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+555 5555 5555
hello@roundedby.com
1 DAY WORKSHOPS
Make your own upholstered footstool - no experience required, all tools, materials & lunch included ...
Experience making and doing, and leave with a #putyourfeetup guarantee.
What is it?
A one day workshop making your very own ‘Rounded by’ upholstered birchwood footstool.
No experience required. All tools and materials included. 4 – 6 people per session. Lunch included. Fun, informal, friendly & you get to take home your very own footstool.
Workshops start (promptly) at 10, we break for lunch 1-2 and finish around 4.30/5pm.
How much is it?
£225 per person
All materials & tools provided for use on the day.
Lunch from local Italian Caccia&Tails, plus Tea & Coffee is included.
Everyone leaves with their own upholstered birchwood footstool which can be carried or flat packed.
What will we actually do?
Each person will upholster and construct their own Rounded by birchwood footstool, using a mix of modern and traditional upholstery techniques.
You will be able to select a custom upper & piping colour ahead of the course.
Everyone will leave with a completed and beautiful piece.
Sounds good, ...tell me more ...
We will work using pre-cut & treated birchwood 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.
Can I use my own top fabric?
Upholstery weight plain wool Top Fabric (made from recycled yarns and with a soft in hand feel) is included in the workshop cost. You will choose from a selection of 20+ colour ways ahead of the session. This fabric is chosen
to get the very best results, allowing for beginners to create a beautiful finish avoiding unnecessary tensioning, laddering and positioning issues that some fabrics can present.
If you wish to bring your own fabric I will need to give the thumbs up/thumbs down or at least a "hmmm well I guess you could... if you really want to..." ahead of the session, and you will need a 1m drop.
What is the workshop space like?
Rounded by workshops take place in the Main Studio at the Paddock Art Studios which are housed in lovely old timbered buildings with a beautiful garden behind, if the weather is good we'll hop out here to eat lunch. A mixed discipline use Studio, you will work from our own table, surrounded by life drawings, sculptures, mosaics & potters works in a spacious and friendly atmosphere.
We're super lucky that it is a Mezzanine height space with a partially glazed ceiling providing plenty of natural light.
The Studios themselves are close to the centre of Lewes, hidden in a back lane below Lewes castle.
What do I need to bring?
Just yourself and a water-bottle.
I’ll be talking you through & demonstrating how to use the tools and how to work with the fabric, but will have print outs and pencils at the Studio should you also wish to take notes.
What should I wear?
Wear clothes that you are comfortable in, that you don’t mind getting dirty, catching a thread on & if you have an apron, bring one. Wear closed toe shoes with a good sole as we will be working with metal tacks & hammers, and will be standing most of the day (Good news is we're making a footstool so you are guaranteed to be able to put your feet up when you get home!)
Wear layers, the studio is big and although there is heating we will have some windows open.
OK, let's do it - what now?
Click through on SHOP & select the chosen workshop date & add to cart.
Once booked I will send you fabric colour choices & ask you to advise of any dietary requirements you may have.
Other than that I look forward to meeting you and guiding you to make a fabulous footstool on the day!
Customer Reviews
"A highly recommended workshop and experience with the incredibly patient Lucy. She is an amazing teacher and fun to work with. To learn how to make something from scratch and being able to take it home--and enjoy!--was a fantastic experience. On top of this, I left with many tips to work on other projects on my own. A perfect Saturday! "
Alina S.
"An absolutely perfect day, from the teacher and the delicious local food to the end result - the footstool itself which I am SO PROUD of! We didn’t just learn how to make a footstool, we learnt so much about upholstery and furniture in general. I loved that everything was so carefully sourced - beautiful birch ply, coconut and rubber matting, rich coloured recycled wools and genuinely lovely, warm, patient and humorous teaching. I can’t wait to try my hand at another course by the excellent and very talented Lucy. Thank you!!"
Galia P.
"I absolutely loved this day, learning upholstery and better still, making a footstool that actually looked professional! I was convinced I'd end up with something bodged that I'd have to hide in the shed due to my own lack of skills (and lack of patience) but wow, Lucy guided, cajoled, encouraged, didn't let us off the hook until we all had made beautiful stools. Lovely lunch, lovely people, great venue - do it!"
Lizzie H.
"I can't recommend this course highly enough. Learnt so many new skills, all patiently taught by Lucy. Such a great design, recycled high quality materials, a delicious lunch, and a beautiful stool to put your feet on at the end. What's not to like!?"
Abbey G.