Curbside = Mine

A few months ago I saw this....shall I say diamond in the rough on the side of the road. I almost passed it by, but its curved back beckoned me. Accelerating on the gas I made a quick flip around the block. Every time a make a road flip my heart starts to beat fast.
What if someone else sees it and picks it up?
What if the owner saw how excited I was and comes outside to take it back?
What if unbeknownst to me there is a parade and the chair is there for a spectator and not for me?

So I rushed back and there it was. Waiting! I quickly picked it up and tossed it into my trunk.

This past weekend  I decided to tackle this project. Underneath the gorgeous wood was one small problem; layers of white paint. The problem is that the white seeped into every crevice making it impossible to get it all off. I had to get creative and take out my oil paints. I smudged some brown into the wood and viola' it hid most of the white. With a couple of coats of stain, and a few more of gloss I was pleased with the end result.

The seat was upholstered in a floral pattern. Not exactly what I had in mind. Since I am somewhat impatient, I wanted this project to be done so I had no time to shop for fabric. I  remembered that I had a couple old coffee burlap bags in the garage. I thought that the burlap would be a nice contrast to the dark stain. When  I turned them inside out the print was so appropriate for my Portuguese household. SOLD! Minutes later I cut the bag in half, and stapled it to the seat.

Now the chair is in my kitchen. I'm inspired to find a few more chairs on my stops. Wouldn't a grouping of different designs and shapes look beautiful around a table? Oh yeah! I'm on the hunt, so watch what you put curbside, because it might find its way into my trunk.

Gorilla Glue Can't Fix Everything

My friend just purchased her first home…congrats K… Although there are many stressful things that come with owing your own home, closing costs, mortgage, breakdowns, and ultimately the lack of the extra funds that once graced your pockets, there are many things that are exciting too, for instance pulling out small appliances, and furniture that one has been saving for the “right time”. As you know I adore antiques, so when my friend pulled out a pair of dusty old tiger maple chairs in need of some TLC I was on whatever road trip they took me for.

Before

After

We hopped in the car and drove to Gary Thomas’s workshop in Beverly, MA. In meeting Gary I quickly understood his passion for antiques and his expertise in bringing them back to life. It takes tremendous time and patience to work with antiques. A broken leg isn’t something that a bottle of Gorilla Glue can take care of; the process of healing can take months.  Here is the magic that he worked on K’s tiger maple chairs. Aren’t they gorgeous!

If you enjoy the North Shore and Diners in specific, you may want to check out Gary’s book Diners Of The North Shore.  The photos that he collected are wonderful, and give you a “taste” of life back in the day. Enjoy!

Need something refreshed? Here’s Gary’s Contact Information:

Gary Thomas

Thomas Brothers

13 Opal Street

Beverly, MA 01915-2424

978-922-5534

Sitting Is Killing You!

Yesterday when I wrote about my  Keister I was really half kidding about how I felt that it was taking on the shape of my chair, but come to find out,sitting is a growing problem. Today my husband shared with me an article that he found on one of his stops. When I finished reading it I told him that I had to share this with you all. Click on any of the images below and it will take you to an enlarged version so that you can read the details.   

Via: Medical Billing And Coding


This article makes me want to invest in a Gaiam Balance Ball chair for my office. Although I'll still be sitting I think I'll feel better about what I'm sitting on.
It will definitely make me sit up straight because I tend to slouch. So unattractive!!If that doesn't work I may have to bring in my cruiser and pedal my way to better health. 

It’s like a Double Doozy “I Stopped Along The Way” Story

It’s reasons like this that I was inspired to write this blog. It’s like a Double Doozy “I Stopped Along The Way” story.

I stopped by my friend’s house to drop of a dragon,  no not a real dragon,  a clay one that her son and I made on our “date”.  

I expected for it to be  a quick visit,  but anyone  that knows me knows that my favorite line is “i gotto go” (I say it at least 6 times before I make it out the door)

Well today was no exception because Oooohh  she had so much eye candy that I felt like I was at an antique store or on Antique Roadshow.  

I’m talking beautiful furniture that her grandmother Peg passed down to her recently when she passed on at the beautiful age of 100.5.

This stop along the way gave me a glimpse of life  back in the 1900’s, and really made my heart sing. 

Sometime around 1920 her great grandfather, a doctor,  was making a house call in his horse and buggy. 

Along side of him was my friend’s grandmother  who at the time was a child. 

As they traveled to their destination he  happened across a set of chairs that were on the porch of a women’s home. 

He fell in love with them so he “Stopped Along The Way” and asked if she’d be willing to sell them.  

She accepted and sold them to him.  Today those same chairs proudly find themselves in my friend’s living room. 

In addition to the chairs she also has old pipes that were handed down. You can see how her great-grandfather and grandfather would  strike the pipes on the chairs as they enjoyed their evening.  

Imagine how many people have sat on these chairs? How many stories were told on them? How many happy and sad times they saw.   

Over 100 years of history just from one simple “Stop Along The Way”.

Thank you to my friend Linda for her story & her photos!