Kendal Upholstery

Fine Traditional Upholstery

Kendal Upholstery — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:01:24 +0000

Here is an example of fine traditional upholstery which has actually been done by one of the students on our diploma course. The tie stitching on the back is in preparation for deep buttoning. It is beautifully executed with an even top stitched edge all the way round. Note the tidy tack work too.

1920s Lampshade

Kendal Upholstery — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 12:21:51 +0000

Look at this lovely lampshade – so elegant in a most modest and restrained kind of way. I found it amongst a pile of lampshades discarded in favour of – nouveau retro - varieties. It would be a such a pity for it to be crushed… So here it is denuded and ready for a second life.

A 1920s lampshade frame denuded but still elegant.

But what fabric would befit this 1920s image of chinoiserie? We wandered deep into the alleys of that fantastic Bazaar ebay for this antique silk.

Deco silk weave stylised dancing cranes

A sedge of dancing cranes the bird of happiness and love, symbol of loyalty, longevity, and good fortune. Apparently a string of a thousand origami cranes is a potent charm bringing a thousand years of happiness to a marriage and plenty of good luck for the home. We could all do with some of that! I haven’t counted these but there must be an abundance of the good stuff – which makes this lampshade a very special thing to possess.

Dancing Cranes Antique silk is perfect for the Japanese influenced shape of my rescued 1920s lampshade.

This lampshade and others can be seen alongside some of our traditional upholstery at Holker Garden Festival, 8th-10th June 2012 see twitter@holkerhall.

Fabric samples to showcase at Holker Garden Festival

Kendal Upholstery — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:48:55 +0000

We’ll be working with some of these fabrics, refashioning them to become vintage, retro and antique furniture and lampshades to bring to Holker Garden Festival 8th-10th June2012.

Upholstery Blogs

Kendal Upholstery — Sun, 20 May 2012 13:10:13 +0000

Just found this fab blog by Manda who bravely came all the way from the States to learn upholstery with us and was awarded a Distinction by AMUSF in the Spring. She’s included some great step by step reupholstery photos.

http://www.fabricandfinds.com/2012/01/19/my-first-two-completed-chairs/

Manda I hope you don’t mind me sharing this with some of the other upholstery fans.

Nearly Holker time again!

Kendal Upholstery — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:04:44 +0000

Kendal Upholstery at Holker Hall Garden Festival

Make Your Own Lampshades Workshops – Coming Soon

Kendal Upholstery — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:45:54 +0000

We’ve been running Traditional Upholstery Courses at Kendal Upholstery for many years now but recently people have been admiring our hand sewn lampshades and asking can we show them how to make their own. Last week we ran our first Make Your Own Lampshade Workshop and from September they will be a regular fixture in our calendar. So if you have a corner cast in shadow or your boudoir lacks ambience you can come to us and we’ll teach you how to create unique lampshades perfectly suited to your home.

We had a Make Your Own Weekend Workshop and here are some of the results. ‘It was really fun choosing fabrics and then making, sewing and chatting… Plus the results are – gorgeous lampshades!’

Watch a video introduction to Kendal Upholstery

Kendal Upholstery — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:57:56 +0000

A film student from Lancaster University made an introductory video about Kendal Upholstery and the courses we run as part of his studies. This is the result!

Weekend Workshop in Traditional Upholstery

Kendal Upholstery — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:41:20 +0000

This weekend provided an opportunity for one student to reupholster a whole set of drop in seat dining chairs.

The fabric came from the remnants at Kendal Upholstery and it was decided to use a different pattern cut for each of the chairs to give them added interest.

Buttoned headboard with scalloped edge detail.

Kendal Upholstery — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:52:09 +0000

Completed as part of a Level 2 Craft Certificate. Buttoned and piped headboard with scalloped edge.

Needlepoint Upholstery

Kendal Upholstery — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:54:18 +0000

Using the traditional crafts of upholstery and needlepoint tapestry, student Rachael has taken vintage tapestries and reworked them to create unique upholstered furniture.