Reclaimation

On January 7, 2025 By CarynIn Craft

I replaced my recliner. The padding in the old one was breaking down, especially on the arms, causing pain and numbness in my own arm. I tried reworking the existing padding, and then replacing the padding, with no improvement. The recliner mechanism was also staring to go, again. (I did replace that a few years ago by ordering a new ratchet strip, but I even wore that out.) Time for a new seat, but what to do with the old one? It was not all leather, but did have some, could I reclaim it?

I took a pair of kitchen shears and went after the fabric of the chair.

Photo description: inside the recliner showing the leather (tan) and the faux leather (white)

Deconstructing was not terribly hard. Most of the screws were two sizes of Torx head, and I had the right size screwdrivers. I was appalled at the amount of cardboard inside the recliner, it was a thin sheet of that over the sharp edge of wood that was causing the pressure point in the arm of the chair; the curved slope was an illusion. The hardest thing to remove was the handle for the recliner action.

Photo description: handle removed after applying a wrench to the screwdriver to get enough torque

I’m thought about reclaiming some of the steel and springs, but I didn’t have a purpose in mind, and I don’t have the storage space for that much “maybe”. I used leather often, so I knew that was a valuable resource.

Photo description: steel mechanisms and springs inside the recliner

In the end, I reclaimed 2 pounds 9 ounces of leather and reduced the recliner to fit in four black bags, which could be put out with the other trash and not require a special pick up.

Photo description: four large black garbage bags ready for take out

Burn

On January 5, 2025 By CarynIn Craft

I designed a snowflake cutout to use with my laser cutter for my holiday cards. Laser cuts can be much more precise than electric cutters like Cricut because there is not a dragging knife blade, however, there is a potential for burn. What I found interesting is that colored card stock had less burn than white card stock at the same settings. Hm. A product of reflection, maybe? Something in the way the paper is made?

Photo description: delicate snowflakes cut from card stock, the white showing burnt edges

I accidentally stacked two white sheets in the cutter at one point, which was disastrous with the burn marks, especially on the bottom page.

Photo description: burned cutouts as a result of cutting two pieces of paper, same settings as the picture above

Now I can see an artful application of this smoke effect, but not on snowflakes.

To design the snowflakes, I did traditional paper cutouts, took photos, converted the photos to scalable vector graphics, them combined them in Adobe Illustrator.

The cards are printed and cut, but are still on the craft table and not in the mail. Why? I want to write on the back and that desire became a stumbling block. I had to choose to send them out before the New Year, or send them with writing, whenever I could find the words to write. I obviously chose to send late.

In need of a nostepinne

On January 5, 2025 By CarynIn Craft

I finished plying the rose combed top fiber, wound it onto my PVC niddy noddy, and gave it a rinse. When it was dry, I took the skein and hung it over the back of a chair, but I went to wind it into a ball, and couldn’t find my nostepinne, or the rolled card stock I had been using. Hm. Then I noticed the PVC pipe is about the right size. Perfect.

Photo description: nostepinne style ball wrap on a PVC pipe from a home made niddy noddy

Are swifts and ball winders and wooden niddy noddys nice? Yes, of course. Are they necessary to the yarn making process? Nope. The back of a chair, or an extra pair of hands, and a rolled paper or a length of pipe will do.

Bandsaw cut blanks

On January 4, 2025January 1, 2025 By CarynIn Craft

I used my bandsaw to cut thin wood blanks for the laser cutter.

Photo description: purple heart, hickory, and flame maple thin boards

One disadvantage of thin cut hardwood is that it can be brittle. Plywood is constructed with layers of wood glued with the grain perpendicular to add strength, which is why most of the laser cut kits include plywood. As an example, I tried cutting the “Happy New Year” ornament from purple heart and I couldn’t even take it out of the machine without it breaking. (I did mention this in the post Wednesday, but did’t post the fail, so here it is!)

Photo description: failed Happy New Year ornament

So the challenge here is to design for support and strength when working with these hardwoods. I do have some ideas.

Sit and Spin

On January 3, 2025January 3, 2025 By CarynIn Craft

I have been designing this graphic in my head for about two years, and have finally made it happen! It is available on Redbubble and TeePublic (which are sister sites, but carry different styles).

Critters and Craft

Author: Caryn