My Chopper - Embroidered Tee!

Well - This is some project I have undertaken.  I want to make a custom embroidered "who knows what yet" of my actual bike.  So I have to draw it into my digitizing program - Yikes! Sounds daunting just thinking about it... I know it will take much effort, not to mention plenty of hours!  Now, I've been practicing, mind you, so my skills are getting better bit by bit, and my confidence is building as well.  There was a time that it would have been inconceivable to me that I could do such a thing... So, I had the right image to have as my "template"

So... How in the world do I start this?  Well, let's get it into Photoshop, and get some outlines going, so we can have our base to do our digitizing drawing.  I guess that's the first thing... 

OK, so now import that into DRAWings digitizing software...

And... Let the games begin!  :)

We need to plan out our drawing to some extent, what will be drawn first, etc.  You need to group like items together, but not all items are "like items" because you will need to have different stitching techniques for them, to make the design appropriate, so i ran into this a few times, where I grouped too many items together, and had to delete and go back and group smaller sets, so as to get the proper stitching for them.  Plus color changes, jumps, and such. 

I wouldn't have as much experience if not for the forum folk challenging/inspiring me to draw things, and stitch things, special requests and such. :)  I called upon one design i used which started with tires, so that's where i decided to begin.

Now the way you freehand draw is that you make drawing points, and then you bend the lines at a later time, so the designs will have sharp points until I round them all out, which i will probably just do all at once at the end. So here's step 1& 2: Got the front tire and the front wheel.

Then the back tire, done in two parts.

Then on to the engine and take a preview of what I have so far...

Lookin' good....  Well, That was at least 4-5 hours all told up to now, I needed a break, more later and tomorrow.  I'm determined to see how I can make out on this.

THE NEXT DAY...

Well gave it a go since early this morning, but was so focused and the camera was in the sewing studio, that i forgot to take progress, pictures, so this was the next break I took. another several hours in.  I gave it an early start, being perplexed at first with where to begin, since there was so much left to do.  Once i got started, though, i got on a roll, and just kept going.  So we're not bad here, I think we've got all the drawing done at this point.

So now begins the rounding of all the lines...  First the tire

Now match the rim to the tire

Okay we pretty much have the bike done at this point.

Let's straighten her out

And add her name...

Now the next step will be to tweak the design for any last minute finishing touches and then stitch it out.  I can hardly wait, but it will have to be tomorrow, i'll need a fresh look at it.

"TOMORROW"

Well, Tweaked it a bit, and went and stitched it...

I LOVE IT!!!!!! 

Here's the Comparison:

I am so proud of myself!

My very BlueJ captured in an embroidered Tee!

I will wear this shirt with extreme pride! Yippee for me :)

I think all told the designing to final stitching completion was around 15-16 hours.

Cheers!

JDol

Latest Mod - Radiator Grille Cover

So... It's called Moditis on The Fury Forum.  Hooked on doing mods to your bike... we all have it when we own fury's.  I guess many bikers have it, to make your bike your own; unique - you know how it is.  I think Blue J is coming along nicely now with my latest mod - the Radiator Grille.  I am going with a "Chopper Cross" theme and Blue J theme on the bike, so I've been wanting to get rid of the junky OEM black plastic grille cover that the dealer had hanging on with a plastic tie lol.. and get a nice chrome one. Hadn't found the "perfect" one yet, so many things are skulls out there - quite the popular theme - skulls and flames. not so much for me :)... So, as usual, hanging out on the forum, you find links and such from folks, and that's what I did to this seller on EBay: Ferreus Industries And found an awesome grille cover for the Fury, (which also doesn't have a zillion custom parts out there, BTW.) Just right for me.  They shipped super quick and the grille is awesome.

I pictured with this grille I would then purchase a 4 or 5 inch Maltese Cross to mount onto the grille so I could have my theme. So I found this one (billet, chrome):

From Ebay Seller: Asset Liquidation Co. They shipped fast and this was a great item.

So i spent about 2 hours, (yes I am a novice!) but I installed it all by myself! and I am proud of that.  I am trying to do everything on my bike by myself.  DH (dear hubby) might have to help with some big things, but I really want to be doing these things myself as much as possible.  The cross is mounted with permanent double sided mounting foam tape. The mounting screws did not align properly.  I am already resigned to the fact that i might lose it, if the tape malfunctions at some point, but this is how I have chosen to mount it at this point.  If at a later date I re-think of another plan I will proceed differently.  

