Project : You rock!

That wasn't so painful!
Running around town looking for the fabric, webbing, batting, upholstery tacks, staples, etc. didn't feel like an ordeal anymore after I saw the finished product. What was not part of the deal was getting blisters in my palm from removing the staples from the old upholstery!

I know, I know - I always have a story about my finds, so here it is. This rocking chair was sitting in one corner of the maintenance office, lonely and gathering dust when I spotted it. Luis our handyman, saw the glitter in my eyes and gave the chair to me. We used it for a while with its old covering, and then I decided to restore it. It did have the name of the maker, Virginia House (a 1920's furniture manufacturer), carved on the under side of it, with a registration number dated 1926 stenciled on the same place. Could this be an 82-year old piece? Solid and heavy, but I'm not sure what kind of wood it's made of. I'll have to ask Philip because he knows a lot about trees, wood and furniture.

Whatever it is, it may not be a collectible antique by trade standards (over 100 years old) but Inang loves it and I'm glad I was able to give it a new look. That was a fun undertaking and it didn't cost me a fortune.

I dressed the chair in a woven tapestry fabric with dainty vintage floral prints of blue and sage. The background color of the textile is almost like light mustard. What covered this chair before was a French yellow fabric with geometric design, and I couldn't find the exact match but this design is just as pretty. I particularly love the removable back cushion and that was much fun sewing it too. The interwoven rubber webbing which I managed to put together will keep the seat from sagging, so I was told by the experts, and I guess this is used in place of spring coil.

This time I didn't have to sweat to find the screws which I removed from the chair - I taped them onto the base, while I was working on the upholstery. For my first project, I forgot where I safely hid the screws. Yeah right, so safe even I couldn't find them. I tell you, these days, I carry writing implements with me all the time; if it's not something written down guaranteed it's forgotten, maybe that's why I blog - to store all these memories for internet posterity. Old age and brain cramps, you too will get there. Ha ha!

So there it is, a happy, lovely chair.
The Roadshow folks may not agree but it's worth a lot to me.

Who says I'm not old enough to "rock"?

What's next? Oh, I think I have a lot of gardening to keep me busy in this cool summer weather. We have five varieties of hibiscus in the grounds which we need new homes for, somewhere in the front yard.

Digging again....
See you then.

Chair re-upholstering 101: ta-da!

No - it didn't take me a few days to finish this chair. I was just caught between a few other things, such as putting out fires here in the condo, that I had to save this project on the side.

The hardest part was stretching the fabric and making sure that all the dots in the fabric design are in perfect alignment. Whew!

Of course we're going to sit on this chair, not just look at it. Did I tell you this is an antique one given to me by one of my neighbors? Well, actually she was ready to dump it. I hope she doesn't want it back, because I'm not ready to part with it. With all the work I put into it? Heck no! Stapling while pulling the fabric can be tricky, you know, and hazardous to your health. I risked losing a few pints of blood for this lovely chair I'm not giving it up!

I'm taking a bow.

Now let's hear a round of applause, please. Yes, from you!

And yes, no doubt, I'll do this again. It's so much more fun doing it yourself and sharing the experience.

The Italian Connection

Last year, like a proud New Yorker, I helped a stranger who was walking around looking lost at the Lincoln Center. It was her last day in the city visiting from Italy and she was hoping that she'd get into the Met Opera. Unfortunately there was no show that night, so I asked her if she'd like to take a chance and get in line at the box office of the New York State Theatre for free tickets for the opening of the NYC Ballet's new production of Romeo and Juliet. We already have ours and maybe she could still get one for herself.

We parted ways without finding out if she ever got a ticket and knowing what it's like to find one's way around in a foreign country, I was just so glad I could help. New Yorkers are generally friendly; in every corner around the tourist areas and underground in the subways, there's always someone hovering nearby and dying to help out souls overwhelmed with their oversized subway maps all spread out, needing help on directions or simply how to read the map painlessly. Some of us might even get disappointed if we're not the ones asked.

