Fred's ramblings

[toxo]

Various patterns filled with sweet smellies to protect from the plague and offset the stench.

[SUP]

5 minutes ago, toxo said:

Various patterns filled with sweet smellies to protect from the plague and offset the stench

Oh  Yuck!  And before my first coffee too!

[fredk]

Today I spotted a woman with what looked like a 'tote' bag of unusual construction. From a distance it looked like a lot of leather 'jigsaw' pieces sewn together. I spoke to the woman and got a slightly better look at the bag - I didn't examine it.

Not jigsaw pieces but squares, with rounded corners, of about 3 inches, in the middle of each side was a slot of about 1 inch wide, maybe just 3/4 inch. by about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, too big I thought. Through that slot ran a short strap linking two squares together. All the squares and straps were of different colours. Muted bright colours and mostly no two adjoining pieces were the same colour.

There was no sign of anything else fixing the squares together, no rivets, no sewing. They were in fact quite loosely joined. I guess the ends of the straps were joined on the inside of the bag. The bag was lined with a relatively heavy fabric. I didn't really take note of the long grip straps which the lady had over her shoulder

It would be a simple matter to have a die made to punch out these squares with their slots

[Handstitched]

On 11/15/2022 at 4:03 PM, Handstitched said:

I found a pair of knee high black   'goth boots' with huge 5-6 "  platforms at an op shop ( charity shop)for about $10 bucks, in good nic too  . I have  a heap of huge 40-50mm  rocket spikes, studs  etc. so I'm thinking of 'spiking them up'   with extra ' bling  & buckles etc.and whatever else I can think of,  ...purely just for the fun of it , and perhaps for a display at markets. By the time I've finished with them , they'll be a lethal weapon  

HS

@fredk

Finally, after all this time, I have finally got around to actually doing these boots. They've been on my workshop floor all this time  and I keep staring at them, " what the hell am I going to do with these boots?"  and now I think I have a fair idea of what spikes are  going where after looking at some examples online..   Its likely I'll be using them for  a display/ advertising on my stall.

The actual boots are  worth quite a bit after checking the brand, " Demonia" , well,  compared to what I paid for them . 

HS 

[fredk]

Recently I came across this wee light meant/sold as a light for cyclists. As do many LED lights this one can be cycled thru different colors and flashing or steady light in those colors. I bought one for use on my head magnifier.

The light has a built in rechargeable battery using a separate USB cable

Then I had an idea. I find it hard to check the alignment of stamps and punches on my Tandy Pro-Press. I've plenty of light from the front but light from the rear is awkward. So I bought two more lights, superglued (CA) magnets on them and, voila, light from rear and top

[fredk]

I just took delivery of my latest purchase

Another sewing machine. Purchased off ebay. I couldn't resist the 'bling'. Its a domestic, possibly German and uses a shuttle. I'll check it out fully later. I doubt I'll put it to use though

and it has a nice wood case

 

4 Singers, 1 Singer clone, 1 Tippmann Boss, 1 New Home & 1 (unknown)

Edited June 19 by fredk

[SUP]

You will probably like the look of the old Singer machine I put up a short while ago - a Vintage Singer 29-D-58 Industrial Leather Manual Sewing Machine it says in the listing.

[fredk]

@Sheilajeanne

The machine has ' Bentalls Kingston on Thames ' which was a big department store in the south of England. So far I've not found a maker's name on it

I can't decipher this on the front of the arm

 

[Handstitched]

@fredk Those goth boots I spoke about a looooong time ago?  I've done them.  They're lethal . They get a lot of looks at the markets. I just need to work out how to up load a pic on here  using a hand held device . I'll figure it out eventually .

HS

[Handstitched]

@fredk re: vintage  radios, I have a shed with my collection of valve radios  in . Along with parts, valves etc.  It was a hobby  in another  life . Some are / were in working condition, some restored,  table models and floor models ,but I have nowhere  to display  them in my house, no room    The one that zapped me is a Philips (I think) single valve wood bee hive cabinet. When unplugged,  it put out 95 volts ⚡️  . 

HS

[fredk]

Two things arrived in the post today

1. From Temu this hole punch sharpener. The outside cone to sharpen the inside edge of punches and the tool has a hollow part to help sharpen the outside edge. Comes in a protective plastic box. This should help me keep my punches sharp

 

2. From texasleathertools a handled stamp. He took one of my Viking eagles and made a stamp. And is it tiny! Only 12mm (1/2 inch) across the base. Made in machined brass with a steel handle. First class workmanship. It came with its own plastic protective case. Now I need to find a project I can use it on

I put some paint on the design so you could see it clearly - remember this only 12mm across the base

 

Edited Monday at 10:27 PM by fredk