There were 7 of us for Christmas Eve and we were going to make do with our 6 person seating kitchen table, with one person (#7) either crammed in or sitting at the kitchen counter.
We don’t have a formal dining room, just an open room when you first enter the front door which we turned into the library (previously it was a “sitting room”).
Well I came up with the semi “hare-brained” idea on December 23 that we should go buy an actual dining room table and put it into the library. It would serve as both a library table (it’s always been my dream to have one) and a dining table when needed.
So off we went to IKEA on 12/23, which was surprisingly empty so close to the Christmas holiday, and bought a table which seats 8 (but you could fit 10 at the table).
Yes John could have built a table in his woodshop but we figured it would cost the same or more to build from scratch a 92 1/2″ x 39 3/8 ” table (234 cm x 100 cm approximately) and he wouldn’t have it ready for December 24th!
We got the table home and before you know it we had it set up and made up for Christmas Eve (including Christmas Crackers):
And the table worked perfectly for our Christmas Eve dinner of 7 people (we used the loveseat in the library as seating for 2 of the 7 people; and the chairs are the existing kitchen table chairs):
In addition to candles on the table, I set up tea lights on the bookshelves in the library for a nice atmosphere during our festive dining.
And the two dogs that attended (Mike and Ajax) enjoyed foraging under the table and begging for food:
Christmas morning I was having some quiet time sitting at the new table in the library having tea and looking at library books with Mike the Miniature Schnauzer…
…and I thought: this table needs a table runner! (And a new larger rug under it…I am looking into one of those Ruggable rugs that remove from their pad and are machine washable).
Luckily I had in my stash a group of blocks my friend Wendy gave me (see post Quilter Distractions: Good Mail filled with “Taupe”) from a quilt she made for a magazine article/pattern she wrote for October 2010 edition of The Quilt Life called SuperSymmetry.
It is not enough blocks to make a quilt but it was enough to start a table runner!
I used up all the blocks Wendy sent and I am only at about a 6 foot table runner. The table is over 7 1/2 feet long so I am going to have to piece more blocks. Luckily Wendy sent me a bunch of coordinating fabric scraps!
I plan to add some type of thin border to the pieced blocks to float them. I don’t plan to make the table runner very wide as I just want to run the center of the table.
I’ll update you on the progress.
Oh and I’ll close this post with something sweet I saw this morning on my walk.
We have a lot of deer in the area so there are a lot of “deer crossing” warning signs as crossing deer (who like to randomly cross the street when you least expect it) are a dangerous traffic hazard.
Well someone decorated one of the “deer crossing” signs with a red nose (like Rudolph the Red Noses Reindeer!) to make it festive!
This bit of whimsy gave me a huge smile on my walk!
What a great idea to have a cool library table double as a dining table when needed. Enjoy your table runner making – with scraps from a quilter blogger buddy, no less!
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Thanks and I am pretty excited to work on it and someday finish it. 🙂
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Good job making room for everyone! You were brave to go to IKEA so close to the holidays…your library looks so warm and cozy! Have a happy new year!
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Thanks so much and we were surprised how empty it was at IKEA. We did run into a father shopping with his teen daughter who was frustrated with not being able to “escape” from IKEA (they have it laid out in that endless spiral) and we had to lead him out – ha!
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I love that Wendy gave you the fabric to create something with. Is it paper pieced? Enjoy your work on the table runner. I can’t wait to see the finished product.
P.S. I love the Ikea table!!!!!
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of course you need a larger library table
and of course you need a table runner, I’m real sorry you didn’t get it done in time, but as long as it’s done for 12/25 you’ve okay 🙂
oops maybe that 25/12 – here in NZ we have our dates loaded as day/month/year
happy new year to you and your family
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Happy New Year to you! Hope you are enjoying your new place and had a nice new years there. I am a bit behind in reading in case you’ve already posted about that 🙂
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Also slow boat here…but it is 2024!
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A new table *and* a new crafting project? What a great Christmas!
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Thanks so much! It was a nice add to the house and I can’t wait to finish the table runner 😀
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How wonderful to have a library table that can also be a dining room table. What a great idea! Your table runner is going to be really lovely.
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Thanks so much and it has been quite enjoyable to pile books on too – ha! Appreciate your kind words 🙂
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Aren’t you creative! I love the table. I can tell you are going to use the heck out of it! The runner is going to compliment the wood beautifully!
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Thanks so much I am excited to make it 😀
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What a great idea for the table and you don’t have to store it! The table runner will be perfect for the table too. I love how you come up with so many ideas to quilt, a woman after my own heart Tierney!
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Thanks so much and it just sort of came to me one day when I was reading in the library. I appreciate your kind words 🙂
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Love your new table! And the tablerunner will be perfect. And such a fun and interesting place to have your dinner xx
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Thanks so much Monique, I am pretty pleased with it and it was not too bad an assemble for an IKEA piece! 🙂
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Of course the table needed a runner, and it’s beautiful! Happy new year!
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Thanks so much and happy new year to you too 🙂
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I love the idea of having a library table and your runner is gorgeous!
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Thanks so much Robin, I really appreciate that 🙂
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That’s a handsome table! I have a long, multi-person table in my own ‘library’, which currently serves as a side-by-side desk for both of us, tucked against the wall. It has become a total sh**-magnet, to the point where I’d have to buy actual storage to clear it off, so I had to abandon any idea of ever eating off it. Luckily we also have a massive table outside… And you’ve made me that one needs a runner too! Happy New Year to the three of you 😊
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Thanks so much and so far I’ve been trying to resist the temptation to pile too much on it – ha! Nooo don’t give up on eating on your library table – hopefully you can find another place for the stuff that has migrated to it 🙂
Happy New Year to you and yours 🙂
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Happy New Year! That table is a really nice addition to your library!
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Thanks so much Dave and Happy New Year to you!
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Lovely table and that runner will be great for it.
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Thanks so much I really appreciate that 🙂
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Well the was a fine finish to the year. New table, Christmas dinner, and a new table runner in the making. Wow.
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It was! I keep going into the library (now also dining room) and peeking at it! I can’t wait to finish the table runner 🙂
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It looks like you had a lovely Christmas dinner! That’s a nice new table, and your new table runner is going to be gorgeous!
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Thanks so much it was awesome, a bit chaotic as we learned to serve in the new room, but still fun! 🙂
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Sounds like a good time was had by all 🙂
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