Mastering Cornice Construction

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Fabricating upholstered cornices can be quite profitable with the right know-how. In this comprehensive class, Nancy will show you how to measure for, construct, and upholster a cornice using a single piece of fabric for the face and returns. You will learn about what materials to use, considerations for bay and corner windows, things to watch for when measuring, methods to lighten large cornices, how and when to hinge large cornices, pattern placement, and more.

Nancy Letts started Pine House Drapery in 2001 and brings over 50 years of sewing experience to provide window treatments, bedding, pillows, cushions, and slipcovers to interior designers in northern lower Michigan. In 2012, her drapery design was chosen for the Custom Home Furnishings Academy Alumni Showcase and was displayed at the International Window Coverings Expo in Chicago. Nancy taught seminars at Custom Workroom Conference for five years, starting at the first CWC in 2016, and has been teaching hands on classes at Workroom Tech since 2018. She has written articles for Drapery & Design Professional magazine and Drapery & Design Digital Digest, is a Contributing Partner at the Curtains & Soft Furnishings Resource Library, and a WCAA member.

Basic Marine Upholstery

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With Diane Girty

Take the mystery out of the lucrative business of upholstering for boats. Discover the tools and supplies required to get started and learn why it’s important to use the correct thread, vinyl, canvas, zippers, etc.

Find out how to quickly and easily change the glass in a boat curtain, without losing the shape. How to know when the zippers or thread are going bad and how to fix them.

Discover the basic construction of a boat seat.

Diane lives in Windsor Ontario Canada, just south of Detroit, and surrounded by the great lakes. Her business, “New Skins Upholstery”, is behind her house. 80% of her business comes from Marine, but she also does auto, furniture, ATV’s and RV’s.
She has been in the upholstery business for 16 years, having spent the first 32 years of her career doing accounting/finance.

In her spare time she loves to travel, do crafts and ride her bike. She has 6 grandchildren from ages 25 to 15, all of whom have learned to sew/upholster in her shop. Two granddaughters are learning the upholstery trade and loving it.

Master Upholsterer Gareth Rees of Upholstery Education Presents: The Hourglass Spring Usage and History

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In this webinar, Gareth will offer an informative lecture covering a brief history of the spring and its use in upholstered furniture. Followed by an in depth investigation into spring dynamics, how they work, effective lashing methods for a range of furniture styles and methods for choosing the right gauges and heights.

Gareth Rees has been working as an upholsterer for over 27 years. He gained his training on the shop floor, working in various workshops in England and Wales and is versed in many aspects of furniture making from cabinet work to mattress making.

Gareth started his own company in 2004 and in this time has taken commissions and private work for high end interior design companies, bespoke furniture makers, private collectors, antique dealers, embassies and museums.

Here in the US, Gareth is the course writer and primary tutor for Upholstery Education, offering continuing education classes to upholstery professionals and aspiring individuals new to the trade. Back home in the United Kingdom, Gareth is a director and full time instructor at the British School of Upholstered Furniture in Oxfordshire, UK where he teaches the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) Diploma program. He is also the lead tutor for the Advancements in Traditional Upholstery Diploma, run in association with the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers (GTU).

Past Chairman of the Guild of Traditional Upholsterers. Currently he sits as its vice chair and examination/journeyman secretary.

In March 2023 Gareth was awarded the Master Upholders certificate from the Worshipful Company of Upholders.

Although a full-time educator, Gareth still takes on commissions from select clients, predominantly focusing on the decorative arts from 1840-1950.

Gareth is eager to promote and celebrate the craft and trade of upholstery to a broader spectrum of people.

Groz-Beckert Presents The Agony of Choice

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With Ron Russell

Groz-Beckert is the world's leading provider of industrial needles, precision components and fine tools as well as systems and services for the production and joining of textiles.

The presentation will cover various parts of the sewing operation and how to decide on the appropriate sewing needle for the job. There are so many factors that need to be considered with the fabric, thread, material, machine, and the most important of all, the sewing needle size and point style. Groz- Beckert offers several Special Application Needles (SAN) that help the sewer maintain their sanity.

"Most people know very little about the needle. They search for the best fabric and the best thread. They spend lots of money on a great sewing machine, but the often forget about the part that makes everything work."

TOUR THE CURTAINS AND SOFT FURNISHINGS RESOURCE LIBRARY

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With Ceil Diguglielmo

The Library includes webinars on topics ranging from starting your business to workroom efficiency. There are instructional webinars on how to make drapery panels, cornices, slipcovers and more. The original Drapery and Design Forum has been saved to searchable PDF’s and includes 17 years of content and over 500,000 posts. There are back issues of Sew What? Newsletter dating back to 1993 and back issues of Sew What? Magazine, The Custom Home Furnishings Academy Magazine, D&D Pro Magazine and the Drapery & Design Digital Digest from 2017 to the present.

Ceil is the owner of the Curtains and Soft Furnishings Library and the host of the renowned podcast, "Sew Much More".

