A hidden treasure

When I first decided to go into business for myself full time, I wanted to be sure that my company name was broad enough to cover the basis of what I do. The name shouldn’t lean to heavy on sewing, jewelry or refurbishing. Not because I didn’t want to attract the right clients, but more so that I didn’t want to miss out on them. I wanted people to ask me what I do, or could I perhaps help them with a need. It was my dedication to this idea that I could be more than just a single art or craft that has and still does drive my work. As a result I have been given opportunities to take on custom projects for people that allow me to showcase many of my passions, sometimes all in the same job. That is exactly how my latest project unfolded.

A huge part of what I do is based in the principle of valuing what we already have. Not senselessly throwing away perfectly good items, to then just go and buy more. This idea spreads like wildfire when people realize they no longer have to part with that favorite jacket just because the zipper needs replaced, or that with a patch here or there, things can be good as new. It is in that spirit that I took on the chance to restore some sailboat upholstery. Now at this point you may be thinking how is that worthy of a blog post, and to you I say just wait. These were no easy task and the fact that I completed the task, to then be able to write about it, feels pretty worth sharing.

In the world of fibers in order to get an accurate idea of the job I need to see the rips and tears. I need to look at the seams and fabric to assess the condition. There is a point of no return with damaged fibers, and it was up to me to make the call. These cushions appeared to be in decent shape with tears that could be patched. It was obvious that the rips in one of the cushions would eventually be happening in all of them, due to the way they were constructed. Of course new covers could be made, possibly even purchased, but that’s not why they called me. To me it is worth the extra work to keep as many of the original materials as possible. In my craft, I am willing to think outside the box to make these not only look better, but have the material integrity to last for many more years to come.

So the process was to rebuild the cushions by combining old materials with new. Of course anything used in an environment like the open seas has to be of a certain quality in order not to degrade rapidly. Being sure to use only the best raw materials for nautical settings is a must. Things were moving right along. The fibers were in good shape. The machine was working like a charm, but then I got the call. The cushions I had yet to re-build had become dinner for a sweet but very ill dog. Not only had he enjoyed snacking on the covers he helped himself to the foam inside as well. This is when the job became a whole new labor of love. It was now not what I would do, but could I even fix this? I decided that this challenge could not be turned down. At that moment it became about pushing my creative abilities and problem solving skills to do what looked like an uphill battle.

There were moments when my brain was working in overtime to figure out a way to make things work. The rest of the time my hands and my sewing machine were being pushed to the test. Things can get very confusing when you have to work inside out. Its like a jigsaw puzzle you do with out the picture. In addition to the poor dog, the fibers had sustained water damage (not really a shocker but adding to the challenge). My creative approach was to re purpose the material from the front of the cushions. I was able to patch in and camouflage the repairs. There were times I was literally piecing together something where there was nothing. The foam was a challenge of its own, needing to be patched and repaired. But tear by tear and patch by patch they came back to life.

The feeling of seeing these once mangled fibers repaired and put back into place, was worth every minute of work. Part of what made it great is that I had pushed my boundaries and learned new skills. This restoration included so much more than just sewing. It was having a vision of how it could look and then turning that into a reality. It was coming up with solutions and ideas and testing my ability to craft. This is kind of project I dream about (although sometimes it’s kind of a nightmare). There is no better way to employ my skills than to breathe new life into something. You may see broken, damaged, and old items but I see challenges to make them whole again. I see a hidden treasure.