Project 'Buy Local'

Hello Friends

I had a few New Year resolutions for 2014; the usual get fit, lose weight etc... but the most important was to wherever possible buy from local, independent retailers/businesses.  Obviously, being a local business myself this is close to my heart.

I thought I'd share my progress with you as most of my readers are in or close to Ruthin / Denbighshire. Please feel free to comment or contact me with any suggestions.

When I made this a resolution I hadn't realised what a huge change this would mean. It's had a big impact on how I shop, and think about shopping, but it's a slow process.  I haven't immediately stopped visiting Tesco for the weekly shop but I've started to replace elements of it with locally produced alternatives.

This started with beauty and cosmetic products.  I've used Skincueticals products for years and they're great...but they're from America, cost a small fortune and are in no way natural!

To get me off to a good start my lovely husband bought me a hamper of natural products for Christmas from Bathing Beauty created by the very lovely Georgina Jones, an Osteopath at Well Street Clinic.

I've been using 'Balaclava' Face Salve as a day and night moisturiser and it's protected my skin from the wind and rain we've been experiencing and it's lovely to wear under make-up (when I can be bothered with foundation!)

The 'Gauntlet' Hand Salve has saved these upholstresses hands from almost inevitable callouses - It should be a compulsory in all toolkits.

I also got some 'Jones the Bones' Joint and Muscle Oil which I'm saving until I go back to GD Fitness Ultimate Fitness Camp (I've been skiving for a couple of months).  I'll be needing some muscular relief after my first week back!

The best thing about these products though is that they contain no synthetic ingredients.  I don't have particularly sensitive skin but my sister does and I'll definitely be recommending Bathing Beauty to her.

This had made me re-think other cosmetics I use and move towards totally synthetic free products.  I wonder if this will be possible with locally produced products?  First on my list....deodorant.  Does anyone have any ideas?

I'll let you know how I get on.

Here's a completely gratuitous picture of the Doodles - just because :)

Quick Catch Up...

Hello Friends

Well, it's been a while but it's definitely time for a quick catch up.  That's all I seem to have time for these days...busy busy busy!!  Can't complain though - since starting the business in April last year there has been a steady stream of chairs, sofa's, chaise and footstools through North Wales Upholstery HQ's doors.

Here's a little flavour of what I've been up to;

One thing I've really enjoyed is working on a piece of furniture that has sentimental value, Nain's old dressing table chair or Grandpa's wing-back.  I call them 'Chairlooms' and it's an area of upholstery I really love.

There are lots of interesting projects lined up for the next couple of months....a beautiful wool sofa, a couple of gorgeous old church pews, a set of Edwardian horsehair dining chairs, a pretty bedroom chair and an antique Captains Chair in Welsh Tweed.  Pictures to follow!

Catch up again soon upholstery fans!  :)

The story of Lulu - The Mid Century Armchair

Hello Friends

I'll be getting back to 'Tool' week, which has turned into 'Tool few weeks' due to lots of exciting things happening in the workshop!

One of those exciting things was finishing Lulu - the mid century armchair.

Here's the before shot.....

The foam inside had crumbled to dust but once the frame was bare you could see the angles and the chairs potential......

A new layer of strong canvass gives the arms some body and slip stitching the piping is time consuming but worth it to get a crisp finish.

Springs are secured to the canvass to keep them straight and comfortable and the border is hand sewn on - many tiny slip stitches!

Then - all of a sudden - Lulu is finished and off to her new home!

The customer, Karen, chose a gorgeous fabric; 'Tarna Mauve' from Romo's Arran collection and it's piped in 'Tarna Mulberry' from the same collection.  

Karen very kindly left some feedback on my Facebook page which I'm going to share with you....

Karen Walker

Michelle is a warm enthusiastic person who has shown a real passion for her craft, she took on my project, guided me with fabric whilst listening to my wishes. I am over the moon with the end result the chair is mid century that has been given a new beginning whilst keeping the integrity of the original design, I would certainly return to Michelle in the future. Highly recommended.

Thanks Karen - what a lovely lady and a fab customer :)

This type of chair frame can often be found on ebay or at auctions and they're well worth the investment as when they're reupholstered they can be valuable. There's a real trend towards vintage and they fit the bill nicely.

This week I'm working with Laura from Laura's Attic on Cleo, the Chesterfield sofa and doing some more development work on my new product..The Baaa Stool which will be coming to a shop near you soon!

