One of our mottos at White Elephant Creations is giving outworn  objects a new life. Although the idea for our blog was started 12 years ago,  you could say that the White Elephant mantra is in our blood. My paternal grandfather, Robert Ralph, operated a furniture upholstery shop out of his basement in Point Pleasant, NJ, for 40 years. As a kid, I remember spending time in my grandfather’s shop watching him upholster couches while he whistled along to Big Band music playing from his radio.

A while back, I had a vinyl covered mid-century love seat that needed to be fixed.  Since my dad had worked for my grandfather when he was younger, I asked him to help me with the project. While I did get to assist with the recover, my perfectionist dad ended up doing most of the work. I do have a another vinyl chair that needs to be re-covered, so hopefully, I’ll get my chance. With our throwaway culture, upholstery has become a lost art. But I look forward to carrying on the Ralph family tradition.
-Mike

My dad demonstrating a peculiar trick of the trade. To save time, he fills his mouth with tacks (they come sterilized) sticks the magnet end of the hammer in his mouth, and then tacks down the cover.