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Monthly Archives: February 2013

A Custom Floor Cloth

23 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by clark9ah in Miss Trilly

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

design, DIY, interior, style

I spent a lot of time looking at choices for new floor covering for Miss Trilly–too much time. As part of the search, I sent for carpet tile samples from Flor.com. One of them was the perfect color–Porpoise–a soft taupe brown. We calculated how many 19.7″-square tiles we’d need to install. It was immediately obvious to us that we could not justify spending $300 for such a small area, no matter how nice it was. We continued to brainstorm for few more days. Nothing we researched seemed affordable, the right color, or the right look. As mentioned, we didn’t want to glue or tape anything down to the gelcoat and whatever we chose had to “work” with the design. Aesthetics are as important to us as function.

At a local carpet warehouse, I found a lovely commercial carpet remnant with a low, textured loop. It was, in fact, gorgeous. The piece was 12′ x 15′. We needed only 48 inches of it, but the owner declined to cut the remnant. Disappointed because I was truly hoping that I’d solved the dilemma, my head went back to working on a less expensive solution for covering the floor.

At dinner that evening, the answer came to me. I had been a commercial studio photographer for many years and I had always painted my own backdrops. Though I retired back in 2003, I still had all the canvas backgrounds and custom paper drops I’d created over the years. I knew there was one on very heavyweight canvas that was at least six feet wide. We pulled it down from on top of our kitchen cabinets where it was rolled up and laid it on out the bed. Measuring, we found it was just long enough to make into a custom floor cloth!

While it seemed a shame to paint over the very attractive background, I was already envisioning what the new floor cloth would look like. It would be good to put the canvas to a new use that we would enjoy looking at when traveling with Miss Trilly. Days earlier, I had selected some paint colors that coordinated with our fabrics. All I needed to do was buy the paint and get to work.

Next day, I drove to Home Depot and had the “paint master” mix sample pots of two colors, with an additional color that matches the gelcoat for use later on. She color-matched my swatches of Glidden GLN29 “Soft Suede” and Valspar ar721 “Liberty Bell”. These are the only two colors I used to create the floor cloth. The total cost of the paint was about $6. The canvas was free, given to me by an artist friend decades ago, painted and used by me as a photo backdrop, now to become part of Miss Trilly‘s interior makeover. My friend was pleased to learn that we will enjoy her gift for many more years.

Taking a deep breath, I plunged into the project. Over a few days’ time, I layered up the paint colors. First, I brushed on a thinned base coat with the darker shade and let it dry overnight. Next, I used a 4-inch brush to apply broad strokes with the lighter shade, mixed with the darker paint to tone it. Dry brushing a bit over these shapes gave them a more random look. I splattered on some paint and drew some quick curving lines with the darker shade to add even more randomness. We all felt the “rug” was looking pretty good at this point and could have left it there, but I wanted to take it a step further.

Stepping back to contemplate the design, I decided to repeat the leaf design from the Barrow fabric we are using. I began by drawing a freehand version of one of the clusters onto heavy building paper and cutting a stencil. I began by stenciling the leaves in the darker shade, alternating the direction of the cluster. After an overnight period to dry, I layered on a stencil of the lighter shade, also toned down, dry brushed a bit for texture. The finale was a another splattering of the lighter shade.

Today, I am coating the painted floor cloth with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane, matte finish. I took a photo of the finished cloth with the fabrics that inspired the colors and design. We are very excited and can hardly wait to see it in place inside Miss Trilly! We will have to be patient. The trailer is very high off the ground, up on jackstands and wooden beams. Her trailer has been rolled out from under her. Clark cut off the old axle and has cleaned up the trailer, which is in very good shape considering its age. The welder will come on Monday to install the new Dexter axle. I must wait until the trailer is back on her frame to get inside and fit the new cloth to the floor. Once it is cut to shape, I will be gluing on a felt backing and folding back a hem to finish the edges. Meanwhile, I will be working on sewing the new upholstery for the back cushions.

The interior fabrics and floor cloth for Miss Trilly…

Floor_FabricsHappy travels,
9ah and Clark

New Spare Tire Cover

17 Sunday Feb 2013

Posted by clark9ah in Miss Trilly

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

sewing, spare tire cover

Recycle.Reuse.Repurpose.

Miss Trilly’s original cushions were backed with heavy cloth-backed vinyl, which was like new. I have been brought up to never waste anything, so I made a spare tire cover for her out of this Naugahyde material. This time, Mom’s old Singer had trouble with the stitching, refusing to catch the bobbin thread. I hoisted my cast iron 1970s Kenmore machine up to the work table and wound the heavy duty thread on its bobbin. With just a little tweaking of the two tensions, I was sewing again. A roller foot prevented the heavy fabric from sticking and binding. From then on, the sewing was easy.

