So many of you have contacted me in regards to the covering on my kitchen table.
My table, featured on page 140 of The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen, has been in our home since Colin and I were married. And after many years of use, it began to show some wear. But rather than replacing it, I decided to cover it with oilcloth. Here are my directions, as described in the book:
1. Spread oilcloth over the top of the table, right side up. Using the table contour as a guide, make sure the pattern is centered nicely; weight the cloth with bowls or books to keep it in position.
2. Cut the oilcloth to size, allowing an overhang on all edges that is long enough to wrap around the edge and staple to the underside of the tabletop. The overhang was approximately 2 inches for my table.
3. Using a hand held heavy-duty staple gun, attach the oilcloth to the underside of the tabletop. First staple the middle of 2 opposite sides, then the middle of the remaining opposite sides, pulling the cloth taut. Continue all around the tabletop, pulling the cloth taut while making sure the pattern remains straight and even.
Note: my favorite source for oilcloth is ebay. There are a couple of ebay stores from the U.K. that sell adorable oilcloth that I love, and ship worldwide:
http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/tablecloth-co
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/fabric-factory/
Cath Kidston is also another favorite source of mine for oilcloth, but the prices and shipping can be really expensive.
Image of my table was taken by the super wonderful John Granen.
IT'S ME, SERENA!
I bounced through the first years of my life in a hippie gypsy wagon, hand-built by my father, wandering the back roads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. My family eventually settled into a tiny cabin in the woods on property that was once inhabited by Native American Indians.
I spent my childhood days searching for arrowheads, teaching myself to sew on a treadle sewing machine and to bake in a wood-burning stove, with no running water, refrigeration, or electricity in our home. My family lived frugally and early on, inspired by my parent’s thriftiness and style, I gained a knack for thrifty creativity and turning ordinary objects into something useful. And I dreamed of the home I would create for my own family someday.
Now I’m married to my husband, Colin, and our children are all grown. After 24 years of producing The Farm Chicks Vintage & Handmade Fair, I'm spending time visiting other markets around the world. You can watch episodes of Serena Goes to Market here.
I share more about my life story from time to time, here on my blog. You can also find me on Instagram, and Facebook.
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