And the winner is.....

Chiang Mai Dragon!

Thank you for all your comments. For those of you who voted for the Carnival fabric, I am still on a search for the perfect chair or settee. As the images below show, the pattern needs a bigger surface area than a measly ol' dining chair. Yes, I would have DIED to find the fabric in these colors. Alas, I did not, but at least you can see what I am aiming for.

Onward and upward to the Faux Bamboo Chairs make-over........

Alvin, Simon, Chippendale!

I often have to entertain myself. It is the little things...

Lookie what I found on my hunt (please disregard cell phone camera shots):

I really really want to keep them for myself. I kind of feel like I am working at an animal shelter and will inevitably just take them all home with me.

Can't you just picture them sitting at a white Saarinen tulip table? Or around a kitchen banquet like Ballard Design's Coventry Collections. Or with a long farm table like this:

Now....which fabric do you like best?

Exhibit A, Christopher Farr's "Carnival":

Exhibit B, Schumacher's "Chiang Mai Dragon":

Here is the Chiang Mai Dragon on my current dining room chairs:

Let me know with a comment.

Next Class Project

I signed up for my second Reupholstery class before the first one even ended. And, I already found a project! While I have time now to tackle this, I'd much rather have some guidance with all the work it will take. I spent about 2 hours in my parents garage a few Saturdays ago and almost demoed the chair completely. A few callouses, fatique, and a Booster Club kid looking for support for this year's sports equipment (only in the suburbs!) stopped me short of victory.

She was in pretty good shape. The fabric was just dated and dirty - the kind of velvet that makes you want to wash your hands :(

I think this used to be horsehair. It was so wiry, but I'm sure that chair was cozy in the winter.
Upholstery is dangerous! Beware of sharp objects at any turn!

Now - what fabric to use. I'm thinking this, by Rubie Green:

Too trendy? I'd love to hear your comments!

Totally Geek to Totally Chic

Thanks to my very talented friend, Wendy, I can debut my chairs in style. Wendy is a professional family and lifestyle photographer (check her out here). She came over today and took pictures of my condo for sale and I had her take some of the finished chairs, too. It is always interesting to see good friends in "work mode". She was so professional and exacting when all I wanted to do was open a bottle of wine.

Thanks Wendy!