This was a belated birthday present for my Nan (her birthday was in March) but I had trouble finishing it in time alongside working on the chair, and I also thought it was nicer to give it to her face-to-face when I went to Yorkshire for Easter. She absolutely loved it. My Nan has inspired me from a very young age to take up needlework, as well as more recently - upholstery. She has made so many things that we still have today - sewing boxes, piano chair, dressing table pouffe.... as well as clothing (my mother's wedding dress, my old dance dresses - all my Dad's clothing growing up!- see post here) It was nice to finally give something back to her as she was always making things for others. Now she is unable to sew because of her eyesight and fingers from diabetes, but she gets very excited to talk about her sewing days.
The bird was a William Morris design and the footstool itself is Victorian. It had a horrible cover from the 80s on it and underneath the original upholstery had been removed. One of my (not too distant) future projects is to re-upholster the sewing box she made my Mum in 70s - which was used as a scratching post by my cat (RIP) when I was growing up, and definitely needs re-covering!!
