Auctions and inventory

Picked up this Victorian Eastlake settee at the auction. Paid way more than I usually do. $45 for both.
I have a few ideas for the fabric...cant wait to get to it.

I'm also continuing the coffee bag theme and upholstering some old dining chairs I've had in storage for a long while.

 Still needs a little touch up and the gimp edging

















The in process and before pics.

Famous Art Metal Furniture find.

Just the day before I picked up this office chair I was at the local museum learning all about the history of the Art Metal Furniture Co. and going gaga over an 1890 metal roll top desk.
The next day I picked up this really heavy and well made office chair at an estate sale...as I was taking it apart what do I see? The Art Metal Furniture Co of Jamestown Label!

Before

After

More coffee please.

This was given to me, probably came off the street. Stripped it down to the frame. I forgot to take a before picture..it would have given you nightmares, it was icky.
But the burlap coffee bag cover wakes this up...I think.

Another Auction Bargain and cute to boot!

Got these at an auction as part of a lot, was interested in another chair but for a buck how could you go wrong? Turns out they are made by the Jamestown Lounge Co. a "collectible" out of business local furniture company. Add the one buck to the free coffee bags I used to cover the seats and you have a winner...even if I don't know where I'll use them or if anyone I know can either.

This is before I refinished the wood, as seen in the pictures below.

Two chairs and the ottoman done!

Two fairly easy upholstery jobs finished....now no excuse to get back to the large wing chair.

 Even the Amish liked this rocker...probably because it's black ;-)

Forgot to add the before pic

Gotta keep away from auctions!

When the bidding stalled at $15 for this mid century gem
 (with an ottoman) I just had to go to $20!
It rocks too (more like a bobble than an actual rock)!The original fabric was under the brown but I found a retro fabric that is just going to be perfect...can't wait to get started.

And gotta stay away from online fabric stores....but won't this look cool?

Done and love it!

Finished the lovely small arm chair.
Great fun working with the fabric, lines up almost perfectly...I won't mention where I missed if you don't see it ;-)

Here it is at home

The Next Chair

At a recent estate sale we found this chair that is perfect (well not the fabric, of course) for my friend's house. She had given me just the right fabric for it last year too!

 

Can't wait to see the transformation.

Starting to come together...

Adorable....I think.

A dear friend came by with this orange rattan-wicker chair. The seat was gone so I added a board and a
foam/Dacron topping. She is going to use it on a porch...so after a long look through my stash of fabric (nothing went with the bright orange) I found a chenille bedspread that I had already used for pillows for her...
Eureka, it worked! Fun, flirty and skirty.  

More Wing Chairs!

At the auction picked up another two wing chairs...really only wanted the one on the left...but for ten bucks a piece I took them both.

Cat not included.

One couch completed and a rocker...one other chair in progress

Here she is! soon there will be a matching footstool.

Coming along

A long way from this...

Here's the first of the two matching couches..

Soon we'll have a comfy round chair

And a rebuilt Rocking Chair

Two couches, in progress

Here's the first of two couches I purchased at a local auction....for 5 bucks!
The grey corduroy is soft and a great upholstery fabric.

Almost done...just a few pulls and tucks. then on goes the back and then the pull out bed mechanism.

 

In Progress, now finished

This wing chair was a steal at a local auction...the original worn pink fabric kept other bidders at bay.
The twill fabric of dandelions in gray and white is so calming...the back will be in duck cotton white with white welting as accents.

Here she is completed

The next projects

Here's one from another auction

There's a pile of chairs waiting in the wings, pun intended.

Here is a pair of mid-century modern cuties, in progress and finished.

Here's a chair that a dear friend gave me...
I can't wait to get started

After a long pause....there was work happening behind the scenes.

This auction find turned out to be an Ethan Allen gem.
Before:

and after:

Here she is!

I love how this came out.
It's a comfortable chair that transcends styles. Modern, classic, retro and chic.

History, Upholstery and me

In 1346 an organized group of Upholders, an archaic name for upholsterers, petitioned King Edward III to protect them against unfair practices from France. In 1465 they were granted a Coat of Arms and in the ensuing years consolidated their power by obtaining “Acts of Parliament” to outlaw bad craftsmanship.

Let’s jump ahead a few years, okay a few centuries, and stop in at my place. I revitalize vintage chairs and continue the time honored practice of outlawing bad craftsmanship. For years I have studied the art of upholstery and furniture restoration. But, like most people, my passion had to take a back seat (pardon the pun) to my daily life. Well, I didn’t have to petition a King or seek out an Act of Parliament, but I have declared myself “free” to practice my passion full time.

Here you will find a wide array of vintage beauties that were destined for the trash heap. I have rescued more chairs than I can ever keep and will be offering these revitalized pieces for purchase.

I invite you to check back in to see works in progress, newly completed pieces and browse my selection of one of a kind offerings

In progress

Before: How blue are you?

Before, The cat used this customer's chair as a scratching post

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During...and wait the new fabric will be amazing!!!

How I love this fabric

Done! with added contrasting lumbar pillow.