Starting March 2014:

We are delighted to be offering a selection of upholstery taster workshops at Tatton Park starting early next year. The workshops hope to offer a relaxed and informal environment to introduce you to the heritage craft of upholstery. 

Set in the court yard workshops, with easy access to drop off and collect your piece, the setting is perfect for a day of upholstering.

There is a choice of weekday and weekend workshops, of between one and two days.

The workshops are designed for beginners, introducing students to the traditional skills and tools used in upholstery. Each student is provided with a tool pack to use on the day, and with limited numbers and two tutors you will receive plenty of individual tuition time.

The one day workshop are designed around the upholstery of a set choice of projects, for example drop-in dining room chairs, piano stools and ottoman lids.  There will be a selection of projects, stripped down ready to upholster, to buy, if you do not have your own project - or why not bring your own piece, stripped down and ready to go. These projects offer a good introduction to upholstery and offer the best chance of completing your piece that day.  All materials needed for the set projects is included in the price.  You will need to bring your top fabric if you have a fabric you would especially like to use - or a selection of fabrics will be available to purchase on the day too.  By way of refreshments lunch will provided at the Gardener's Cottage, Tatton's newest dining experience.

The two day workshop offers you a little more time to work on a slightly larger piece, and would suit those who have a project at home they would like to start.  Maybe you have a small bedroom chair, or a nursing chair you would like to upholster? As with the day course, all tools and equipment is provided for use on the workshop. Materials and top fabric are not included on this workshop as your individual project will dictate what materials are needed. But all materials are available to purchase on the day, and a price list will be made available to all students.  As with the day workshops, lunch is provided each day at the Gardner's Cottage.

If you would like more information then please email me at andrea@plushreupholstery.com.

This is just a snapshot of the projects we have on going at Woodford.
There are lots of traditional projects:

Kate is sewing springs in place in her overstuffed Victorian nursing chair. She is sewing the bridal ties in place ready for the first stuffing.

Sara is hand sewing in the back of the wing on her wingback armchair. 

Hilary is applying the piped edge to her nursing chair - she has created a fluted effect on the seat by sewing channels in the fabric stuffed with wadding. 

Sue has finished the seat of her midcentury chair - we reconstructed the seat from the sprung box to upholstered finish. Sue is using a different fabric on the seat back - will show more next week.

Lisa is patiently lining up the springs on her chaise - this has been hand painted with annie sloan painted - red with beige over and waxed with a clear wax.  This is going to be a labout of love ..

Jayne has sewn in the springs on her Edwardian armchair, with a caned edge to the front, and finished the arms to hessian - I will show the next few stages in the next blog - sewing the arm fronts and taking the arms to calico.  The arms are very tricky - this is Jayne's first go at upholstering arms.

And, finally, Kate has finished her dining room chairs - a set of chairs with different velvet covers.  It is a shame you cannot see how vibrant the teal velvet is - just gorgeous.

Will post more soon ...promise :)