Glad it's (finally) finished!

Nick's bag is finally finished - hooray!

Replacing the end lining pieces was more of a mission than I expected and I needed to revise my thinking a few times. 

The guitar fabric was leftover from where I covered a notebook for Nick earlier in the year.  I cut it carefully to create two rectangles. 

My original plan was to sew the pieces to the existing lining edges but that proved more difficult than envisaged, so I used strong adhesive instead.  As you can can see in the second collage, the raw edges of the original lining were still visible beside the fixed guitar pieces.  

I then decided to use some green webbing to create a better finish between the sides of the replacement lining sections and original lining edges.

I'd used E6000 for the first part of the project but originally bought it to repair some jewelery pieces (and didnt want to buy more), so opted to use Aquadhere on the webbing pieces.  

The E6000 had a tacky consistency.  In contrast the Aquadhere was quite liquid. Yep.  It was a messy operation!

I'd used kitchen weights (and wrapped rocks) to press down the lining panels but those options weren't very effective for the webbing, so I tried a couple of makeshift methods - i.e. the foldback clip with a piece of sponge as well as a few pins.

Nick walked past and remembered some proper clamps hiding downstairs, which were much easier to use - and far more suitable!  

The clamps stayed in place overnight and I removed them this morning.  Happy to report they worked well and held everything in place nicely.  I'm very pleased with how the complete bag looks - and so is Nick!  

The small guitar buttons hold the replacement pocket elastic in place.  I needed to remove the label from it's original position when I replaced the end linings.  It's now on the pocket, secured by one of the buttons.

(I've now published  footage of all the bags to give a better overview of how good they look)!

Glad tidings!

I had intended to finish Nick's Gladstone bag as a birthday gift but the leather repair was something I pondered for quite a while before taking action.  

(As you can see, Nick did most of the actual repair work).  

At this stage, the end lining pieces of the bag still need to be replaced - and I'm just about ready to do that task!

Nick received a vintage toiletries case as his birthday gift.  Like the bags, his "new"case also received a full spa treatment!  

The kit had many of it's accessories, though some had seen better days. Prior to gifting I replaced some of the manicure tools.  I also sourced a new brush, which fit the former soap-box loop.  

However, finding appropriate sized containers for the other loops was much trickier.

On the birthday, I gifted the case with the original items as well those I had replaced. I wanted Nick to choose how the case would be organised - because he would be using it.

Nick and I talked about the case this morning.  After inspecting the loops more closely, we decided to remove all but two of them.  

Once that was done, we took the case with us to Daiso and found a spray bottle to fit the former toothbrush holder loop. (We'll decant deodorant into the bottle).  

We also bought a nice soap holder and a small case to fit over the head of his new toothbrush. 

The razor was on special at Woolies and is same as his usual one.  (The small cologne was birthday loot).

Since taking these photos I've found another, smaller soap box which fits across the bottom of the case nicely.  It holds the toothpaste, dental floss and cologne - so the razor now wedges between the deodorant and black soap box.

I've published some footage of the toiletries case, my beauty case and our two bags. I'm really pleased with how they all look together!

You beauty, a day out!

Nick and I had a lovely day out, prompted by my latest purchase. The seller had offered to post for an extra $10.00 but we decided an outing was preferable. We were playing music and chatting as we drove South, so missed the first two GPS-instructed exits but luckily didn't overshoot into New South Wales (cos then we'd need a permit to get back into Queensland)!

What did I buy?  Another beauty case!  You can see my other two, here.  

I paid $10.00 to an op-shop for my first case, which I used for it's intended purpose.  I took it away with us on various adventures and then it did daily service during our stint of caravan living. My second case was $5.00 and became our much-used beverage case.  

In reviewing that post from 2015, it seems the second case came with a key and I'm now curious as to the key's location (hah!) - and whether, if ever found, it might fit my latest case, as they both have the same style latch/lock.

The original $10.00 case has some water damage due to extensive use (and isn't the right colour for my Gladstone bag), so is being de-commissioned.  I've cleaned it and put in a black plastic lining piece to cover the warped bottom.  My plan is to use it for sewing notion storage.

I've put a plastic lining piece in my newest ($30.00) case, for protection against spills etc.  The plastic pieces were intended as base plates for grocery bags and only needed their corners re-trimmed to be a good fit for the vanity cases.  (I found larger sized pieces of similar plastic at Officeworks and each of our Gladstone bags also has a wipe-clean removable lining base).

I'm very pleased with how well the new case co-ordinates with my larger bag and am looking forward to using them together.  (I bought the R keyring a while ago and have now ordered a second one - for my "monogrammed luggage")!

Holey moley, it's dry!

I've done more work to our Gladstone bags this past week.  When checking the leather on Nick's bag, after my spa treatment, I noticed a small tear.  It's near the edge of one of the end gusset pieces, so not hugely noticeable - but I will mend it.  

Once I'd decided to repair the tear, I chose to also replace the holey lining on both ends.  I cut out two pieces, as neatly as possible.  Fully replacing the lining is probably beyond my skill-set and enthusiasm at this stage but I think I'll do OK with these smaller sections.  Fingers crossed!

Once the worn fabric was removed, I could see how dry the leather was - in spite of conditioning the outer side. I gave each end a liberal dose of conditioner.  I'll leave that a few days before trying to patch the tear.

After pondering, I decided to remove the pocket elastic.  The trickiest part was working in a deep bag, in a poorly lit room!  Yes, I could've found a head-torch rather than balancing this little one but where's the fun in that?!  

