bottoms' end revisited

As many of you already know, Bottoms' End (the Rapt! HQ) was forced out of action earlier this year, after the 'Great Flood' went through (see post dated 23rd March 2011 ).
Things have been a little slow to get going again, following cleanup, insurance claims etc. but now we're back on track - and the long-anticipated re-building and extension program has finally started - Yippee!
The earthworks were done yesterday (a bund wall and drainage, hopefully to alleviate any future river-incursions). Here are a few pics of Miss Snupeson (QC Officer) examining the standard of work. (She gave it 4.5/5. Phew!)

sexy wallpaper!

I can't resist adding this video link (this time it's not my own creation) having just discovered the work of artist Emma Hack, who works with Florence Broadhurst designs using human (living) skin as her canvas. I think it's quite amazingly beautiful, but what do you think?

If, like me, you love Florence Broadhurst designs, but perhaps don't fancy going quite so far as having her painted on your skin, or think it not such a great idea to have a naked model sashaying around your home, the next best thing might well be a piece of furniture covered in one of her designs. Rapt! now has a trading account with Signature Prints (the only producer of the Florence Broadhurst design collection) and would be delighted to work with you in creating your own piece of sittable art. 

Here's one I prepared earlier:

Doing It In Leather

A quick 1 minute waltz through the upholstering of this leather footstool (another TAFE project).

Please Peruse my new Page

If you cast your eyes upward to the Page tabs on top of this home page you will see a new Page which I have just added.
It shows products currently for sale - at moment this is limited - but just Watch This Space because this is about to change, as Bottoms' End gets back into full swing shortly.

The Chairy Godmother goes to work

I'm very excited to tell you about my wonderful visit to the Central Coast this weekend, where Country-Kate became the Chairy Godmother.
Why?? I hear you ask... well...
... a cane-framed sofa of my acquaintance needed a makeover. Its webbing was all wong and had wost its wobble, and while the cover was 'ok' the Executive Committee and I decided a total makeover was in order. 
So, while the sofa's owner was away on holidays, with some contrivance and sneaky conniving, I was granted access to the house (along with the Executive Committee, and my Upholstery-Accomplice - Stella), and we did the deed.
The sofa's owner came home from holidays today and was "gob-smacked" and very happy with the new look.

Before

with the Uholstery-Accomplice, Stella

After (spot the bubbles, blown by the U.A)

Taught by Experts

I'm on a roll with the slideshows - please bear with me.
Here's another, showing the process of the first 'proper' project my group made at TAFE last year - a traditionally upholstered footstool.

With tribute and thanks to my great teachers and fellow students at Lidcombe TAFE.
Music by Paul Kelly

Movie Premier

Just a little experiment... to see how a slideshow of photos showing the process of this chair's 'fix' would work on the blog.

Would love to have your feedback.

New Arrivals

The  orphanage has been busy lately, with a few new additions. On the right is the most comfortable chair I have EVER sat in! It's an old barbers' chair in poor nick(el) [hehe!]. Haven't decided yet what I'll do with the cover... watch this space for the makeover.
And below - this chintzy armchair has such potential for a spectacular transformation I can hardly wait to get started stripping. She has the most wonderful sensuous lines, not to mention very sexy legs, currently hidden by the skirt... I think she's in for a mid-century up-style... a strong plain colour fabric with contrasting buttons I'm thinking.


To see all the other babies in waiting, go the ORPHANGE tab.

Butterbox footstool

After that wet interruption (see previous posts) Rapt! is now sort-of back in production, albeit in cramped conditions (the carport) until Bottoms' End is re-built later this year.

First project off-the-rank is this antique butterbox footstool, which has just been restored and re-covered as a commission. (I don't know its provenance, or what it was designed for - but the stencils on 2 sides read "Allowrie Butter Company Nowra").

A great discovery during the process was an excellent stencil which had been, unaccountably, covered by the upholstery. I took the lid apart and re-built it so that now this stencil appears on the INside of the lid and is visible when you open the box.  

The aim of this job was to keep the box looking as rustic as possible, hence the plain heavy linen-type brown cover. Rather than re-paint the inside I chose to line it with pototo sack (from local Robertson growers Donovan Bros. - who's product we use and love. You aint tasted potatoes till you've tasted them grown in the red soil of Robertson!).

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Easter adventure

I came across this excellent chair while tramping in the Bogong high plains of Victoria over Easter. It's a magnificent old snow gum near the historic Tawonga huts (one of which you can just glimpse in the background).

It was a great 6 day walk - 5 of which had superb weather. As usual I put my photos together onto a dvd slideshow, which includes this trailer: