Monday 28 February 2011

The Sofa of Genius

We had a tear in our 6 year old, very well used, quite loved leather sofa. TRADGEDY! We also have no money to replace it unless my husband goes out and works himself to death doing overtime for at least three months.
I was all for getting credit etc, but he didnt want the added burden of more financial hassle. I do see his point, and agreed that we should hold off buying a new one for a while; but only if he could come up with a way to fix the sofa.

On the three seater, the tear was between two of the fixed seat cushions, and was very noticable when one sat one's massive butt on the sofa. also, things kept falling into the gap only to be lost forever in the base of the sofa. here's the three seater, circa 2009



the two seater, at this time, was in our kitchen.

here it is, yesterday, in my livingroom





Back to 2011... So, my husband; an engineer by career but a designer by training, set to work trying o work out what to do.

We had a matching two seater and three seater set bought in 2005 when we moved into our first flat. they were cheap. they were badly constructed and within the first year he'd had to fix them.

bodge repair circe 2006 lol




ok. here's some pictures of the process....

jim unbolting an arm form the three seater, after having taken off the base part


the scariest bit was this, then he had to cut the broken piece off the end of the three seater. basically, it was torn so we'd not lost anything if it went horribly wrong at this stage.


Sophie was used as extra ballast. and for cute appeal.

once he'd done this, I could mend the tear as best I could. it'd later be hidden by the arm of the sofa being bolted back on, but i needed to be mended so that the leather which was folded under and stapled had enough strength. one big needle, one pair of pliers, ten hurty lady fingers lol



ummmm... this bolt? or this one?


ooooh! coming together...


under the back, right hand, corner bit is a box made from scrap wood which supports the cushion of that particular bit of the three-seat side. It's not there for security, just cosmetics. it will eventually be used for storing the laptop when not in use I think.

nearly finished!

the corner part was made from the non-torn portion of the torn cushion, and is supported with scrap wood and green elastic strapping from the deconstruction of the three seat. The padding is made from our daughter's old cot-bed mattress lol. woot! recycling!

enter a large lady in a onesie to upload pictures of the new sofa, and to test out the corner. mwaaaaaaa!






tomorrow: burgundy boot polish + two brushes + chamois = new looking leather.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Valentines on monday!

And so, I was looking for an interesting gift for the husband....Amazon gave me some aparently connected recommendations!

Monday 7 February 2011

little advertisment!!!

from Graze, please use this link if you wish to sign up. http://www.graze.com/p/LGTFMP6. basically, you get your first box free and your second half price. how cool is that?!

Saturday 5 February 2011

Yes, two in one day.

Fried Lactose Free Cheese



remember this is not a waistline food!!!
DRY
1/2 mug flour
1/2tbsps paprika
1/2tsp oregano
1/2tsp thyme
OR 1tsp mixed herbs if that's easier, i like to vary the herbs sometimes too.
salt; more than you'd think you need!! (add a little, cook some cheese sticks, taste. if it's not enough sprinkle some more on and add to the flour next time.)
1tsp ground mixed spice or 1/2 tspground mixed spice and 1/2 tsp chinese 5 spice.
pepper

WET
1 egg beaten
1tsp garlic; either paste or ground or whatever you like. leave it out if you're not a fan.
1/4 mug milk ((lactofree rather than soya, soya tends to split)

FILLING
1/2 block lactofree cheese cut into strips about 1cm thick.

oil to fry; bet done deep fried but i have sort of half deep friend; basically half fill a standard frying pan with oil. heat well, when it starts looking ripply it's ready to have cheese in it.

mix dry in one bowl, and beat wet in another.
dip the cheese into the flour mix, then the egg, then back in the flour. it will all try and slide off the cheese but don't panic. just blob it on as best you can and get it into the oil as quick as possible.

cook unil the outside is crispy and slightly browned. drain. don't panic if they spring a cheese leak, this is normal lol!

serve and eat immediately ;)

NOT DIET FOOD! very good for friday night movie watching.
yes. I feed my child this stuff too.

So it's been a while

minime turned 5 this week and so I did this to my livingroom






and here's her reaction





so I have made two cakes, one for family (dairy free and made and decorated in 2 hours)




and hello kitty, also dairy free. two layer, chocolate on bottom, plain on top with pink vanilla "buttercream" (dairy free marge) in the middle and topped with fondant icing (icing sugar and glucose syrup) which was then painted with natural colourings ;)





little girls <3 kitty!!





that was a party invitation. yes. they took me a long time. yes I am a martyr. I only have one child, I am only ever going to have one child so I may as well go all out for her!!

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