So, I think it looks awseome!!! a great addition to the look of Blue J.  

She's really starting to look custom-ized...

I also got the word this week that my Ginz sissy bar was shipped and will be here soon!  I will install soon after, I hope I can do it, cause there's drilling involved and fender removal, and such! Oh boy, I just got okay with getting the seat off :) now I've gotta remove the fender and drill holes?? Oh my.  But I will be proud to be able to do this myself!!!!  I know I can do it with my "Installation Angel" on my side... He was on my side when I installed the radiator grille, when I made the custom seat cover and tank bib... and Oh! did i tell you?  I'm making custom grip covers for the the grips on the handle bars... :) i think they should match the leathers on the seat/bib... still deciding.  Should just take a piece of the leather out there and see what it looks like - then the agony of choosing the design!!! that is the best kind of agony though :)

Hubby is going for a ride in this 27 degree weather!  Me? I gotta go to JA cause my Hat hoop is coming today and I want to test it out, so need some scrap hats to play with.  Fun weekend for me :)

Cheers!!!

JDol

Honda Fury Patch for Vest or Jacket

Well the guys on the Fury Forum Love the patch!  I love it too, it came out really great.  Once again, the design came from ThreadArt.  I stitched it on 10oz Bull Denim, and then cut it and made a border, freehand.  Couldn't have done it better, now hope I can replicate that a billion times, since there are a lot of guys on the forum asking for patches now. :-)  DH thinks I can do anything, so of course he'll say yes.  I think I can, too.  Invicta asked to have the name of his Bike added ("Rita") in Gothic lettering.  That's a nice touch.

Here's the dark red color one.

Requests for Blues and a Black, and a custom one for SinisterTurtle.  His bike will be a challenge! but we'll give it a shot! I'm sure I can get close  :-)

Cheers!

JDol

Added the Fury to my Jacket

Well, stitched out the Fury design from ThreadArt.  It didn't stitch out perfectly, almost seemed as though the file I downloaded was a shrunken version of the one pictured in the color change sheet.  I wrote them to inquire.  See what they say.  But I'm pleased with how this came out on the jacket.  (just can't look close at the detail!) LOL

I'm going to stitch one out on patch material.  If it comes out decent, might send it to a comrade in AU.

Cheers!

JDol

Fury Jacket

OK, So I went ahead and made the jacket mentioned in my previous post.  Stitched out the design onto my Black/Gray suede jacket.  Bought this jacket a year ago 'cause I was going to make a Ravens Jacket.  Made the Ravens design on another jacket, so this one was still a blank canvas.  Perfect.  Now I had it to make the Fury Jacket.  Did Silver wings to match the jacket and of course Blue Fury and Nation.

Contemplating to add a chopper design to the bottom.  I digitized one of my own, then I have one I bought from ThreadArt, and one from Embroidery Designs.com.  

I like this one, and it's the one I put on my Tank Bib:

Such decisions...  will think about it some more...

Well, Going to go to Walmart to look at blue nail polish 'cause going to paint my Tranny Side Cover letters this morning.  Some guys on the forum also suggested throwing on a few  3" convex mirrors over the other side covers - covers up the HONDA and makes people really wonder what your riding.  Although on my bike i still have the stickers on it. plus my battery covers have Honda on them.  I like the fury sticker, but maybe I can get the HONDA sticker off.  Gotta ponder that.  I know the rest of 'em are doing it.  just not sure yet.

Wonder how my GINZ bar is coming along.  should be going to Chrome tomorrow! :-)

Cheers!

JDol

Logo Patch for Vest

Well, spent a little time last night playin' around with designing a logo to embroider or make T-Shirts, Hats, Jackets, patches.  Comrade Wulewics inspired me from The Forum with his design here:

And I came up with this simple one:

Also in color schemes, yes, mine are Blue..

So I made a patch this morning for my new vest:

Now have to make/buy more patches to fill up the rest of the vest. :-)

Cheers!

JDol

Latest Addition to Blue J...

