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Classes & Workshops
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 - so obviously it comes with a #putyourfeetup guarantee!
All tools and materials included. Small group session.
Detailed description: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.
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.
I am a designer maker living and working in East Sussex.
I produce modern upholstered footstools.
Useful objects, made well.
I run Rounded by. making & selling upholstered birchwood modern footstools; using 100% natural & recycled materials, these pieces are made for life not landfill.
With none of the corners that so frustrate upholstery newcomers, I thought the Footstools made the perfect 1 day workshop experience and now run these monthly at The Paddock Studios Lewes & as a guest tutor further afield. Folk come, learn, laugh, make & leave with their very own footstool.
I trained as a Prop Maker at Central School of Speech & Drama, and on graduation worked in Theatres & Festivals including The Young Vic, Stephen Joseph Theatre & Edinburgh Fringe. I fell into marketing films, working at Universal and then Paramount Pictures for years, before realising how much I missed making, so began training in traditional upholstery at the Thomas Calton Centre, and then in more depth at The Good Life Centre, both in London.
Three things I know : Never underestimate the power of a biscuit. Measure twice, cut once. It’s risky wearing flip flops in the workshop.
I run the workshops in Paddock Studios, Lewes & Starling Studios, Brighton & as a guest tutor in London colleges.
Paddock Studios is an old timbered light filled, loft height shared mixed media studio - with an amazing history, originally a stage coach stable, it was bought by Cecil Heathfield in 1946 as an exhibition space & on his death in the 70's he bequeathed it for "the creative endeavours of the people of Lewes" - hooray for Cecil.
Starling Studio is located on Havelock Road in Brighton, within an area full of creative talent and passion. The modern, bright studio provides a creative hub in the Fiveways / Preston Park area of Brighton.
This is a make&take class, everyone will leave with their own "me-made' modern upholstered footstoolAll materials & tools provided for use on the day - but bring a waterbottle, wear clothes that you don't mind working in and thick soled comfortable covered shoes (we work with hammers & nails, and will be standing much of the day!)
Who can come
Adults
Activity level
just enough
Skill level
beginner
If you would like to request for alternative dates not currently showing in availability, please contact the host directly via private message
This workshop is suitable for absolute novices & beginners and also for those with some upholstery experience who would like to practice their skills and make a modern footstool.
Please note we will be standing for much of the day, using hand tools, requiring you to grip with both hands, using tack hammers & electric staple guns, and we will be measuring and cutting.
At times the workshop will be loud with people using tack hammers, ear defenders are provided for all electric stapling. It is a busy day, you will be working hard & learning lots, but by making your own footstool you will most definitely be able to #putyourfeetup when you get home.
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