I wanna rock with you, baby

Seeing as this baby is just about three weeks away from her scheduled arrival, I've been starting to panic a bit over all the things Luke and I still have yet to do. My biggest priority of late: reupholstering the rocking chair my mother gave me years ago, the same rocking chair she used to lull me (and eventually my four siblings) to sleep. I can also remember being thirteen and sitting in this chair when my youngest sister, Donna, was born, pushing my feet against the carpet and moving in time with her breaths for hours.

To say this chair has special meaning to me is a gross understatement.

Another thing that can't be underestimated? The horridness of the fabric.

Here's the front, in all its mismatched-patterned glory:

The brown plaid is what initially covered the chair almost twenty-eight years ago. The questionable green-pink-blue concoction is thanks to my mom, who swears this once complimented the rest of our living room furniture. I wish I could believe her.

Here's the back:

I think we can all agree, it's time for a change.

For months, I've planned on doing this. I've had visions of reupholstering this precious childhood heirloom with a rich, creamy, neutral fabric, allowing the chair to match the decor of any room it might find itself in, which right now happens to be the baby's room. I knew it could be done--after all, my mother had the same itch herself once (probably in the mid-eighties, judging by her color choices). Her solution? Nail the fabric to the frame for the front and back and sew up the cushion. I figured I could do at least that much and didn't give it another thought until fall, when I realized this project wasn't going to complete itself.

The nails didn't seem like such a good idea then.

But staples! We could staple the fabric and thus avoid bludgeoning our fingers. Problem solved (read: problem shelved for another couple of months).

Which brings us to the present time.

Every weekend for the past three weeks, I've expressed to Luke my desire to PLEASE LET'S GET THIS CHAIR DONE, OH MY GOD, and every weekend it slips off the radar as we wash dishes, fold clothes, and make yet another mad dash to Babies R Us. Finally, this morning, I told him enough already. This baby, she could come any time she wants, and it would be more helpful to finish this off before I'm breathing through contractions on the way to the hospital.

This afternoon Luke removed the second layer of fabric from the front of the chair, after which he realized that staples might not be the smartest solution, either, as they might be just as hard to hide as the nails were. Carpenters we are not, people.

We first googled "upholstery shops Indianapolis" with the intention of purchasing better materials with which to attach new fabric. Then I was calling businesses and requesting quotes and suddenly we were driving through downtown to meet with the only shop owner with Saturday operating hours. It's all a blur now, but the bottom line is that handing the problem off to a professional will ensure us a quality job, not to mention completion before Freka's due date, so that's what we're going to do. If I were even half as crafty and resourceful as a certain domestic goddess I know, I'd vow to save the money and find a way to do this ourselves. But you know what? I'm not that crafty. I'm not that resourceful. I'm almost thirty-seven weeks pregnant, is what I am, and holy cow, do I not want to deal with this damn chair anymore.

Now I can finally dedicate my time to finishing a project more up my alley. Like wills! The fun, it never ends around here.

Comments

[Jana]

And, of course, they'll be pictures of the "new" chair, right?

[Molly]

Hooray for your chair! I can't wait to see how it turns out. Did you end up using the fabric Samantha brought, or did you choose another?

Also, holy crap! Thirty-seven?! I'm totally scared for you, like you may drop this baby at any second. I've never been that far along. Eek!

[daddy dd]

Even though the colors don't match, the rocker will rock just fine. It will have to wait on becoming pretty and just serve the rocking function. It has character the way it is right now.

[Becca]

Having completed several "re-upholstering jobs" myself, usually involving nails, staples, and gratuitous use of the F word, I think you made the right call. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

[Jenny]

Somehow I knew who the domestic goddess was going to be before I rolled over the link!

I'm with you - all for having the intentions to do something myself and then handing it off to pros...I simply do not have the patience or ability to do those kinds of things myself!

[AD]

I rocked you in this chair when I was 13.
;) very special.
Love AD

[TasterSpoon]

Let's hear it for professionals. It drives me crazy when I watch shows like "Design on a Dime" and they make a room fantastic for under $500 with new entertainment centers and fireplace mantels that "only cost $50!" Yeah, $50 if you're an experienced carpenter with a full workshop and ability to get materials at cost. Also, yay for hand-me-downs.

[Rachel]

I can't wait to see the finished product! Somehow I knew that Molly was the domestic goddess! Because, of course, she totally is!