The English Armchair Abroad

The Christmas lunch table...

This year we are in France for Christmas with two of our three sons and my mother-in-law.   The tree was decorated on Monday and this year Max & Ralph used only gold balls and decorations.  We can't find the switch on the lights that stops them flashing but I can cope with that and it looks lovely.  In addition we put a branch of holly here and there.  

Then last night, while I was getting supper ready, Hugh & Ralph layed the table for Christmas lunch.  "What do we need?" they asked.  Shorthand for how many knives and forks basically and I replied in kind.  Lots of laughter ensued and to my amazement it took not the usual five minutes (we are only five after all) plus a bit for finding the Christmas napkins - but a WHOLE HOUR.  I was quite happy as I took the extra time to prepare the sprouts and other veg for today.  Then Max came into the kitchen looking a little concerned.

"You'd better come and see the table - they're still at it..."

We can safely say that it is NOT understated!  They had searched the cupboards to find all the decorations from countless Christmas past.

A Happy Christmas to you all and especially this year, to those in Vancouver.

 

Chair Caning Course

 

I am giving  a five day course on Chair Caning from 19 March 2012.  The course will cover removing the old canework from the chair, choosing which cane to use, repair to the frame (where possible) and the technique of 6-way caning.

Students can bring their own chair seat (I will explain how to remove the seat if necessary) or they can work on one provided by me.

If  you are interested in taking this course please contact me by email and I will then send you further information.  Accommodation can be provided if required. 

 jeanht@gmail.com

Beautiful or what

I have a client who has a wonderful feel for fabric.  She asked me to do this screen for her back in 2010 but it was delivered when I was away so I only managed to take a photograph today.  It is still as lovely today as it was then.

The fabric is silk and I was terrified of ripping it.  It was also quite a game lining up the panels.  

I wish the camera did justice to the mix of flowers - take it from me they are gorgeous.

Old Oak Carver

This chair was left in the cellar of the house we bought when we were first married.  It was in a dodgy state (probably why they left it) and we never used it.  In fact we left it in the cellar.

When we sold the house we were already living elsewhere and everything was loaded up in our absence - chair included.  Then it had a new lease of life when the African Grey Parrot used it as a perch;  and it was he who destroyed the straw seat.  It was totally unusable and we put it into the barn - a halfway house for the dump.

About a year ago I took it out and washed off the mess the swallows had made of it and decided it needed a second chance.  My course with Denis Guerin spurred me on and this is the very pleasing result.

I am particularly pleased because the oak frame is in excellent condition and the chair is very solid (and heavy!).  The herbe de mer will gradually change to a less green hue and I think will show off the natural wood beautifully.

Empire style chairs - delivered

These two chairs arrived some time ago.  The house they were in was closed up for two years and they were both covered in moth and, of course, woodworm.   The owner likes them and they were certainly worthy of restoration.

 

 

This first chair was fairly straightforward.  It needed reglueing but was otherwise in good condition.  

 

The second one, the armchair, was in a dreadful state.  The moth was so bad I stripped it down outside and left it in an outer store room until it went to the carpenter.  He immediately treated it for woodworm and then changed three of the main struts which were well and truly eaten through.  The fourth strut - the one at the front - could not be replaced as it incorporates the show wood.  Instead he reinforced it so that I could fix the webbing in place.

The client chose a grosgrain ribbon which blends beautifully with the fabric, adding finish but not detracting from the main body of the chair.

I have two more chairs, Louis style, from this client and will post photos once they are delivered.

Persian Tiles - more photos

Not that I'm proud or anything!

Feel free to cheer!

Father Christmas and the Tooth Mouse

Children under that special age should look away now....

It appears that Sarah Montague of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme is in trouble for suggesting, before the 9 o'clock watershed, that Father Christmas is made up and ISN'T REAL. 

Well, I can assure you he is real;  Guy and Hugh spoke to Father Christmas when we lived on the boat (yup, he had VHF radio on his sleigh) - but that's for another day.  

For today, the Tooth Mouse.  Ralph and I know he's real because WE HAVE SEEN HIM.

When he was about eight years old one of Ralph's teeth fell out.  He put it under a glass by his bed and by the time he woke up he had forgotten about it.  Max was away and in the morning Ralph came and got into my bed for a story.  After a short time a mouse ran into the room, across the floor and up the chimney.  I was about to squeal when Ralph leapt out of bed and ran to his room.  He came back incredibly excited because by his bed, under the glass, was a euro.  "Look Mummy, it was the Tooth Mouse.  Don't be scared!"

Illustration by Liesle van der Hoven

There will be no further discussion on the realness or otherwise of Father Christmas in OUR house.