365 Project: Day 352-365

I know it’s almost the end… And I was planning to give it a real push and take a picture every day for the last two weeks. But - no. And that’s that. It’s over.

Day 352-354: oops.

Day 355 - dieting (those are the pieces of bread I didn’t eat):

Day 356:

Day 357: oops.

Day 358:

Day 359:

Day 360:

Day 361:

Day 362:

Day 363: oops.

Day 364: abstract.

Day 365:

Math 101: עניין של זמן

How to: Upholster Bar Stools in a Jiffy

Nowadays everybody has an work island in their kitchen, or if you’re a carefree bachelor - a bar. With these pieces comes a great responsibility: bar stools. If you’re anything like me, by the time you’ve got to picking out bar stools you’re at the stage where your budget has run out and you’re looking for the cheapest option available. For me that means IKEA. Unfortunately, the simple stools are boring, and not easy on my aching tail bone either. So if IKEA it is, IKEA hack is coming up (in fact, even the fabric I used was from IKEA)!

We’ve had these bar stools for a while, and I’ve already posted their upholstered pictures when I posted about my home makeover. However, they’re so easy, cheap and fast to make - I decided that I must share.

The upholstery can be done with or without a sewing machine. If you do choose to use a sewing machine, you will get a cleaner look, and can even add piping for a more professional finish. But, if you just want to get it over with - go ahead with the no sew version.

Materials:

• Staple gun and staples
• Fabric marker
• Scissors
• About 1/2 meter of fabric for each stool
• Foam (enough to cover the seat)
• Batting (optional, it will soften the edges of the seat)
• A baby sitter for the kids (if you have them. Working with a staple gun when there are children around is a bad idea)
• Sewing machine and notions if you plan to make the sewn version.

Instructions:

1. Spread the fabric on the floor and place the batting over it. Place the chair seat upside down on the fabric. Mark a circle around the seat. Do the same with the foam.
   
   
   
2. Cut the foam on the circle mark you made in step 1. If you don’t have a good craft knife, use scissors. They cut foam well, and any uneven edges will be hidden by the fabric.
3. Mark a second circle around the first circle on the fabric and the batting, still together: If you are planning to make the sewn version, make the second circle about 1.5 cm larger than the first. Otherwise, make it about 10 cm larger (it should be long enough to cover the foam, seat and overlap enough to staple onto the seat bottom). Cut around the larger of the two circles.
4. If you are sewing: Measure the diameter of the seat. Cut a strip of fabric and batting 4 times that length by 12 cm wide (make sure that it will be enough to cover the foam and seat etc.). With fabric and batting held together, fold over one short edge 2 cm and pin.
   If you want to add piping, sew in on to the strip now, stitching very close to the long edge of the strip.
   Pin the strip to the circle, right sides together (batting on wrong sides…), starting with the folded edge. When you complete the circle, pin your raw edge behind the folded edge and cut the excess fabric and batting.
   Sew all around the circle. When you are done, edge stitch the folded edge of the strip to finish it nicely (any raw edges will be on the inside). Cut excess fabric and turn right side out.
5. Place fabric with batting on the floor. Place foam in the center of the circle. Place chair upside down on the foam. Fold over one side of the fabric and staple in place. Do the same on the opposite edge. Do the same in the center of both other edges. Start stapling around the entire seat, the closer the staples are to each other - the better the upholstery will hold, and the less loose ends will show.
   
   
   
6. Trim excess fabric.
7. Turn over and enjoy!

You could use easy to clean vinyl fabric for the upholstery, but I figure these are so easy to make, if they get dirty - I’ll just replace it with a new fabric!

Math 101: סיכום חגיגי

Math 101: קטסטרופה

Purpose the Purple Purse: Design Decisions

I’ve been absolutely-head-over-heels in love with this purse from GUNAS for a while ago. I set out to make a purse inspired by this design over a year ago, but - as always, just never got around to it. There are always more pressing issues. Anyway, the link is broken, so I guess they’re not selling it anymore, which makes me feel even better about making my own. Not that I was actually considering buying this purse for $275… Way out of my budget.

When I design a bag of any type, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I actually need. What kind of handles, which internal end external pockets I need and any extra touches of convenience that will make the bag just right.

I’ve been using a hand bag for a while now, and while I like the style, it often happens that I really need a shoulder strap. For instance, if I have a child with me or I’ve done some serious shopping and my hands are all tied up. Also, and while this may seem silly, it is very true, I’ve switched jobs and my new job doesn’t have an employee card. Which means that when I go to lunch and I don’t have pockets (usually…) I don’t have a place to put my lunch money card. To solve that, I’m planning to make a small matching insert with room for my cell phone and a few flat essentials.

Another serious issue is that I must have a place for documents and other pieces of paper hanging around my purse and a water bottle holder. Since documents and water bottles tend to clash (and I don’t want the water bottle on the outside, because that would give the bag a sporty look, and I’m not going there), I decided the document holder must be waterproof. I have my requirements, and now all I have to do is design it…

I am actually so bad at sketching, that creating the design on the computer is actually easier. Nowadays there’s probably some fancy name or acronym for not being able to draw, but I survived up until now, I’m sure I can manage a few more years.

Anyway, the purple is the fabric I’m planning to use (the pattern is actually much smaller, but for the picture it was easier to use the zoomed in version). The bright green part is my planned piping, only - I can’t decide on the fabric I want to use… I’m planning on using the same fabric for the piping and the lining. It just so happens that I have 4(!) different fabrics (interestingly enough, and absolutely not on purpose - all from Michael Miller…) which match nicely.

Help me pick one!

Math 101: מזון על, בערך