And now for something totally different
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Hint: It's not a rug or footstool.
Our neighbor's elderly mother passed away earlier this year. As they cleaned out her house, her son came across her sewing chest, and he thought of me.
One day, several months ago, he brought it over to our house to see if I would want it. I almost said no. It didn't appeal to me, and I couldn't imagine myself using it. However, this is a wonderful neighbor who has lived next door to us for almost 30 years, and I was rather touched that he would think of me for this very personal item of his mom's. I knew both his parents, and they were such wonderful people. I couldn't insult him by saying no.
The sewing chest moved up to our third floor, where I keep lots of my rug hooking and crochet materials. It stored yarn in a corner, rather a piddling little task compared to its purpose.
As I again looked at antique sewing chests and baskets online one day, it became clear I wasn't willing to spend the hundreds of dollars on such a thing.
Not long after that, I looked at the sewing chest with a very different eye. It had good 'bones', meaning a good size and frame, although some of it was rather flimsy. It had potential.
Mentally, I started a list of changes to make:
- new fabric to cover it
- some sort of treatment for the legs
- handles to carry it when needed
- a knob to open the lid
- lots more character
- an upgrade sufficient to make it appropriate for the front parlor.
Here's the before:
Remember, I know very little about upholstery, which is what this project is mostly about. Yes, I added supports inside to make the handles distribute the weight to the corner frame pieces. I also stained the legs and painted the metal feet to make them purdy, even though they get hidden by the trims.
It was another great learning project, and I would absolutely do it again. It's surely not perfect, far from it. I used fabric I already had. I used stain and paint I already had. I used scraps of wood, cut to fit inside between the corner frame wood, and made sure the handles got a good grip there. I even reused the padding for the lid.
What I added to the piece:
- new fabric that I already had
- wood supports inside the frame, painted
- stain for the wooden legs, and paint for the metal feet
- 9" gold bullion trim at the base, with some beaded trim for giggles
- brown gimp trim that goes from the back to the top to the front, all in line
- brass repro handles and top pull
This will hold my wools and such for my rug hooking, and sit in the front parlor by my chair and side table. It fits into our 1900 home very nicely now.
Here's the after:
I cannot believe I almost declined the kind offer from my neighbor. This project was so darn fun!!! I am happy with the end product, I learned a lot, and I look forward to using it for years to come.
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@brenda that is just so cool.
Tell me more about the flooring I see in the photos (especially the first!).
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@brenda that is just so cool.
Tell me more about the flooring I see in the photos (especially the first!).
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@brenda that is just so cool.
Tell me more about the flooring I see in the photos (especially the first!).
@george-k said in And now for something totally different:
@brenda that is just so cool.
Tell me more about the flooring I see in the photos (especially the first!).
Ha, George! Yes, the flooring ... It's white oak with a border of either walnut or cherry. It's in the two front areas of the house, the parlor and the front foyer. Our living room, dining room , and library also have white oak flooring, but without the trim. The woodwork on the first floor is all white oak, and the parlor and foyer have carved applied designs on the door frames.
It's a very fun house to live in, and I feel very fortunate to have the enjoyment of it.
I've been remaking the drapes, starting in the parlor. Perhaps I should start a new line of threads regarding those projects. Hubby is so pleased with the parlor drapes, he now wants me to remake the living room drapes.
I'm working mah fingers to the bone, I tell ya!
Nah, I'm having a ball.
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@george-k said in And now for something totally different:
@brenda that is just so cool.
Tell me more about the flooring I see in the photos (especially the first!).
It jumped out at me as well.
@loki said in And now for something totally different:
@george-k said in And now for something totally different:
@brenda that is just so cool.
Tell me more about the flooring I see in the photos (especially the first!).
It jumped out at me as well.
You mean the sewing chest didn't grab your full attention???? LOLOL
I love our floors. We got them refinished several years ago, and they still look wonderful. We had a professional firm sand them, and we put the finish on ourselves. Yes, that was a BIG project. It was even bigger than the ... sewing chest.
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Wow, what a difference! I can see your first impulse to turn the chest away. It was no more you than the man in the moon. But now!
@catseye3 said in And now for something totally different:
Wow, what a difference! I can see your first impulse to turn the chest away. It was no more you than the man in the moon. But now!
Finally! Someone who can stay on topic!
LOL Thanks, Cats. I'm rather sheepish to admit I almost declined such a kind offer from the neighbor. It would have been a big mistake, and might have hurt his feelings. Yikes.
Now I get to have a very fun thing right by my chair, and it's a useful thing. Love it!
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Wow, that is a fanstatic job you did!!!!
It was so fun, TG. It's like a new form of play, and I don't intend to put too much time into it, but I can understand how some people decide to really get into it. I'm just scratching the surface of this process, and it's very compelling.
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That. Is. Crazy.
@Aqua-Letifer said in And now for something totally different:
That. Is. Crazy.
You would go nuts with this kind of thing, Aqua. You would have so much darn fun! If you have access to an air nailer/stapler, it makes it such a joy.
This morning, as soon as I heard hubby up and about on the second floor, I told my kiddo I was headed for the air nailer.
Get an air compressor and an air staple gun. Hubby already has all this stuff, and I love it. I even use his chop saw, but don't tell him. He needs to feel useful, so I had him cut the interior support boards. I could have done it, and have done such things, but I let him do these. Don't tell on me. Shhhhhhhhhh
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Great job! The fabric seems to fit the decor of the couch and the throw-rug, and does compliment the wood floor. My aunt was an upholsterer by trade. I was surprised how much was involved to rebuild something to make it look like new. There was a lot of skill involved, to be sure.
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Great job! The fabric seems to fit the decor of the couch and the throw-rug, and does compliment the wood floor. My aunt was an upholsterer by trade. I was surprised how much was involved to rebuild something to make it look like new. There was a lot of skill involved, to be sure.
