Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!

A sincere thank you to all my followers!  The Yummy Furniture and Design first ever Open House was a complete success.  Friends and associates, old and new clients plus passers by stopped in to see the newly designed line of pillows, ottomans, benches, chairs and vintage upholstered pieces.

Sherbert bench with David Austin Roses. Photo SHS

Corner Chair with Carol's Day Lilies. Photo SHS

Two Pillows. Photo SHS

 

And thank you to all who entered the raffle for the Victorian Savonorola chair. 

Victorian Savonorola Chair, Photo SHS

L to R: The Author with Eric Webber

Eric Webber was the surprised and lucky recipient.  

The proceeds were split between the Jefferson Area Food Bank

Image Courtesy of Bing Maps

and the  

Humane Society of Jefferson County.

Photo Courtesy of Humane Society of Jefferson County

Line up for seconds, the second show is in the making!

Theresa Haffner-Stearns

Yummy Furniture and Design

theresamhs@sbcglobal.net

608-345-7027

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Yummy Furniture and Design Sweet Dreams Pillows

Only two days until the Open House and I am a bundle of nerves! For your viewing pleasure!

A patchwork of pillows.

Photo: SHS

Why waste design space?

All of these pillows are double sided with a different design on each side.  Come and see! 

 

 

Yummy Furniture and Design Hot Seat Sale and Open House

Sunday July 24th and Monday the 25th  

The event: Noon to 6:00PM both days at 502 Sherman Ave. E., Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538

 

 

Theresa Haffner-Stearns

Yummy Furniture and Design

theresamhs@sbcglobal.net

608-345-7027

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If You're Cornered, Have a Seat.....

Make it a yummy seat.  Designed from scratch and built by hand, this corner chair is guaranteed to make sitting in any corner a memorable experience.

 

Photo: SHS

Unlike its predecessors, it's fully upholstered in celadon silk complimented with sage velvet trim. This chair is a focal point as well as conversation piece.

Yummy Furniture and Design Hot Seat Sale and Open House

Sunday July 24th and Monday the 25th  

The event: Noon to 6:00PM both days at 502 Sherman Ave. E., Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538



Theresa Haffner-Stearns

Yummy Furniture and Design

theresamhs@sbcglobal.net

608-345-7027

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Peekaboo Preview Three!

It's coming down to the wire for me; only 6 days to the open house. Today and tomorrow are my last full days to work on projects for the event!

Photo: SHS

Steve took this photo of what he dubbed my spicy cinnamon seat. The hidden surprize is that the back and arm pads are upholstered in a faux leopard fabric.  It's details like these that everyone should expect to see at the open house.

Yummy Furniture and Design Hot Seat Sale and Open House

Sunday July 24th and Monday the 25th  

The event: noon to 6:00PM both days at 502 Sherman Ave. E.,Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538



Theresa Haffner-Stearns

Yummy Furniture and Design

theresamhs@sbcglobal.net

608-345-7027

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The Life of the Object

The Mid-America American Studies Association Conference was hosted by the Material Culture Focus Group at the UW-Madison this past weekend.  As a member of the focus group and attendee I can share a few insights with you.

Our keynote speaker Hanna Rose Shell educated us on the Haitian pepe (pe-pay) industry. Used clothing is shipped in bales from 1st world countries to the island nation.

Pepe Photo Courtesy Google Images

It is bought, sold and refashioned into clothing more suitable for and in the tastes of the Haitian people. Pepe makers work the garments on foot operated sewing machines. While they are accused of putting traditional tailors out of business, it is more likely that the tailors will adapt and start making pepe as well. The concept was started during John F. Kennedy's term in office and picked up the nick name of Kennedy, as well as Goodwill and Reagan. The cream of the crop is aptly called Hollywood Pepe!

Pepe Photo Courtesy Google Images

I also caught the lecture of the UW"s own Beverly Gordon's figural totems that she creates with natural detritus. For those unfamiliar with the word, detritus refers to organic debris formed by the decomposition of plants or animals. So as a fish rots, its skull would become a material for Gordon to compose with. Other materials she employs are skeletal leaves, the tails of crabs, deer hooves, bones, shells, fabric plus many other plant and animal parts. Gordon’s work is often sculptural. One type is called “Tierra”; objects she fashions with discernable heads and bodies. 

