Jay Blades

I didn’t know there was Monica, that’s why I asked. He calls himself a restorer - but it seems he doesn’t restore to original form/colour or whatever, which is what I think some see as the difference?

Seaside girl. Please go to the library, borrow Jay Blades autobiography and read it, then come back and apologise.

Casdon I think it is because some people think someone who restores antique furniture and has high level refined (in the sense of exceptional) skills in restoring antique furniture, is considered further up the social ladder that someone like Jay, who takes everyday furniture, which is broken and repairs it and gives it a new lease of life in ordinary homes.

Both sets of skills are admirable.

Very well put MOnica. The semantic distinction of where his working skill set lies seems a bit mean spirited and distracting in this lovely, positive thread about a brave man's struggle and achievement.

I agree Monica. It takes vision as well as restoration skills to imagine how to make an item attractive to a modern market and execute it to a high standard to sell.

This was an inspiring programme. For a lad who admitted love and care was missing when he was a child I was so pleased he is now surrounded by people who adore him. He seems like a thoroughly decent, lovable chap and I can see why people warm to him.

He's obviously very bright to have managed to get by without being able to read for so long.

I thought his teacher was fantastic!

Anyone who restores furniture and stops it going to landfill has my admiration.

We've done a bit of our own or sent stuff to our local charity shop or upcycling centre rather than just dump it.

I am always amazed that in this age when re-use, recycle repair is meant to be our mantra and everyone boasts of shopping for clothes in charity shops, how few people buy secondhand furniture.

We have hardly ever bought new furniture. We do a bit of antique dealing - at least that is our excuse - for regularly going to auction viewing days and auctions and the price that 'brown' furniture goes for, often beautiful furniture, goes for, would make you weep.

Everybody seems to want white furniture with the recycled look, but only if they can buy it new.

I thought it was a lovely program. I think he always comes across as a really nice man and he hasn't really coped throughout his life has he? He has been quite honest about how lost he was at certain points in his life.

I think the comments regarding skill level etc are not because people who restore furniture or antiques think they are better or have a higher social standing, it's because programs like money for nothing devalue skilled peoples skills and then their potential customers say 'well I saw someone on money for nothing and she said it only costs £10 to fix so and so, so why do you want £1k for a reupholster of a chaise lounge' (or similar)

I know Monica, so much 'brown furniture' is lovely too

We have painted brown furniture and been very pleased with the results. It always looks good and it’s so easy. Love the fact that it could be reused rather than thrown out.

JaneJudge reminds me of when DD, who is always making and doing, decided to sell cushions, lavender bags etc etc that she had made from vintage fabrics. It was all the rage about 15 years ago.

Lots of people go to these craft fairs, nobody buys anything, they finger the goods look at what they are made of and they make comments like;'Oh, I 've got embroidered table cloths at home, which I could make into cushions like these', and having fingered the goods, looked at how they were made, they move on and DD knew darn well, they never would.

I imagine it is quite demoralising Monica, your daughter has a craft. It is quite easy to say you could do , more of a task to execute it well or at all!

JaneJudge it's on a par with the people who wonder how a painter can charge so much for a piece of paper and some paint while completely ignoring the years of practice that have gone into producing it.

Deedaa

JaneJudge it's on a par with the people who wonder how a painter can charge so much for a piece of paper and some paint while completely ignoring the years of practice that have gone into producing it.

yes quite, things people think are easy to to do but aren't very easy and require skill. They also still take TIME and how many people work for free!