Wednesday 23 September 2009

Ooer it's Wednesday again :-)...

As last week my WIYWW was done on Thursday I thought I'd get today's in early. I have a project to do today for an elderly gent and thought I'd share it with you. He is a special guy who had a stroke 20 years ago. This hasn't stopped him getting on with 'living' and he still goes out to Africa every year to do voluntary work for 3 months. I really feel his attitude on life could teach us all a thing or two. His left arm is totally useless to him and he has to wear special shoes to make walking with a stick possible but he still drives a specially adapted car and has a very positive attitude on what he CAN do. He came last week with a shirt he wanted the sleeves shortening on and also a challenge for me [as it says on my fliers I love a challenge!]. His idea is for a strap around his neck and across his waist at the back that are both attached to a sort of slim pocketed waistcoat front. He eventually wants it making in leather so that he can put a book in one of the lower pockets and his mobile phone in the top one. I took a few measurements and sketched what he had in mind while he was here. During the last week I quickly cut out a paper pattern and a toile in a piece of scrap fabric and pinned this together ready for his next visit.
He called in again yesterday to collect his shirt and was thrilled with what I had put together. We tried it on and adjusted the pins so it fit to perfection. Today I am going to run one up in cotton drill fabric so he can take it home and give it a 'test run' before making in up in the leather. I may edit this later with a finished photo...if I get it that far :-)
Wahoo it's finished... from a quick sketch to the finished article. Just hope it fits now :-) Sorry it's really hard to photo.

10 comments:

Julia Dunnit said...

WoW. And that's not an acronym! How great to be able to interpret people's ideas - no wonder he's thrilled. And I agree, he's a role model for sure.

Julia Dunnit said...

Back again! If you want the button - it's easier than it sounds! Click on Layout in yourdashboard, then click to add a Gadget, then add html code..then paste in the code that you have previously copied from underneath the button on my blog. It should be that easy!

NormaJean said...

wow what a great thing to do, Im sure he loves it
hugs normajean

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh that looks fab, I'm sure he'll be pleased - once he's over the shock of your speed!!
Sorry about the button thing..I can't see why it won't work, the picture is specified in the html code.
When you click on add a gadget, from the list, select 'html/java script' and click on the + item..don't select the 'add a picture' option. Then you paste in the code. Have another run at it..if no luck, I'll have to wait for the geek to get home from college!!

Yvonne said...

How fab is this .. Mum had a bad stroke three years ago , and this would be brill, Like your customer mum has lost the use in her right arm, and this would help so much. You are a god send to help with something like this.

Anyway , looks rather tidy this does, un like mine, lol

Twiglet said...

Wipso to the rescue yet again!! I hope it is a great success for your special gentleman - can't wait to see the leather version!

SueH said...

How fab…..and clever is that!

I had an aunt that was on wiz with the sewing machine and like you could make almost anything just by having it described to her,

Now me, I can’t even sew a straight line. Lol!
Sue
x

Julia Dunnit said...

Wahoo, the button worked. Glad rally, asking the geeks is my last resort because they sigh and make out I'm useless!!
Back to the waistcoat - has been back yet? Am keen to know his reaction..and to see you working in leather; it will be great.

Unknown said...

You clever clever person you ... I can just about make stuff with paper ... this is fabulous ... make sure you tell us what he says!

Kathy said...

What an amazing and inspirational man he sounds. And what a fab project this is.