Meet a TOOL week - Day 3: The Ripping Chisel

Hello Friends

It's 10pm on day 3...I'm late but I think we can still call this a daily update...JUST!  I'll make it a quick one.

This evening I am introducing some really ferocious members of a upholstresses toolkit.

Firstly;

The Ripping Chisel

Designed for the fast, easy removal of tacks and staples.  It should be struck with a wooden mallet, not a tack hammer.  The above chisel has a strong, heavy blade ad a built n shock absorber set in front of the brass ring were the blade is joined to the handle.  The tip is ground flat to near-sharp at the chisel point.

The other tools that are used to remove old coverings and stuffings or 'rip out' include;

Tack Lifter, Wooden Mallet and Steel Pincers

The head of the tack lifter is forked to fit underneath a tack then rolled to 'lift' it out and sharp so it slips under pesky staples with a sharp tap from a mallet.  The pincers have been specially blunted so they do not cut through staples when pulling.

I shall be back 'on point' tomorrow and provide the next exciting installment ...  'Needles'.  (See what I did there).  

Meet a TOOL week - Day 2: The Web Stretcher

Hello Friends

After some lovely feedback on day one from someone who insists that talking about upholstery tools is not geeky at all...here's day 2..

The Webbing Strainer

The Webbing Strainer is used to make sure the webbing attached to the base of the seat is firm and will take the pressure of thousands of bottoms over its lifetime.  They are usually made from a good quality beech, 20mm thick with a 16mm diameter dowel peg.

I tried to import a video from by the lovely Joan Milton from J A Milton Upholstery Supplies to show you how the web strainer is used but I can't seem to make it work so here's the link: How to use a Webbing Strainer

It's not a particularly dangerous tool - unless you bop someone on the head with it.

Tomorrow....The Ripping Chisel..now that sounds very dangerous.

Meet a TOOL week - Day 1 - Tack Hammer

Hello Friends

I'm designating this week 'Meet a TOOL week' and will be introducing a different traditional upholstery tool each day.  Admittedly this is very upholstery geek.  I happily wear that badge.

Day 1

The Tack Hammer

Tack Hammer

An upholstery hammer (also called a tack hammer) is a lightweight hammer usually with a hickory handle used for securing fabric to furniture frames using tacks or small nails.

I love mine - regardless of the number of vicious attacks it has made on my thumb.

It's magnetic at one end so you can easily collect the tack from your lips and carry them straight to the fabric - the other face then hammers them home. To improve speed we keep a handful of tacks in our mouth and spit them onto the hammer when needed - pretty gross isn't it!!  Important to ensure there isn't already a tack attached to the hammer when presenting it to your lip or you'll get a very cheap piercing.  It's also advisable to empty the tacks from your mouth before eating - although one upholsterer I know can munch through a pasty and a vanilla slice with a mouth full of tacks without perforating his esophagus.  Be warned people.... upholstery's a dangerous game.

Tomorrow - The Web Strainer.  Try to contain your excitement.  :)

Denbigh and Flint County Show

Hello Friends

Yesterday was a corker!  I was demonstrating at the Denbigh and Flint Show and it was great!

You can see the piece I was working on in the background.  It's a very funky 50's chair that originally looked like this:

The lovely client, Karen, chose some Romo (Arran) zig zag fabric with a complimenting purple piping and I got busy slip stitching and pattern matching!

Front of the arm

The show also gave me the opportunity to gather feedback on a n'ewe project..the 'Baaa Stool'...

The 'Baaa Stool'

More to come on this particular product...it's in development at the moment.  The footstool frame is crafted from locally felled beech and finished with the cutest turned sheep's hoove feet. It's covered in real sheepskin which is removeable so it can be cleaned.  I'm hoping to have the design and packaging finished in time for Christmas.  They'll make great presents!  If you're interested in reserving one please drop me a line and I'll add you to the list :)

It was great to meet so many upholstery fans and to talk chairs and sofas all day. I'm looking forward to working on the many projects that were discussed...I should be busy until Christmas!

I'd love to post some pictures of the show itself but I didn't leave my stand all day.  Big thanks to Clare from Accord PR for suggesting I go, to Joan and the team at J A Milton for lending me the half done demonstration chair and to my lovely hubby for being the Logistics, Maintenance and Catering department for the day  It's a family business!