I threaded a double length of new elastic through.  It's pinned firmly, ready for the next step.  We have a property inspection later this week.  I find them stressful, so am probably doing a lot more preparation than is necessary.  On the bright side, while I'm busy with those other missions I'm also thinking about the best way to patch the leather tear - and attach the replacement lining sections.  I just hope the reality will be a good match for my vision!

Two Glad?!

I really enjoyed using my Gladstone bag on our latest trip.  It was such a good thing that I went searching for another one.  I was lucky to find a Gumtree seller not far from home, so bought this second bag for Nick today!

Measurements had been posted as part of the ad, so I thought the two bags would be similar in size.  When I got them home I sat them side by side and as you can see, there isn't much difference between the two.  (I saw one advertised further away but decided against it, as it was a smaller version).  

The styles are quite similar, though not identical - which is fine.  Both are lined in tartan, which seems standard.  The pockets were made differently, so Nick's has elastic which has aged.  I might be able to replace the failed elastic but will need to have a closer look at the interior first.

From chatting with the seller, I learned she had never used the bag.  I'm not sure whether she bought it new but she still had the keys.  Even better those keys also fit my bag!  Hooray!

As I'd done with mine, today's bag was also given a spa treatment.  Many of the scuff marks were removed or lessened - and a liberal application of leather conditioner was given. I'll check tomorrow to see if more moisturiser is needed.  Erin had some 0000 steel wool, so I used that to give the metal fastenings a bit of attention.  I wasn't trying to make them look new, just a little brighter.  They've come up really well and I'll do the same on my bag (when Erin finds the rest of the steel wool).  

I'm very chuffed with our lockable luggage!  Total paid was $100 - $40 for mine and $60 for Nick's.  I reckon that was money well spent.  I'm keen to take both bags away on our next adventure, whenever/wherever that might be!

Staying home ...

We're living in very interesting times - and I've been revamping my garden as distraction from the ongoing world-wide chaos.

Of course, if anything grows/thrives as a result of these most recent efforts, it would be a marvelous bonus (and I'd be hugely chuffed)!

The first stage of my project was our back verandah.  It's used far less often over the hot summer months, so was looking neglected.  I re-potted various plants and have planted seeds for new herbs also.

Heavy rain in February restored green-ness to our yard and the back paddock.  Sadly the wet conditions provided excellent breeding conditions for mozzies and other bitey insects.  Fingers crossed their numbers dwindle as the weather cools.

My gardening efforts last year resulted in small amounts of home-grown produce.  It was a better yield than previously, so I am hopeful of even more success this year. 

I haven't ventured to Bunnings or any local nurseries to seek seedlings or plants.  I'm not sure whether those expeditions would be successful.  Instead I've decided to work with seeds already on-hand.  Erin grows some greens for lizard food and has contributed her seed packets also.  Between us we had quite a few leafy green varieties that are relatively quick growing, so those have been planted in the square beds. 

Some seeds have already passed their best-before date.  I've used them anyway, heartened by my kitchen bench sprouting experiments.  The alfalfa is sprouting nicely even though the seeds were to be used by 2015.  Mung beans of similar age have also done well. I'll try some other combinations while I'm waiting for the garden beds to start producing.

Last year I grew dwarf beans in the taller metal bed.  I might try those again - or some peas.  I'll do some more pondering before planting either.  (My right forearm is currently painful, so Nick has been treating the area with heat gel and massage.  Of course, I also need to pace myself more slowly to gain the most benefit from his assistance).

The large black pot has some tomato plants that still have a few flowers.  I'll leave them for now.  We might get a couple of extra tomatoes - if we're lucky!

Glad Bag!

We haven't done any camping this year but I haven't given up hope of going in the near future! I have a lovely pair of purple paisley cases that I use for more civilised travel but they aren't really the thing for camper trailer trips. (I tried them for our Nambucca holiday).

Drifta has released a premium range of leather-trimmed canvas weekender bags.  They are nearly $400 each (where similar from the standard range is $149.00).  A lot more than I intend to spend!

Nick and I were poking about in an antique shop today when I spotted this Gladstone bag. It was priced at $48 and seemed in great condition.  Nick wasn't keen but I was - and after some quick online price checking, I took the bag to the counter.

I'd thought that if I was prepared to haggle, I'd offer $40 but as it happened the seller gave the discount without my asking.  How good is that?!

Once home I set about cleaning my "new" purchase.  I vacuumed some small leaves from inside (praps herbs, not sure).

I then sprayed the outside lightly with Koh, before reading that mild soapy water was best for cleaning old leather.  Whoops - call me too gung-ho!  There was wool detergent downstairs and I used that in a bucket of just warm water to gently wash the leather.  The inside of the bag had a musty smell, so I cleaned that also and propped the bag open to dry in the fresh air.

I couldn't find my magic sponge, so used a tiny sprinkle of Ajax and a damp cloth to remove a couple of small scuff marks.  Next step was a generous application of Leather Dressing (purchased at the Ipswich Show a couple of years ago and regularly used for cleaning my Blundstone boots).  The leather drank that in!

The musty smell had lessened after cleaning but was still evident.  I've put a liberal dose of carb soda in the bag and shut it up.  I'll leave for a day or so before vacuuming out.  Fingers crossed that does the trick!

There is some light tarnish to the clasps and metal trim.  I might use some extra-fine steel wool on those but don't have any on-hand at the moment.