In 1967 my parents purchased this rocking chair for the bargain price of 25 cents at an estate sale in Evansville, Illinois where they were living. Aside from the mattress they slept on, this was the first piece of furniture in their house. For the next 25 years it was a fixture in the various homes they lived in. Then my dad went on sabbatical to Denver and it ended up in a storage unit doomed to be a victim of downsizing and sold at their next garage sale.
I asked my mom if she would save it for me. I had big plans to reupholster it. Someday. That was about thirteen years ago. She generously stored it for me until a few years ago and since then it’s been taking up space in our basement.
Last week someday finally arrived. I sanded it down and painted the wood a rich black, visited the fabric store and chose a nice soft camel colored fabric for the seat.
Then I rolled up my sleeves and looked at it. Stuck. I have no idea how to reupholster a rocking chair.
Fortunately I married a man of many hidden talents. Jason, not wanting a piece of furniture in our house that looked as if it had been reupholstered by a third grader (he had absolutely no faith in my I’ll just cut the material and attach it with a staple gun approach) took the baton from me and ran.
He measured and cut and sewed and stitched and folded and stretched and secured and a couple hours later it looked like this:
He measured and cut and sewed and stitched and folded and stretched and secured and a couple hours later it looked like this:
Now I think it has at least another 42 years of good rocking left in it.
I’ve got three chairs sitting downstairs waiting for Someday as well!! Thanks for the visual inspiration to get my act together and get them done! The chair looks amazing.
Looks awesome!! Well done, guys. 🙂
THat is amazing! Jason, I am SO proud. People pay big money for that kind of talent! – Jenny Maust
you guys put all of us to shame. 🙂
I have to admit I thought it was so funny scrolling down and seeing Jason in front of the sewing machine – not sure why but it made me giggle. But WOW – seriously that chair looks great – professionally done! I bet your mom now is very proud of you guys. As well as all of us!
Jason, your talents are never ending! You two are a perfect match…Amy has the vision and Jason figures out how to complete it! I love the look on our old rocker! It truly ROCKS!! I’m so thankful we held on to it, so that it could spring to new life! I’m looking forward to rocking Hadley and reading to Carson in it when we come over today!
what a great team effort! How beautiful and inspiring!