[Cat]

afternoon all, what a week it's been (hence being late on parade) but seeing the client happy makes it all worth while.

so this week i give you.....an Alvis carpet set

this was the car when i went to look at it a few months back

 

[Cat]

first thing i did was to number all the pieces and write all down, so i knew which order they needed to go back in

 

[Cat]

then i proceeded to template for new pieces. some of them i had to add on extra carpet, so i did this at the car to make sure it all fitted before taking it away to edge it.

the next hurdle was the centre tunnel. it was a very complicated piece to sew, i sewed it altogether (it took 6.5hrs on this one piece) then took it back to the car to check it before edging it.

i then realised there should have been an extra hole for the foot rest that i couldn't see if the old template, so i cut it in....but then realised i had cut it in the wrong place, so had to cut it again. to say i was peeved was an understatement, but i didn't let that show in the resto house 😹

i then looked at the front section around the gear shift, it was majorly saggy and horrid, so after much contemplating, I cut it up into a better shape.

 

[Cat]

then it was back to the workshop to make it all again, but with this as the template and not the original one i had used before.

 

[Cat]

then it was back to the car to fit it and all the other bits...after i had just about finished, it turned out there another bit on the centre tunnel that the customer wanted tweaking. after taking it away again to modify it, i finally got there!

 

[Cat]

i was then asked if i could make some panels to cover the silver bits in the corners. they have a curve/bend in them.

so i templated the space, then made it in millboard and created a bend in it, before wrapping it

 

[Cat]

and voila, once Alvis carpet set, took way longer than it should have done, but sometimes these things happen.

super happy with how it turned out though

 

[Cat]

hope you have enjoyed this weeks instalment

until next time

Cat x

 

[Cat]

Happy Tuesday,

this week i got a long term project out the door.

i had a customer come to me who was recommended from a local garage, he wanted a new carpet set in his boot for his MR2. he would pop up on a Sunday for me to tinker with it.

he had some crazy big engine put in it, so it changed the shape of the boot and whoever did the boot job did it pretty weird and it didn't fit

 

[Cat]

i managed to source some of the original panels (who knew it was so hard to get parts for these cars!)

then i altered them and added in a panel that i templated in the car.

i used 4 way stretch carpet, haven't used it before, but it's really lovely to work with

 

[Cat]

then it was fitted in the car 😸

 

[Cat]

i have also been frantically working away, getting ready for the local steam rally and classic car show that is on this Sunday.

i have my first stand there! so on Sunday, Steve helped me do a mock up. (i purchased a gazebo today, the weather for sunday is currently rainy!)

the idea is to have examples of my work, plus some bags that i have made out of off cuts to sell (hopefully to recoup some of the costs of the stand)

A couple of potential customers have said they will pop down to show me some things they might like me to work on. so fingers crossed on that.

i'm so glad we did a dry run. it really made me appreciate how much work goes into these things that i had never even thought about before @Brian Burrows I take my hat off to you for organizing VW Action, i have one small 12ft pitch and i'm a little stressed, you do a whole show! 😍

 

[Cat]

i finished all the bags today.

it probably sounds silly, but when i look at all the bags, i can't believe i made them all. obviously it's not my main trade, they take so long to make, but hopefully it shows potential customers that i have different skills to drum up customers

 

[Cat]

hope you all have a good week,

until next time

Cat (with some cat fabric LOL!) x

 

[AntB]

Love the bags.
I had an mr2 mk1 many years back, fantastic little cars.

Best of luck with the show.

Tony

 

[Brian Burrows]

i have also been frantically working away, getting ready for the local steam rally and classic car show that is on this Sunday.

i have my first stand there! so on Sunday, Steve helped me do a mock up. (i purchased a gazebo today, the weather for sunday is currently rainy!)

the idea is to have examples of my work, plus some bags that i have made out of off cuts to sell (hopefully to recoup some of the costs of the stand)

A couple of potential customers have said they will pop down to show me some things they might like me to work on. so fingers crossed on that.

i'm so glad we did a dry run. it really made me appreciate how much work goes into these things that i had never even thought about before @Brian Burrows I take my hat off to you for organizing VW Action, i have one small 12ft pitch and i'm a little stressed, you do a whole show! 😍

View attachment 300237 View attachment 300238

Good luck with the show Cat.

 

[Cat]

Love the bags.
I had an mr2 mk1 many years back, fantastic little cars.
View attachment 300245

Best of luck with the show.

Tony

thank you, i have heard lots of steam engines go past this afternoon, ready for tomorrow.

will let you know next week how i got on x

 

[Cat]

Good luck with the show Cat.

thank you xxx

 

[AntB]

thank you, i have heard lots of steam engines go past this afternoon, ready for tomorrow.

will let you know next week how i got on x

We have a little steam engine.

 

[Cat]

well...I did it!

it is the first time i have advertised, so i wasn't sure what to expect. i feel very blessed that all the jobs i have had so far have been through word of mouth.

i can honestly say i was blown away by it all.

as i was setting up i had a couple of enquiries. so once i was set up, i looked at an old truck, i think it used to have coal in it. they wanted their doorcards re doing. also a morris traveller that wanted a new headlining. so tonight i will be working out quotes for those.

there were 2 other cars i was supposed to look at, but i was so busy on the stand, that i didn't get a chance, i also ended up with a family emergency so had to leave the show for a bit, but i left my capable husband and friend in charge while i was gone. when i got back they had sold the red handbag and it is being sent to America!

i was asked about all sorts. bike seats, soft tops, boat seating, aston martin dashboards! when i had to pop out, Steve said there was someone that asked about doing their violin case!

i didn't see any of the show, i didn't realise that when you have a stand, you just stay on it 😹

it was also awesome that my cousin Andy came down with his family and my mum popped down too.

so here is the 1 picture that i took from the show 😹