matching

elegant solution to a tricky corner

AND LINED UP FOR NEXT WEEK:

this treasure is long-overdue some loving care and attention... i'll keep you posted!

in the shed this week...

a lovely and somewhat shabby chaise longue arrived, complete with pot of paint and linen fabric for a thorough make-over. this is not so much as a before and after, as a before and half-way-through:

BEFORE:

much of the primrose yellow paint had to be sanded
off before a 'proper' paint job could begin

HALF-WAY THROUGH:

powder blue paint and coat of wax, plus
velvety grey Romo Linara fabric

i'll keep you posted on progress (braid is winging it's way from Paris).

meanwhile...

much of my week was taken up with being Upholstery Tutor-in-Chief across the fields @theFarm. this week my creative goings were published in Wiltshire Life. hooray! arriving as we wind down towards the end of summer term, this great publicity should ensure that many places are booked for the grand selection of @theFarm workshops - upholstery, lampshade making, crochet, needlefelting - lined up from September 2014. 
i'm sure the lovely WL folk won't mind me sharing this sneak peek of our shiny wholesome smiles and well-pressed pinnies… 

we are just starting the last of this academic year's upholstery sessions, running on Tuesday and Friday mornings. with a max of eight students, @theFarm lovelies do wonders with treasured chairs and junk shop finds. here's Mette busy with her grand stool at the start…

 … and almost finished

for all the @theFarm schedule until the end of 2014, click here

in the shed this week... seven shades of grey

it was half term, but no skiving until this little dearie in was delivered. this otherwise very robust modern armchair arrived with a tired cream cover that desperately needed replacing. i'm nerdy enough to enjoy pattern matching so much that a complicated arrangement of grey checks were a joy. 

for fabric this chunky, i use very thin piping cord for an elegant finish. naturally

pattern-matching? pah!

finished and ready for delivery

on an interesting note, here's how the work panned out…

one full day - measuring, planning and cutting out

one and a half days - reupholstering

half a day - making box piped cushions 

one full day - making and attaching the pleated skirt. yes one whole day.

happily the lovely lady was thrilled with her new-look armchair and it looked very splendid in her many shades of grey room. 

next in the shed... i'm standing by for delivery of a chaise longue. meanwhile my upholstery workshops @theFarm continue apace.