The mount for the tire was an impediment to simplicity and I had to cut out a section to allow for the metal frame. The hardest part was the attachment system. After trying out a couple of methods, I settled on reusing a nylon strap inserted into a casing. Feeding the 3/4″ nylon strap through this hem was very difficult. I ruined two aluminum knitting needles in the process! Gathering and securing the strap while the tire was mounted was not easy either. It is a good thing that this cover will not be taken off and put back on frequently! We are very happy with the result. It fits like a glove.
TireCover

Here is what the back looks like…TireCoverBack

Today, we moved Miss Trilly to a covered area where we can remove her from the trailer––the first step in replacing her axle. The canopy is just the right size. The trailer fits perfectly.
Carported

Happy travels!
Clark & 9ah

New Seat Cushions

11 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by clark9ah in Miss Trilly

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Tags

DIY, interior refurbishing, sewing, Trillium trailer, vintage trailer

Yesterday, I am proud to say, marked the completion of new upholstery on the seat cushions. We are pleased with the textured Crypton fabric and are certain it will wear extremely well. The color complements the buttercream of the trailer’s gelcoat. I chose a very elegant Barrow fabric with a leaf pattern for the seat backs.

Crypton Textured Earth for the seats:Crypton-Fabric

Barrow M8221 Chameleon for the back cushions:BacksFabric

My mom’s 85-year-old Singer sewing machine performed the majority of the stitching. She says it was Singer’s very first electric model. I was unable to get the tension set properly on my much younger and fancier Brother machine. It does a myriad of decorative stitches, but apparently doesn’t like heavy duty thread. The old Singer handled it just fine. I decided to make cushions with a top and bottom welt, so it would be nice to have a welting foot to make the sewing a bit easier, but I am making it work with a zipper foot.

And here is the result…
FwrdSeat1sm

SetteeSeat1Next, we will build up foam to make a deeper wrap-around back cushion for each front dinette seat. The flat cushions do not provide enough support as they are. The small table there was designed to drop down to make up a single bed, but we will never use it that way. Instead, we will create an attractive and inviting sitting area. This table will be utilized constantly, so the seats must be comfortable and functional.

Miss Trilly came with a new, one-piece foam mattress to fit the large, aft settee. It is very comfy! We will leave this mattress in place with the bed made up. Perhaps we will also have throw pillows there for lounging. You are probably wondering why I am going to the trouble to recover the cushions for this area. Just in case we decide to use the area as a table sometime in the future, we want everything updated while the fabrics are available and I am set up to sew.

We have ordered a new Torflex axle. The next post may be about the axle installation! Stay tuned…

Happy travels,
Clark & 9ah

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Copyright 2013

Text and photographs included in these pages are copyrighted to Nina Courtney Wagaman and/or Clark Wagaman, except where noted. You may NOT use either media on your website or on another website without express permission. However, you MAY quote a short excerpt with a link back to this website. Thank you very much for your interest.

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WALKING WOMAN

Christopher Briscoe

At the intersection of storytelling and art.

Wright Away Sails Away

Going where the water is warm and clear.

Birgitta Höglunds Paleo

Let food be your medicine

tylersculinary

Tylers culinary blog

The Science of Human Potential

Understanding how to be the best you can be. Professor Grant Schofield.

Adventures of Dave and Ann

with appearances by Mr Higgins

WatsonsWander

with appearances by Mr Higgins

Wheeling It: Tales From a Nomadic Life

On the Road Since 2010, Traveling Across USA & Europe With Pets

Technomadia

Adventures in Nomadic Serendipity

Gone With The Wynns

The Graphic Side of Life

Movin' on

Meandering with camera...

Travels with the Blonde Coyote

Follow the Blonde Coyote and see more of the world!

rvsue and her canine crew

Living on less and enjoying life more

WEB OF DEBT BLOG

ARTICLES IN THE NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMENTS, FEEDBACK, IDEAS

Eat Like A Swede-LCHF (Low-Carb, High-Fat)

Join the LCHF movement in Sweden!

Red Road Diaries

Musings from the back roads

Zeebra Designs & Destinations

An Artist's Eyes Never Rest

Anita & Michael's travels

Just another WordPress.com weblog

A Word in Your Ear

Stories and Photographs of my travels, Tales of friends, family, animals and my life

Worrall Travel R's

with appearances by Mr Higgins

simpletravelourway

Beth and Joe enjoy simple and active travel – every day of the year. They started their trip in 2012 and are still slowly traveling the world.

Family Outdoor Adventure

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