Well, earlier this week, before I knew I was going to order my GINZ sissy bar, I was suffering from an attack of "moditis" as they call it on The Fury Forum... and i jsut had to get SOMETHING for Blue J, to tie me over until the sissy bar purchase.  Well I had seen this awesome Transmission cover on Sludge's Fury (the MEAN MOOSE) and really loved the look of it.  He had actually painted the letters on his to match his bike paint.  Here's his:

(That's a shot from Toronto)

Anyway, so got the info from him where to get this.  Cannella's Custom Cycles in FL.  Got right on line and ordered it.  The shipped pretty fast and it came today, so I installed it.  It's a plate that goes in the middle of the cover.  Here's mine:

I uploaded my pic to the forum in the "What did you do to your Fury today" thread, and asked for opinions on whether to paint the letters blue to match the Fury.  The chime ins said yes.  Sludge said he painted his with nail polish... sounds good to me. Will look for a similar color to the blue on the bike.

I love this new addition, and will make another post when I paint it.

Cheers for a Friday!

JDol

Custom Tank Bib

Well my next project was to make the custom matching tank bib.  1st made the template.

The tab on the bottom would be for the bottom tie that would go underneath the seat and tie off on the bars under there.  There was the same tab at the top, to slide the leather tie through there to tie off at the neck.  The template looks slightly large because it has the seam allowances.

Once i decided on the design, the rest was real easy on this bib. Simple gluing, sewing.  I say simple because I have already worked with this material often, so I know it's behaviors, and I'm pretty used to keeping the seams straight going down the sides.  You need to glue the seams over first on leather and then you stitch them.  The only tricky part was making sure the gas cap opening was going to match up correctly.  My sewing angel was with me (as always) and that came out pretty good.

I installed magnets (disc magnets) on the top to round the bend and on the bottom, and covered the magnets in velvet to not scratch the tank.  This helps the bib hug the tank's roundness up top.  Used leather ties through the tab loops I made at the top and bottom and tied her on.  I like the look.  I had entertained the thought of studs, but 1. they were going to take too long to get here, and 2. i didn't install them on the seat, so....  I have the studs now, so I can always add them, but not sure I want them at this point.

Oh yeah and I also removed the reflectors!  it was hilarious actually, I had posted a finished photo on my Fury Forum, for "what did you do to your fury today" and got a comment "Now you really need to lose those reflectors"  i laughed at myself, felt like a real rookie. :-)... Next morning, reflectors were off.  Took about 45 minutes with hair dryer, care and goo gone. :-)  here is the before and after.  LOL

Contemplating the rear fender bib, but not sure where to go on that.  I am dying to get my sissy bar, I want a tall one, I think it keeps the chopper look, but $$$$$$$$$... we'll see how it goes, but that is scheduled to be my first "Mod" mod.  I consider this really dressing.

Cheers!

JDol

August 16th - Bringin' her Home...

My New Chopper...

Well, I will consider August 16, 2013 her birthday, even though she is a 2012, coz its the day I brought her home.  I had a 2001 Honda Shadow Aero 1100 that I loved to death.

She was a 2001 however, and I'd had her for about 7 years - never gave me any issues (Honda) :-)..  We bought DH (Dearest Husband or Dear Hubby for short) an 09 VTX1300 Retro in 2010 which he LOVES to death and rides practically non-stop... anyway since I was only a fair weather rider (sunny and 70 deg F) LOL, mine was ok for so long. I got the itch in 2012 season that I wanted trike.  Needed to get something "different" from the same old thing. So, searched and trikes were a little out of reach that season.  I settled that I wanted a VTX1300 trike.  So, made a few changes to the Aero and settled in for another season.  that brings us to 2013. Had my sights on a trike until we realized now that it would be a tight squeeze a) in the garage, and b) up and down the driveway past the vehicles.  Oh Goodness! now what!. Had to let her go. so I started searching hi and low for the perfect bike.  searched Harley's Kawi's, Yamahas, Victory's, Triumphs.  I wanted something unique.  Even considered those Royal Enfields! I'd say Triumph America was the closest I came.  Then after all that looking I couldn't help the draw that I really wanted to stay with HONDA.  

So I gave a look-see again and Wham i saw the Fury!  I was in love. Chopper world here I come.....I don't know how i missed it all those times i looked before.  Guess it just wasn't the right time at the time I saw it.  They aren't your $6K motorcycle on special, you know. 

So shopped around a bit, saw some different colors/years, and boy did I fall in love with that blue....so gorgeous, just perfect for me.  So here's me bringing her home....

Traded in the Aero for her.

Here's her portrait taken that week.

I joined a Fury Forum and am starting to learn some stuff about Fury's and also meet other Fury owners from around the world.  Looks like I'm off on a Grand Adventure.

Cheers!

JDol