If you’ve ever stopped to consider this question, you’ve likely reached the vague conclusion that wings are decorative. And in the modern sense, they are. We stick wings on everything from recliners to headboards. (Wing chair recliner reupholstered by Sitzen Design & Upholstery in Missouri) But in truth, wings were an ingenuous design solution: They …
Last week, a woman dropped by The Funky Little Chair to inquire about classes. We answered a bunch of questions, and she started to leave, rather jazzed to give this upholstery thing a try. Then she turned back and asked, “So what kind of people do well in upholstery? Who ends up really liking it? …
I think every teacher/artist/athlete/craftsperson sees their “medium” as a metaphor for life. It’s one reason I love quotes – we can all be inspired by the passionate people around us, even those who have passions different than our own. Some examples: Whether you’re a boxer or a welder, a knitter or a chef, the things …
Alright, that title is deliberate upholstery click bait. . . But I want to tell you something, and please bear with me. Here’s a secret truth about upholstery: It’s really, really, really, really easy to tear someone’s work apart. I don’t mean in the literal sense. I mean figuratively. If I were inclined to do so, …
A sewing machine is probably the most important piece of equipment you’ll purchase as an upholsterer. It’s a major investment and one that should be carefully considered – while larger shops may have a variety of machines, many upholsterers make do with just one, perhaps for the length of a career. You want to choose …
This week on YouTube, we’ll get our first look at fabric for Aunt Bea, so it seems like a good time to discuss the tricky business of fabric selection. There are a lot of important considerations, whether you’re having something done, or doing something yourself. Obviously, there are design considerations: color, pattern, scale. What does …
I grew up in an upholstery shop. My mom worked from home, and while I didn’t take a particular interest until my 20’s, I DID take a certain amount of knowledge for granted. I knew what a button press was and how to use it by the second grade. I could identify cardboard tack strip, …
Say hello to my little friend: we call him Mr. Staple Lifter. Read More »
We tackled a big, new challenge this summer! I get lots of inquiries about video content, from folks who can’t physically get to our classes, and even from folks who do. It’s a deliciously convenient and visual medium – I get that. Unfortunately, I knew almost nothing about creating or posting video content, and nobody …
Every time I make a cushion insert, I think to myself, “I should write a blog post about this!” Because cushion inserts can be tricky – you need to understand all the products you’re working with (in my case, usually/mostly foam of varying grades), you need to make decisions about sizing and relative quantities of …
I have two rowdy boys at home (three, if you count my husband) Occasionally, they get railroaded into delivering furniture, or making buttons or carrying home a freebie that mom spotted on the curb. But in general, upholstery is my thing, not theirs. They don’t care what color the sofa is, or whether it has …
