COFFEE

My friends opened up a bhaji shop round the corner from my house, with Indian food and fresh juice served in mini milk bottles. It is really popular, and there are now 2 more shops next door - a bar and space for happenings. It provides a place where people connect. I like to connect so I came out one day with a sack over my shoulder full of the smell of coffee. The sight of an empty coffee sack had given me an idea. Good hemp sacking might just make an awesome handle…

I like rescuing, and snatching a poor sack from the very fangs of a ferocious bin added distinctly to the appeal of this project.
My assistant Smudge and I chopped out a pile of sacking and painted each layer with high grade epoxy resin. Some girls are quite gifted at parking. Smudge parked right on top of the hemp in her VW Polo  squeezing all the air bubbles out.

It is rough sawn then fitted to the blade with the black denim micarta, rosewood, brass and buffalo horn. It is the first time I have used this black horn, and I was impressed by its highly polished finish. I source all of my materials carefully and make sure my materials are positively sourced. I got the horn from the workshop clearance of one Sheffield’s last remaining folding knife makers - Trevor Abbett who sadly died last year in his 80’s.

When I had sawed it to shape and sanded it smooth, one pink fibre was exposed.
Standing out next to its plain neighbours I was thinking of my pals at the Thali bhaji shop and many others who are making a real go of it in Sheffield. With bold, original ideas and a bravery to go just for it 100%, there is a new wave of success stories boldly standing out, brightening up this Island which has always been proud of its inventors, entrepreneurs and small stars on the rise. ​

I enjoyed this project. There may well be more collaborations coming up over the next weeks....

Links: www.facebook.com/Thebhajishop​