Here are two photos of a tierra composed of a deer leg as the main body part and wrapped in fabric described by Gordon as Deerhead with Cape Back.

Photo courtesy of Beverly Gordon

Photo courtesy of Beverly Gordon

 
Here is another composed of animal bones, a gourd and fabric titled Gallheadwhite.

 

Photo courtesy of Beverly Gordon

I don't know that I have ever seen more creative objects 

composed of such surprising materials! 

Mark Nelson also working at the host University, explored the social ramifications of the popular online game of Farmville. 

Image courtesy Google Images

He noted that this type of "gamification" plays on both the inquisitive nature of humans as well as our need to buy in excess. He called it the gateway drug for those who enjoy the adrenaline of buying. But Nelson was quick to point out that people also enjoy the social connection made through the online community. He noted items are bought and often given away to friends; coining the phrase " virtual reciprocal gifting loop". Here, Nelson is pictured with the session moderator and panel members as we enjoyed an open discussion after the presentation.

L-R Lauren Kroiz at podium, Mark Nelson, Benjamin Wiggins, Rebecca Keyel, Photo by the Author

The conference reminded me collaboration occurs anytime people get together and chat-

where everybody's ideas can have a seat at the table.  

More on this subject tomorrow!

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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Speaker Credentials:

Beverly Gordon, UW-Madison Professor, Chair of Design Studies Graduate Committee

Rebecca Keyel, UW-Madison, MS Candidate

Lauren Kroiz, UW-Madison Asst. Professor Art History

Mark Nelson, UW-Madison Asst Professor Design Studies
Hanna Rose Shell, Asst Professor MIT Program in Science, Technology and Society, Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows.

Benjamin Wiggins, University of Minnesota

Nails, Heat and Lack of Moisture = Frame Damage

Greetings from my favorite furry friend Bear!

Photo: SHS

The summary of last weeks work is that nails used in ways unanticipated by the blog chair frame’s designer damage the integrity of its structure. Today we document some of the damage.

In this first photo the webbing is pictured how I found it; metal straps placed over the jute.

Photo: SHS

Next the metal is removed and just the vinyl strips and jute remain. Recall that these thin vinyl strips were nailed through the webbing and into the inner sides of the frame. 

Photo: SHS

Finally, all the quick fixes are removed and we can see how the webbing bulges down from the wood frame.

Photo: SHS

This is a direct result of releasing the metal strapping and vinyl strips used to shore it up.  Re-webbing plus re-installing and retying the springs would have been the proper way fix the sagging webbing, but that takes more time and effort. 

Recall that both of the "quick fix" efforts drove more nails deeper into the chair’s frame and at angles unforeseen by its designer.  In this photo of the under side of the back seat rail, notice the large crack extending from the right and spreading left towards the center. This occurred over time as nails were repeatedly driven into the wood.  

Photo: SHS

Notice the placement of the last nail head on the right side of the webbing. It is below the crack.  This leads me to believe that the crack to the frame existed for quite some time. The damage was obvious and the nail placed under it to keep the crack from spreading further.  This had to be done by the last person to web the chair

Also playing into this picture are heat and humidity. The wood is dry and there is very little moisture left in its fiber. It was probably stored in an attic or placed near a heat vent when in use.  I would have preferred storage in a barn as there would have been more humidity present. The lack of moisture in the wood causes it to crack more easily, especially when all those nails are used.

Further evidence of parched dried wood is in the use of extremely long staples by the chair’s most recent upholsterer technician; used to apply the decorative fabric. 

Photo: SHS

These staples are 5/8” long. The industry standard is 3/8” long. The added 1/4” penetration helps the fabric stay put but also damages the chair further by forcing the staples further into the wood and spreading its fibers.

Undoubtedly I will discover more damage as I remove the rest of the cover. 

So the moral of the today's story is?  Understand the importance of employing an upholsterer who understands that she/he should repair your frame before attempting to recover it.  

Love your dog,..and give him something yummy to chew on! 

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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For more on the wood's qualities and how people crafted in the medium, see John T. Kirk's, American Furniture, Understanding Styles, Construction and Quality, New York, Harry N. Abrams. Section 2, pp 17-25.

Reupholstery 101 Part III

On March 22^nd, we talked about the twisting action of the nails grinding against the wood as it moves in and out of the frame. I will document the damage after the jute webbing is removed. Today another problem is discussed; tightening the stretched out webbing in lieu of replacing it.

