I have created a new extension of 502 Global Acquisitions to focus on hashing (my running group). I am very excited to be diversifying 502 Global and offer great prtoducts to great people.
Currently the site has my knee high socks, and soon it will have glass etching as well as t shirts and other products.
Check out the site! www.hashgoods.com
This is my second camouflage sewing machine, and the first to have the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) pattern. My first machine was sprayed multicam and can be seen here.
I want to eventually show these at a gallery and hopefully find new homes for some of them.
Are you an operator with a need for tactical sewing in hostile environments? This machine can be yours:
These are some of my latest random art projects, as well as some old pieces.
Jessica’s Car:
My high school art project - crazy mirrored man
He now presides over Shoot’s house
Jessica and I cut these dragonflues out of canns and then paint them. When it is all said and done, we will put them up outside by my barbeque area.
The future Hamms bear - that’s 118 cans!
This guy is out front of my house. People in portland chain up little horses to these metal rings on the street. The rings were used in the early 20th century to tie up horse. I like my little elephant better.
Here are some of my most recent projects. I call this pattern tiger shadow and it is seen here in desert and winter variations. I think I will replace the rust color stripes with a green for a very versatile pattern.
I just came across this post about my custom ON ON socks. I though it was a great write up about the socks and hashing:
http://rocksocks.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/we-make-custom-socks/
Almost done! I have learned it takes a long time to make upholstery look good but it is definitely worth it to do it right.
Templates for the leg holes to be drilled
Holes drilled so each leg is 1/2" from the front and the side. Must measure each leg so they are all a uniform 1/2" from the side
Whack these little cleats in so the legs have something to screw into
She's got legs - and she knows how to use them!
This is griping and stapling the side fabric - must grip with whole hand. And please, try not to put a staple through your hand
Fabric wrapped around and meeting in the back corner
Cut tack stip to width - note round goes towards the top
Line with cardboard + dacron to prevent the metal from cutting through your fabric when it's pulled tight
Pulled all the fabric and stapled....then I tacked the welt cord around the bottom (fancy pants stuff) and but the cardboard strip pushed up behind it to keep it straight and tight.
I used long staples to everything would stay in place for my grandkids grandkids.
Folded in the black base cover and stapled to make the bottom look good. Also cut holes for where the legs screwed in, and stapled the black fabric around the holes to prevent any tears.
Almost done - had to do a mock up and see how it will look. Still needs more welt cord, the top attached and the inside lined
This was a big class for us! My mom finished her stunning frog ottoman and I got the top of my bench about wrapped up. It should only be another class or so and I will be done.
Using the punch to make 1 1/2" fabric disks for buttons
Button making - round piece fo cloth goes in there, then a metal cap that gets pushed in with the cloth.
Now press the cap into the "button" side that has a loop
Walla! Custom button made!
Drilling through the wood for buttons - this is after we designed a good pattern for the buttons to layout. Mom's putting on the final touches for the ottoman
Success! Way to go mom!
After the pattern is laid out on the fabric, holes are cut in roughly the same spot on back. Then you use a giant needle to thread the string attached to the button through the seat. Then you pull them to desire look and staple.
Note the Z pattern and ton's of staples - you don't want the button coming loose
Buttons finished - almost there!
This is my second installment of bench makin’ 101. Tonight I got to make some big progress and by the end I had the top upholstered. It still needs the underside covered and buttons added on top, but it was exciting to finally cover it.
Today started by measuring the top
Once measured, it was time to cut the top pad with this funky saw
We used a Bosch foam cutter to get the job done right. It turns out this funny little tool is over $300 bucks. I'll be watching craigslist...
Now added glue - Dee told me to wait 200 seconds but I can't count that high. So I waited "a bit" and glued the pad to the wood.
Meanwhile Mom's frogs are being tacked into place
Now Dacron on my bench top
Next the piece gets flipped over, tacked once on each side and then pulled tight. Then you tack each respective side pulling the dacron tight. The effect should be a nice, tight, clean edge on the foam pad where the dacron wraps over the bottom and is stapled. The top should have a gentle corner that is even all the way down the side.
Once stapled, it's time to cut the corners and then glue them. The glue quite fun to try and get off your fingers. Silicon spray does the trick
Now measure the top for the fabric cut. The fabric has to wrap over the top, down the sides, and have an extra 2" to pull around the bottom and staple
A small notch is cut on the left and right sides. This notch will match up with a center line on the underside of the board with the pad on it. It is critical that the notch lines up and the fabric is strait to look good in the end.
Just laying the fabric out on the top I got excited...
Meanwhile Dee shows my mom how to make your own welt cord. In this application they make and sew the welt cord onto the fabric at the same time.
Pull tight in corners. Also note the fabric pattern needs to stay straight.
Extra fabric cut off 1/2" from staples
A nice tight corner. A good amount of material has to be cut out in a "V" shape to make the corner smooth.
Ta da! I was very happy with the outcome. Next: buttons throughout the top and then complete the bottom portion.
The froggy ottoman will be done soon...very cool
And it will look great with these chairs - our next project
In an effort to never stop doing things, I have picked up another endeavor to keep me busy. My mom and I signed up for classes at Second Time Around upholstery in West Linn. It’s a 4 week class, and ours happens to be on mondays.
I decided to make an entry way bench to sit on while putting on shoes. It’s 4 feet long, and hinged so I can put stuff inside it.
The making of my pine box. Why pine? Because it's pretty cheap and it will be completely covered in fabric. A special thanks to Tate "The Tyvek Master" Morgan for his framing help.
Some will mistake this as a midget coffin. I like to call it Andy's new bench.
Lining the sides with foam for the initial padding. I think it was about 1/4"
Trim the top and bottom to be flush once stapled
Part way done with foam padding. Mom's got a strip of round stuff to make the edge soft on her ottoman.
Stappling away - I used a TON of staples. 1/4 little guys to hold the foam in place
Mom's ottoman with round trim + initial base pad
Cutting foam for Mom's ottoman. The foam fits precisely inside the white padded edge.
The next layer - dacron. Must be pulled tight and stapled often to give you a clean edge (note the million + staples)
Trim bottom flush.
Top pulled over and staple inside box. One side left exposed for hinge.
Note edge on left - must be tight to get a sharp edge
Pulling dacron over Mom's Ottoman
All ready for fabric!
Back side of my fabric. note the arrows to show you which way the knapp goes. I had no idea fabric goes a certain way. Also note chalk. Use chalk or pencil but not pen. If you spill something on your furniture pen will leach through the fabric.
Mom getting instruction on which way the fabric needs to go, how much to use and how to center it.
Sewing up the sides of mine. Always allow 1/2 allowance. We sewed only one side. Eventually we will make a band that slips over the bench. Measurements need to be precise to ensure it fits tight.
