22/03/2016
The Vibram Christy soles enjoyed a major resurgence in popularity in recent years, as the casual option for a pair of brogues, or as the hipster de jour sole on a pair of classic Red Wings. Pretty comfortable to stride around on and they look nice and crisp when new. In this piece I’m looking at a pair of Red…
13/03/2016
It’s been a while now since I last got down to some serious sewing. I did the tweed jacket upcycle in the Autumn, but that was only a little hand-stitching. Since then I bought a new sewing machine, and to be honest it’s been sitting there, silent, taunting me, willing me to just get down to it. So, with a…
23/01/2016
Sturdy, reliable, solid and pleasing to the eye. I might be talking about chaps of a certain age, though in this instance I’m talking about clothes hangers. Shapely wooden clothes hangers. The type that will let you hang anything on them, from the flimsiest of cotton shirt to the most stonking parka you can find. And there lies todays topic.…
27/12/2015
It’s been a while now since I last posted a backpack guide so I thought it would make good seasonal reading. As we have previously established, the goal is to get away from the standard issue black nylon laptop-pack that you’ll typically be given at work. The sort of black hole of style and tast that listlessly hangs from the…
23/12/2015
It’s been a while now since I last posted a backpack guide so I thought it would make good seasonal reading. As we have previously established, the goal is to get away from the standard issue black nylon laptop-pack that you’ll typically be given at work. The sort of black hole of style and tast that listlessly hangs from the…
11/12/2015
For me winter means boots. I know some people feel it appropriate to stride through the cold and dark, over the ice and snow, wearing the same flimsy, slippery and chilly footwear they use the rest of the year. Around here though we see winter as an opportunity to boot up. And boots must be real boots, no zips and…
07/12/2015
This time of year I find myself constantly harassed, or occasionally asked, if there is anything I’d like for Xmas. “Peace and quiet, well-behaved children, and a pint of G&T” is rarely accepted as a response, as the asker was invariably after either something that could be purchased, or something that could be crafted on the basis of an empty…
17/10/2015
Last week I posted part four of my Harris Tweed jacket upcycling project. If you’re only just coming to find it, you’ll want to read back to the original idea outlined here, and part one here , part two here and part three here. I’ll wait patiently until you’re up to speed on what is going on here at the Laboratory of Total Tweedism. The previous part saw…
11/10/2015
Last week I posted part three of my Harris Tweed jacket upcycling project. If you’re only just coming to find it, you’ll want to read back to the original idea outlined here, and part one here and part two here. I’ll wait patiently until you’re up to speed on what is going on here at the Laboratory of Total Tweedism. At the end of…
10/10/2015
A word of warning: The next lines you read may provoke either a physical or mental reaction in you, or even both in extreme cases. Fear not though, keep reading and all will become clear. I will help you work through the trauma I about to induce in you. How often do you get both the poison and the cure…