Sewing New Life

Have you ever known anyone that absolutely loves vintage furniture and "old" stuff?  Yes?!  What a coincidence - So do I!!  ( me ) I can't help it.  I'm a sucker for a pretty piece of furniture.  And if it's an antique that has sentimental value; say, I cherish and love the previous owner, well, I'm simply done for.  This situation has occurred to me on more than one occasion.   I guess I'm what you might call a collector of nostalgic family heirlooms.  My home is filled mostly with "hand-me-downs" and I love it that way.  Every piece has a story, a history, a true-to-my-heart meaning.  The table that I write upon at this very moment and use as my desk was created for me by my beloved, master wood-craftsman grandfather.  He's no longer with us, but every time I sit here, I am fondly reminded of him.  Over the years I have acquired many well made, sentimental pieces of furniture.  I won't name each and every one and their story, or we'll be here for a while.  But what I will tell you about is my most recent inheritance - A broken down, musty, rotting, torn, dust infested sofa that belonged to my great aunt Helen who recently passed away.  As soon as I saw it, my heart leaped with joy!  "If nobody else would like it, I will give it a new home," I told my family members as we worked to clean out her house this past summer.  Sure!  It's yours, Barb!  When my husband came to pick it up with his truck, he tried talking me out of it.  But when a woman's mind is made up - it's made up.  You may as well just accept that fact, guys. 

Lucky for both of us, where there's a will, there's a way.  I knew just who to call to help remedy this situation.  Someone with the ability to see beyond the surface damage, beyond the ripped and dusty exterior, beyond the here and now.  Someone with vision.  Someone with the know-how, the years of experience, the craftsmanship, the hands and mind of an artisan for his craft.  I called my local upholstery friends at Glass Upholstery in Morgantown, PA.  I knew that Craig Glass would know if this piece was worth saving, or if I needed to let it go.  And, well, I wouldn't be writing this story if he had broken my heart and told me "no, sorry, it's too far gone."  No, he told me, "It still has a good solid frame."  As you can imagine, I was thrilled with this news.  And then he told me, "If I find any money inside, I'll split it with you!"  SOLD!  We loaded it up in his van and away he took it to his shop located at 4177 Hay Creek Road. 

I made an appointment to stop by Glass' home based upholstery shop, a father and son business, to look through their myriad of upholstery fabrics and browse the different selections that they offer.  After this browsing experience, and narrowing down my choices to a handful, I talked with Craig's father, Bob Glass who gave me some great tips and advice.  He told me that I shouldn't settle on a pattern that I didn't like completely.  It should be something that I will be able to live with for many years to come.  And sometimes it's best to see a larger swath of fabric in order to fully visualize how the fabric is going to look on my "new" sofa.  He suggested that I visit another small business in the area, located in Elverson, The Interior Alternative.  He told me basically how much fabric I would need in case I found my choice fabric elsewhere.  Not many small business owners would be willing to put the needs of their customers' satisfaction before their own possible profit, but that's the way Mr. Glass does business.  His patience and advice was and is greatly appreciated.  I left their shop and headed over to see what The Interior Alternative had to offer.  

Literally, within minutes of walking into The Interior Alternative, a rather large fabric & bedding outlet with floor to ceiling rolls upon rolls of fabric, the salesperson, Keith and I had located my ideal choice!  And it was on sale!  I love when things fall into place like that, don't you?  Kismet, I tell you.  Keith was great.  After measuring the needed yardage of material, and tallying my order, I paid for it, and he set it up so that he would get the fabric to Craig for me.  Smooth sailing!  Thanks, Keith!!  If you get a chance to stop by his shop, please tell him I said "hello! and thanks again!"  

A beautiful reupholstered chair awaiting it's owner to pick up in Glass Upholstery's customer service area.

