I initially wanted to tell the full story of my failure here but quickly realised it was far to much to communicate in a simple post. I wanted to make my friend Ibby a rocking chair, something filled with love that would stay with her as she grew old. It was a fantasy I let grow into reality
I really wanted to make my beautiful friend Ibby a rocking chair for Christmas 2023. I had loads of free time (thanks to unemployment) and I though it would be a good way to apply that. Instead I bit off far more than I can chew and through my hubris killed a really beautiful restoration of a chair.
She was looking very beautiful, a solid and honest job that made me really proud. Buuut I did have to make a rocking chair. In a rush to try to complete the project before Christmas I did this...
And like that, that chair has sat unfinished in my workshop for just short of year. I had no way to solve my problems and the guilt I feel around destroying a beautiful piece of furniture held be back from throwing it away. It didn't help that I had immense guilt around my friend not getting her Christmas present on time.
In that time that I sat feeling burdened with a project I wasn't yet ready to call a failure, I found this chair for $15 at the Logan Recycling Market.
This rocking chair works great, but when I found it, it only had the back cushion (with some awful looking upholstery). I couldn't find foam big enough that wouldn't set me back over $100 so I bought a bunch of foam cut offs from reverse garbage and simply glued them together to create the size I needed.
I found myself very intimidated by the upholstery required for these cushions. I could not find a fabric I liked and I was not very confident in my cushion sewing ability, so this chair also sat for about 10 months looking bare and sad. Although finally, over the last couple of weeks, I've been able to work towards finally giving Ib her Christmas present.
I found this earthy green that is so pleasant to touch that I think works perfectly with the chairs warm colours.
Although the colours looked lovely I knew that what it needed was buttons.
The buttons really made it sing and were that last step that really pulled together such an gorgeous looking chair.
Finishing this project finally gave me the strength to abandon the other failed project, to say my goodbyes and give it my apologies and learn from the mistake. It had been a weight for so long that letting go was a really big moment. Finishing up also gave me reflection on how much I have learned throughout these chairs, so many upholster skills gained that I'm really proud of.
Finally giving Ibby her Christmas present also lifted a huge weight. Even better she really loved it; her and all her housemates adore it in their rustic Queenslander they share. I am excited for this chair to give them all much joy in their home.
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