It was a spectacular performance. It was a winner - Peter Martin's new rendition of Romeo & Juliet was a real showpiece. At intermission, Celine and I sprinted to the restroom and voila, there she was; she got in - Olga is her name we'll soon find out! She was so grateful for the tip, we exchanged e-mail addresses and so forth and from then on she was in touch. She's a teacher and hails from a small town in Torino, Italy.

Last Friday, she let me know she was coming to NYC and if we could meet. We decided we'll see tonight's event at the Avery Fisher Hall, part of the Mostly Mozart Series and then after the performance sit for coffee. I'm delighted to hear from her.

****

LAVAZZA in a paper cup - not anywhere near the taste of coffee at the famous il caffee Sant' Eustachio in Rome, but the company more than made up for it. With plenty of time before the concert we did a lot of catching up. She's traveled to a lot more countries since I saw her last, not just for pleasure but also doing mission work in Africa. The bag of Caffarel gianduia bitter chocolate filled with hazel nuts, is a sweet little present she brought me. I can't wait to get a bite of this hazelnutty treats.

We were joined by two other ladies in her group, Kiara and Antonella, who were both ecstatic about all the shopping they did in SoHo and Tribeca. Funny that they are buying Italian shoes and clothes in New York. Why, because their euros go a long way here. Worn out from walking, but not from shopping, their next stop tomorrow - Macy's. The Frick Collection and the rest on Museum Row, and an evening show probably Phantom or Chicago are also on the list. It felt good to know that they found New Yorkers to be friendly and helpful and of course Olga does a good job of being their tour guide.

The concert program was excellent, two Mozart pieces and a Beethoven composition. The young Romanian pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa played Beethoven's cadenza with such virtuosity. My eyes welled up at the third movement of Beethoven's Piano concerto No. 3 in C minor. I was glued to my seat for her encore of what looked and sounded like a difficult Romanian composition. Never mind that we had nosebleed seats and partial views at the boxes, the music was heavenly. And of course the rest is unmistakably Mozart, playful and melodic, great music played by the Mozart Festival Orchestra. Listen to the third bassoon, as one lecturer put it and a lesson I'll never forget.

During intermission, I got to know the other ladies better. Kiara is a doctor, born and trained in Italy but works in Paris and Antonella lives in Milan. Their big complaint, Americans turn on the air conditioning up so high, the two ladies freeze their butts everywhere they go. And I thought I had a problem. We managed to scoot down to center seats with better views, but still up on the third tier, as soon as the lights went out for the last piece. What a brilliant performance and in a great hall with almost perfect acoustics. Bellissima! After all, Avery Fisher Hall is the home of the New York Philharmonic.

We said our goodbyes, but not exactly. She's inviting me to see her in Torino and I might just take her up on it since I have not seen that part of Italy. Her place is not too far from the Alps and Austria. What I would give to have that!

A lovely reunion, and for now - Ciao, Olga.

Big 60 Chong

I have been blessed with two of the most wonderful friends in the world - Chong and Rose. What was to be a surprise for Chong's big 60th yesterday, was sort of foiled but we won't go into the details.

Rose and I treated her to the musical Gypsy starring Patti Lupone. The theatre at matinee was not packed to the ceiling, but you can feel the excitement of the audience as Patti sang with such dynamic artistry. I just love the song "Small World". She hasn't changed - from playing the title role in Evita to Maria Callas in Master Class, she is a performer ... par excellence!

We were both glad that Chong loved her present - she was thrilled. Our cheaper balcony seats were even upgraded (for unknown reason, and we're not complaining) to the rear mezzanine, that's one flight less to travel, thank God. I'll need an oxygen tank if we get any higher. Dinner was on Rose at our old work hangout Simply Pasta. Italian of course and never complete without the finale of profiteroles and capuccino. Thank you Rosie!