I had an opportunity to stop by Glass' Upholstery once again; to formerly tell Bob and Craig about this write-up and my blog focusing on local small businesses.  We had lively, spirited conversation filled with plenty of laughs, inquisitive questioning on both parts, and serious dialogue as well about the state of small businesses such as theirs.  Bob, a veteran in the upholstery industry for 54 years, expressed a deep concern for the upholstering industry on the whole.  According to him, it is becoming a lost art.  There aren't many people willing to put the amount of hours, the amount of dedication it takes, the amount of worthwhile experience required to master this art form, as well as, run a small upholstery  business successfully.  And Craig told me that most of their clients that bring antique furniture, the stuff that is actually capable of being reupholstered, is the more mature generation of folks that have interest in reclaiming their well-made treasures.  He also told me that most of the furniture that is being produced today, is so cheaply made that when it comes time to consider reupholstering, it won't be worth it, or possible for that matter.  There's not much one can do with furniture made from particle board.  

On the flip side of this, I see their small business as a great value and asset to people like me.  People that value heirloom quality hand-me-downs.  People who appreciate the unique furnishings of yesteryear.  They had previously (a few years ago) reupholstered a channel back chair for me that was inherited from my husband's aunt Betty.  It is the most beautiful piece of furniture, and so comfortable that I keep it in my office - away from bouncing children or dog hair and grime.  Craig did an outstanding job for me, and I am grateful to him and his dad for their dedication to their profession.  So, as long as there are people like me to bring you unique challenges in reupholstering, Bob & Craig, you will keep your business for many years to come!  That's a promise.  

Here are Craig & Bob in their shop.  Bob was very reluctant to have his photograph taken and he gave me just one opportunity to get it right.  His fun witted humor was spry and, yet, serious at the same time.  He told me with great sincerity, while earnestly staring straight into my eyes, that he "has never met a piece of furniture that he was afraid of."  No upholstery challenge is too great for his expertise, and craftsmanship.  I believe it.

They even let me take a peek inside their shop and take a few photos to share with you!  I felt honored with this privilege.

Okay!  The moment you have been waiting for!  I hear you - I know what you're thinking: "She sure has lots to say about this sofa, well, let's see it!!!"  Here are a couple of the *before* pictures…

There is beauty in all things.  ;)

It didn't take long, just 2.5 weeks, for the phone to ring and to hear Craig on the other end telling me, "Your sofa is ready!"  Of course, I was thrilled!  We set up a date/time for him to bring the sofa for delivery to our home.  While he and my husband moved it into the house, I took plenty of photos!   

After all this build up, the wait, the challenges that this sofa produced for me and my family, naturally, I needed to follow it's debut up with something extra special!  How about a family sofa session in the field adjacent to my husband's family's farm!  Yes!!  We strategically moved it to the field, and after doing so, have decided that this is a once in a "blue moon" occurrence.  

Here it is!  In it's debut appearance on the web … Great Aunt Helen's sofa reupholstered and brought back to life by the master upholsterer's at Glass Upholstery!!  … Ta Da!! 

Isn't it lovely?  Oh, how I love it!!  And it's super-duper comfortable!!  Another treasured heirloom for me and my family to enjoy (carefully).  A beautiful piece of furniture that I hope to one day pass along to my girls.  It is my hope that while living amongst these treasures that fill our home, my girls will learn to appreciate the beauty, the craftsmanship, the sentimental value that each carries with it. 

You may see more images from our evening sofa session on my other blog by clicking on this link > My 3 Girls Photography | My Family's Sofa Session <

I cannot say enough good things about Glass Upholstery and how they have added to the quality of our life with their fine, precise care for details, and master craftsmanship.  They have my utmost respect.  I feel privileged to have had the chance to gain insight into both Bob & Craig's life on a personal level, as well as, on a professional level.  Sharp as tacks, both of them, and great fun to be around.  I wish them many more years of successful small business ownership.  And should the need arise for their expert services, and you have the great honor of meeting these fellas, please tell them you saw this blog post and how important they are to our local economy.  I know my great aunt Helen must be smiling down on her sofa made new by these artisans, and I am eternally grateful.