Navigating Efficiency, Organization, and Modern Technology in your Workroom

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With Ella Hall

Join us as we explore efficient workroom practices. Learn about tech's role in productivity and get hands-on with tools. Gain workspace organization tips and share experiences in the Q&A.

Ella is the co-founder of Stitchroom, an exclusive trade-only upholstery company catering to prestigious clientele in the hospitality sector, including luxury hotels like Four Seasons and Marriott. With a background in fashion design from Parsons, Ella transitioned into interior design, where she honed her expertise in understanding the unique needs of high-end designers. Recognizing a niche in the market, Ella founded Stitchroom to provide tailored solutions for upscale hotels, renowned restaurants nationwide, and high-end residential spaces across New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and the Hamptons. Through the integration of technology and a commitment to craftsmanship, Stitchroom has established itself as the premier destination for sophisticated upholstery design in commercial, hospitality, and residential settings.

Breaking into Upholstery: A Pathway to a Skilled Trade From Your Home

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Dive into the world of upholstery with Kymm Clark of LullCo, an instructor and innovator in the field, renowned for her engaging in-person and live virtual classes. Kymm will share her story of stepping into a gap within the industry, offering practical advice for learning and experimenting with upholstery on a budget.

Kymm has carved a distinctive path in the upholstery world, driven by a passion for the craft and a self-taught mastery honed over more than a decade of dedication. Faced with the scarcity of formal education options in upholstery within the US, she turned obstacles into opportunities, both for herself and for others aspiring to enter the trade. Recognizing the gap in accessible, practical education, Kymm took the initiative to share her knowledge, leading to the development of highly sought-after in-person and hands-on virtual classes and lighting the spark of the next generation of upholsterers to take over the industry. These classes have not only offered a lifeline to over 300 students in the last 18 months but also fostered a community where 60% of attendees return from all over the US for further learning. The success stories among her students, many of whom have taken on upholstery as a side hustle, launched their businesses or found meaningful job placements and apprenticeships in upholstery establishments, are a testament to the effectiveness of Kymm’s approach to education. Her journey reflects a commitment to making the upholstery trade more accessible, filling a crucial gap with resourcefulness and genuine care for the craft and its future artisans and keeping the upholstery trade alive and well.

Booth Construction and Upholstery 101 with Krysta Henry

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An explanation of height, ergonomics, and a basic understanding of commercial foam and materials.

Krysta Henry is the owner and operator of All In One Piece Upholstery. Krysta and Company specialize in Commercial and residential Upholstery, with 23 years of a full compass upholstery experience. You can sit on Krysta’s creations anywhere in Oklahoma City, from public schools to fine dining establishments. She most enjoys challenging projects that bring together her creative passion for design and her dedication to precise execution and comfortable products. Krysta’s extensive experience in booth construction and design have made her an expert in the field, and her products unmatched in comfort and efficiency.

SETTING UP AN ETSY ACCOUNT WITH NANCY SARGENT

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Everything you need to know to profitably sell custom furniture creations.

Nancy Sargent is the owner and creative heart behind Cobani Bleu, The Art of Sitting Soft. With a hoard of vintage chairs and ottomans and a passion for fabric, her mission is to create the Sit Soft life for her clients. Using both traditional and non-traditional fabrics, she searches the world for artisan textiles, and from frame to fabric she creates one of a kind chairs and ottomans.

Nancy’s desire to share the art of upholstery has lead her to teaching this craft in both workshops and one-on-one classes. Online courses will be launched soon to further share the skills of this trade.

CROWN UPHOLSTERY ON THE INS AND OUT OF COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS

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Is commercial upholstery right for you? We will be discussing how to acquire and maintain commercial upholstery accounts. What you can do to set yourself apart from the competition and ways to keep them coming back. With Jesica and Wes Breitenbach.
Jesica is the 5th generation in her family to pursue the craft of upholstery. For the past 24 years she, along with her husband Wes have run Crown Upholstery. Crown is the largest upholstery shop in Knoxville and the largest predominantly female upholstery shop in the region. They take great pride in their craft as well as their family's tradition. They specialize in residential and commercial upholstery and offer a large selection of some of the finest upholstery fabrics and leathers from all around the world. With a focus on being as green as possible, Crown Upholstery is an excellent option for recycling and repurposing furniture.

LEATHER 101 WITH CASPER HILL

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Rosemary Price is the Executive Account Manager at Casper Hill Leather, a leading leather supplier to the Upholstery Trade. Casper Hill is committed to offering top-tier leather products. Rosemary plays a pivotal role in maintaining this commitment by delivering personalized service and building strong client relationships.

3D PRINTING FOR THE UPHOLSTERY SHOP WITH JAMES WULFGAR

3D printing is a powerful tool for creative, innovative, and somewhat sustainable solutions for the upholstery workshop. This introduction to the newest technology and it's possibilities is guaranteed to get you thinking of how you can use 3D printing for repair, custom furniture design, custom tools for the shop, even high end designer fabric production. Tune in to the live broadcast for an opportunity to ask questions of an expert!

