If you’ve ever had a loved one need hospice care, you find out real quick that hospice workers are the most amazing people to ever walk this planet. About 12 years ago, my dear dad became so sick that we needed hospice to step in. The nurses supported us as caretakers, counselors, and listeners. They didn’t shy away from death, but instead helped us face it with courage. I wish I could do such meaningful work. It’s truly inspiring.
That’s why for the last three years I’ve donated chairs to a hospice charity fundraiser. Last year was my first year to actually attend the event and the keynote speaker was Cheryl Strayed, the author of Wild which also was a movie with Reece Witherspoon. It was amazing to hear her personal story. This year’s speakers are the parents of Esther Earl. You would best know her as the main character in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars.
While death is a heavy topic, these events are not depressing. On the contrary, they are inspiring! Last year I left the event with a profound sense of determination to make a difference in any way possible—whether it be giving donations or purchasing auction items. This year I decided to donate a set of Victorian chairs. I found them in an antique store in San Antonio last month.

For a few months I had coveted a beautiful fabric I spied in a fabric showroom in Austin. It was expensive, and because I’m the biggest cheapskate ever, I couldn’t justify buying it for myself. But this event gave me the opportunity to purchase it.

My work began with stripping off the fabric and then removing the dark glossy finish with wood stripper.

I then bleached the chairs to eliminate the reddish color. This is the best way to achieve a farmhouse finish on the chairs.

Next, I went to work sanding the chairs until I achieved the right finish. I cleaned the chairs and then added a layer of clear wax on the wood. The wax both seals and darkens the wood a bit.

This technique takes a lot of time, but the final result is well worth it if you want to achieve a rustic finish.




Stay tuned, because these chairs will be auctioned off to the highest bidder on October 21 at Hospice Austin’s Beauty of Life event. And if you are interested in bidding on these beauties, want to attend the event, or desire to donate, you can go to their website.  On October 21, check my Facebook page to see the results of this bidding! Wish me luck!