I am looking forward to project number 2
Fascinating and Absorbing Pastime
My bespoke storage seat has pride of place in our kitchen. The really professional look is due in large part to Garry’s advice and help in getting the design right and his rigorous attention to detail which resulted in a high quality finish. This was my second project and gave me plenty of opportunity to apply all my traditional upholstery skills to a new piece of furniture, using modern materials. I have enjoyed many hours at the workshop getting to know lots of lovely people with this one interest in common and many fascinating stories to tell from their varied lives elsewhere – it’s a great place to spend time on a fascinating and absorbing pastime.
Amanda
I am on my fourth project!!!
This is not just an upholstery course - ‘this’ is so much more. This is a Noah’s Ark filled with the most wonderful people all sharing the passion for old chairs, sofas...that need ‘love’. The people are the most humorous, kind, intellectual, humble and creative I have met and Garry is a true professional. He is a real traditional craftsman and the sort of man that I actually thought was practically extinct, the sort of man that you would want to be on a dessert island with - clever, kind, ingenious with design and can build anything out of nothing! He can cover subjects from opera to fashion in a single sentence and a rare man that has fathomed the complexities of the female species. Oh and did I mention the French??? The other bonus is Garry seamless slips into French as several class members are French so French lessons are an added bonus👍.
He has a humble and patient approach and knows instinctively when to step in with his pupils, he is reviving and teaching the lost traditions, skills and sustainable materials, including the patience required for the craft that is real upholstery. I have literally seen pieces of driftwood and raw planks of wood that within weeks resemble furniture and leave as show stopping pieces!- It’s so rewarding to watch, share and be part of this craft. I am on my fourth project now and have obsessively collected a backlog of pieces that need ‘the love’ and so plan on being here indefinitely and feel privileged to have found this secret gem for fun, therapy and friends not to mention the fabulous chairs😉
Karen
Bespoke storage seat used traditional upholstery skills and modern materials
I first joined Garry’s course to reupholster a bedroom chair and am now a self-confessed upholstery addict!
For my second venture under Garry’s expert supervision I designed and upholstered this 3-seater bench with internal storage space for our new kitchen/diner at home. The plywood base frame was covered using foam and synthetic wadding rather than coir fibre and natural cotton wadding, but the traditional skills learned previously were essential to produce a professional looking piece of furniture that I use every day.
Garry’s attention to detail is legendary. He gives you the confidence to tackle all sorts of tasks – carpentry for the frame; measuring, cutting and sewing your chosen fabric; as well as all the traditional methods of producing a piece of furniture with springs, buttons, piping - whatever. He is full of wise advice about what kind of material will suit your project and the best way to go about it. Standards are high but it’s all very enjoyable!
Learning upholstery here gives me the chance to meet people with all sorts of careers and life experience which makes for a sociable few hours every time. It’s totally absorbing and so different from doing anything else, I really look forward to coming in. There’s a real sense of achievement at the end of it and you have a beautiful piece of furniture too.
Amanda
Now on my 3rd course!!!!
I have always had an interest in upholstery but found it difficult to find a suitable course. So it was great when my husband spotted Garry's workshop in the Jewellery Quarter and I signed up for the 30 session course. I am now on my 3rd course having completed a Victorian Ladies Armchair, part completed a Club Chair and currently working on making a deep buttoned storage Ottoman. Needless to say the course is very addictive.
Great group of people and tutor
Fantastic course for those that want to learn traditional upholstery. I never knew how much goes into re-upholstering a chair. Great group of people and tutor Garry is extremely supportive and knowledgeable. If you want to try something new, this is fantastic.
Caroline
Eclectic mix
Turned out to be a brilliant gift!!!
My partner gave me a gift voucher for Christmas to start an upholstery course that I had been meaning to do for a long time. This turned out to be a brilliant gift and in January I joined a class of upholsterers of differing levels in Birmingham run by Garry, a true professional and a very patient teacher.
Coming from someone who had been office bound for years and not knowing one end of a wood chisel from the other I set out to restore an antique 1890 chair which in itself is a daunting thing to do particularly as every week the poor old chair looked more miserable each time I set to work on it removing tacks, nails etc.
