upcycling an ol’ treasured rocking chair

This chair is very loved and very special. Each of my children have sat on this chair on many occasions.  It’s always been with us, in our living area…always a part of us. As you can see….it’s been well loved. It used to have Isabella’s name on it (in stickers) but they were peeled off by kid #1, or 2…not sure. Then, over the years it earned other random stickers that I tried to scrape off.

 It was given to my oldest when she turned one. I wanted to give her something very special for her first birthday that would be kept forever.

I bought it unfinished, and my mom stained it for me. And, Isabella was the first of my 5 babies to adorn it on her first birthday at her party.

And, loved ever since!

with cousin, Michaela

Happy 1st Birthday Bella!

And, since I am on my Annie Sloan “chalk paint” marathon, and the fact that I had a little extra energy this particular night, I decided to go ahead and re-do it!

I wanted to paint it, mostly because the old oak, sticker worn, surface annoyed me. But, I also wanted to freshen it, yet while still preserving it’s history…it’s character and it’s story. And it sure does have some stories to tell!

It’s my hope that lots of grand-babies will endearingly rock in this chair some day too!

So, in keeping with the “aged look”, I went with a very distressed look!

And, here are some during shots.

My three youngest wanted to help!

And….here is the final product!

My old, yet new…yet old…rocking chair!

I really love it! I love it’s antique-y look, I love that it still looks like it’s been well-loved over the years, like it has many stories to tell of each sweet child.

 I like that it doesn’t feel “covered up” to me….it just feels like the true rocking chair now shines through!

It just needed a little TLC too!

stayed tuned….my next Chalk Paint project….30 year old bedroom furniture! oh yeah!