It probably isn't a huge surprise that the family dinner table holds a lot of importance to me. We had been eating on the table above since Steve and I met - it's one that my grandfather, whom I never met, gave to my grandmother as a wedding gift in 1945. It's a beautiful pine under there somewhere, but it's been painted every color under the sun, starting with this awful thick black that made it impossible to ever strip (I tried. many times). It's been in every apartment and home we've shared, and we've shared a meal here every evening - with friends, family and curious toddlers climbing up on top of it. But it's small, and it's been getting smaller quickly this year. We squeezed around it while I continued the search for something we loved, something priced just right, and something that was 'old and beautiful'.
And then, as these things happen, this table came into our lives and right on into our dining room at the perfect time. A table from a very dear and gracious friend - a table with it's own family history and past. I'm honored to continue it's life as a place of gathering. The first evening we ate on it, we were so happy at the 'just right' feel of it - old, big and beautiful, and the kids were amazed that there was room for us and all the food on the table. Ha! Imagine that.
I knew just the fabric I wanted to use to cover the chairs - it's from the Joel Dewberry collection (which I got from Reprodepot, where it appears to be out now, but it is available at Sew Mama Sew). I do realize that I'm putting white fabric on the chairs, but I'm too stubborn and love the fabric too much to change my mind now, so I purchased a few extra yards for the future changings I'm sure they might need. I love that orange in my green dining room, and the birds seem just right for us.
The yellow table made it's way upstairs to my studio,
where it continues to be used and loved everyday as my cutting table. And our new table is serving us well - family dinners, games, art and craft, reading, writing, and lots of talking - so very much of what we do happens at this table. Thinking about all of those moments of life lived at this table - and the ones yet to come - makes me very happy.
More Corners of My Home on Flickr - (with nearly 20,000 photos of inspiration now. Wow.)
