This week brought me a lovely surprise – a gorgeous knitter’s rocking chair, built just for me by master carpenter Walter Turpening. I’d planned to blog about it after the weekend, but I’m so excited about it that I just had to share it with you now. Here it is in all its glory (and note the lumpy sleeping cats in the mirror):
(These are some of the few pictures I was able to take without a cat on the seat; Mabel in particular is kind of obsessed with being on it, despite her somewhat bewildered look when it rocks.)
It’s been a long time coming, but worth every moment of waiting. I ordered this chair way back in 2007, after seeing Walt’s work at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Originally I wanted to get one of Walt’s fabled spinning chairs – but after a while I realized that I knit a whole lot more than I spin, and changed my request to a knitter’s rocker. I’m glad I did, because I can see myself sitting in this chair from dawn to dusk every day for the rest of forever.
The chair is hand made of solid walnut, with a beautiful woven Shaker tape back and seat. Walt’s specialty is this weaving – note the gorgeous patterning; the tape is not only beautiful but also seemingly indestructible – this is a chair designed to last for the ages. Best of all, that the chair was built to fit my exact measurements – so it literally fits like a glove; as a result I’ve never had a more comfortable piece of furniture (and to my friends who know how much of a freak for collecting furniture I am, that’s saying a lot.) I’m so glad to have this lovely piece of art to live with now and always.
…Walt Turpening is one of those rare analog creatures these days who doesn’t have a website yet, but if you too would like to have one of the most beautiful and comfortable chairs you will ever sit in, you can reach him at walt-dot-turpening-at-att-dot-net. He makes not only chairs and rockers but weaving benches and other furniture as well, and his beautiful handiwork. If you’re in the mood for a real treat (and you don’t mind waiting – Walt is in high demand! ) drop him a line. I absolutely promise that you won’t be sorry you did.
OMG, now I want one of these so bad. Everything about the design is brilliant: the lack of arms, the arc of the seat, the slope of the weave coming down in front (so it reduces pressure on the backs of your thighs!). It truly does look simultaneously indestructible and incredibly comfortable for long hours of sitting. Thanks for introducing me to it!
~ hb33 ~
Wow, that is gorgeous! Lucky you!