Notice the light colored strip of fabric that is visible on top of the webbing running diagonally to the metal strap we discussed last week.  This was the first attempt to shore up the webbing via a quick fix. 

Photo: SHS

Over time all webbing stretches out. This fix takes the slack in the length of webbing and literally nails it to the frame.

Keeping in mind that the chair is upside down, the process is as follows. First the strip of strong fabric, in this case vinyl was placed on top of the webbing. Then the technician placed pressure on it and forced it down.  With even more pressure it was forced sideways against the inside of the chair rail; at which point tacks were driven through the strip and the webbing at an angle into the chair seat rail.  

 The slack in the length of webbing is nailed to the frame, making the webbing tighter and forcing the springs back up to their original height.

Photo: SHS

This process is detrimental to the chair for two reasons. The chair frame is receiving more nails than it was engineered for. Plus It was manufactured with the idea that only upholstery tacks would enter the frame from the top and the bottom of the rail.

The fabric method puts nails at an angle through the rail. In the prototype process, the grain of the wood is taken into consideration as the cabinetmaker considers how the chair is joined and weight will be distributed. Nails entering the seat rail at an angle were not taken into consideration and will at first cause bits to fracture off and eventually larger portions of the wood to split.

The metal strap method mentioned on March 22nd also causes damage to the wood frame.

Photo: SHS

The twist nails(1") used to attach the strap to the frame are longer than upholstery tacks (3/4") and consequently forced deeper into the wood. Upholstery tacks are tapered. They separate the fibers as they enter the wood. But the twist nail shafts are thicker than upholstery tacks and the shaft is twisted: as it enters the wood it crushes the fibers. 

These ill considered repairs were not anticipated by the woodworker.* 

Pictured below (left to right) are a twist nail, a size 14 upholstery tack and a size 8 upholstery tack.  Note how the shafts of the upholstery tacks are tapered and that of the twist nail is only tapered at the very tip.

Photo: SHS

You might be wondering why two attempts were made to shore up the webbing?!?  

Replacing the webbing on the bottom of a chair hinges to another time consuming job; that of removing, reinstalling and retying the springs.  It is a time intensive process which requires a certain level of skill.

Illustration by the Author

Only the craftiest upholsterer can retie the springs to new webbing through the webbed bottom. 

Photo: SHS

So to save time and/or avoid work many upholsterers technicians ignore the obvious and strap on whatever quick fix they can thereby compromising the frame of the chair.

The integrity of the blog chair frame has been weakened.

As the nail continues to turn....

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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*For more on the wood's qualities and how people crafted in the medium, see John T. Kirk's, American Furniture, Understanding Styles, Construction and Quality, New York, Harry N. Abrams. Section 2, pp 17-25.

Change of Pace: Discussion on Postwar Suburbs in America

Have you ever really thought about where you live and how it came to be? 

At a panel discussion (3.28.2011) entitled “History and Fate of the Postwar American Suburb” at the UW-Madison, WI, I got a new perspective on how a sense of place-and history -is so important to our perception of home.

Presenting the panel:

L-R, Arnold R. Alanen, Brad Murphy. Dianne Harris, Daina Penkiunas, Brad Murphy, Anna Andrzejewski

Moderator Anna Andrzejewski opened the discourse by posing several questions:

Anna Vemer Andrzejewski

As postwar suburbs become historical sites, both preservationists and city planners alike are asking:

What do we preserve?

How can we accommodate commercial development within these areas? 

How do we study these places and finally…

How do we live in them? 

Arnold R. Alanen provided the background.  

Arnold R. Alanen

Citing the popular movie Revolutionary Road in which Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio play a young couple struggling with the everyday monotony of suburban life, the movie’s inspiration was John Keats 1957 novel, The Crack in the Picture Window.  Per Alanen, “the ethos of over conformity at any price” was sweeping the country at this time.

While conformity was the name of the game, a great deal of anti-suburban sentiment existed.  Yet suburbs provided things that every American sought; an affordable home in a safe family centered neighborhood. The Levittowns of Long Island, New Jersey and Bucks County naturally played into the discussion.    

Early in the forum it occurred to me that race would become part of our dialogue. And it did as our central guest speaker Dianne Harris brought to the fore that these ordinary post war houses represented our race, class and identity. 

