go to thelivingwardrobe.com and follow the links.

Many thanks to everyone who has completed it, there's been a great response so far, now I just have to work out what to do with all the data!

facebook.com/thelivingwardrobe

Or you could just email me and say hi.  -the old fashioned way. Or post a comment to this blog post even...no login required here.

.........

A simple wooden frame with a vinyl top. 36w x 48l x 45h	While the vinyl is in good condition with no tears, it is stained from use.

This was in ideal condition for restoration.  The wood work needed only a light sand to remove the old sealer.  The foam seat was firm and didn't need to be replaced.  A simple mechanism holds the top on the stool: a single bar set into two grooves in the frame, secured by a central screw.

Covering the top

I first covered the top, not sure if I'd have enough time over the break to restore the woodwork as well.  At least if the top were done, I could use it.

My initial idea was to continue the stripe of text on the blanket across the stool, in line with the chairs this stool was to match. To position the text accurately, I quickly drafted a pattern for the stool top.  However, when I opened out the blankets I realised that using a little of the text on the stool would waste a lot of one blanket which might otherwise be used to cover another chair/item in the future.  On one of the blankets there was a perfectly sized plain piece for the stool.

It was a simple matter to sew the corners of the covers then staple it to the stool top, over the existing vinyl.   I decided to leave the vinyl on as there was no real need to remove it.  In the future someone else might want to go back to the original cover, who knows.	Rather than leave the stool top entirely plain, I unstitched the blanket labels from the corner of the blanket and machined them on to the corner of the stool cover.  The large label has details about the blanket size, fibre content and production, the smaller label (I think) says it's moth proofed.  I hope so!

Restoring the woodwork

I made up the cover so quickly, I moved straight on to the woodwork. 

The stool was a little too high for the chairs.  I wonder if in fact it is a piano stool...though it is probably a bit low for that.  I had to chop 4 cm off each leg to bring it down to the right height for the chairs.  I managed to do that fairly evenly and it doesn't wobble. Sticking on felt feet helps.

Fortunately the design of the stool didn't lose anything for being trimmed down a little.	The sanded frame revealed a rich toned wood....actual teak?!
	Sitting the cut off feet back on the oiled frame shows the difference in the finish.  While the chairs were stained and sealed with a polyurethane sealer, I decided to try oiling the stool because the wood was so nice.  I used a product called Fine Buffing Oil which is a wax/oil combination.  I applied it to the bare wood which the instructions said you could do, but 'best results' would be achieved if the wood was sealed first.  As you can see in the photo, the wood looks a bit patchy and blotchy.  Perhaps I didn't do a very good job of applying it or perhaps it really did need to be sealed first.  After it dried it evened out a bit more and as you will see in the photos below, it matches the chairs quite well. While oiled wood needs to be maintained, it is certainly easier to apply than varnish.  One coat and a few rub downs and it's done.  There are also no stinky brushes to wash.

It looks great with the chair:

On reflection I don't think it matters that there isn't any text on the stool, in fact, it might have been a bit much.  The labels look good though I think.

Because the top is so firm and flat, with the addition of a tray top, it serves as an occasional table too:

from the very clever blog xkcd

If you participated in the pilot survey prior to March 16, 2012, you are most welcome to revisit the survey and complete it again. You will notice clearer questions, better layout and a few additional questions towards to the end.

I need to get as many people to complete this survey as possible, so please do me a favour and pass this URL on to everyone you know!  I am also looking for some people in the Melbourne area to interview about some of the clothes they own.  If you are interested or know someone who might be, please ask them to do the survey and email at the address given at the end.

The link to the survey is http://research.jocramer.com

Many thanks.

I've been having trouble finding a watch band for this vintage Tissot watch.  Every watch repairer shows me the same cheap ugly band so I haven't been wearing the watch for a while.  Meantime, a pendant given to me by my partner broke, leaving this lovely silver chain without a purpose.  Combined they make a pretty, useful necklace... provided I remember to wind it up.

I think this is my favourite one....It's hard to choose!

xx