A B****R of a job!

This was - perhaps - the hardest (upholstery) job I've ever had.
I can't find any information on this most unusual style of chair (let me know if YOU know!)… 
it's basically a mattress-type of sprung system, held together with steel straps, which hook onto the frame in only 2 places - the outside back top (shown) and the front seat rail.
It was necessary to remove the 'mattress' and upholster that, then hook it back onto the frame, then hand-sew the fabric closed.
MUCH harder than it sounds.
End result looked OK - but more importantly (and surpising to the clients, whose family this has been in since at least the 1930s) it's now supremely comfortable. 
I replaced the mass of flock stuffings with high density foam (dacron covered) - and sitting in it now is a bit like sitting upright in a very supportive hammock.
Result: clients delighted.
Phew! (I'll be quoting much more for the next one - if ever!)

NEED A GOOD CANING?

then I'm your gal!
I've just learnt how to recane a chair seat (using woven cane) so I can't claim to be an expert yet… but... it's turned out really well.

This antique spindle-back chair has an interesting story.  Made in USA, I'm not sure how old it is but do know that it has spent much of its life in a historic homestead on an Illawarra dairy farm.

It was brought to me to have its seat reupholstered, but it was only after stripping off the old layers*, that I discovered the original, badly broken, cane seat. It wasn't possible to reupholster as is - nor without changing the integrity of the chair… so recaning seemed the best option. The client will probably now use a loose cushion to soften the seat, but we're both 
pleased the chair is back to its original design

* One interesting thing which came to light between several layers of upholstery, was a thick pile of red dirt. As soon as I saw it I was reminded of a major dust storm which hit the east coast of Australia in 2009 (including here in the Illawarra). It was very notable because the dust had blown a long, long way from outback Australia and was a very distinctive red colour. The thick cloud blanketed a very large area of eastern Australia, including not only Sydney Harbour but also 'Bottoms' End' (my workshop), and, without doubt, also the home this chair lived in nearby. For more than a decade following, one whole exterior wall of Bottoms' End was permanently tinted with that red colour, until it was painted over.
It's only conjecture on my part that perhaps the dust which fell out of the upholstery came from that storm, but I like to think so.

MARKET REPORT

I'm still on a high following one of my best market experiences ever! 
This is the first time the Wild Rumpus Makers' Market has been held at the Wollongong Town Hall (a bigger venue than the usual 'Anita's Theatre' at Thirroul).
It was a well-organised and run event, attended by I don't know how many thousands of folk - all with their hearts and wallets open!
I now think the chief value of a well-promoted event like this is that people attending can be assured this is 'above-normal-market standard' products.

With my chief Label-Writer/Stringer/Pinner - Megan

Stall-holders were selected from a wide field of applicants - all local Illawarra makers - which ensured only high quality, locally-made goods were present.
Hopefully I'll be able to take part in future events held by Wild Rumpus - and if I do I'll be sure to give plenty of notice here, and on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

oh - and if you're one of my new (or old!) customers from Sunday - thankyou!

before!

MAKERS' MARKET

Sorry for late notice!

This is what Rapt! is up to today (Sunday 29th NOvember).

I'll be joining an eclectic collection of Illawarra "artisans" - not just any-old hoy-poloy - but top-end makers of all sorts of interesting stuff.

Where:  Wollongong TownHall 

When:    10am - 4pm

What:     Arts, handcrafts, food, music, workshops, children's play sessions

Hope to maybe see you there…  here's a few of the things going from here:

AMOO-ZING DOORSTOPS!

New into store (online, showroom and of course - at the WILD RUMPUS MAKERS' MARKET Wollongong Townhall 29th November), more simply Amoozing doorstops. Lovingly made in Jamberoo from remnant upholstery materials and local beach sand.

Perfect Christmas pressie for the difficult-to-shop-for perhaps?

They're $35 each or $30 each for 2 or more.
(available in many other fabrics - less A-Moozing of course!)

OFF THE WORKBENCH

Just finished this lovely set of cane furniture (circa 1970s). Replaced the now-useless Pirelli webbing, and made all new cushions (using high density foam). Nearly all the covers have mis-matched fronts/backs - making it possible to mix up the look for conventional, or, quirky style.

before

Pirelli webbing Before

new elastic webbing

SAVE THE DATE!

Meet the Maker

My talented photographer friend Linda Faiers came to Bottoms' End (my workshop) yesterday to do a photo shoot, at the request of the Wild Rumpus team who will use the pics for marketing their Makers' Market at the end of this month (Sunday 29th November 2016, 10-4, Wollongong Town Hall).
Here are some of the results, some including Pipsqueak (my apprentice) who was determined not to miss out on the action.

ARTY DECOS

I recently was gifted this set of 5 art deco dining chairs - in shabby condition (upholstery and timber finish) but otherwise structurally perfect. Much heavier than modern diners!
I fully restored one - refinished timber and completely reupholstered - with the intention of doing the others when there was time. However those 4 were snapped up in their existing condition by a regular client, with a very good chairy-eye, who loves DIY.
I've still got the fully-restored one (it's listed for sale in the Rapt online store). The fabrics are a combination of sumptuous velvets from Warwick.

before

before and after

timber refinished (left) and original right

OFF THE WORKBENCH...

I've been tardy in posting on this site since discovering Instagram - which I'm now hooked on! 
Link to the Instagram site is attached on the right of home page if you'd like to keep up to date with Rapt in detail. 
Here's a summary of what we've been doing lately:

before

after

Before, showing Zepel fabric on left

after