2009
My Favorite Piece of Furniture
When I was pregnant with my firstborn, my father-in-law offered to make me a crib or some other piece of furniture for the baby’s room. My husband and his dad can make almost anything, and make it incredibly well. I thought it would be a shame to spend time on a crib that would be a centerpiece for a couple years, to be sent off the attic for decades never to be seen again. So I asked for a rocking chair.
Now, when I asked this, I didn’t realize that building a rocking chair would take approximately 3.65 times the amount of time and effort as a crib. I just thought about growing old sitting in a rocking chair on the porch covered with grandchildren saying, “No!” and “Stop that!” (name that movie) The fact is, rocking chairs just don’t go out of style.
So this is what I got. The most beautiful, comfortable rocking chair I have ever seen. And If you really want one I’m sure he would make another for a small fortune.
First, we found a rocking chair that was comfortable to me. It belonged to a friend of ours, so Evan borrowed it for a day so his dad could measure it to get approximate dimensions. I gave him some input (the back was a bit too tall, the seat a bit too deep, etc.).
Then we found some photos of some chairs that I liked. Most of them had a really organic feel with lots of curves.
The bend of the curves in the seat back fit me perfectly.
This part, in the seat of the chair, started out as an accident. It turned in to one of my favorite things about the chair, though.
If you look underneath the seat of the chair, you’ll find this.
My son was born about two weeks after it was finished. Since then, I’ve spent lots of time rocking crying babies. I cried there myself a few times (mostly during the first few weeks after our son was born because I was 1) tired, 2) in some serious pain from nursing, and 3) did I mention tired?). I’ve read books there, I’ve sung songs there, I’ve said prayers there. I can’t imagine a more perfect piece of furniture to welcome the babies to our family.
Thanks, Glen. By now I might have put in as many hours sitting in the chair as you did making it. Maybe.
When I saw that picture of Mason in the rocking chair on the Dailey Adventures, I thought about the chair and all the time Glen had put into it. I’m so glad you featured it here. It is truly the most beautiful rocking chair I have ever seen and so comfortable. I can probably get in and out of it much easier these days too. haha.
Thank you so much for loving the rocking chair and featuring it here to honor Glen’s handiwork. It was a true labor of love!
Kelli, That was very nice of you to highlight the chair, and thanks for the kind words. Karen was right is calling it a ‘labor of love’. From the first evening Karen and I met you, we’ve been in love with you almost as much as Evan. So when it came to buliding the chair for you, it was an easy task. I hope you always enjoy the chair, and can someday enjoy growing old and rocking gandchildren in it! Glen
I love your last shot of the light background. What kind of camera do you use for your everyday picture taking?
April – I have a Canon 30D I use 90% of the time. I also have a little Canon point and shoot that I keep in my purse if we’re out and about, but I only have it so I don’t have to lug my giant camera bag around. On all but the first shot, I was using a 50mm 1.4 lens – which is the lens I use for most of the photos on this site, since I’m usually shooting in low-light/indoors conditions.
Probably more than you needed to know…haha. But there you go.
That’s an awesme chair.
Astounding! Will you be able to forgive the kids that try to cut their teeth on it?
It is beautiful!
And now I want to go home and watch Steel Magnolias!
)
lol a handful of of the responses individuals put up make me giggle, occasionally i ask myself whether they even read the articles or reviews and threads before writing a comment or whether or not they simply just read over the titles and submit the initial thought that pops into their heads. at any rate, it is pleasurable to read through intelligent commentary from time to time rather than the exact same, classic post vomit that i invariably observe on the web i’m off to play a couple of rounds of facebook poker good bye