Friday, January 14, 2011

Choosing Furniture

One Sunday evening as I was about to go get ready for our date Daddy told me that LV and I should go to the showroom that evening and select what type of table and chairs we wanted so that he could make them before our wedding.

I thanked him and fairly flew upstairs. It would be so much fun choosing the design we wanted. I had never really given the possibility of receiving furniture from Daddy and Mom much thought. I had been too busy making other things for our home. My dresser drawers were getting filled with things that I had made and I loved opening the drawers and looking at everything and dreaming of the day when I could actually use them.

After LV came we went to the showroom. There were so many options to choose from, but we finally settled on a princess size chair, with a Victorian design back, and deluxe spindles. I could finally see why customers could spend a lot of time before they ordered their custom built chairs. We both loved the color of Washington Cherry with a glossy finish. The table was a little easier to decide. We both wanted something that could extend nicely in order to be able to have a lot of guests if we ever wanted to.

The next morning when I told Daddy what we had decided he got started on building the chairs right away. I enjoyed going down to the shop and watching him work on them. For some reason watching my chairs being made was much more special than all the thousands of chairs that I had seen Daddy work on over the years.

I had to substitute at one of the schools on the day that the chairs were moved to the finishing room to get stain and lacquer. When I came home I was very disappointed to see that instead of being stained Washington Cherry they had merely sprayed the chairs with lacquer and they were now natural. Daddy could see that I wasn't enthused about the color and told me that he knew I wouldn't want a dark color in my house. Natural was much more cheerful.

I wasn't convinced but knowing that I would have a dining set to start our home I couldn't really complain and I knew that Daddy was doing what he thought would make me happiest in the long run.


The chairs, now yellowed by years. Each one signed by Daddy just as he did with every chair he made.

21 comments:

  1. Wow, MaryAnn! Your father's woodworking skills are incredible! The attention to detail and beautiful finish are very impressive and how special it is to know that they were handmade by your dad's loving hands! What a blessing he gave you!

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  2. What a wonderful heirloom for your family, and your dad is so talented and caring. I think it's precious he wanted you to have chairs and a table he made himself...
    XOXO
    Joni

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  3. This is the nicest post I have read all day. My father was also a hobby carpenter. I chose a large walnut grandfather clock. At the time my father was retired and working part-time in the furniture store in the Amana Colonies, selling grandfather clocks. I picked my design and my dad picked out each piece of walnut and watched it being made. It is treasured by him, especially now that dad is no longer with us. I just might post about this myself one day. Thank you for a touching part of your life.

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  4. What beautiful work he did and how nice that you are able to continue to cherish them. So, are you glad that they are lighter or do you still wish they had been darker as you had originally wanted?

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  5. What a lovely post and what beautiful furniture, you are very lucky to have your dad make it for you.

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  6. Something made special for you - those things definitely mean the most. I love that he signed the chairs ~

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  7. Oh my, the chair is just beautiful! The whole set must be very impressive. I really like that your dad signed them, too.

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  8. That chair is impressive! Your father was very skilled in his craft.

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  9. I agree with your Dad about the lighter colors :-) Do you still wish they were dark or did the light grow on you?

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  10. This furniture must bring back many memories for you and I, too, wonder if you are happy with the colour. I think they are just perfect and a wonderful heirloom for your family.

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  11. These are just beautiful! Items to cherish for years to come and then to pass down to your children.

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  12. You're so good. Seriously, I would have been livid! So did they grow on you? We're all dying to know. ;-)

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  13. Hello Mary Ann~ I have found your blog recently and have spent this past week - week and a half catching up on your Amish Journey. I have SO enjoyed reading all your stories. I realize that you have just gotten out of the Amish recently but as I would read your post - for some reason I had in my mind that it was a long time ago - like Little House on the Prairie days and so it was funny when I read the post about you and you Mother going shopping at Walmart - had to laugh out loud. Thanks so much for sharing your story -it has been such a blessing to read.
    May God bless you,
    Lisa :O)

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  14. Your father is very talented. That chair is beautiful! I can imagine what a thrill it was to watch him work on your chairs. Thanks for sharing!
    until next time... nel

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  15. A gift without price. How lovely.

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  16. What a blessing to start your home with!
    My Husband and I have my Great Grandmothers table in our home.
    Thank you for stopping by my little blog, I look forward to reading yours and getting to know you more!
    Have a great day:)

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  17. Such a beautiful chair!
    My husband is a hobby woodworker and made us a kitchen table several years ago. He said he would never be able to make the chairs, so we ordered ours from an Amish furniture maker. They're very simple, but so well made that I know they will last forever.

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  18. Wow, I can't imagine having chairs made so lovingly by your own father since mine abandoned me when I was 7. They are truly a gift and a treasure. Nice story. Thank you for your visit to my blog.

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  19. This makes me think of my father. He was one to make things for us. He made metal antique cars and ring since he was a welder by trade! I really enjoyed this post!

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  20. I just found your blog by chance. Beautiful story about your dining set.
    The chair is beautiful too.
    betty, through my back door

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  21. I had Amish Nannys when growing up in Northern Indiana. Learned to make the tucks in bonnets with a butter knife, and pincurl hair to make waves in front! Please enter me in basket contest from AnniesAmishBaskets! She made me cubbie baskets for my Kitchen island. They are amazing!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.