We have been tinkering with an iPad cover made from recycled sails for some time.   Many others on the market and we have spent some time researching what works best with sailcloth and we have finally come up with the following.   Still R&D, but almost there.   Colour options will follow.

Features that make it work well are as follows:  envelope opening, safer, secure, just looks better, doesn’t let any bits in with the precious ipad.  Reclaimed padding inside, small velcro fastening, covered with tag to hide stictching and ends (nice finish), soft lining and nothing inside to scratch surface.

Look at all our lovely products in the Beach Hut in Yarmouth.

Love the people who run this shop and love the shop

Innovation for wine carriers made from recycled sailcloth.   Our new six bottle wine carrier is strong, looks cool, spreads the load so is surprisingly easy to carry and flat packs.

We made this product for a lovely company on the Isle of Wight (Goodleaf tree climbing) to hold their flasks, but soon realised it worked just as well for wine bottles.   So we are introducing into our range and will also be making a four bottle version.

A thought occurred to us whilst making bunting the other day.  What do we do with the Clew’s and Head of the spinnaker?  From a sailmaker’s perspective, this is where all the strength of the sail is concentrated.  Thus, the sail is thicker in the corners and has a fixing point (normally a ring).   The light-bulb moment…. ping ….. why not cut out the two clews and the x metres of surrounding strengthened spinnaker, sew them together and what you have is the basis of a hammock!   As the clews are identical in size and shape, the hammock should be balanced.

Anyway, phase one of development proved to be most successful. It usually takes us at least four attempts to get to this stage.   Phase two coming up.

We have managed to take some clandestine photos direct from the Wightsails Research and Development department testing the latest product, namely kites made from recycled sailcloth.   Old spinnakers act as the kite, old sail battens are used as spars and whilst this one has string, we will be using kevlar/carbon strands as the kite string.

We understand that this is ‘version 4′ .  Version 5 will be the working prototype and then Version 6 will be the launched product.  Naturally, we have all gone kite mad and I would like to build a spaceship from recycled sailcloth!  One thing at a time.

We have been busy sorting out the banners we have collected.

We will be uploading all of these to the site in due course, but we have had people asking what we have so thought it best to get them all up online.  If you see one you like please just order through the site and let us know which one you would like your banner bag (tote bag or laptop bag) made from.   They are labelled so just hover over or click on the image and you will see the name.

Some of the below have good stories and some are huge.

In alphabetical order:

Our recent laptop and tote banner bags have proved very popular.

We were shocked to find so many companies spending hundreds of pounds on banner advertising, using it for perhaps for as little as a day (for an exhibition or function) and then throwing it away.  Why not turn them into bags and other products.   Companies could then sell these products or give them away for marketing purposes.

Take it one stage further and why not get someone to sponsor your banner, with the understanding you will be turning them into bags after and they then get the advertisement.

The above bags were made from red funnel ferries, isle of wight, banners.

Wow, it has been a while since our last post.  Apologies, we have been very busy, but now back in the world of blogging, New Year’s resolutions and all that.

So what have we been up to?  We have been busy designing new products (some below) and very busy selling.   Indeed, we have beenrushed off our feet in the run up to Christmas selling a wide range of products.  Particularly popular have been our trendy shopping trolleys (see below) so I hope to see a few of these in the streets (great for being seen in snow).  It was discussed on twitter that these would be good for the Isle of Wight festival, carrying of kit and the like.

We have much more to come in the New Year, new products, an exciting contract and some fun and games.

We are genuinely humbled by the level of response we have had and all the kind words from customers, bloggers and others so we wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

You can find all these new products on the site.

Our popular trolley

New large holdall – still a prototype and the new one will be on the main site very soon.

Fed up with snowy, muddy boots in the back of the car or elsewhere.   We love our boot bags that are already being put to good use.

Don’t want to screw into the floor or the wall or just hate those ugly things on springs, but still need to protect the wall from the children running through the door and slamming the handle through the plasterboard?

We are designing some heavier door stops and came up with these door cushions in the meantime.  Stuffed full of recycled sail cuttings they make the perfect padding and will protect your door, wall and sanity.   Also great for throwing at children who run through your house  They will be on sale on the site very soon.

I just had to take some pictures of what we have been playing with.  Still early days, but these bags have been out and about and we have already had some positive feedback.  Logos are arriving this week so expect to see some glossy pictures later this week or next week.     We have also looked at the ‘festival trolley’.  A great piece of luggage for carrying your kit to the Isle of Wight festival or the isle of Wight Bestival.  We of course support sensible drinking, but just imagine how much drink and food you can get in one of these – and still look good!!

Anyway, much, much more to come.   The website will be finished this week (won’t it John:)).  I will introduce John when the website goes live, but he is a bit of a guru and I am lucky to have his support so I will be shamelessly plugging his talents along the way.

I also need to thank Paul Newell Sailmaker and Medina Sailcare of Cowes who are big supporters of Wightsails and have provided material that would have otherwise been thrown away.  I have had a chance to look at these businesses and I can say that if I needed a new sail making I would not hesitate to visit one of these sail lofts.  Great guys and great sails.  Thanks !