I am going to post a series of steps for people who have not yet tried double on half. They will be a week apart, to give you time to do the home work.
First week : choose a chair. You can do this with more than one, but roundish is harder than squarish.
Take the cushions off, set it in the middle of the room and observe the topography. With big pins ( so you can see from distance ) and not more than four of them, mark by eyeballing only ( no tape measures ) half way points.
Anyone needing clarification here : double on half is pin fitting method folding cloth at midway point to fit half the chair.
Strategies for finding half way points will vary with the person teaching you, my way is to emphasize eyeballing. Four pins only : top outside back at new slipcover seam , top front deck at curve, bottom outside back at new skirt line and bottom inside back.
The homework is to do this and report back how quickly you were comfortable making a final choice without a tape measure.
You may double check with tape only after you feel you are sure you have the right answer. Importante, use tape in the following manner to double check: measure half, and then the other half. What you are avoiding is trying to divide fractions of inches.
Trusting your eyes, or more exactly, learning for the first time to use and trust your eyes about pin fitting ( learning to separate fresh observations from preconceived notions ) is vital to taking this leap.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Shirley, I never offered foam before so I never really thought about foam. Then the EZ-Dri guy (not a rep, more of a researcher) scared the ____ out of me, stressing that outdoor foam doesn't meet California fire code, is not rated for interior use, is especially flammable because of the open air cells, etc., etc. I was perfectly happy when I picked up the phone to order, confident I was offering the most appropriate foam to the customer - I was practically shaking when I got off.
As far as I know, only California has fire regs for residential foam. And since all untreated foam is flammable, I'm not really sure why the guy felt the need to scare the pants off me. A quick call to the Fire Marshall straighted everything out: it's not illegal to use outdoor foam inside a private home and I am not liable for its flammability.
*whew*
I think I need cheesecake...
As far as I know, only California has fire regs for residential foam. And since all untreated foam is flammable, I'm not really sure why the guy felt the need to scare the pants off me. A quick call to the Fire Marshall straighted everything out: it's not illegal to use outdoor foam inside a private home and I am not liable for its flammability.
*whew*
I think I need cheesecake...
AS far as the foam guy goes, you gotta figure you cannot predict why people say what they say at any given moment. Who knows ?
I do keep calm by asking myself what would they get if they shopped somewhere else. That takes care of cheap, fast, and perfect. Scratch them off the list. Flameproof without having asked for it and without shopping specifically for the stuff that makes it flameproof is another.
Many of us come from another job background where perfect was more important. Here, we do the best we can do with the info, the materials, the budget, and with what we know today. Tomorrow we might do it better, but sometimes it gets delivered today.
Dede, I know you will do your best to do what you can, and it will be as well done as it can be.
Thirty some years of this, and not one thing leaving my house is perfect. It's darn good for the price, it's not perfect. I give them value, choices. I give them pleasant association, a trusting relationship, and service that they won't get at a store. It's not flawless it, it's just better.
Look at what you are making now as better then the last thing you made, that's progress, and it's realistic. Good that you think flameproof, think safety, absolutely. We don't create danger where it's avoidable. Good that you asked. I hope you can let go of the visual image, and the dread here. We do what we can with what we are given and the skills we have accumulated thus far.
I do keep calm by asking myself what would they get if they shopped somewhere else. That takes care of cheap, fast, and perfect. Scratch them off the list. Flameproof without having asked for it and without shopping specifically for the stuff that makes it flameproof is another.
Many of us come from another job background where perfect was more important. Here, we do the best we can do with the info, the materials, the budget, and with what we know today. Tomorrow we might do it better, but sometimes it gets delivered today.
Dede, I know you will do your best to do what you can, and it will be as well done as it can be.
Thirty some years of this, and not one thing leaving my house is perfect. It's darn good for the price, it's not perfect. I give them value, choices. I give them pleasant association, a trusting relationship, and service that they won't get at a store. It's not flawless it, it's just better.
Look at what you are making now as better then the last thing you made, that's progress, and it's realistic. Good that you think flameproof, think safety, absolutely. We don't create danger where it's avoidable. Good that you asked. I hope you can let go of the visual image, and the dread here. We do what we can with what we are given and the skills we have accumulated thus far.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
I just did what I should have done two days ago - I called the Massachusetts State Fire Marshall, Office of Code Compliance.
There are NO fire retardancy requirements for foam used in private residential applications in Massachusetts. None.
The VITA/Crest Foam guy was using scary words like "go up like a blow torch" and "liability" - evidently, he was covering their respective butts because EZ-Dri does not currently meet California Fire Code 117 requirements "for open flame and cigarette resistant materials used in residential upholstered furniture construction."
Moral of the story: don't panic; learn the facts. Now, if only I could remember this...
There are NO fire retardancy requirements for foam used in private residential applications in Massachusetts. None.
The VITA/Crest Foam guy was using scary words like "go up like a blow torch" and "liability" - evidently, he was covering their respective butts because EZ-Dri does not currently meet California Fire Code 117 requirements "for open flame and cigarette resistant materials used in residential upholstered furniture construction."
Moral of the story: don't panic; learn the facts. Now, if only I could remember this...
I've got a call in to the local Fire Inspector; the reg in question is California Fire Code 117, which apparently is used as a national standard. VITA/Crest may just be covering their butts (a noble endeavor...). I'll find out if Massachusetts has fire retardancy requirements for foam used in RESIDENTIAL applications, and let you know - your state may vary...
