Peony Lane Designs

Re-love, Re-imagine, Restore, Reuse, Relax

But I’ve Always Done It This Way! Trying Tite Chair

I should have tried Tite Chair sooner!

When I learned to repair furniture there was one way to fix a wobbly chair. That one way was to disassemble the chair and re-glue the whole chair together.  If there were screws you filled the hole with a dowel and re-screwed everything back together.

It’s how it’s done. It’s how it’s always been done. To be honest it’s why I pass on a lot of pieces or cut them apart to make something else. Because the effort it takes to pull apart a whole chair and put it back together can be overwhelming.

Then I was clued in to a product called Tite Chairs. No this is not a sponsored post and I make nothing if you go buy Tite Chairthis product. This isn’t even about the product, I promise , so just stay with me.

I was told that it could be squirted into the loose joints and it would fix the problem.

“Can’t be!” I said.

‘‘tis true!” They proclaimed.

Okay, that is enough of me being literary.

I really didn’t believe it though and I was reticent to try it.  Why? Because that’s not how we do it.

How we do it is hard and painstaking. You can’t just squirt something that looks suspiciously like super glue into the joints and everything will be fine! We don’t do that. It’s not done.

And I resisted. For a long time. I still don’t know why when faced with something that could make life a tiny bit easier, faster, better we resist. We’ve always done it that way is like a mantra to inefficiency. Why are we so afraid to try a new way of doing things?

I bet you know about six different routes to get to your job in the morning, but every day you drive the same path unless there’s an accident or some other reason to deviate. Why? Why not mix things up and drive a different route every day?

Why was I so hesitant to try an inexpensive product that could save me time?

I finally broke down and tried Tite Chair on the spindles of a farm chair I didn’t have the time or energy to take a part. You know what? It works, and I kick myself for being so stubborn.

That’s what started me thinking (that and lots of time alone) that I need to challenge some of my preconceived notions of how things should be done.

Being stuck in my ways doesn’t fit in to the life I want to build for myself. I want to be flexible and open to new ideas. Tomorrow I think I’m going to take a new road to an old destination. Just because I can. Who knows maybe I’ll find something wonderful along the way.

Many blessings to you!

~S~

If you want to see my other attempts at trying new things check out my DIY posts! Let’s be flexible!

Happy Fathers Day to the One Who Put the Tools in My Hands

There isn’t a time I can remember when my Dad wasn’t building or fixing something.  We didn’t have a lot of money and I remember going to the dump to find furniture for our home.  Now some of you might read that a feel a little sad for me but don’t.  There’s no need.

I learned that just because something is broken or damaged it doesn’t mean it needs to be discarded. With a little care and a lot of love it can be made whole and in some cases better than they were before.  It’s probably why I do what I do today.

Dad had no trouble handing his daughter power tools and putting me to work. He taught me to

Stacy With Her Screw Gun
Stacy With Her Screw Gun

wield a hammer, run a circular saw, and a router with ease.

There was always a project that needed to be done and he was happy to put me to work. One summer we bought a hundred-year-old piano from a school that had about 50 layers of paint on it. He left instructions for me to strip the paint, each day I was supposed to do one piece from wire brushing to the carvings to sanding the flat surfaces. That was my summer project and it kept me out of plenty of trouble.

He approved when I wanted to sign up for woodshop for summer school.  He bought me my first set of real tools, my first sander, and my first screw gun.  He walked me through every project I dragged home (yes, I dragged home “unique” furniture even in high school).

When I decided to start Peony Lane Designs he believed in me like no one else.  He is the person I call when a repair seems insurmountable.  He’s still teaching me.  Together we’ve rescued more furniture than I can remember.

To all the other dads out there, if your daughter shows an interest in what you’re building hand

Empowering My Next Generation of Girls
Empowering My Next Generation of Girls

her the screw gun or the saw. Teach her how to use power tools with confidence.  Show her how to change the oil in the car.  Give her the tools she needs to someday take care of herself.

Thank you, Dad, for teaching me. Thank you for giving me the tools I needed to take care of myself and build a business, and of course, imparting me with your devastatingly good looks.

I love you Dad.

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