1 Day Learn & Make Upholstery Course - no experience required; fun, informal, friendly & you get to take your very own modern, eco friendly upholstered footstool home.
All tools and materials included. 4 – 6 people per session. Lunch included.
What Will We Make?
A mid century modern inspired circular upholstered birch wood footstool. 48cm diameter, 37cm high, with exposed treated birch ply frame and upholstered wool upper.
Where Is It?
The workshops takes place at the Paddock Art Studios, in historic market town Lewes, East Sussex - just one hour from London and 15 mins from Brighton by train, so it is an easy day trip. Or with so many shops, places to eat, drink and stay, 2 Micro Breweries & Gyndebourne, Charleston, The Towner, De La Warr Pavillion, Ditchling Museum of Arts & Crafts, the South Downs AND the glorious Sea all at your door, why not make a weekend of it?
What Will We Actually Do?
Each person will upholster and construct their own Rounded by birch wood footstool, using a mix of modern and traditional upholstery techniques.
Everyone will leave with a completed and beautiful piece.
Yes, But How Will We Actually Do That?
We will work using pre-cut & treated birch wood legs frames & bases
We will use natural latex, hair & coconut fillers, which we will cut to form at the Studio
You will learn how to use traditional tools including magnetic tack hammers, tack lifters, mallets and regulators
You will shape the filler and apply & fix edge rolls
You will tension the upper upholstered section with calico and tack
You will cover the upper in Top Fabric and secure using electric staple guns
If using buttons and piping – these will be applied
You will attach the base & legs to the footstool upper and we will all stand back and smile
Dependent on the interests of the group on the day, I will talk through different ways to upholster, fabric & material selections & share details on suppliers etc
Some Of Those Materials Sound Rather Odd?
I try to tread lightly with the pieces I make, and am delighted that all Rounded by footstools use only natural or recycled materials, employing techniques (& materials) which allow for repair, ensuring that these footstools are made for life, not landfill.
What Is The Workshop Space Like?
Rounded by workshops take place in the Main Studio at the Paddock Art Studios which are housed in lovely old timbered buildings with a beautiful garden behind, if the weather is good we'll hop out here to eat lunch. A mixed discipline use Studio, you will work from our own table, surrounded by life drawings, sculptures, mosaics & potters works in a spacious and friendly atmosphere. We're super lucky that it is a Mezzanine height space with a partially glazed ceiling providing plenty of natural light. The Studios themselves are close to the centre of Lewes, hidden in a back lane below the castle.
About Me:
I trained as a Theatre Prop Maker at Central School of Speech & Drama, going on to work at several Theatres and Festivals including the Young Vic, The Stephen
Joseph Theatre, The Edinburgh Festival & Avignon. I ‘fell’ into marketing films, working at both Universal and Paramount Pictures for many years, before realising how much I missed ‘making’ and so began training in traditional upholstery first at The Thomas Calton Centre and then in both traditional and modern upholstery at The Good Life Centre, both in London.
I now live in Lewes, and have been running a furniture and textile business making simply designed contemporary pieces. One of those pieces, the birch wood footstool
is an especial delight to make, it is simple, useful, light & beautiful. With none of the corners that so frustrate upholstery newcomers, I thought it made the perfect 1 day workshop experience. For after a ‘hard’ day learning, making, laughing, creating you get to take home and put your feet up on a foostool, and say “That was Rounded by Me’.
What's included in the price?
All tools and materials included. 4 – 6 people per session. Absolutely delicious Lunch from local Italian eatery https://cacciaandtails.com/, (all dietary reqs can be met) plus Tea & Coffee is included.
Everyone leaves with their own upholstered birch wood footstool which can be carried assembled or flat packed.
What do I Need To Bring?
Just yourself and a water-bottle.
I’ll be talking you through & demonstrating how to use the tools and how to work with the fabric, but will have print outs and pencils at the Studio should you also wish to take notes.
What Should I Wear?
Wear clothes that you are comfortable in, that you don’t mind getting dirty, catching a thread on & if you have an apron, bring one. Wear closed toe shoes with a good sole as we will be working with metal tacks & hammers, and will be standing most of the day (Good news is we're making a footstool so you are guaranteed to be able to put your feet up when you get home!)
Wear layers, the studio is big and although there is heating we will have some windows open.
Can I Use My Own Top Fabric?
Upholstery weight plain wool Top Fabric (made from recycled yarns and with a soft in hand feel) is included in the workshop cost. You will choose from a selection of 20+ colour ways ahead of the session. This fabric is chosen
to get the very best results, allowing for beginners to create a beautiful finish avoiding unnecessary tensioning, laddering and positioning issues that some fabrics can present.
If you wish to bring your own fabric I will need to give the thumbs up/thumbs down or at least a "hmmm well I guess you could... if you really want to..." ahead of the session, and you will need a 1m drop.
What More Do I Need To Do?
Nothing more, once booked I will send you Fabric colour choices & ask of any dietary requirements you may have. Other than that I look forward to meeting you and guiding you to make a fabulous footstool on the day!