Monday, September 13, 2004
Dede, considering regular household foam is also not flame retardant, I am asking myself why that would spoil the sale.
Is flame retardant mandatory where you are ? I never heard of residential requirements, but I am in the soggy very green state of Virginia.
Commercial work demands it, certainly. You can get California rated flame resistant regular foam.
Mildew, if it's a problem for her, certainly does not originate in her foam. Think of mildew like fleas. They multiply and spread, but the responsibility is to find the point of origin and remove the breeding entities. Mildew is the same, it is breeding some place other than the foam. It isn't organic. The foam can be a resting place but not a source of food.
It's nice you want her to have the best, and have it all. But, if you can't have all you wanted, indoor foam is what she'd get from someone else. Unless it's required, and then you get the rated indoor stuff, and you still don't need to lose a sale.
Is flame retardant mandatory where you are ? I never heard of residential requirements, but I am in the soggy very green state of Virginia.
Commercial work demands it, certainly. You can get California rated flame resistant regular foam.
Mildew, if it's a problem for her, certainly does not originate in her foam. Think of mildew like fleas. They multiply and spread, but the responsibility is to find the point of origin and remove the breeding entities. Mildew is the same, it is breeding some place other than the foam. It isn't organic. The foam can be a resting place but not a source of food.
It's nice you want her to have the best, and have it all. But, if you can't have all you wanted, indoor foam is what she'd get from someone else. Unless it's required, and then you get the rated indoor stuff, and you still don't need to lose a sale.
MELTDOWN... On the phone to order foam... EZ-Dri is NOT flame retardant! It's not rated for interior use! VITA/Crest Foam is working on it, though - they have a few ideas (I had a long and interesting chat with a researcher).
Don't know what to do - I recommended this foam because it really is an ideal product for this application (as long as you ignore those pesky fire regulations...).
Don't know what to do - I recommended this foam because it really is an ideal product for this application (as long as you ignore those pesky fire regulations...).
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Eeeeeeek!!!! I had to tell someone... I have my first REAL JOB! Not a neighbor/friend/relative - a REAL CLIENT! Window seat cushion from scratch, COM. I vastly undercharged her (limited fabric: if I charge too much I WILL make a mistake - yeah, my brain isn't screwed on too tight...), and I told her I wouldn't charge for cutting the foam if she provided a pattern.
I'm using Dri-Fast reticulated (outdoor) foam - she has a very old house (1820) with mildew problems, and this stuff is anti-fungal, promotes good air flow, and discourages dust mites. I love this foam AND it can be purchased directly from the manufacturer with NO piece minimum at MUCH lower cost than from a wholesale distributer. (Hmmm... Karen, would this be a good article topic for a later edition?)
Dede, still floating :D
I'm using Dri-Fast reticulated (outdoor) foam - she has a very old house (1820) with mildew problems, and this stuff is anti-fungal, promotes good air flow, and discourages dust mites. I love this foam AND it can be purchased directly from the manufacturer with NO piece minimum at MUCH lower cost than from a wholesale distributer. (Hmmm... Karen, would this be a good article topic for a later edition?)
Dede, still floating :D
Friday, September 03, 2004
Cindi Smith who has a great business in California, she attended the Summit in Fort Collins with many of this Summer had this good news to share. Way to go Cindi>>>>>>
Go to www.pressdemocrat.com/specials Click on the Fall 2004 issue of
the "Abode" Magazine. Go to page 32, the article "Hidden Treasures". All
the pictures in the article are of my work. The article itself is about
slipcovers. They even spelled my name right, yeah!. I also advertised in
the magazine. Check it out! I am happy about how it turned out. I
already got a request for information and prices on slipcovers from a woman,
that said she read the article this Sunday morning. Cool!
Go to www.pressdemocrat.com/specials Click on the Fall 2004 issue of
the "Abode" Magazine. Go to page 32, the article "Hidden Treasures". All
the pictures in the article are of my work. The article itself is about
slipcovers. They even spelled my name right, yeah!. I also advertised in
the magazine. Check it out! I am happy about how it turned out. I
already got a request for information and prices on slipcovers from a woman,
that said she read the article this Sunday morning. Cool!
Cindi Smith who has a great business in California, she attended the Summit in Fort Collins with many of this Summer had this good news to share. Way to go Cindi>>>>>>
Go to www.pressdemocrat.com/specials Click on the Fall 2004 issue of
the "Abode" Magazine. Go to page 32, the article "Hidden Treasures". All
the pictures in the article are of my work. The article itself is about
slipcovers. They even spelled my name right, yeah!. I also advertised in
the magazine. Check it out! I am happy about how it turned out. I
already got a request for information and prices on slipcovers from a woman,
that said she read the article this Sunday morning. Cool!
Go to www.pressdemocrat.com/specials Click on the Fall 2004 issue of
the "Abode" Magazine. Go to page 32, the article "Hidden Treasures". All
the pictures in the article are of my work. The article itself is about
slipcovers. They even spelled my name right, yeah!. I also advertised in
the magazine. Check it out! I am happy about how it turned out. I
already got a request for information and prices on slipcovers from a woman,
that said she read the article this Sunday morning. Cool!
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