1. Above, the table that Mr Life's grandad, who was a woodwork teacher, made for Mr Life's parents when they got married in 1947. It's a good solid piece but unfortunately doesn't have folding-out leaves so it takes up quite a lot of room. The chairs came with it though I don't think he made them. They're showing their age. It's better not to lean back too confidently on them.
2. The table that Mr Life's mum brought back from Egypt or Palestine, where she was running canteens just after the war. You see that big black thing just to the left of it? Mr Life would be surprised to hear that you'd spotted it. It's the subject of marital... well, difference of opinion. He persuaded me that it would be ok to buy this speaker (or whatever it is) for the tv because it would be unnoticeable tucked in there. Hahaha.
3. The table that came via Mr Life's parents from his mum's Aunt Agnes, whose husband was the postmaster in Kenmore (a village on Loch Tay). We don't know how it got from somewhere Eastern to Kenmore.
4. The nest of tables that my aunt and uncle gave us as a wedding present, made by a chap called Suffering Moses (who knows why?) in Pakistan, where they worked.
5. Another table made by Mr Life's grandad by the simple device of getting a flat bit of wood, prettying it up a bit and screwing some legs on it.
6. By this time you may be asking yourself if we've ever bought a table in our lives apart from one from a junkyard for £4. Well, not this one, which came from a friend of my grandparents. She offered it to them in the late 1970s but they didn't want it so we took it.
7. It occurs to me that we also have our kitchen table, which is a Utility model bought by my parents when they got married in 1946, but I didn't take a picture of that and possibly your interest in our elderly free tables is waning. However, in case anyone's still reading this, how about taking part in my little survey about the Ikea cushion?
I really like it but Ikea have been selling it for ages now. Every time we go to Ikea, there are heaps and heaps of them so I assume that heaps and heaps of people buy them, but I've never seen one in any friend's house. So - who has one? Hands up?
I want one of those cushions, does that count? I will probably add one to the guest room when we get a bed for it.
ReplyDeleteI have seen them, but don't have one! And on the subject of tables, I have a variety of models too. And most of them have a long and interesting past having come down through the generations. I rather like the interesting array, I have to say!
ReplyDeleteJawahara knows why: "There was this shop in Srinagar owned by this old artist/artisan who made the most exquisite papier mache, (not the stuff you get in the state emporia), delicate, multi-layered, intricate flawless pieces. He signed all his work on the bottom, in a sprawling calligraphic signature...the same name as his store, 'Suffering Moses.' His name was Moses. I had to know, had to ask him, 'Why Suffering Moses?'
ReplyDeleteHe looked at me, intently, his eyes a strange shade somewhere between green and grey, the pink skin of his cheeks glowing, "Young lady. How else could I make anything beautiful? Only by suffering, right? I suffer for my art. You create nothing good if you don't suffer."
Plain cushions only in this house, although we are 100 miles from the nearest Ikea!
ReplyDelete(Love your tables & hate matchy furniture.)
I do not have this cushion. Admittedly I have admired and considered this cushion, but it's too pretty for my house. I could not blog pictures of my house. I could try to photograph tables, but they would be as invisible as your speaker under the mounds of life atop.
ReplyDeleteI very much like all the tables, and their heritage. Thank you for letting us all into your home!
Nope, not me, and also 100 miles from the Swedish store sadly.
ReplyDeleteThough we did have a very similar Eastern table that my parents bought when we lived in Egypt.
Matchy stuff would not have the tales to tell, would they, so much more interesting!
I'm with Mr Life though, don't think it's that noticeable,sorry :(
No, I don`t have the cushion either, but we do have my grandparents` table and chairs in the kitchen (1920`s 30`s) and a similar Eastern table that came from who knows where.......
ReplyDeleteWell, you can call them un-matchy or you could make them sound very posh by calling them an "Eclectic Collection" instead! I personally like furniture with stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteLove your cushion. Have seen and admired similar at Ikea. Their textiles are always eye catching. This one has a nice old-fashioned, crewel embroidery look to it.
You're going to pull it off! Only two more days...
Every piece of furniture has a story to tell.....even the not-terribly-well-hidden speaker! We are several hours away from the nearest Ikea which is probably just as well.
ReplyDeleteHa! I almost bought one two weeks ago when my daughter and I went to IKEA. It's a pretty design. But I decided I had enough cushions... (I really do, yet still keep being attracted to similar things I've always loved and now should be getting rid of rather than aquiring more of. Books, baskets, pitchers, small bowls, small carved animals, stones and shells from the beach...)
ReplyDeleteI am slightly curious, though I think I know part of the answer. Do your children's friends take such free gifts from their families? I think your children do have things from your family, as mine do, but most of their generation seem to want to go buy all new things.
I don't have one. But I just went to IKEA today and am happy enough that I found my way out. There's no hopping in and out of there. Then I went home and tried to work their kitchen planner on line. It was just as hard finding my way to the planner as it was getting out of the store.
ReplyDeleteLovely stories about all your tables. We have husband's Gran's dining table and chairs. I don't go to Ikea, but my son and DIL do, and they don't have that cushion.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say how much I'm going to miss your daily posts (if you stop) because you really seem to have got into your stride (patronising voice alert) and I find your writing very amusing in a wry sort of way.
ReplyDeleteNope. Haven't got the cushion. My husband throws them all on the floor.
We have a table always referred to as 'Alf Perrin's dad's table - a sturdy homemade oak one made by aforesaid gent . We don't have that cushion though I think daughter has. We could do with more tables and cushions .....
ReplyDeleteYou're so funny. We don't even have an Ikea nearby, so I haven't seen that cushion. I think if you love it, you should get it -- even if it's in every other home on the planet.
ReplyDeleteAs for that speaker. I believe we've had the same conversation at our house. Mr. Life and TheManoftheHouse are both men. That's my explanation.
And thank you for the table tour. I've loved hearing the history of your pretty tables and I feel so lucky to have actually seen them in real life!
I do not have that Ikea cushion. But, to be fair, I don't own ANY cushions at all, so that can't be taken as any kind of comment on the loveliness of said cushion!
ReplyDeleteI have two of those cushions. And the French gite (with British owners) where we stayed in June also had a pair which was where we first saw them. I loved them but assumed they were from a French market so was delighted to find them in Ikea when we went in search of light fittings! You can see mine here: http://www.ginaferrari.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/day-ten.html
ReplyDeleteMy boss has one, if that counts! And I want one :-)
ReplyDelete