Dianne Harris

In fact the first studies of the Bucks County based Levittown were about the race riot that occurred as Daisy and Bill Meyers, the first African Americans residents moved in on August 20, 1957. The couple remained for five years but moved when Bill’s job was transferred to another area.

Levittown, PA - courtesy Wikipedia

Andrzejewski mentioned how her own experience of living in a suburb clashed with her preconceived notion. The private neighborhood chosen by her family allowed  little privacy as the prized suburban feature the picture window afforded her neighbors an unlimited view into their everyday life.

To wrap things up the question of “Where are we at this moment?” was posed. It was  mentioned that changes in individual perception of place, culture and history cannot be mandated.  However, it was more or less agreed that the past model has already been broken and the nuclear family changed with it. Just as additions to houses change the appearance from the original plans, contemporary families are made of different societal expectations which will help foster a more vibrant and diverse suburban life. 

 ...this panel helped all of us think about where we live, and why we live there:
 
--Dianne Harris, Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Art History, and History; Director, Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
--Arnold R. Alanen, Professor Emeritus, Department of Landscape Architecture
--Anna Vemer Andrzejewski, Associate Professor, Department of Art History and Buildings-Landscapes-Cultures Program
--Kurt Paulsen, Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
--Brad Murphy, Director, Planning Division, City of Madison
--Daina Penkiunas, National Register Coordinator, Division of Historic Preservation, Wisconsin Historical Society
 --Thanks also to Preeti Chopra for arranging  Dianne Harris' visit.


Hope you are sitting pretty wherever you live!

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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ReUpholstery 101 Part II

As mentioned earlier today I am posting some photos of the rip-down process.

The rip-down is the first step of the re-upholstery process; during which the spent materials such as webbing, fabric, tacks, twine, etc. are removed. This enables us to get a good look at the frame and see if it needs repair.  I always flip my pieces upside down and take a look at the bottom.

Photo: SHS

Then I place the chair upside down on a set of padded work horses. 

The first items to be removed here are the metal webbing strips because they were installed over the jute webbing in lieu of replacing it when it became weak and sagged. This method of shoring up the jute webbing should be avoided at all costs. It employs a twist nail driven through the holes in the strap and into the frame.  They do a great job of holding the strap in place at a dear cost to the chair: when they are both installed and removed the twisting motion weakens the chair's frame.  

 Notice the twist of the metal on the of the nail protruding from the metal strap webbing I've removed.

Photo: SHS

Look at the head of the nail in the metal strap and notice the faint black line I drew across it. The line is vertical in this shot.

Photo: SHS

Now look at the same nail and again and notice the faint black line is at a different angle.  This corkscrew effect occurred as I pried the nail from the frame by means of a tack puller. If this were a standard tack or nail the line would have stayed in the same vertical direction it was in the previous photo

.

Photo: SHS

The twisting action grinds against the wood of the frame as it moves. We will be able to see the damage once the jute webbing is removed.


As the nail turns....

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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Reupholstery 101

During the next days of this blog I will document the entire process of tearing down and re-upholstering this 19th century Chippendale style ribbon back armchair. 

Photo: SHS

What will be done?

The following items will be removed:

-The fabric seat covering and tacks that attach the fabric to frame.

-The fill (cotton, hair or other?) under the fabric. We will discover if it was it tied to the burlap spring cover. 

-The burlap cover of the springs and the tacks that attach it to the frame. Is the   cover burlap, the typical fabric for this job in the 19^th century?

-The spring tying twine and the tacks attaching the twine to the frame.

            -We will also examine the type of knot(s) used.

-The springs; we will measure them in the compressed state and released.

-What type of twine was used to attach the springs to webbing? (looks original) 

-The webbing in order of removal:

                    -Metal (not original)

                    -Nails that hold the metal webbing (not original)

                    -Vinyl "spacers" that shore up the jute webbing (not original)

                    -Tacks that hold them (not original)

                    -Jute webbing, measure

                    -Tacks that hold the jute webbing in place

Photo: SHS

   

*At all times I will look for original fabric fragments under any original tacks found.*

If you've ever wanted to learn how to reupholster a chair, this is your opportunity! Taking notes of the process of tearing down chairs and reversing them is how I learned to upholster.  

In these segments I will document both processes! After completely ripping down and documenting every tack, spring and fabric; I will completely re-upholster the chair from the webbing up!

