Happy Chairs

Last night we all hopped in the Suburban to go to Michael’s.  The kids need some modeling clay and set material for stop motion films.  The Michael’s here is big, laid out pretty well.  They carry a lot more interesting products too.  I’m pretty excited they are having a sale on canvasses as I’ve been wanting to start painting.  Oil or Acrylic?  It all seems to be in the eye of the painter.  I’ve painted with acrylic before, I’d really like to set myself up with oils.  I was  also able to replace the tempera paint that froze and clumped during the move.  While the red looked like lumpy paint, the yellow was reminiscent of newborn baby poop.  Definitely in need of new paint.  I can’t ever get out of that store without at least 5 things I didn’t plan on and without spending t least 20 dollars more than I had intended!

JoAnne’s was across the street.  The kids had all fallen asleep so it was just Skylar and I.  I left TJ with the sleeping babes in the car and Skylar and I ventured into fabric heaven to find something new for our chairs.  They are old and dingy and have been through things I don’t even want to mention.  I *will* mention the paint and marker and the food spills and the holes.  It’s time.  They need to be recovered.  I poured over a lot of fabric not really finding what I was looking for.  I’ve been on a green and purple kick for awhile so I sort of wanted something with both colors.  I also wanted something busy so that paint or food spills wouldn’t show up too bad.  Lastly, something bright and happy but not loud!  I think I managed to succeed in everything I was looking for except it doesn’t have purple.  It has pink instead!

When I finally got to the counter with my cut fabric and slip, the cashier said “That will be 5 dollars and 36 cents.”  I just looked at her and said, “Seriously!?”.  I didn’t notice it was on sale, but even so I just bought 4 yards of fabric for 5 dollars and 36 cents.  Score!!!

After we had our party the other day I woke up in the morning to see the mess and said, “Wow!  My house looks happy!”  In the fabric store I described some fabrics as looking “angry” or “loud”.  After I covered the chairs I noticed that they looked “happy” and “inviting”.  This actually brought up an interesting conversation with Skylar.  He didn’t really understand what I was saying.  He says that houses and fabrics and chairs can’t be “happy” or “loud”.  He is an extremely literal child.  In the past I had to be extremely clear with my words to him or he wouldn’t understand me.  This is the first time it came up in a long time and I’m glad it did.  It was fun explaining to him that I thought if the house were alive it would happy that people partied in it!  Also, that if the fabric had a voice, it would be screaming!

Oh and… the chairs really ARE inviting. Shortly after I finished I came into the kitchen and the table looked like this!