UPHOLSTERY WORKSHOPS UPDATE

Upholstery Workshops and Friday Upholstery Club have all been sellouts lately - a lot of fun and some fabulous results!

Want to join us?
Head to the online shop for all details...www.raptupholstery.bigcartel.com/workshops

all tuckered out - it's hard work being an Upholstery-dog

DELECTABLE DANISH DELUXE

Once every while a REALLY standout chair crosses the threshold of Bottoms' End...
most recently it was this mid-century modern armchair/stool combo by Australian brand DANISH DELUXE. 

My client (a lovely lady who has recently moved into a Gerringong retirement village) has had the chair and its matching stool since buying it new, direct from the maker, in Canberra in the early 1960s.

It was a lot of work to reupholster, no thanks to the previous (lazy !!*@*#!!*) upholsterer who covered over the original upholstery rather than doing the right thing and taking it back to the frame. 

But, after a lot of work, it came up beautifully, largely thanks to the client's wonderful bold choice of fabric - TWINING by James Dunlop Textiles.

The work included refurbishing the beautiful blackwood frame, repairing the internal frame and, as you'll see from the following pics showing the process, complete all-new upholstery.

I was particularly pleased with the new outside back - where I was able to make full use of the full width of the big pattern in one piece, from wing to wing, a big improvement over the previous botchy job.

the original upholstery - grey handwoven-looking wool

Pip not very impressed at this point

 

DRAFT DODGERS

Isn't it amazing that here in the southern hemisphere we're officially halfway through winter (the Solstice is just a few days away, on Sunday 22nd June)?

BUT... the coldest months of the year (July & August) are still ahead of us.

Did you know that simple procedures like blocking drafts in our houses can significantly affect interior warmth, and also reduce heating bills? It's true!


And a great, inexpensive way to block drafts is with these Draft Dodgers.

These are made using quality remnant designer fabrics, and filled with clean builders' sand. They're such heavyweights they actually double-up as doorstoppers.

2 sizes available - 80cm for regular doors ($30each or $50 for 2) 
and 90cm for wider doors ($35each or $65 for 2).

(I'm also happy to custom make to your own particular requirements - please contact me for a quote).

A wide range of choices is available in the Jamberoo showroom now - not in the online shop (but I'll happily ship unfilled if you're happy to fill them yourself).

PS:   AND these make the ULTIMATE house-warming gift!!

UPHOLSTERY CLUB

Greetings!
and apologies for such a long time between posts.
As I've mentioned before, I'm afraid I've succumbed to the lure of Social Media and have been actively posting all my latest news there - specifically INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK (links over there on right of this page).

For those of you who prefer to read this blog, then the latest news is the introduction of a new workshop format - probably the most requested thing in the history of Rapt - UPHOLSTERY CLUB.

This is an ongoing workshop where students bring their own project, and work individually in a small group (max 4) on Saturday afternoons.

The project must first be approved as suitable - ideally something small and achievable in a few hours (such as a dining chair seat , or footstool for instance) rather than a full-blown 4 seater lounge  (but hey, anything's possible once you've got the basics under your belt! ).

Some of the advantages in being an Upholstery Clubber include:

* access to a fully-professional workshop, including use of a range of tools and machinery out of the cost of most home workshops
* the hourly rate includes all the basic supplies, such as staples, foundation materials, glue, threads, etc.  More expensive supplies such as fabric, foam, Dacron are available to purchase at trade prices
* your project can either be something to start and finish in one workshop session, or for you bring back and forth, while continuing to work on it at home.  You could for instance bring 1 dining chair along, with the aim of finishing the set at home in your own workshop at your own pace
* seeing what other students are learning will increase your own general upholstery knowledge.

Details of UPHOLSTERY CLUB, as well as these other workshops, are in the online shop

Upholstery 1.01 - learn to upholster a small Scandi-style bench, with 2 buttons
Upholstery 1.02 - upholster a bigger 10-buttoned bench, with leg options
Lampshade 1.01 - learn the basics of shademaking by making a new drumshade
Lampshade 1.02 - learn how to makeover your own drum or empire shade
Private Lesson - BYO project of any size - just about any weekday time to suit.