About

Everyone asks me about my name. It all started years before I was born. You see, my father promised his best friend that they would name their first boys after each other. But, by the time I was a bump in my mom's belly, they already had two girls. My mom declared "this is the last one...the name is promised whether it's a boy or girl." And she kept her threat word. So here I am, Michael Suzanne. My family and friends call me 'Mike'.




Living life with a man's name has been full of highlights. I always got letters to play football when I was in school. Mom even called one summer to try to sign me up - then she told them I was a girl. That was that. I got my notice to register for the U.S. military draft when I turned 18 - something only required of boys at the time. And when I went to university, I got a letter inviting me to join a fraternity house. It was never easy when I dated guys named 'Mike' - yes, that happened - and it works wonders with telemarketers when I tell them "HE'S not home."

Best of all? I received the compliment of my life when a mentor told me that no other woman could carry off the name like I had. That's the one I always carry with me.

Sweden now claims me as one of their 'love immigrants' - I never returned back to the States after meeting my Swedish hubby at the train station while traveling across Europe. Eleven years and two kids later, my experiences of making my way in Sweden are chronicled in my other blog called 'The Accidental Swede'. Culture shock? Check!

But my passion is here - with Blue Velvet Chair. It's real, you know. The chair. It represents my joy of seeing the ordinary become extraordinary. Or creating the unexpected instead of the expected. I found the chair at a garage sale in Phoenix (Arizona). She was a brilliant blue velvet with an awkwardly pale pink Gustavian-style frame. She was bold...and she was mine! Entire rooms have been designed around this chair. I had to leave her behind in my move to Sweden, but we were finally reunited after an entire decade apart. It was a 'return to me' that triggered this blog - a place to showcase and share recycled, repurposed, and reloved arts and crafts.

I hope your life has a blue velvet chair, too!

Michael


39 comments:

  1. Came over from Prudent Baby... My name, Tristin, is *technically* a man's name, though very feminine--and I named my daughter Elliott to follow the male name theme.

    I love your name--and have enjoyed perusing your blog.

    I'll bet Sweden is an awesome place to live!

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  2. Hey Mike it's Helen from the blog group - I was instantly curious about your blog because of that blue velvet chair! In High School a friend and I were in England and we became obsessed with blue suede shoes and she actually found some so I have a fond memory attached to that type of fabric ever since :) You're brave to move to another country I look forward to reading more!

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  3. Hi Mike. I love your name for you! I am looking forward to following your blog. I was expected to be a boy t be named after my grandfather. I am glad the spelling was changed as, at the time, it was an uncommon spelling. Do your girls have stories behind their names?
    I came by way of another blog in which you commented on flowers and linked your button flowers. Cool! (Kids can make those. Maybe next year's may day basket.)
    I appreciate that 1. You think outside the box and 2. Your thriftiness, recycle and upcylce attitude.

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  4. I named my daughter Mikeal and we call her Miss Mikey. I have always loved her name. Everyone remembers her and it has definitely shaped her personality. She is a very beautiful girl with blue eyes and curly hair. Very feminine looking but a huge tomboy. Loves to hunt, raises horses and cattle, even played football on an all boys team until she was 13. They wouldn't let her after that. She even rides bulls.

    I always felt like her name gave her the independence and courage to do whatever she wanted.

    So glad that there is another Mike that loves her name!

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  5. When I saw one of your posts in English and Swedish I had to see if you were Swedish. My parents are from Sweden and my dad was drafted in the American Army. He met my mom in Los Angeles and chased after her when she moved back to Sweden. After my sister was born he was drafted into the Swedish Army and ended up deciding he wanted to stay an American and moved back to the US. My mom followed when my sister was 10 mo. old. By the way he was born in New York. Anyways, I love your sense of humor and I'm going to have to follow you to hear more about Sweden, just kidding, to learn more great sewing tricks. Katharine

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  6. Hey I am your partner for the gift exchange and would love to have your email. :)

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  7. Honey, I'm glad you like your name. I've never been sure of that, and I'm soo proud of you.
    Dad

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  8. Loving this !! Loving the combination of the expat-ness of your life and the love of life that you seem to have! Adding you to my google reader now! (after falling in love with your super fun tutorial about the scarf dress!)

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  9. Mu husbands name is Michael, its a great name!

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  10. My father named me Cary. Sigh. But even though I changed my name to Carolyn when I was 10, I've really never been anyone but Cary.

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  11. My name is Rebecca, and I have a Green velvet chair.
    Love the blog!
    You are a huge inspiration

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  12. What a lovely story (and blog). You just saw that i made a blue velvet chair on suitsandaprons.wordpress.com, and soon i will start reupholstering a similar chair in the same shade. So happy you reunited with your blue velvet chair. It's lovely!

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  13. What an awesome bio! I found you through JUNKMARKET Style. Welcome! I look forward to seeing more of your creations both here and on JMS.

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  15. Looking forward to browsing your blog! Found it via pinterest color chips pin. Then I saw your tree branch curtain rod which is all over pinterest next to my tree branch curtain rod! Great ideas, would be fun to hang out for a day!

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  16. 'Found you, or your blog on the magazine rolled mirror on favecraftsblog. This site, Blue Velvet Chair is trully inspirational! I love your attitude of life, art, upcycling, your name, etc. It's good to find upbeat people in the world today. I'm looking forward to visiting often and sharing with my other art peeps. Thank you.

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  17. hey, mike... found you via pinterest and love your features of the wacky and wild recycling design world...esp the anthro cork video!

    newest email follower...

    amy

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  18. My daughter's name is Michal too (spelled without the "e"...like the Bible name). Michal Grace...Daddy's choice, but she and I both like it. She is confident, beautiful and very much an individual, so no problem carrying the typically masculine load :)

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  19. Hello.