Garry gave me the reassurance and confidence to believe that it would be alright in the end and when I finally got to the stage of polishing the beautiful wood and realising that it will be lovely when it is completed I feel proud that I have come so far in such a short time.
I have collected many books over the years on the subject of upholstery but I can say from my experience at the class that the hands-on approach teaches things that you can never pick up just from reading it in a book.
Well worth the experience and I look forward to the next project when this one is completed.
Vanessa
Its an addiction
If you are looking for a quick fix - forget it!
A rare late 19th century Victorian iron framed armchair,to follow the chairs progression look at course photo s
I recommend the class whole heartedly
We will definitely be back!!!
Lucy and Rob
Its a great class
I originally signed up for a four day course in order to finish a chair that I’d started in another class. It soon became apparent that I needed to re-do a lot of my previous work and very quickly signed on for another 90 hrs.
Its obvious that Garry has a great deal of experience in both Upholstery and teaching and very skilled he is too - in both fields. I particularly like the fact that he can manage to keep an eye on everybody in the class, more often than not he gives attention without being asked and he treats each person with respect and good humour. Most importantly he instills confidence in his students, I’m tackling things that I wouldn't normally have taken on but he makes me feel I can do it - and I find I can!
Its a great class, constant tea and biscuits and french lessons thrown in for free - Thank you!
Sue
Sense of achievement
Caroline
Upcycling of wing chair
Just started a 30 hour course of classes. The workshops are very friendly and relaxed and eveyone encourages each other. The tutor Garry is amazing he knows all you need to know about upholstery and is very hands on. I'm currently reupholstering a wing back chair and Garry is helping totally redesign which is what I wanted to learn. It's good to learn as many traditional techniques as possible.
I would highly recommend it.
Marie
Dear Garry
Thank you for experiencing my first upholstery workshop it was really enjoyable.
Kind Regards
Marie
Hi Gary
I was on your weekend course. Really enjoyed the weekend and I think I might have become addicted. Purchased an armchair last night on a bit of a whim which will hopefully be my next project.
Many Thanks
Jane
Can't wait for my next session!
Garry
Just a quick email to say thanks for the course on the weekend ! Can't wait for my next session!
Take care
Nageena
The class is really fun - interesting people - a great tutor - and learning a new skill- what could be better. If you've got an old chair that needs some love and attention this is the place to go.
K Cambell-Legg
A friendly atmosphere!
I love my new training and I am very impatient to finish my first project.
Rachel
Recommend
I went to the taster day and had a great time and continued with my project on subsequent days.I cannot recommend the classes enough and anyone wanting to try upholstery should undertake this course.I shall be back with my next project.
Thank you Garry for your knowledge and patience.
Many Thanks.
Holly.
exceeded
Having always had a desk job and not being aware of having any practical skills, I have discovered (with a lot of patience on Garry's behalf) that my capabilities have exceeded my imagination. This upholstery and furniture restoration course has been a revelation, I have enjoyed every minute of my time restoring many armchairs and chairs much to my family's amazement. I can recommend these courses with Garry as tutor.
Daniel Lamonde
meticulous
Garry as a tutor is a very meticulous craftsman. He has a way of getting the very best results out of his students but always doing it in a nice way!! it can be slightly tiresome but he is the "maestro", having spent seven years with Garry as my tutor, its a happy and warm course where even the least pratical student achieves wonderful results. The photo s are proof of the pudding. Thanks to Garry.
Danielle Bardet
amazing adventure
What an adventure! After having travelled twice to Belgium to take part in courses on the Dutch barge, I can honestly say that its great fun. We do actually acheive alot in a weeks course and at the end of the week can really appreciate how our restoration project has moved forward. Being on a boat on the "Meuse" is to say in the least surprising. The scenery is just beautiful! The atmosphere is so relaxing that everybody seems to enjoy themselves more on the water. There were so many fun moments. I must say I discovered how warm and welcoming the Belgians are especially our hosts Meike and George, owners of the bed and breakfast. They gave us a wonderful send off on the last evening bravo to George who sings extremely well, I am booking my place for next year!
jessica bell
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