This is the most time intensive part of this blog so bear with me. New posts will appear on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you have questions as we go, don’t be shy, my email address is at the end of every blog!

I should have some photos of the rip-down process posted later this evening.

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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Where do you find yours?

A favorite topic among antique dealers, interior designers and collectors is often the story of the "the find". The who, what, when, where and why of acquiring an object can be evocative tale. If you are anything like me, getting up at 4 AM to arrive at a flea market before dawn is the beginning. If it ends happily, your car or van will be stuffed to the gills and everyone who came along will leave with something held tightly in their lap along with another object tucked in between their legs on the floor. 

Today I stopped by Linkedin to join the conversation started by Jason Fox on "Where do you get your antiques?"  I mentioned my favorite haunt was a place called the Perkiomeville Flea Market in Pennsylvania. Though I haven't been there in years, when I lived in PA it was a regular stop.

Now that I live in Wisconsin, I shop locally here as well; unless I am looking for something very specific. That's how I came upon my current subject of the blog chair. This Victorian era reproduction of an 18th century Chippendale ribbon back chair was discovered via a quick peek at my local antiques mall 5 Star Antiques in Fort Atkinson WI. 

Photo: SHS

I am never able to follow through on that "quick peek" promise to myself so it always turns into a long stop and look into every corner. Happily, my main interest is in furniture so I don't look in every smalls case. 

BUT, the trick to collecting is this; go armed with the knowledge of what you are looking at! 

As an ongoing student of antiques and material culture the book on my nightstand is almost invariably a text. A few of my favorites are Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Furniture, American Furniture 1620 to the Present and Upholstery in America and Europe. With titles that include words like Encyclopedia one might think this is pretty heady stuff to read before you go to bed. But it is what I love, so it is neither heady or difficult to read. 

This is a detail shot of an empire period foot from my personal collection, and I love it!

Photo: SHS

Here is what I recommend to the novice. Establish a time-line in your head!  And start with something you love. 

Let's just say you are infatuated with round piano stools that sport glass ball feet. Research the form at your library and discover who made it, what materials they used, when and where it was made and think about why you collect it. (You can do this online if you use documented sources.)

You will discover these piano stools were all the rage in Victorian America, so many manufacturers (who) made them. What they were primarily made of would be a wood abundant to the manufacturer; at this time, mahogany, walnut, maple and other woods where readily available.  When has already been answered; and where is in all major manufacturing sites during this time. Pianos and their accessories were extremely popular items. It was a way of life for the family to spend time in the parlor every evening entertaining each other. Those who could afford them owned a piano. Why you collect them is a personal question for you to answer.

As you memorize this information, you will no doubt survey a broader field of information about furniture in the Victorian era. Now you have a starting reference point from which to build you antiques vocabulary. Where you go from here, depends on you. Move on to a period before or after your muse, staying focused on your field of piano accessories. It also helps if you stay on one continent as well.

Make notes of what you find and keep them close at hand. Draw details if necessary. 

Illustration by the author, Photo: SHS

Review them as often as you like. It's your hobby so move at your own pace. I studied this way for years. But it all came together when I took a university course in the history of American design. We moved through each period with painstaking accuracy. The knowledge from the course combined with what I already taught myself made it all click.

Of course you can choose to go on taking the advice of less knowledgeable friends and antique store owners. But don't whine if you spend too much money on a pretty object only to find it is an impostor! 


Collecting antiques is a way for many of us to interact with the decorative arts. It's a worthwhile endeavor that brings beauty and meaning into our lives. 

I received this vintage chair as compensation for an upholstery job. I have not researched its period yet, but it's value is not important to me. I love it!

Photo by the author

There is a reading list at the end of this post. If you are interested in a survey of all western and American periods of furniture, I highly recommend the first selection: Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Furniture.

Happy collecting AND studying!

Theresa

Yummy Furniture and Design

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Recommended Texts:
Payne, Christopher. Sotheby's Concise Encyclopedia of Furniture, New York, Harper & Row.

Fairbanks, Jonathan and Bidwell Bates, Elizabeth, American Furniture 1620 to the Present, New York, Richard Marek.
Cooke, Edward S. Jr., Upholstery in America and Europe from the 17^th C to WWI., New York, W.W. Norton & Co. 90.