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 been doing upholstery for more than five minutes, I bet you’ve answered it too. If you’ve received a bid recently for custom upholstery services, there’s a pretty good chance that …
I’m getting ready to teach a community ed class titled, “Tackling Your First Upholstery Project” and these kind of classes always get me thinking. I don’t want to overwhelm new students with a mile long list of must-have tools for a simple project or two, but upholstery is definitely easier with the proper equipment, yes? So …
This August, I had the pleasure of participating in the Great River Ragnar Relay. For those of you who DON’T have a friend posting incessantly about their Ragnar experience, here’s a summary: A team of twelve runners climbs into two giant vans and spends two days covering two hundred miles, relay style. For fun. First you run. Then …
About a year ago, I found myself at the cutting table in Hancock Fabrics, chatting with the sales clerk and my friend Ann while we waited for our purchases. “She teaches upholstery classes,” Ann told the lady, gesturing at me. “OH you don’t need upholstery classes!!!! You just take it apart and put it all …
I’d heard Steve Cone’s name long before I met him. His skills as a top-notch craftsman, businessman, author and educator were common knowledge when I made upholstery my profession in 2001 – co-workers spoke of him with respect that bordered on awe. So I was fairly intimidated by this fictional figure, assuming he’d have an ego to match …
This is the story of Jen’s “new” sofa. About a year ago, I reupholstered a chair and a settee for my good friend Jen. They were both Craig’s list finds that needed considerable work (frame repair, spring tying, new cushions.) We met to discuss fabric, costs, and style changes. The chair was a great size and …
As a professional upholsterer, I sometimes hear things like, “Oh you are so LUCKY! This is my dream job!!!” I suppose professional knitters and bakers and florists do too. And believe me, I get it – I DO have a very cool job. I get to work with beautiful fabrics and tear apart old interesting …
How to Make Upholstery Your Career (and whether or not you really want to.) Read More »
My mom, Diane Parlin, first learned sewing in the Philippines, where she attended high school while her parents worked as missionaries. She took pattern making & garment sewing through the University of Manila, tediously working on an old fashioned treadle machine. It was not love at first sight. After moving back to the U.S. in 1972 at the …
