Mother always steered clear of the pieces with veneer and I do too. I can't offer any suggestions on that. It's a beautiful look usually but so thin; one mistake can ruin it.
I'm extremely happy the girls have taken to this tradition. It wasn't something that was forced on them either, they became willing participants when they saw how I took an older rocker that Uncle Herman had on his porch for years, covered with paint and fixed it up.
That is one reason they have tended to go for rocking chairs starting off.
Rocking chairs don't seem to be in high demand and don't cost an arm and a leg at yard sales so those make good "experiments" if you know what I mean.
Thanks for all the support and the inspiration for the contest,
Sult