Net MD now usable

A few years ago I had a bit of a spending spree on eBay and bought a Sony MZ-N10 Net MD Minidisc Recorder, USB transfer cable and mains power supply for it.

I had become frustrated with my 60GB iPod Classic that has all my music on it - trying to find something to play is poor when you have 10,000+ tracks :-O I had a plan to go back to using Minidiscs as my original MD Recorder worked on an AA battery with 40-50 hours playback ad 2 albums on a disc so easier to find music.

Then I discovered that Sony's software (Sonic Stage) for transferring music to minidiscs didn't work on Windows 7 :-( After months of doing google searches, I found a way to install it on Windows 7. Then found out it was rubbish and had to spend a very long time converting all my Apple iTunes format music to MP3s to be able to use Sonic Stage to convert them to ATRAC for transferring to Minidisc. Even then it took ages to burn a Minidisc :-( So, I basically gave up on that project and wrote off the 60+ pounds I'd spent.

Was bored the other weekend and did a google search for Net MD on Windows 10. Imagine my surprise when I found a website that described how to install on Windows 10 but went on to ask "why would you when there's Web MiniDisc Pro?"

I investigated and there's this web-based APP that you can transfer any format music and name tracks on existing discs as well! And it works on Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Been trying it out on my MacMini and can transfer Apple format tracks and FLAC and MP3s and it's fast. Also used it to rename the tracks on some of my existing Minidiscs.

https://web.minidisc.wiki/ is where it's at - I'm so glad I found it :-)

I've now got to decide whether my next project is to replace the built-in battery of the NetMD or just use it as the transfer device and for playing connected to the stereo in the room my MacMini is in :-O

Vintage Pello Chairs Renovation

 So, more furniture from Freecycle.org to restore :-)

This time it was 2 vintage IKEA Pello chairs which were is a sorry state -  the wooden frames were well worn and neglected - I think they had been stored in a damp garage for some time :-(

Anyway, I sanded the dismantled wooden frames and gave them three coats of a matt varnish which got them looking much better.

The frames hanging from the washing lines waiting for the varnish to dry :-O

So then I assembled one of them to see what next. Unfortunately, the padding had shrunk (I assume a previous owner had machine washed in too a hot wash) just too much to fit on the metal frame. So, I spent a few weeks pondering how I was going to proceed. I considered various options like buying new Poang cushions from Ikea - the cheapest cost 30 pounds and they only had them in black.

The edge of the padding tore trying to stretch it over the metal frame :-(

So, I decided to recover the padding and full seat metal frame but then I had to find somewhere that sold suitable fabric. I tried a place in Cardiff and despite arriving at its well hidden location (inside an antiques centre on Penarth Road Cardiff) an hour after their advertised morning opening time, they weren't professional enough to actually open up shop . So, I gave up on them :-)

I eventually caved in and went to Dunelm Mill which I knew had cut back drastically on fabric. Sadly, they had no fabric on the roll except wipe clean PVC tablecloth material.

Limited choices in their clearance section but I found a single curtain that was big enough to recover both chairs:-) And to make a couple of matching cushions if I want to. I may try making neck cushions like some Poang cushion sets have.

The first one was a completed a couple of days ago and doesn't look too bad ;-)

And, I've finally finished the second chair :-)

Tarting up a bit of the Garden Wall

Since I moved here 8 years ago, there's been a bit of the wall of my neighbour's extension that's a bit unsightly - awful pink blockwork :-(

So, some months ago I got some tiles on Freecycle that I decided I was going to tart up that bit of wall with :-)

It took me some time to get around t it as I'd noticed that they had a damp course that I couldn't bridge. I eventually found a couple of bits of scrap wood to support the first row of tiles and got started with mortar to stick tiles on.

Ten things went a bit pear shaped and the mortar wasn't sticking very well and one of the picture tiles fell off and broke into 7 pieces :-( So, I gave up for a few weeks until a colleague suggested a product that I could try...

So,here's the end result - I think it looks better than the awful pink blockwork.

Pello chair Project #2

So, after dog walking this morning, due to Sunday trading laws, several hours of dead time.
I was in the mood to do more sewing and this is the result :-)

Update a few months on, it didn't take long for her royalness to make the fleece fabric fuzzy with digging in it. Only a few days but it doesn't look any worse after a few months and it protects the fabric below:-)

IKEA Pello chair project

On Sunday I spotted a Pello chair on Freecycle - it was advertised as a Poang :-O

Got it home and cleaned the woodwork with baby wipes (best thing for dusting and wiping things clean), removed the cushions from the cover and the support fabric from the metal seat frame and laundered them :-)

My little princess gave the chair her seal of approval and she has been lying on it when I'm working from home.

However, even though I tuck the fleece throw down the back of the seat cushion and under it she still manages to remove it when she decides to dig lol

So, I decided that slip covers were in order...

Made one for the seat cushion this morning (from an IKEA Polarvide fleece throw) and put it on - it got her roylaness's princess seal of approval - going to use it for the next week and do the back cushion next weekend once I have decided if I like the colour :-O