Alright. I'm back for week four of Calling it Home's One Room Challenge. Two more weeks to go and my living room is going to be looking fantabulous. Week four has felt productive, even though my work output hasn't been off the charts. I've sorted a lot out in my mind though, so I'm feeling pretty on top of things.
This week I finished making the backrests for these chairs (I had the seat cushion made because it has a feather covered, foam core which I thought beyond my skill set). I have spent a fair amount of time contemplating the scale and material of these chairs because they have significant importance to me.
They belonged to my grandparents and I remember them so vividly from my childhood. This is me with my grandfather sitting in one of them when I was about four. They are Heywood Wakefield from their Ashcraft line, made in the fifties. I dug up these photos because I was trying to figure out what the original treatment and scale was for the cushions. I'm not even sure if this was the original upholstery because my grandparents would have had them for some time by the time this picture was taken.
Curiously the back cushion is different on this one, where it is t-shaped. The other chair and the couch (which I also have) have a straight back cushion.
They had these super rad striped vinyl covers, I guess because they were in a sun room that was opened up in the summer. My grandmother had a good eye. Their house, which they built in 1942 and lived in for 60 years, was just perfect in its scale and layout.
Ok, enough with the nostalgia... How'd I do it? First I made a smaller scale box pillow out of plain cotton sheeting. I measured a zillion times to arrive at the proper size.
Then I took the existing backrest pillow and boldly cut it open in the back yard.
My method was to just grab a handful of feathers from one side and stuff it in the other. I worked on the trampoline because I'm a professional.
Oh. my. god. Working inside, I made such a mess.
While I was at it, I made some other pillow forms for which I will also be sewing covers. I have so many extra feathers!
I am still waiting on the fabric I ordered for the cushions. It should arrive by week's end. I have a buttload of sewing to do, but I love to sew so everything should be cool.
Next week we'll be in the home stretch. I've got some other things up my sleeve for that so be sure to tune in. If you need to catch up, here's week one, two and three.
17 comments:
Think the new pillows sizing looks great somehow having them just bit more trim lets us discover the chairs so much better. Even better that it bring to you so much memories to you to tackle that project. And even BETTER is that you will be sitting maybe on one of those to open your x-mas gifts this year like in one of those pic:)! Do you remember what was is that red x-mas gift ?:)
You are so brave to tackle feathers. Indoors, no less!! Can't wait to see them in action!
I can't wait to see those chairs when you are done with them- they are fly, fly, fly. And I loved the nostalgia:)
I am so impressed with your skills and effort. And I love the story of that chair. Good luck!!
I can't believe you made those!!!! I wouldn't know where to begin! And I adore furniture that has meaning!!! Not only are they a gorgeous design but the fact that they are so sentimental to you makes them even more gorgeous! Good luck this week!
This is such a sweet story, and good for you. I remember the last time I tried to 'move' feathers around. Itchy :). I want to see the finished chairs.
I love the history of your chairs. They're going to be fabulous.
No sneak at the fabric, you sly girl, you! But I must say that I adore the pink/coral on those benches and the subtle colors in the art piece.
I have no idea what that gift was. Funny to think about more generations opening christmas presents in those chairs. ;)
Thanks. It wasn't actually all that bad with the feathers flying.
:) Thanks Christine.
Thanks Celine.
A box cushion is FAR easier than you might imagine. For real. And everything I know about sewing I learned on Youtube!! Good luck to you this week too!
Finally I have the fabric so I'm sewing like a maniac now. ;) Believe me I'm looking forward to the big reveal and being done with this mess!
Thank you Brenda. I'm so glad to have them and I hope they are fabulous!!
I promise you Jessica that I'm not being sly, I didn't have the fabric when I posted. The pink fabric on those benches came from vintage curtain fabric (I actually bought it by the pound at a thrift shop in the Mission district here in SF) and was a steal ;)
Cait - you are amazing! And love the photos of Gramma and Grampa. Not to mention the pigtails and velvet dress. Wow that brought me back. Your feather mess is tame, however, compared to the mess I made when I decided my bean bag chairs needed some slimming down and I started digging out the foam INSIDE. The static electricity that ensued would have impressed Bill Nye - had foam stuck to rug, walls, hair. Still stuck to this day to a pair of fleece sweatpants. Can't wait to see the next 2 weeks of your amazing work. xo
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