Friday, November 20, 2009

New Old Rocking Chair


I found it, distressed and abandoned on the sidewalk. It had most obviously not been taken care of for a long time. I carried it home, sanded it carefully and painted it bright white.
Now all it needs is a cushy pad/pillow for its seat, to make it more comfortable. I haven't found anything on Esty, and am now considering making a custom sized pad using old sweaters. Any suggestions?

26 comments:

donna baker said...

I can't believe you found that. I love the idea of using your old sweaters. I can't think of anything better than that.

Joyful said...

I love the recycled chair. I'm always on the lookout for something like it that can be reused. Currently I have a repurposed dressing tables (circa 40s) which I use in my bedroom filled with books in the drawers. I've cleaned the wood but haven't painted it - yet. I like the look of sweaters repurposed into cushions. Here is one I especially like though the sweater looks too nice to cut http://www.refashion.com.au/sweatercushion.htm

Mary-Laure said...

DONNA - yep, I found it on the street, really. Free.

JOYFUL - thanks for the link, I love that cushion-making tutorial; I suspect what I might make would never look anywhere near as lovely as the one on the website though, as I am hopeless with a needle. I wish I could saw properly.
I'd love to see your repurposed dressing table - maybe you could feature it on your blog?

Laura in Paris said...

Great for you, Marylaure!
It looks beauiful in white, like new. But it is lots of work, isn't it?

Joyful said...

Hello Mary-Laure, I'm sure you will do well on your seat cushion. At least you know it will be made with love of the re-purposed items :-) As for blogging about my dresser, I am not sure I would know what to say, lol, as I only wiped it down and put books in the drawers and found a placer for it in my bedroom. I am sending you a photo of one that looks like it but mine is missing the mirror and bench which I do not need for now.
http://vancouver.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAdLargeImage?AdId=47627240
Perhaps one day when I get my apartment sorted out I can take a photo of my dresser/desk. In the meantime, I wish you well with the cushion making.

Angie Muresan said...

That's a wonderful idea! I'm sure it will look stylish.

patti said...

We were at an auction Thursday, where a similar rocker sold for $1... Make your own cushion! If your sweaters are wool, put them through the washer (on hot) and dryer a few times. The texture is so interesting, and the yarn won't ravel.

Mary-Laure said...

PATTI - the auction sounds exciting... Thanks for your pillow making tips.

Unknown said...

oh it's great (but i would have left it as it...;)!!!

Mary-Laure said...

IF JANE - no, I don't think you would have; the picture makes it look A LOT better than it actually did. It looked very dirty and damaged, as if it had spent years in a dark, moldy place.

Miss Cavendish said...

I like your idea of the sweater cushion. I have a problem of buying antique chairs that one cannot sit upon, hence, many old, delicate, and pretty chairs sans (sitting) function pepper my home.

Unknown said...

uuu ok...i am convinced...great! that you painted it white...;))

Sherin said...

Wow, that is such a great find. And it looks like you cleaned it up really well.

Crystal Ball said...

What a treasure! You sure did a fine job of making it look loved again. Good luck with finding the perfect finishing touch.

Mary-Laure said...

MISS CAVENDISH - well, my studio is so small that I can hardly crowd it with chairs that are not fir for use. I'd love to see your antique chair collection though.

Debra said...

It looks like a comfy and fabulous find. I do love the idea of a sweater cushion. There's nothing better than finding someones toss-outs-loving them and making them part of our homes.

mansuetude said...

one of my fav chairs is the same, but opposite. an old chair that was painted white, left out in the trash, i carried it home feeling guilty; sanded it and found it was old oak school chair made in Chicago i think, has an old tag on it ...

Mary-Laure said...

MANSUETUDE - when the wood is a fine, good quality wood, I just can't imagine why people paint over it... This one was pretty bad, and almost moldy, that's why it needed to be freshened up.
Don't feel guilty about grabbing that chair! You gave it a new life; otherwise it would have ended up in a dumpster, a much sadder fate, no?

Marci said...

En blanco es una idea excelente.
Pocas veces he encontrado cosas que se puedan reciclar, supongo que también hace mucho la zona donde vives.
Te quedó perfecta.

Maria | Vintage Simple said...

I love these kinds of finds - and I love white paint. Perfect work..!

You know Rebekah? She's a mad genius when it comes to working with old sweaters and sewing projects in general... She may be able provide some inspiration:

http://littlebyrdvintage.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-mittens.html

xoxo,
-maria

marie said...

oh i love this! cant wait to see your cushion. you could make a patchwork one from your old jumpers :) have fun!

Mary-Laure said...

VINTAGE SIMPLE - I just checked out Rebekah's blog (I didnd't know it) and indeed it is more than exquisite; everything's perfectly pretty, thanks for the tip!

MARIE - I am much, much too clumsy to make anything like a patchwork though I love the idea!

artycho said...

I find amazing what people throw away! Friends of ours got most of the living room furniture in the street!

Francesca said...

What a great find! To be honest, I love the cane seat as it is, but a rocking chair is all about comfort, and so I can see why you'd want a cushion!

Mary-Laure said...

FRANCESCA - I agree, the caning is pretty but I also want to make the chair look comfortable and "warm".

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