James is the Makerspace Manager and Facilities Lead at the MatchBOX co-working studio in Lafayette, Indiana. He enjoys making things and helping other make things in the Makerspace at MatchBOX, and has been a maker for the better part of two decades. James has a passion for creating, and in free-time does a lot of maker-related things such as costuming/cosplay and building sets and props for film.

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WORKROOM ENDGAME WITH JEANELLE DECH

Planning for business succession and retirement. You've grown your business over the years, but thinking about the future is crucial. Jeanelle Dech offers insights and examples on transitioning or retiring. Plan for your business's future by asking 12 essential questions, including your business's value and personal legacy goals. Start your endgame planning now.

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CLASSIC LINEN SLIPCOVERS WITH JEANELLE DECH

Jeanelle Dech is president and co-founder of Adaptive Textiles, an innovative textile printing company in West Chester, PA. She is a friendly and engaging speaker, known for her entrepreneurial spirit, love of natural linen fabric, Fit-Like-a-Glove slipcovers, and workroom profitability training. In 2015 she launched The Workroom Marketplace and The Workroom Channel, which hosts a series of online training programs for sewing professionals.  She is the creative energy behind The Workroom Channel’s METHOD SHARE series, REAL WORKROOM TOURS, the FLY ON THE WALL series, and countless other collaborative efforts serving the Custom Workroom Industry.

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YOGA FOR UPHOLSTERERS WITH LISA BOHLIN

Discover the foundations of yoga so you can experience its transformational effects. This session will revitalize your body, relax your mind, and reduce stress with slow, gentle standing flows and floor poses to increase your strength and flexibility. You will also learn useful techniques to alleviate tension in the neck, shoulders, and low back, as well as moves to counteract pain and stiffness in the hands and wrists that can result from repetitive movements and overexertion on the job.
Ideal for beginners of any age or physical condition or experienced students who want a relaxing, slower paced class.

Lisa received her BA from the University of Chicago in Behavioral Sciences and Sociology, her M.A. in Educational Psychology, and her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Human Development from Indiana University.  Over the past 30 years she has taught preschool and kindergarten, directed early childhood education programs for children from birth-8 years, served as a court appointed advocate for abused and neglected children, supervised field placements in k-12 classrooms, taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate courses, and co-authored an Educational Psychology textbook used across the United States and in China. In her current role as an educational consultant and lecturer, Lisa provides continuing education and support in schools and community organizations that serve children and families.

In early 2018, Lisa completed her initial 200-hour RYT yoga certification under the tutelage of five master teachers in South Goa, India. In 2020, she completed her 500-hour RYT certification in the United States. Her training has given her a broad perspective rooted in ancient eastern wisdom enhanced by modern western innovation. Lisa is trained in many yoga styles -- Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Aerial, Yin, and Restorative. She has practiced meditation for over 20 years, and she brings an appreciation for working with the breath and calming the mind to her yoga classes. Her classes are grounded in yoga philosophy, as well as practical applications of educational psychology, human development, and anatomy.

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KNOW YOUR WORTH & THE VALUE OF YOUR UPHOLSTERY SKILLS WITH RHONDA SHANAHAN, JUSTIN DAZEY, & JEANNE HENZEL

How do you define and find your ideal client? How do market studies work? Do you need to increase your rates, and how does that affect your repeat clients? What do you do when you and your client are a terrible fit? Our panel shares their experiences and knowledge on these topics and more, including setting measurable goals for your business and managing your time to maximize profit without total burnout. 

Jeanne Henzel is a fine artist and upholsterer working in Northern California. She opened her first business specializing in slipcovers in 1999. Since then she has broadened the business's horizons into modern and traditional upholstery, window treatments, and large scale upholstered sculpture/seating for west coast museums. Though an upholsterer and draper by trade, Jeanne is foremost an artist creating "art that lives with you." 

I have always loved colorful textiles in furniture and clothing. When I was a young girl my grandmother and mother taught me their passion for sewing and creating with beautiful fabrics. I also spent a lot of time with my father fixing and building things. It’s because of this combination that I was drawn to the upholstery world. I began my upholstery journey in 2009 when I started taking classes through the extension office in Wichita Kansas. What started as a hobby has turned into a full-time business. I began teaching upholstery workshops in 2022. I love sharing my passion for tools, gadgets, and upholstery skills. I’m a lifetime learner and I hope to share some of the things I’ve learned with fellow upholsterers and students.

After receiving his B.A. in Interior Design from Washington State University, Justin spent over a decade developing a career culminating as a Design Director responsible for a small team of Interior Designers and the daily operations of a multi-million dollar luxury design showroom. During this time he had the opportunity to partner  with multiple Custom Upholsterers and Soft Goods Workrooms on a wide variety of projects. 

In 2013 Justin made the leap from one side of the Upholstery/ Designer relationship to the other. Beginning work for a third generation upholstery family he soon found himself operating their newly acquired urban showroom while studying the trade and is now a full time Upholsterer.

Developing and sharing practices that smooth the interface between Upholsterer and Interior Designer has been a natural outcome of this perspective.

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