Looking her best at Six O, swept away by Patti's performance and filled up by the entree of fettuccine con salmone, Chong enjoyed her big, special day. How about that birthday loot of a pair of sailing shorts and golf shirt from Rose, ha? Many more healthy and happy ones, kiddo.

Long time genuine friendships such as the one I have with Rose and Chong are ageless, like Gypsy Rose Lee herself.

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine".
- Thomas Jefferson

Re-upholstery

I'm taking a shot at a new hobby, upholstering. 'got the fabric and all, now watch this chair get a facelift.

It's getting to be a big production. I hopped on the bus this morning to get to Corona to buy the high density foam for the chair padding. Fabric City on Northern Blvd. is an upholsterer's heaven, I went crazy. The store owner referred me also to an upholsterer a few blocks away in case I want to have it done by them, but I said I'll do it myself. I walked about eight blocks to see what this place had to offer, checked out their work and the prices. For my next project, the rocking chair of Inang, I think they are too pricey, labor only.

A section of Queens I have not really explored, I found Corona and East Elmhurst very diverse. Many Hispanics, lots of little stores, nice, clean multi-family homes and friendly people.A toothless little old lady crossing the street greeted me with with a lively "Buenas dias, Senorita" and I found that so sweet and refreshing. How did she know I'm a senorita? Asking for directions, I wrestled with my lousy Spanish but managed to get understood.

Heading back I had no clue what bus to take. I spotted the elevated train from a distance, walked towards that area and took the #7 towards Elmhurst to get my hair cut. I tell you, it was like travelling the two continents. By the time I got there, my tummy was grumbling, I had to get something to eat at the Chinese smorgasbord place. Yummy for $3.00, pansit and a can of coke!

My feet were killing me when I got to my front door. Who said walking is good for your health? Why walk then? Parking space is in short supply in that neck of the woods. Tonight I'll tackle this project, not exactly my trade but I'm eager to take the challenge. Looks easy to do, but wait till I get to the stretching of the fabric part and tucking in and all.

Wish me luck. Lots of it.

Boeing- Boeing

Greetings from yellow and red M&Ms of Broadway.
I just saw the play Boeing-Boeing.
Go see it; it's hilarious, pure comedy!

Rorschach and the old man

10:00 a.m. and there was no line at the bank today. What kept me was an interesting conversation I struck up with an elderly couple.

An old man in his 80's walked in and announced with arms outstretched, "Who wants me?", There were four tellers all waiting for a customer and we all giggled. The wife cheerfully marched along with him to the counter. The man was wearing a black shirt with a colorful logo of bright yellows, black, orange and neon green streaks, and a pair of khaki bermuda shorts, trendy I thought!

I couldn't figure out the unstructured design so I asked,

"What's the logo? ".
He had a big smile for me and asked,

"What do you see in it?".
"A frog's head with huge eyes, and the body of a bear", I responded innocently.

"Aha!", he exclaimed.

"There you go. There are no bad or good answers.

It's Rorschach. Do you know what that is?"

I humbly said,

"Yes, I do. But sir, that's not an inkblot. It's more like an abstract artwork."

And the wife smiled, they sat me down and I listened to his whole dissertation about the controversial Rorschach test. The witty old man was kidding, of course, about the logo. It was really a piece of artwork. The lesson is that, life abounds in the young and old. Growing old to the 80's doesn't have to be boring or the beginning of an end. The wife said they are also conservationists, active members of The Nature Conservancy and she proudly wears the shirt too. What an interesting couple - upbeat, full of life and ready to share their experience in life.

We all walked out together and he just couldn't help it and said," It's Nike. Just do it. That slogan may work for someone else but me". He was sharp, very funny and must have been a psychologist in his younger times. The chance encounter with this couple was a powerful antidote to my earlier experience at the dentist. It's so uplifting to be around people like them, wipes out the fear of aging in a way.

The old man and his wife. What do you see? I saw a couple growing old gracefully.