    I just stumbled across your blog via craftgawker and can't believe you live in Sweden. I'm British and just moved to Norrkoping last week. I was actually looking for some craft inspiration before going craft supply shopping tomorrow! I don't suppose you know Norrkoping at all or can recommend where to try to find supplies?

    I'll be following your other blog too - I need all the tips I can get, having just moved here and not knowing the language! :)

    My best wishes, Jen

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  20. That's funny, I'm Swedish and live in Texas with my American husband so I'm you in reverse :) Going on eight years here with 2 kids as well. Will have to look through your blogs, love hearing about Americans clashing with Swedish culture :)

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  21. Hi Michael!

    I stumbled upon your blog bc I love DIY. I just about fell over when I saw your name! My name is Michal too! I just thought I would share that with you, my complete and udder excitement :)

    *The Military mail
    *The Tuxedo coupons for prom
    *The long pause after you introduce yourself ("Are you sure your name isn't Michelle?" Oh, I'm sorry you're right. My parents and I have been pronouncing my name wrong my whole life! "Yes, like the boys name."
    *Every year a new teacher...Mickall? Mickel? Mickail? -Maybe I just get that because mine is spelled different?

    We must have the same parents. I was name after 2 of my Dad's friends and my friends and family call me "Mike"


    From one Michal to another...

    p.s. You just made my year!!

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    1. OMG! I've only met 3 other women with the name in all my 45 years... SO cool!

      I've been asked a million times "Are you sure it isn't Michelle?" And the teachers never quite knowing what to do when they call the name and I raised my hand.

      That is just too great. I tried to click through to see how to get ahold of you - but didn't get anywhere. I wonder if you'll see this.

      We have a good friend in San Diego and we're thinking about going there when we come over to the States for a family visit this summer. Wouldn't it be fun to meet?

      Michael

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    2. Hi, just found your blog today. Im also a woman named Michael...Michael Marie, i too have heard it all! So funny how EVERYBODY knows how to spell Michael until its a girls name! Im 47 today & live in Missouri. Not many of us out there...love your idea's, keep'um coming.

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  22. Hi Mike ...today I literally spent hours on your pinterest boards. You are a girl after my own heart, style and craftiness.....Thanks for the fun!!

    hugs, Debbie in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada....

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    1. Hey Debbie-

      You're welcome! Come have a seat in the blue velvet chair anytime!

      Mike

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  23. Ha from Vancouver BC
    Wonderful blog you have lots of original ideas

    I find it so amazing how people can share similar style, colours, elements and shapes. As soon as I clicked on the blue velvet chair I got a sense of familiarity.

    I am a dyslexic Leo with a photographic memory currently finishing a book (for the 3rd time)

    Best regards,
    Tina

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    1. Hi Tina -

      Glad you found your way here. And I hope your photographic memory brings you back often.

      I agree with you about how amazing it is that we can share similar aesthetics - without having ever met. Isn't that wonderful when it happens?

      Mike

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  24. I am writing an article for HGTV.com and wondering if you can help. The article is on trash to treasure ideas you can use in the garage for storage/organization. I was wondering if your craftiness reached into that area. If you have anything I could use in the article, the story would credit you, use your instructions and photos, and have a hotlink back to your blog or site.

    Do you have anything that would work and if so, would you be willing to participate?

    -Sharon Merritt
    sharon@outdamnspot.tv

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Sharon - I wish I did! When is your article due? Perhaps I can whip up some fun and funky scrap storage for the garage.
      Michael

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  25. Hi, I've giving you the Kreative Blogger Award. I link to you here.
    http://www.funinthemaking.net/2012/03/05/fun-in-the-making-won-kreativ-blogger-award/
    I came across your site recently and I enjoyed looking around. Great repurposed projects.
    Sincerely,
    Hester Jane

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  26. Hey Mike! My name's Bri and I'm developing a site of my own. I have added your blog to my page of interesting links. Thought I'd stop by and let you know. :)

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  27. My daughters real name is Allison, but no one ever calls her that, she has always been Al, and when she would start a new class, teachers would look at her weird, because they had heard of Al but did not know that she was really a girl named Allison. And she could definetely carry off just being named Al! Found your site through pinterest and so glad I did. I work for Habitat for Humanity and my office is in the ReStore and you provide wonderful ideas for reusing!!

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  28. Hi ! I came across you blog and I like it very much !!! Realy wonderful ideas, congratulation.
    If you're interested I'm a 100 percent amateur and try to do my best for family and freinds recycling or upcycling Metal barrels (bermill.wordpress.com )

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  29. Love your eye and seeing what fellow artisans and environmentally conscious folks are doing. I just did some cool stuff with globes and chalk paint...and trinkets...and and and. Pamela

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  30. Hi! You might like me project, I recycled an old chair by reupholstering it with repurposed belts! Http://www.whatamberloves.com/repurpose-and-reupholster-chair-by-using-belts/ ~Amber of WhatAmberLoves.com

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  31. Thanks for sharing the nice information. navy blue velvet
    Thanks for it..

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  32. your site is AMAZING! thank you for all the wonderful ideas!

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  33. Hi! I left you a little surprise on muy blog, I hope you like it! Nice blog, nice ideas =)

    Best wishes,
    Nelumbonita

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  34. Hey Mike,
    stumbled upon your blog while scanning thru pinterest for diy projects. your work is fabulous and fun!! extremely creative and cool
    looking forward to trying out some stuff.
    My son's shares the same name as u, and i totally Love the name itself.
    hope to find my blue velvet chair someday...

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I'm listening! And responding - so let's create some buzz together for recycled and repurposed arts and crafts.

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