Where did upholstery degrees go?
Okay friends, let’s put all our cards on the table. Because I really want to talk about what’s happening with upholstery education in the U.S.
May 9, 2018
Riches in the Niches
A couple years ago, I traveled to Denver for a Craftsy Instructor Summit. I met AAAAAAAAAAAmazing people, plenty of them. But one in particular stands
April 19, 2018
DIY Upholstery Sawhorses
Working on furniture is much easier when you have sawhorses that are appropriately designed for the task –Today, we’re going to show you how to
February 21, 2018
“Why is upholstery so expensive???”
I’ve been doing upholstery professionally since 2001, and I’ve frequently been on the sales side of things. I’ve answered this question. A lot. If you’ve
October 5, 2016
Less Checkers. More Chess.
Like many of you, I spent a fair portion of November binge watching The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. I am absolutely no chess player, but
January 1, 2021
Criticism part 2 – how to get it
Last week, we explored the act of offering criticism. Now let’s talk about the more challenging act of soliciting and receiving it. I can’t speak
August 17, 2020
Criticism, part 1: How we give it
Criticism is a loaded topic in upholstery right now – so much destruction has been inflicted in the name of criticism. Done badly, with malice
August 10, 2020
In praise of (self) teaching
I once saw “creativity” explained in neurological terms as the ability to take new information and rapidly connect it existing information. This, in a nutshell,
June 29, 2020
Mr. Rando: why are so many upholsterers hiding from new customers?
I’d like to discuss someone. Let’s call him Mr. Rando. Today or tomorrow, Mr. Rando may find your business. He may call, or stop in,
June 22, 2020
There are Always Flowers
I’ve been reflecting lately on the phenomena of depression era furniture. It’s one of my favorite time periods in American upholstery, actually – I love
April 3, 2020
The value of a secret
I read a great book last fall called, “The Best Team Wins” One idea that really resonated for me was this: in the modern age,
April 1, 2020
Who’s Having a Wobble?!
I learned a wonderful phrase last week from Louise Cornick over at Upholstery Education: Having a Wobble. Various dictionaries define “Wobble” as “to teeter or
March 30, 2020
When bad work happens to good people
Here’s a popular conversation among upholsterers: “I hate low quality work. It makes us all look bad.” Okay. I agree. Most consumers are so unfamiliar
October 1, 2019
Building a Better Tomorrow
Last week, I listened to an episode of 99% Invisible on “social infrastructure” (Listen to it here: Episode 346 – Palaces for the People) Social
April 25, 2019